By NOw You've likely Heard that
good health, in both the body and mind, begins in the gut.
And certain foods can lead to digestive issues, inflammation, and cancer. Foods like trans-fats and sugar are on the top of that list.
My personal weakness is sugar.
I can go months without being overcome by this addiction then there is a new chocolate shop with too many truffles to try (or the carrot cake from a favorite restaurant) and it’s straight downhill from there. Then there is the sugar high that is followed all too soon by a crash of energy and literally feeling completely hung over the next day.
Over the last two decades I have found benefit in the Āyurvedic approach of using food as medicine and gentle cleansing to help restore my digestion and get back on track to healthy habits.
The change of season is a perfect time to make a commitment to health, self-care, and feeling well.
So, What is
Āyurveda originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is considered the oldest continuously practiced health-care system in the world.
Āyurveda?
Āyur
Means "Life"
Veda
Means "science" or "knowledge"
and
So, it can be understood as a science of life.
The Reset You've Been
Āyurveda uses food as medicine, herbs, lifestyle routines, bodywork therapies, and gentle seasonal cleansing to nourish the tissues, remove stagnation, and increase health.
Āyurvedic cleanses have been used in India for many centuries to restore balance in the body and mind. It’s a way to improve your digestion and boost your immunity. When we don’t properly digest our foods, thoughts, or experiences—when we have poor digestion all around—it can lead to anxiety, foggy thinking, and lack of energy.
Looking For
"I have had a dramatic shift in my sense of peace and calm.”
I don't get rattled or anxious when something disrupts my norm, I definitely feel more joy and I am lighter in body and spirit. It feels great!
"I can't even begin to tell you how transformational this experience has been."
I have learned so much about my body in these ten days, and I have always been incredibly attuned to my body. But simply trying this way of preparing and eating foods has made an incredible difference, perhaps mostly in my mindset. I was so in need of this.
"I have lost 5 pounds."
Who knew you could eat carbs and vegetables and lose weight! I have more energy throughout the day, less headaches and feel like I have more mental clarity. My favorite is I no longer wake in the middle of the night with gut pain. I have really enjoyed the recipes, my favorites being the cherry chia oatmeal and the curry vegetable soup with basmati rice.
"A great opportunity to reset your eating habits, learn delicious new recipes, and feel connected to a supportive wellness community."
The recipes alone are worth the price of admission, and Andrea’s daily emails offer even more useful tips and nutritional wisdom. I look forward to setting aside these special days for self-care every spring and fall. To be honest, I always “cheat” a little when I’m doing a cleanse - but that’s ok! Andrea leaves room for imperfection and encourages everyone to stay within their comfort zone while offering wise and compassionate feedback for achieving your goals. And the recipes are amazing!
It's More About Nourishment than Deprivation
a series of orientation videos guiding you through each step of the cleanse program
The BEnefits
You'll Receive
a virtual Spring Wellness Workshop to help you understand fall and its impact on the Vata dosha along with seasonal rituals and routines (Monday, March 24, 2025 at 6pm CST)
live information session and Q&A group video calls to answer any questions you may have and to ensure you get the support you need along the way (April 17, April 10 and April 16, 2025 at 6pm CST)
an in depth cleanse handbook and recipe manual offering step-by-step guidance and the recipe manual is filled with nourishing plant-based seasonal recipes that can be enjoyed long after the cleanse
guided yoga, pranayama and meditation videos for each day of the cleanse and beyond aimed at supporting you through the season
all videos are recorded so you can watch at your leisure
daily emails to support and inspire you through the process
tips for setting up your kitchen, seasonal food lists, shopping lists, meal plans, detox boosting recommendations, self-care rituals, and daily routine charts
mindfulness practices to help you slow down and align with your intentions
step-by-step instructions on how to ease off the cleanse
access to a private Facebook cleanse group
unlimited email support
By the end of the cleanse, you finish...
Knowing how to use to food as medicine through Āyurvedic principles
Having reset your digestive system and improved digestive health
With a better relationship with food and new cooking skills
With more energy and a metabolism that’s been reset
With a boost to your immune system, setting you up for the season to come
Having given up unhealthy cravings
With healthier lifestyle routines to navigate modern life in a way that feels more balancing, sustaining, and meaningful
Knowing how to adapt your yoga, pranayama and meditation practices to the season
Cooking
If you don’t have time to shop for the ingredients or cook during the cleanse (and you live in Madison), the Cleanse & Restore meal plan will be perfect for you!
Holistic nutritionist and personal chef, Lauren Montelbano of the Vibrant Veg, will cook your phase 1 & 3 lunch and dinners for you which includes 14 meals. (You will be cooking each morning’s breakfast as well as the main kitchari purifying dish during phase 2).
The 14 meals with onsite pick up is $275, add $25 for delivery. Email Lauren at thevibrantveg@gmail.com to set up your cleanse meal plan prior to April 3rd.
Schedule
Pre-Cleanse: Prepare
You will receive the information and guidance you need to partake in a whole-food, plant-based seasonal cleanse from the comfort of your own home. There is no fasting or expensive treatments, supplements, or shakes. You will be eating three nourishing meals a day.
Although there are set dates for the cleanse, it’s designed for you to adjust the dates to work best for you. Here’s what the schedule looks like:
Simplify (Days 1-4)
Phase One
Review the cleanse manual. Purchase supplies and prepare your kitchen. Set your intentions.
