the Detox Ritual that will save you this February

Here we are, we have arrived! The dead of winter, we are all aching for sun and warmth and frankly, we NEED it. Living in Michigan, we come to this place every year and it always seems to throw me for a loop. This year I have been trying my hardest to be intentional about staying connected with myself, not loosing touch with my mind and my heart. If you read my most recent post on rituals to do instead of getting depressed this winter (if you missed it, read it here), you know that now is the time that I get sucked under. Numbing, isolating, gaining weight unconsciously, its a common curse and when we choose to live present in our lives we have an opportunity to be better. 

So, I choose grounding. 
I choose the things that shed the layers, physically, mentally and emotionally. Here's something that will help you with that. 

Pursoma Minerals de Mer Soak 

WHATS IN IT: 
+ Hand Harvested French Grey Sea Salt : Sodium Chloride. Good for replenishing electrolytes, supplying the body with 82 trace minerals, aids in eliminating toxins. 
+ Wild Harvested Atlantic Kelp & Organic Green Algae : Skin soothing, hydrating and toxin eliminating. Rich in vital minerals and vitamins. 

This bath is no joke. I know I know, another bath post, but this will shift you. I heard about Pursoma a couple years ago through my favorite fitness studio in NY. This past fall when I led my first group cleanse, the Shift, we incorporated this detox bath on the 7th day as a way of remineralizing the body. Last week I was cleansing my liver and I felt that this soak was an excellent thing to incorporate within my detox.

the gorgeous deep green color from the algae

It was about 7 pm (you'll want to make sure you clear your evening as it has been known to knock you out), I began by creating a warm bed. The way the bath goes is you soak for 20 min (or more!) and then you "sweat and rest" for at least 20 minutes. I layered my down comforters over my heating pad on high. I cranked the heat in my house up to 75 degrees and turned the space heater on in the bathroom. Light some candles, phone on airplane mode (or off if you have another method of keeping time!), prepare your mind by writing everything in the forefront of your brain on a sheet of paper really quick and take a couple deep breaths. 

Running the water as hot as it will get that you can handle and pour yourself a big glass of cold water. You're ready. Hop it. Empty the entire contents of the package and begin a 20 min timer or just simply notice the time if you want to see how long you can stay. Set the phone away from the tub so you're not tempted to mindlessly scroll your social feeds. 

Close your eyes, trying to get your entire body under the water level except your head. Make sure you stay hot. Eventually you may begin to sweat, this is GOOD. Breathing, noticing your mind and your body. I notice the water feels heavy against my body. It's hot and with "nothing" to do, towards the end, I get a bit restless. I take some of the water and splash it on my face, rubbing it in in circular motions. 

Times up. I get out of the tub and wrapped in a warm towel that I left close to the space heater. DO NOT RINSE. This is important. The active ingredients in the bath can do their work for up to 12 hours post soak, so this is an important step. 

I quickly make my way from the tub to my warm bed, I get under the covers still wrapped in my big towel. The lights are off, I close my eyes, and I can feel my heart beat in my head. More than that, my heart is racing!  The heat of the bath? My body detoxing? Phone is still out of reach, but a new 20 minute timer is under way. 

Time passes s l o w l y in the "sweat and rest" step. I ask my husband how much time is left a handful of times, noticing that I am sweating, but its ok, it feels like I'm releasing something. I grow very tired and feel almost as if I've had a glass of wine, body is tired and warm and it takes everything in my to even think about moving a muscle. I keep getting more and more tired, the stage of tiredness where my mind is fighting it but my body is shutting down, still feeling my heartbeat through my whole body, noticing the thumping in my head. Not painful, but all I can say is

"Ryan if I die, sue Pursoma". 

I ask how much longer and I'm soaked in sweat and fighting sleep. Just the longest 58 seconds of my life. Times up, I get out of bed, towel off, get dressed and I feel heavy, ready to slumber. No rinsing once again. But I feel no desire to, I feel cleaner than ever. 

I climb back into bed, I chug a big glass of cold water, and we start watching a movie, I'm passed out in 15 minutes and I slept like a baby. 

Then next morning I wake at 6:15a and I'm wide awake, feeling clean, renewed and ready. That whole day I'm energized and THIRSTY, drinking so much water and people are asking me why I'm glowing. 

This isn't just a soak, my friends, this is a restart button. I felt relaxed but not tired, energized but contained, so good and alive in my body. Another nice aspect of it was the intention of stepping away from my phone. I am entirely guilty of scrolling mindlessly for a good portion of my evenings, especially in the tub. This soak gives you a moment to step out, to be with yourself.

As we keep trekking through the dark of the winter, keep choosing methods of grounding and stepping back inside of your mind, your body and most importantly, your heart space. Choosing a deep love for yourself and exploring that through self care. A physical, mental, digital detox. Its all encompassing. Wake yourselves up, my friends. Stay here, fighting for yourself.