Summertime seems to encourage healthier living, and our bodies naturally shift into a detox mode. Early morning workouts are ideal before the summer sun gets too intense. As the weather begins to heat up, we can experience an increase in perspiration, which is one of the body’s ways to eliminate toxins. You will want to replenish yourself with light, hydrating foods that won’t weigh you down or make you feel sluggish. It’s a great time to adopt other practices to aid this process, however a detox doesn’t have to be limited to just the physical body. Here are 5 easy steps you can start incorporating into your day to help you feel vibrant inside and out!
Take a deep breath
The easiest way to help your body detox is by breathing. This may sound overly simple, and it is, but it’s also quite effective! Taking deep, conscious breaths throughout the day supplies fresh oxygen to your bloodstream. This oxygen boost helps your body absorb vitamins and minerals, and even helps your organs function more optimally. Deep breathing also helps calm the nervous system and improves cognitive function.
Practice yoga
Yoga is known for it’s healing effects on the body, mind, and spirit. A great way to help your body cleanse itself is by getting on your mat! Try adding some gentle twists to your practice, but anything that loosens up your spine and gets your body moving will do wonders. Twists help by “wringing” out the organs of toxins, similar to a towel wringing out water. Forward folds, lateral bends, and backbends apply compression to different organs and muscles, also providing that “wringing” effect. A simple twist you can do when you wake up is to lie flat on your back with your arms stretched out to a T. Lift your knees up to a 90-degree angle, your shins parallel to the floor. Inhale here, then gently bring your knees to the right side of your body as you exhale. If it feels good on your neck, you can turn your head to the left side to deepen the twist. Take a few breaths and then repeat on your other side.
Smile
This is another tip that may sound impossibly simple, and yet studies show that smiling has a direct impact on your overall wellbeing. Even if you have to fake it, smiling releases endorphins which will actually help you to feel happier (so you won’t be faking it for long). Smiling and laughing reduces cortisol, the stress hormone that can lead to feeling anxious or unsettled. It can also be contagious- as you remember to smile more often, you’re spreading that joy to those around you, making you look and feel even more attractive!