YOGA DETOX RETREATS
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yoga detox retreats - blog
​my musings

some benefits of juicing...

18/1/2014

2 Comments

 
Now you've probably guessed that I'm pro - juicing! My conviction is not based only on theory however - I've experienced the benefits personally, and have seen on countless occasions how so many others have benefitted too - I've been facilitating detox retreats for 13 years now and expect to continue sharing this amazing secret for a good many more years to come... 

In a nut-shell, juicing is a quick and powerful means to being vibrant, energetic and truly healthy - on every level!! 

One reason for this is that the juice is raw - it's still in its original and natural state (well, almost... - the fibre has been removed). When food is cooked or heated, valuable micro-nutrients are damaged or destroyed, and so some of the goodness and health benefits are lost. Of course, this means it is also important to buy (or grow!) organic fruit and veg, otherwise it's not as nature bestows it, but is possibly full of pesticides and preservatives.

Another reason why juicing is so powerful is that it can help ensure we get our daily quota of fruit and veg. We all know that we should consume 6-8 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, but this sometimes feels close to impossible - we just don't seem to eat often enough to warrant this! Juicing is an easy way to achieve this - it may seems like hard work to eat six whole, raw carrots, but there's easily six carrots in a carrot juice.

A little on fruit juice - some people are not huge fans of fruit juice because of the high levels of fructose (natural sugars). In my opinion, some fruit juice is good for us - it's natural and we do need some sugar for energy... and some sweetness in life... Juicing fruit does mean that these sugars are more concentrated however (no fibre to soak up the sugar), and so fruit in juices shouldn't be excessive. Anyone with high blood pressure or diabetes however, should limit the amount of fruit juice until these conditions are stabilised. An exception to this 'rule' on fruit juices are lemons and limes. Although lemons and limes are fruit, they have virtually none of the offending sugar / fructose that causes complications. In fact lemons and limes are an amazing addition to juices - they are alkalising and great at at eliminating the bitter taste of any dark green leafy vegetables (and it's these green leafy vegetables that provide so many of the benefits of juicing).

By removing the fibre from the fruits and vegetables, we make it even easier for the body to absorb all the nutrients.  In a way, juicing is a way to pre-digest the fruits and veg, much like chewing, but even more effectively. So the body receives most of the nutrition, rather than having some of it being lost to the digestive process.

Further more, with juicing, you can juice a wide variety of fruit and vegetables that you may not normally get through simply eating. Variety is good as it reduces the chances of developing sensitivities or allergies to certain fruits and veg due to eating them too often.

Happy Juicing!!!
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2 Comments

Happy New Year - may 2014 bring you much Peace, Love & Happiness

6/1/2014

3 Comments

 
Today is the first day back to 'normality' after the busy Christmas and New Year celebrations, and although I loved seeing old friends and celebrating with good food, I'm a little relieved that life has returned to its usual pace here in our valley.

The return to normality includes focussing on what's happening in 2014... and informing you of  yoga detox retreats' retreats. As an added incentive to you to plan a healthy and fun holiday this year, I'm offering a 10% early bird discount if bookings are made before Feb 1 2014. This is in addition to the usual 10% discount for returning guests, so it could be a 20% discount for you! 
(Note: this applies to my Turkey and Italy retreats, not the Portugal retreats).


2014 Retreats
Yoga & Raw Food Detox Retreats - Puglia, Italy
1000 Euros / £850 - shared (with 20% discount - £680 / 800 Euros)

This is the first time I'm offering this retreat and I'm very excited about it. The location is wonderful, the venue is very comfortable with under-floor heating and a heated swimming pool, and the food is delicious and so, so healthy!!!
Dates: March 22 - 29
click here for more info...

Yoga & Juice Fasting Detox Retreats - Faralya, Turkey

£740 shared / £840 single (with 20% discount - £592 shared / £672 single)
This is my 11th year at Faralya and I keep returning because it's such a beautiful location!! I'm offering a spring and a summer retreat...
Dates:
April 28 - May 5
August 4 - 11
click here for more info... 

