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Amanda (Mandy) Ptak

Spring Cleaning... Body, Mind, and Soul

Getting rid of old clothes, donating un-used items, clearing out the refrigerator, cleaning the windows... these are all things that pop into your mind when you think of spring cleaning. But what if I told you that there is so much more to spring cleaning than de-cluttering your home? This is a perfect time of year to spring clean your body, mind, and soul to set yourself on the right path to new self-growth and happiness. Today we will be talking about ways you can clean up more than the dust on your windowsill this spring!

Body

When is comes to spring cleaning the body, we must look at the body inside and out! Let's start with the easy part... the outside! How many of you use store bought bath and beauty products? Makeup, body wash, shampoo, creams, lotions, etc. All of these products wreak havoc on the skin and hair over time. Many are filled with harmful, even cancer causing chemicals which you are putting directly on your skin, the largest organ in the body. This daily application allows these harmful chemicals direct access to your blood stream! So, in a world where we are expected to be clean cut, clean shaved and smelling and looking our best, how do we avoid these products? Easy! Make your own or buy ones that are body and eco friendly! Here are a few substitutes for your daily products...

- Shampoo... Use Liquid Castile soap with Rosemary and Lemon Essential Oils. This mixture will get your hair clean, leave it smelling fresh, and will promote a healthy scalp - leading to longer, more luxurious hair!

- Body Wash... Again, Castile Soap! Bar or liquid, it doesn't matter. Buy a naturally scented bar, or make your own foaming body wash scented with your favorite essential oils.

- Conditioner... Have you ever been told that you should condition before washing your hair? Well, if you haven't, I'm telling you now! Conditioners weigh your hair down and block the follicles. It is important to condition, but also important to get the conditioning agent off. So, instead of that daily conditioning treatment, use a mixture of warm coconut oil and honey on your scalp and ends two to three times per week. Leave the mixture on for at least and hour or sleep with it overnight then wash it out. Your hair will feel baby soft and be more manageable.

- Body Lotion... Coconut oil or olive oil... or a combination of the two. You can also add products such as Shea butter, beeswax, and a variety of herbs and essential oils to soothe your skin and leave you feeling hydrated.

- Eye Make-Up... activated charcoal, like the ones that you get in those capsules for digestive health... This black powder works wonders as a natural eyeliner, mascara, and even eye shadow. Just wet a little bit of it for a darker, smoother application, or use dry as a powder.

There are so many more options to choose from, but those are a few easy ones to get you started. Now onto the inside of the body! You may be asking yourself, how do I spring clean my insides? It's not like I can go in with a scrub brush and some soap to make everything shiny and new! Well actually, you can... in a way, that is. From the digestive system to the lymphatic system, we can clean out the toxins within and start anew with a healthier diet and overall lifestyle. So how exactly do we clean out the body? For starters, a two to three day digestive cleanse that utilizes whole, fresh foods, juices, and even a laxative tea can help to empty the body of toxic build-up. You can also use colon hydrotherapy to help cleanse and re-tone the colon. After this, you will need to maintain a healthy whole foods diet, staying away from refined sugars, processed foods, and anything that doesn't work well with your body. The lymphatic system will begin to detoxify at the same time, as will the circulatory system (blood). A whole body massage focusing on the lymphatic system will aid in the elimination of toxins from the body as will sweating by working out or sitting in a sauna. Remember, once the body has been thoroughly cleansed you must keep it clean to continue feeling your best!

Mind

Unfortunately, the mind is not quite as easy as the body when it comes to spring cleaning, Every person is different when it comes to what they need to keep and what they need to get rid of, and the journey to a happy, healthy mind is very unique. One of the easiest things you can do is to de-clutter both your mind and your life! Clutter, both physical and perceived, creates a lot of stress on the mind. The easiest way to start is with your home... you know, the normal spring cleaning routine. Get rid of the dirt, the extra clothes, everything that no longer serves a positive purpose in your life. One way to help the mind to heal is to collect all of the objects in your home that you no longer use... clothes, furniture, etc... and donate them to a worthy cause. In this way, you are helping others while clearing the clutter and negative energy from your home. The next way is to de-clutter your life... how many tasks are you taking on at one time? How many people are in your life that have a negative impact? Are you simply spreading yourself too thin? These things have a very high negative impact on your mental health. Take the time to say no and to take time for yourself! Focus on the important things, make lists then cross things out that don't matter or can be done at your leisure. Don't always be in a rush to get everything done and know that you don't always need to do things for others if it puts too much stress on your own life. Speaking of others, how many people in your life serve no purpose? Or even promote negative energy in your life? How many people make you sad, angry, or simply a lesser person? These people are not good for you and need to be eliminated or, at the very least, minimized from your life. There are certain ones that perhaps you cannot change - family primarily. For these, you need to sit down and try to work out how you can go from being negatives in each others lives to positives! A little communication goes a long way!

Soul

Now on to the most abstract aspect of spring cleaning... your Soul! This is the most difficult to write about because no single article will relate to everyone. Why? Because I have no idea what YOUR concept of 'Soul" is. For some it may be the part of us that goes to heaven when we die, for others it may be an energetic field that is separate yet connected to the physical and mental bodies, and for others it may be something completely different that I have not even thought of! For this reason this section will be short... when you cleanse your body and your mind, you leave yourself open to understanding more about who you are. You are better able to understand yourself and your beliefs. When that happens, take the time to contemplate what the Soul is to you and go within to connect with it on a deeper level. Seek out guidance from family, religious leaders, spirit guides, shamans, nature, or whatever else calls to you. This is the most personal journey you will ever embark on, and it is so important to have a clear understanding of what YOU believe in. The spring cleaning comes when you clean out the conflicting beliefs of others who tell you you SHOULD believe what they believe and embrace your true personal beliefs.

So I think that is a wrap for today! Enjoy your spring cleaning adventures as the weather becomes nicer and see yourself blossoming as a person as the flowers bloom and the world comes back to life!

Namaste and Good Health!

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