WHY WOULD YOU FAST + IS IT REALLY THAT HARD?
The simple answer is a reset/reboot/detox/cleanse.
BUT, the more exciting & juicy answer is a letting go of the old to upgrade your current state of health. For a positive experience fasting should be done in a supportive & rich environment so that you fully understand what is important while fasting, so that there is joy & so that you have knowledge & support on hand if you are faced with a challenge or question why you are doing it. After a few fasts, some people may choose to fast alone at home, however some simply thrive in a group environment & simply find it a lot more fun!
What are the benefits of fasting? There is a bottomless pit of benefits to fasting! Really. It’s just sometimes a challenge to actually begin the fast! I personally believe fasting with others is so much easier AND a lot more fun. This allows for success! Once you take food out & you begin drinking juice your body receives a much needed break, because your body is not having to spend energy on digesting foods. With this time, your body can go about repairing old injuries, congested or overwhelmed organs, cleansing, repairing, healing. It is the fastest way to heal because your body is being given an environment where it can actually do it’s job of staying on top of it’s tasks! However, it often has backlog to deal with first because we are generally in the habit of eating too much food, eating when we aren’t hungry or eating foods that are not healing to our system.
What are the challenges of fasting? Depending on what our lifestyle has been like leading up to our first or next fast, will often determine our experience. We can however support our bodies by reducing certain foods & drink in the lead up to a fast to gently ease our way into it. Cutting wheat, dairy, meat, sugar, alcohol & caffeine begins a gentle detox in itself. I created a video here last year about the prep phase. Then once we step into a committed juice fast our body can really get to work! As I said depending on how our lifestyle has been & also how our body’s detox pathways are working will depend on what we experience during a fast. BUT the environment in which we fast is a huge factor as well! On my fasting retreat I prioritise the best possible environment & schedule so that there is connection with uplifting people, engagement of your mind during learning sessions & engagement of your senses with time in the sun & nature. It’s not just about eliminating food - it is so much more! I also ensure that where possible participants are encouraged to do enemas to really support their detox & cleanse. This reduces any detox symptoms & allows the body to release at a deeper level.
Should I do it with support? I recommend that if you don’t do a group fast you should definitely tee up an accountability buddy or friend so that you have someone to check in with along the journey. I also offer support for one on one clients via Zoom/Skype or in person if we are in the same town. It really does need to be tailored to the individual, which is why I feel it is so important to work with a practitioner who has a lot of experience with fasting & assessing individual needs. I have been fasting since 2009 (10 years) and am fortunate to have worked alongside Tyler Tolman at his 7 & 30 day fasts in Bali. This gave me a lot of insight & knowledge to be able to support individuals with their specific needs. It really is so much more about how to create the right environment & support than it is about what we are taking away (food). If done correctly fasting can actually be a joyful experience. I have had some of my clearest insights & most pure connections while fasting. You can read more about my fasting journey here.
Me in NSW at the end of my 19 day fast (3 days juice, 16 days water).
If you are wanting to experience the purity of your being, shedding the old & making way for rebuilding the new don’t forget in 3 weeks I have an opportunity for you to fast in tropical Far North Queensland. My next 5 day Transformational Juice Fast has 2 beds left for couples, besties or a nourishing solo king suite. Reach out via phone or email if this feels like the right opportunity for you to upgrade your health & add years to your life!
Janelle x