Main Cleanse
Enjoy three seasonally aligned plant-based meals per day. Incorporate daily self-care practices and relax into your routine.
Purify (Days 5-7)
Phase Two
Enjoy three meals per day of Ayurveda’s purifying and healing kitchari. If needed, you can shorten this phase to 1 day or lengthen it to 5 days.
Restore (Days 8-10)
Phase Three
Is for restoring and returning to the seasonally aligned meals of the first phase.
Post-Cleanse: Reintegrate
Begin reintegrating a balanced diet step-by-step as you return to your daily activities with increased vitality.
One week prior to the start of the cleanse you’ll get access to a learning platform where you will access all the materials you need to have a successful cleanse.
The first four days of the cleanse are about eliminating and avoiding hard to digest foods—including caffeine, alcohol, sugar, raw foods, and flesh foods— and upgrading to more health-giving foods, like maple syrup instead of white sugar. You’ll also set intentions, and learn Āyurvedic self-care rituals, as well as how to set up a sacred kitchen.
During phase two, the main cleanse, you’ll eat purifying meals with seasonal vegetables and continue with your Āyurvedic self-care rituals. Reducing sensory stimulus and slowing down so you can proceed with a lot of intentionality is recommended.
Finally, during phase three you’ll follow a step-by-step protocol for introducing foods back into your diet. You’ll have worked hard to reduce and eliminate certain foods, which you may decide not to reintroduce.
Please note, many people feel that they cannot give up coffee. You’ll still benefit from the cleanse without giving it up, but it’s recommended that you try. To wean yourself, you may consider reducing your coffee by one tablespoon a day or shifting to green tea before the start of the cleanse.
Please also note that there are times when a cleanse is not suitable. If you have an acute illness (flu, cancer, etc.) it will be too taxing for your system. If you’re pregnant or nursing you won’t want toxins excreted via your breast milk. If you have questions about whether this cleanse is appropriate for you, email me and consult with your primary care provider.
Other Things
To Expect
Registration
The spring seasonal shift can leave one feeling a little out of balance physically, mentally, and spiritually. Allow your body to reset and restore, while encouraging your innate capacity for rejuvenation and healing.
Cleanse with the community for the set dates or adjust the dates of the cleanse to be most convenient for you. Anyone in any time zone anywhere can register for this cleanse.
You will have access to the materials for sixty days. When you sign up be sure to subscribe to emails so that you receive the Cleanse & Reset materials and daily program emails. Given the digital nature of this course, refunds are not available once you have accessed the course.
Repeat participants receive a discount to support making this program accessible season after season. If you do not recall our code, you can email me.
Please Note
There are times in which is best not to partake in a cleanse such as during pregnancy, nursing, heavy menstruation, acute sickness, or illness (flu, cancer, etc.). If you have questions about whether this cleanse is appropriate for you, consult with your primary care provider, and email me.
Prior to the cleanse start date, I recommend ordering split yellow mung beans and white rice for kitchari from your natural foods store, Indian grocery, or Amazon.
I’ve done several cleanses and resets with Andrea, and with each I’ve taken away a lasting benefit. The two most significant changes were eliminating coffee (so hard on my stomach) and adding a consistent morning meditation practice to my daily routine - changes that have enhanced my physical and mental well-being. I’ve truly found the cleanses to be a path to better health.
Laura
Andrea's cleanse gave me an opportunity to step off the treadmill of life, reflect upon how I am choosing to live and how I am nourishing my body. She provided complete guidelines with options for when things aren’t perfect - I liked that. She was there to support us all online and provide encouragement when needed. I would highly recommend both the Spring and Fall Cleanse as a way to transition smoothly from season to season.
Cleanse Participant
New to Ayurveda, the materials that Andrea provided for the cleanse gave me the confidence that I needed to adjust my routine. After that first cleanse, I felt like a new person. My stress levels had decreased significantly, my body felt cleaner and healthier, and I had a routine that worked and was sustainable.
It is like a mini self-care retreat at my home.
The manual provides easy to prepare meals that are delicious and help realign my eating habits towards what is nourishing that season. The daily routine, yoga classes, and community that forms with others that are taking the cleanse nourish my soul and help to refocus my attention on what is important
Liz
I didn’t think the cleanses were something for me as I’m a fairly fussy eater and hadn’t had any digestive issues. Then when I returned from a trip, I felt like attempting a cleanse was a good way to reintegrate back into my day to day life. Chef Lauren cooked my meals which was wonderful and made it all a lot easier.
The first two days were tough, I experienced cravings for snacks and sweets, and was dragging without my afternoon cup of caffeinated tea. It's now been 8 weeks since the cleanse. I never went back to drinking caffeine, which is shocking after a 40+ year habit of loving and needing coffee. I’ve reduced my alcohol intake significantly, and most of my meals are mindful. I’m even now enjoying making the recipes included in the manual. Most significantly – I feel great! My mood is uplifted and constant, I weigh ten pounds less than I did 8 weeks ago, and my blood pressure has gone from “borderline high” to perfectly normal. I will definitely be joining again!
Susan
Cleanse Facilitator
Meet Andrea
Andrea Russell, your cleanse guide, is an Āyurvedic doctor, yoga therapist, and meditation teacher. With a deep dedication to sharing timeless eastern wisdom, Andrea provides you with the tools and support needed to heal, align, and thrive. She brings years of expertise, having guided countless individuals through transformative practices rooted in Āyurveda and holistic wellness.