Frequently Asked Questions
About 90 minutes to -2 hours per day. First thing in the morning you need to set aside time for your morning practices( many of which you probably already do) tongue scrapping, warm oil massage, shower, exercise or Asana practice, time to prepare your breakfast and meals for the day.
Yes, you can. This cleanse has been designed to be gentle so that you can reset your body whilst working. Make sure that you do not have lots of social engagements as these may take you off course!!
You will feel great! This is an important step you are taking to reclaim your health. Past participants speak to increased energy and vitality and immunity. You will feel different, because you are letting go of your habitual way of eating and living and adopting a gentle way of cleansing.
Everyone is unique and has their own perspective. It will feel different from your normal way, because you are engaging in different behaviour….we are changing our fundamental relationship with food and eating, so it will definitely feel different….but good…if that makes sense. In giving up stimulants like coffee, sugar, alcohol, you may experience some with drawl symptoms as your body cleans itself out….Drink the herbal teas provided by SoJo
Please continue to take your medication and check with your doctor prior to enrolling in the cleanse. It may be best to set up a consultation with Eleni for a more personalized approach.
If you are sensitive to any of the ingredients in the recommended recipes, just opt for another recipe that does not contain that ingredient (there are plenty to choose from), or substitute that ingredient for something suitable. If you are unsure, ask our team.
Adopting an Ayurvedic diet, keeps you connected to nature and your environment. Seasonal and local foods are emphasised. The Ayurvedic diet adheres to eating a clean diet, that consists of whole foods, grains, dairy and meats. this is adjusted for the individual…the result being that you feel nourished and energised and experience optimal health
Food is first medicine, meaning that, an Ayurvedic diet is curated for you to balance your dosha and reverse your imbalances. Many diseases can be reversed by making adjustments to the way we normally eat. We have been observing the effects of nutrition on the body, mind and emotions for thousands of years. Ayurveda believes that most diseases begin in the digestive tract, making food our first medicine.
According to an ancient Ayurvedic saying…
“when the food is good, there is no need for medicine, however if the food is bad, then the medicine won’t work”…Medicine is secondary to food.
Yes within reason..during the cleanse, exercise such as walking, swimming, yoga, pilates, tai chi, moderate weight bearing are all good. Use common sense and avoid strenuous exercise during the 3 weeks.
Yes, a consultation is a wonderful way to deepen your understanding of your nature and your tendencies. The can depend your experience of the cleanse as you view it from the perspective of who am I and how does this program apply to me and my health. These are available online for an additional fee.
Please email me at eleniayurveda@me.com or Call +61433 518 769.
These are available at So Jo for participants. Please arrange your treatments with Sophia or Joanna
We recommend attending live wherever possible so that you can ask questions and engage with our community.
The recipes are included, but not the food itself. In order to ensure you gain maximum benefit from Prana rich foods, we recommend you purchase organic fruit and vegetables once or twice per week from local green grocer or farmers market.
You don’t need to take the herbs. However, since this is a cleanse that focuses on reseting your digestion, removing digestive toxins, re populating good gut bacteria and facilitating good elimination, additional herbs supercharge the cleanse. In this cleanse we have included some herbal teas to support digestion, elimination and your nervous system.
Additional digestive herbs Trikatu and Triphala, support the digestive process by igniting your digestive capacity and supporting even deeper detoxification from the deeper tissues. Trikatu is used to increase metabolism and absorption, whilst Triphala is a revered tonic and detoxifying herb. Please consult with Eleni prior to taking any herbs
Our step by step dosha quiz should help you to identify your primary dosha (remember you are actually a mix of all 3, we are just Trying to understand your predominant dosha for the purposes of your cleanse). If you aren’t sure, we suggest you set up a consultation with Eleni for a deeper dive into your constitution
This one is tough….its mainly an emotional response to change and habit. Remember cravings have 3 aspects:
Biological – driven by our own innate intelligence or intuition
Emotional – driven by fear, anger, worry, sadness, anxiety
Habitual – Driven by habitual unconscious patterns around food
If you are truly hungry, then eat some foods that are part of your cleanse. Whenever you change a habit, it feels uncomfortable in the beginning, because you’re doing something different…in this case how and what you are eating.
