Life of Kate: My Cleansing Experience this Fall & all about Ojas

After 10 days of cleansing as per the Autumn Ayurvedic Cleanse, I feel ojas-full. 

(see below for more on ojas)

To be more specific, here are the changes I've found between the start and finish of the cleanse:

• lost weight in a healthy way, i.e. my muscles are strong and my face is still full, but my skinny jeans are more comfortable. Any bloat is gone. I don't feel like I have pockets of stagnant lymph or am retaining any water. It feels so good.
• diminished cravings for sugar & caffeine. Before the cleanse I ate sugary things and black tea with some frequency. Now: My boy-friend put pistachio ice cream in the fridge for my post-post-cleanse celebration, and I'm not that interested in opening it up. I have no desire for anything caffeinated at all. I feel totally energized without it.
• clearer skin. Prior to the cleanse my hormones were bouncing all over the place making my skin a nightmare. Now, muuuch better. My skin tone hasn't been this even in as long as I can remember. My mom commented last night that my skin (like my arms) are glowing. 
•  balanced libido. People with high vata (a strong airy, ether-like presence in their body) often complain of lowered libido. I feel strong in my femininity. 
• diminished anxiety.  Perhaps my favorite thing about this cleanse is that one becomes so incredibly calm. The ghee creates this feeling of ease and comfort, like a big golden bubble that protects you from all things stressful and potentially harmful. In a physical way, the ghee nourishes your tissues and soothes your GI tract unbelievably. 

During the cleanse, I felt great. I kept up a full schedule of teaching yoga and maintaining my own yoga practice in addition to having a social life. During the 3-Day Detox, I even went to a friend's house to take care of her the other night; needless to say, we both had light (but oh so tasty) bowls of kitchari for dinner. 

I am so glad I did this. I cannot wait to help all my wonderful cleansers on this path. And I'm already looking forward to doing this all again myself next Spring!

ALL ABOUT OJAS:
Ojas is the end product of perfect digestion. Here are what a few of my favorite books have to say about Ojas:

"The Biochemical Component of Bliss, Ojas: When all...vital tissues are completely nourished and working in balance, a biochemical substance called ojas is produced from the finest essence of the food. [It] permeates the entire body and mind. A person with a good supply of ojas is often described as having a glow about them or looking radiant....Ojas is responsible for nourishing the mos subtle aspects of mind and body. It keep the balance of all bodily systems and therefore creates bliss." (Heaven's Banquet by M Hospodar)

"Increase of ojas makes contentment, nourishment of the body and increase of strength." (Ashtanga Hridaya)

"An individual with high ojas enjoys energectic vitality, an impenetrable immune system, and a feeling of overall contentment and joy in life." (Eat, Taste, Heal by T Yarema, D Rhoda, & J Brannigan)