Yoga & Alkalising Diet Detox Retreats - Carrapateirra, Algarve Portugal

980 Euros shared / 1280 Euros single
These retreats are organised by a friend of mine, Diana, and I am facilitating them. The retreat venue is a magnificent retreat centre on the west coast of the Algarve and boasts an on-site sauna and steam room and a wonderful team of therapists. The food is alkaline, delicious and healthy.
Dates: 
April 13 - 19 (led by Lauren)
May 25 - 31 (led by Lauren)
June 22 - 28 (led by Lauren)
Sept 28 - Oct 4 (led by Lauren)
Oct 26 - Nov 1 (led by Lauren)
click here for more info...

Yoga & Surf Holidays - Salema, Algarve Portugal 
890 Euros shared / 990 Euros double / 1050 Euros single
These are fun and physical holidays and you'll leave being able to stand up on the surf board (or improve your surfing technique if you're not a beginner) and feeling fit and healthy. The food served is vegetarian, delicious and healthy. I am facilitating just one of these retreats, and the others are facilitated by other experienced and inspirational yoga teachers.
Dates:
June 8 - 14 (led by Lauren)
July 13- 19
July 27 - August 2
August 10 - 16
August 31 - September 6
September 14 - 20
click here for more info...

Yoga Delight Holidays - Salema, Algarve Portugal
790 Euros shared / 890 Euros double / 950 Euros single
These yoga holidays include two daily yoga classes, meditation sessions and talks on various aspects of Yoga. The venue is right on the beach and also has a swimming pool. The food is vegetarian, healthy and delicious. I am facilitating two of these retreats and the others are led by other experienced and inspirational yoga teachers.
Dates:
July 6 - 12 
July 20 - 26 (led by Lauren)
August 3 - 9
September 7 - 13 (led by Lauren)
click here for more info...

Hormone Yoga Retreats - Salema, Algarve Portugal 

890 Euros shared / 990 Euros double / 1050 Euros single
This is a women only retreat where the focus is on connecting to the feminine energy and balancing hormones. This retreat is led by an experienced hormone yoga teacher.
Dates:
May 11- 17
click here for more details... 

So, lots to choose between...

Wishing you a wonderful 2014... and it would be great to see you somewhere, some time...
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snap shots of 2013 retreats

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3 Comments

Antioxidants and Free Radicals

15/5/2013

4 Comments

 
For those of you who have been to my retreats, you have probably gathered that although I cherish and prescribe a healthy diet and life-style, I'm not an ardent fan of nutrition by numbers - e.g. how many grams of protein you need on a daily basis etc. To me, measuring nutrition and at the same time, being mindful and feeling a connection with what you eat on an energetic and heart level don't really go hand in hand - but perhaps that's just me... and I'm sure there are people out there who manage to do both...

To me, one's a left brain activity and the other a right brain activity, and being a typical Pisces as well as a lover of blissful meditation, I prefer the floaty, dreamy sensation of tasting the sunshine in my kale rather than storing the nutritional facts about it in the filing archives of my brain... (even though it is very impressive: one cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1 020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus!!!)

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beautiful, healthy kale - full of goodness, including antioxidants
So, although I don't talk very much on the theory of nutrition, but tend to keep it more practical, there are instances when terminology raises its head and needs some explanation... (e.g. fats - saturated-, unsaturated,- trans-! See my blog- http://www.yogadetoxretreats.co.uk/2/post/2011/10/fats-the-good-the-bad-and-the-trans-fats.html).

One such term is 'antioxidant'... and a lot of people aren't sure what an antioxidant is or does..., and as it's a rainy and chilly day outside (in May in Portugal?!), I thought I'd share some theory with you...

Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that protect and repair cells from damage caused by free radicals.

A free radical is any atom or molecule that has a single unpaired electron in its outer shell. Now, electrons prefer to travel in pairs. Occasionally, though, an atom or a group of atoms (molecule) loses one electron. When this happens, the atom or molecule becomes a free radical. Like the human body in general, atoms prefer stability. An atom that's missing an electron will thus steal one from the nearest stable atom - turning that atom into a free radical. As you can probably imagine, this is the start of a chain reaction...

