Thanks so much to Yiska Obadia for her great Guest Post.  Yiska is a licensed acupuncturist currently practicing in NYC. She has a background in massage therapy and received her undergraduate degree in Holistic Health Studies.  A lifelong passion for nutrition and a 70 lb. personal weight-loss have inspired her work. In addition to working with individuals one on one, Yiska leads Transformative Nutrition Groups in NYC.  More information can be found on her website.

* Photo by Daniel Albanese

I hope you’re feeling that early spring feeling, where your energy starts to lighten and brighten, springing your creative life force into action. Many people begin to feel this enlivening occur as buds grow on the trees around us and the days get lighter, longer, and warmer. Some though may feel like they are still carrying around the weight and heaviness of winter, physically and/or emotionally. I know I was. Hence the notion of spring cleaning… I don’t think it’s an accident that both Lent and Passover occur during this time of year, both holidays encouraging the clearing out that makes space for the spirit of rebirth to spring forth.

Spring cleaning can happen on many levels. On the physical level alone, a simple elimination of processed and refined foods and chemicals from the diet can work miracles. As always, if you feel stuck, change something up and movement is bound to follow. You might consider giving up alcohol, sugar, and/or coffee for a month. Note: not forever! Try switching it up with an herbal detox tea instead. For allergy sufferers, this elimination can be profoundly beneficial. By diminishing unnecessary stressors, our bodies are more apt to handle the stress of pollen and other seasonal allergens with greater ease.

That’s why I’ve continued to do my own spring cleanses. Eliminating sugar, coffee and alcohol from my diet during this season has made my previously severe allergies tolerable without medication on most days. In addition, every spring for the past 4 years I have done a spring cleanse. Today I am on the 6th day of a fairly extreme detox program called the “master cleanse.” The details of the program are not important, as I’m not advising you to do it on your own. You can certainly learn more about it online. But, I have more energy and clarity than I did almost a week ago, my body and mood feel consistently light, and finally the heaviness of winter has lifted. I did endure a tough headache and fatigue on the 2nd day, but as you can tell, I’m on the other side and it was worth it!

There are many ways you can lighten the load from winter and make your transition into spring a smooth one. Here are my suggestions:

• Seasonal dietary elimination. Take some of the suggestions I mentioned above and see how much lighter and energized you feel by cutting out processed and refined foods, sugar, alcohol, animal products, especially heavy meats, and/or coffee. Rediscover tea, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, etc.

• Clear your physical clutter and personal space. Getting organized, cleaning your closets, clearing your desktop, are all supremely helpful ways to make room for newness at this time of year. Set aside a time to tackle your most cluttered areas. If you are in need of help, consider using a professional. Amanda Wiss of Urban Clarity is a genius! Email her at Laughing Sage Wellness, a center for women’s holistic health. I participated in this well designed cleanse last year. It involves a simplified diet of whole foods and support for 7 days starting between now and the month of April. Email jessica@laughingsagewellness.com to learn more.

• Acupuncture can also be helpful in making this seasonal transition go as smoothly as possible. It is a holistic way to encourage the detoxification of body, heart, and mind, restoring balance, openness, energy, calm, and clarity. Come in for a treatment if you’d like the support. Contact by email at redefiningdiet@gmail.com .