Thanksgiving is behind us, and the crazy holiday season is in full swing. You probably stuffed yourself silly yesterday, and probably have about a week before your schedules are overcome with holiday parties and fetes galore. During this time of year, it’s very easy to just let yourself go. Drinking, eating sweets, dining out, not finding time to fit in your regular workouts. All too easily you can find yourself frazzled, over weight, and feeling lethargic. It’s not even Christmas yet, and j can already feel the effects that too much sugar has on my body. So how do we avoid this and make it through the holidays feeling and looking like the health conscious hotties that we are? I’ve put together a few tips for detoxing after a binge, and this advice serves to keep me on track as much as it does you.

Twist and squat:

Find yourself a great yoga class, and work twists and squats into your home regime. Twisting is a great way to wring out impurities, work the kidneys, and tone the liver. Squatting deeply helps to stimulate digestion, and is great for cleaning the intestines after an indulgent meal. RAC, Pleasant Street, Yoga Glow, South Shore, and Tabula Rasa Gallery host yoga classes locally. For specific detox poses, visit yogajournal.com, or consult Light on Yoga.

Drink Your Greens:

Many fruits and vegetables have detoxifying principles. Blending them all together in a morning smoothie is an excellent way kick start your metabolism, flush out impurities, and hydrate. Here is a simple, classic green smoothie recipe:

3 cups spinach or kale

1 banana

1  apple, cut into ½ inch pieces

1 avocado

¼ cup cilantro or flat leaf parsley

Juice of 1 lemon

Water

1. Place all ingredients in a blender. Fill halfway with water and blend until smooth and creamy. Store remaining smoothie in an airtight jar in the refrigerator.

Take time to Breathe:

Have you ever taken a moment to think about your breathing? Maybe you’re stressed out, suddenly noticed yourself holding your breath. When life gets crazy, and we become tense, we tend to forget about breathing. This creates more tension in the body, and they cycle continues. Try to take deep breaths, filling up the diaphragm first, then the chest and lungs. Slowly exhale, emptying the chest first then the diaphragm. Try to count to five or six on each the inhale and exhale. Breathing deeply helps to send oxygen to the muscles, thus having an overall relaxing effect. Pranayama breathing can also help to build internal heat, which also has a cleansing effect. For more information on breathing techniques, and pranayama visit yogajournal.com.

Happy, healthy, holidays!