Free radicals are created as a result of the process of oxidation - when a substance combines with oxygen. This is part of the body's normal metabolism, which tends to increase with age. Free radicals can also be created by the immune system to help destroy bacteria and viruses during an infection. And they can form as a result of exposure to certain chemicals, environmental toxins like pollution, radiation, and cigarette smoke. Under normal circumstances the body can easily rid itself of free radicals, but problems can occur if the number of free radicals increases beyond the body's ability to neutralize or destroy them.

So, when a cell / molecule becomes a free radicle, it becomes highly reactive (except a few which are not chemically reactive, such as melanin) and can lead to free radical damage (often closely associated with oxidative damage). The cell membrane (the outer covering of the cell) becomes either too vulnerable or too resistant to outside influences. It can also damage the cell's DNA, causing the cell to malfunction or reproduce abnormally.

The damage caused by free radicals plays a part in a number of chronic diseases in people who eat  processed foods, non-organic produce, meat and dairy to include hardening of the arteries, cancer, and arthritis. Free radicals can also interfere with your immune system. So, fighting off damage with antioxidants helps keep your immune system strong, making you better able to ward off colds, flu, and other infections.

Antioxidants are reducing agents that limit oxidative damage to biological structures by passivating them from free radicals.

Okay, time to take another look at kale...
Kale’s health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration and excellent source of antioxidants - vitamins A, C, and K - and sulphur-containing phytonutrients. Carotenoids and flavonoids are the specific types of antioxidants associated with many of the anti-cancer health benefits. Kale is also rich in the eye-health promoting lutein and zeaxanthin compounds.
Beyond antioxidants, the fiber content of cruciferous kale binds bile acids and helps lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when kale is cooked instead of raw.


Hippocrates said 100's of years ago, "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food." These words are just as true today as they were in 470 BC!!

I advocate a diet of fresh organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and nuts. Eat what is local, what is fresh and in season and is available in your community. If kale isn't available, eat mustard greens or spinach. If berries are not available or too expensive, then eat apples and oranges. By eating locally organic food from local farmers, you are not only benefiting from fresh produce but you are also participating within your community by supporting hard working neighbors and businesses.

Adding more fruit and vegetables of any kind to your diet will improve your health. But some foods are higher in antioxidants than others. The three major antioxidant vitamins are beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. You’ll find them in colorful fruits and vegetables – especially those with purple, blue, red, orange, and yellow hues. To get the biggest benefits of antioxidants, eat these foods raw or lightly steamed.

Beta-carotene and other carotenoids:
Apricots, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, green peppers, kale, mangoes, turnip and collard greens, nectarines, peaches, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, squash, spinach, sweet potato, tangerines, tomatoes, and watermelon.

Vitamin C: Berries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, honeydew, kale, kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, orange, papaya, red, green or yellow peppers, snow peas, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes.

Vitamin E: Broccoli, carrots, chard, mustard and turnip greens, mangoes, nuts, papaya, pumpkin, red peppers, spinach, and sunflower seeds.

These foods are the "superfoods" more than the synthetically created powders and pills which make a lot of money for some multinational corporations / individuals but don't deliver the nutritional goods to the same extent to the individuals - nor to your own community. Health, happiness, peace, kindness to your fellow man, compassion to all animals and respect and awareness for our environment is all part of achieving wholeness and wellness...... :)
4 Comments

a Yoga Detox Retreat - a Holiday with a Difference

12/3/2013

4 Comments

 
yoga detox holiday walks
walking in nature feeds the Soul
yoga detox holidays yoga
Yoga stretches and opens the body, whilst stilling the mind
When my yoga-ing, detoxing guests tell their friends and colleagues that they're going on a yoga detox retreat for their annual holiday, the response is very often one of surprise / shock / concern for their friend's mental health / complete wonder as to WHY?! WHY would anyone in their own right mind not have a holiday where one has the luxury of sleeping in until noon, of eating generous portions of delicious restaurant / hotel food, of drinking lavish amounts of alcohol without worrying about the consequences... etc. etc.??