Most of our eating patterns are unconscious…this cleanse is a new practice. Your adding new foods and practices and your habitual way of eating is removed. Which means that until the new practice becomes familiar you may feel uncomfortable. I know that I do…I have this low grade hunger…an emptiness….it takes me about a week to get comfortable with this feeling. Please know that Im aware of my energy levels and blood sugar….they are steady and I have good quality energy. My personal take and experience of cravings is that they are reminding me of my new practice to which Im committed. Over time I get used to this new way of eating and feeling light and the old feelings fall away!. without effort. All change requires patience, practice and a commitment
Lots of water, herbal teas,
If you need caffeine..have some green tea…no more than 2 cups per day
No you don’t, they are merely guidelines to support you on your journey. Easiest way is to use the dosha seasonal shopping list You can cook whichever foods work for you as long as they fit certain guidelines: Fresh, seasonal, whole grains and legumes, fresh vegetables, good quality fats ( ghee, coconut, olive oil) some fruit and nuts.
Create a shopping list and stock your pantry with the essentials. I stock up on a few grains, mung beans, legumes, seeds and fresh vegetables and fruit. Ive created a simple pantry list..to which you can add or subtract depending on your preferences
Grains: Basmati rice ( white or brown), Quinoa, Barley
Beans: mung beans whole or mung dahl, lentils, adzuki beans
Oils: Olive oil, ghee, coconut oil
Seeds: Sunflower, sesame, peppitas Vegetables: All green veggies in season and according to your taste…Vata and Pitta can add some root veggies like pumpkin, sweet potato for added heaviness and grounding aspects. Kapha stick to more greens as they are light and more cleansing Fresh herbs: Parsley, basil, oregano
Dried herbs: Cumin, fennel, coriander, black pepper, turmeric, cloves, cinammon, mineral salts Pantry essentials: organic coconut milk, shredded coconut, tomato paste or sauce.
Fresh seasonal fruit: of choice
Vata and Pitta start with your base of a grain and beans( combined its a protein) to which you add veggies, dressing + seeds and fresh or dried herbs of choice. Vata choose more root veggies and some greens all cooked Pitta choose more green veggies( may be raw or cooked) and some heavier cooked root veggies Kapha start with a base of green veggies, add some cooked beans for protein and a few tablespoons of rice + spices and herbs of choice…small amounts of oil
In an ideal world all food would be freshly cooked and eaten….it contains more life force and vitality which is transferred to you. In the real world, we need to be practical…my personal rule is that I only keep food for 24-48hours. Ive learnt to cook less food and simple meals so that I don’t have leftovers. Just so you know when I first started on my journey, I cooked 1x per week and stored my food in the freezer, which was then reheated in the microwave. Ive progressed since then. I know we are all busy and cooking doesn’t take priority in our lives….Just remember that cooking should be simple, easy and take 30-40 minutes from preparation to eating. When you reheat food, make sure to only reheat, what you are going to eat for that meal. Don”t keep reheating the same pot of food.
I think Ill let the Mayo clinic answer this one Sea salt vs. table salt: What’s the difference? – Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/sea-salt/faq-20058512
It depends on? Ideally you should eat enough at your meals that you don’t need to snack.
If you do snack then follow these guidelines: Allow at least 2hours for small meals and 3 hours between meals for a larger meal. Snack on fruit only during the program. Have heavier fruit, say a banana between breakfast and lunch and lighter fruits like apples after lunch Wait for 2 hours before eating again.
Eat fruit on its own…it doesn’t mix well with other foods. Don’t snack after dinner. Allow at least 3 hours without food after dinner. If your hungry, drink some herbal tea with 1/2 tsp raw honey