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4 Comments

Fats - the good, the bad and the trans-fats

7/10/2011

4 Comments

 
On my yoga detox retreats, I often give a few suggestions on how to eat more healthily... and one important aspect to this is that of FATS.

We all need some fat in our diet. But eating too much fat makes us more likely to become overweight. What’s more, too much of a particular kind of fat – saturated fat – can raise our cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. That’s why it’s important to cut down on fat, and choose foods that contain unsaturated fat.

Eating too much fat can make us more likely to put on weight, because foods that are high in fat are also high in energy (calories). Being overweight raises our risk of serious health problems, such as:
  • heart disease
  • type II diabetes
  • high blood pressure
But this doesn’t mean that all fat is bad. We need some fat in our diet because it helps the body absorb certain nutrients. Fat is a source of energy, and provides essential fatty acids that the body can’t make itself.

Types of fat
There are two main types of fat found in food: saturated and unsaturated.

Saturated and unsaturated fat contain the same amount of calories. But as part of a healthy diet, we should try to cut down on food that is high in saturated fat, and instead eat foods that are rich in unsaturated fat.


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4 Comments

Lemon water - a great way to start your day!!!

10/9/2011

5 Comments

 
lemon water yoga detox holiday
lemon water is alkalising on the body
As many of you may know, I encourage you to start every day with a glass of lemon water - rather than a coffee!!

On my yoga detox retreats we always kick-start the day with a glass of lemon water before yoga.

Although lemons are acidic - contain citric acid - they are alkalising for the body!

The combination of the high alkaline minerals lemons contain (calcium, potassium, magnesium) and the low sugar content, means that once inside the body, they have an alkalising effect on the body (whereas a cup of coffee has a highly acidic effect on the body! I know, I know... the smell of coffee in the morning....Sorry, but it's true...to start your day with a cup of coffee is not good for you!)


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Soon to be - Monchique Cats

3/7/2011

3 Comments

 
A house is not a home until you have at least one cat sharing it with you... - that's my philosophy..., but then I am a hopeless cat lover. I think I must have been a witch in a previous life.

So, I have invited my four beautiful feline friends to share our magical valley in the mountains of Monchique... as soon as I can be there to help them acclimatise to their new surroundings...
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Majectic Rama - 2010


Rama - the chilled out 'dad' who loves drinking water from the taps...

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Sita - 2005
and Sita - the beautiful 'mommy' cat who oozes cheek, personality and charm...

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Lila helping in the office - 2006
Lila - the reclusive sister, who likes to live life on her own terms...

I won't be able to move the cats until late September / early October when I return from Turkey, but when I do, life in the valley will feel even more complete.
3 Comments
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    Lauren Manning

    Globe-trotting nomad, yogini, holistic therapist, cat lover who, after 20 years of traveling the world, has finally laid down roots in the magical mountains of Monchique - Portugal's 'upper Algarve'.
    When not harvesting or renovating however, she continues to travel - sharing the world of yoga, meditation and healthy living with those she meets along the way...

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Copyright - 2013 - Yoga Detox Retreats
  • Home
  • about
    • Lauren
    • THE PROGRAM >
      • The yoga >
        • yoga with Lauren
        • the yoga & detox connection
        • meditation on retreat
      • The Detox >
        • raw vegan food detox
        • juice fasting detox
        • alkalising diet detox
        • why detox?
        • colonic cleanse & enemas
        • benefits of a detox retreat
        • detox, nutrition & weight loss
      • The Therapies >
        • benefits of therapies
    • testimonials
    • Blog
    • cancellation policy
    • privacy policy
    • links
  • RETREATS
    • 4 Day Portugal yoga detox retreat
    • 6 Day Algarve yoga juice fast detox retreat
    • Italy yoga juice fast detox retreat
    • Portugal yoga& alkalising diet detox retreats
    • Portugal yoga holidays
    • yoga surf holiday Portugal
    • Personal Detox Retreat
    • Gallery
  • Contact
  • covid 19 statement