With only a few weeks left of winter, we are preparing ourselves for the ceremonial spring clean. This is an important time of year for Provenance clients, as we focus not only on cleansing our surroundings, but our mind and bodies as well.
Cleanses are an opportunity to break bad habits and establish fresh, positive lifestyle changes while ridding your body of toxins and other harmful substances. Enter The Cleanse by Taryn Toomey, Provenance’s latest collaboration and seasonal program designed to shed stagnant layers to reveal a more balanced, vibrant, and healthy self through whole foods and nutrients.
Over the course of the 10-day program, you are introduced to a diet that eliminates inflammatory triggers - gluten, dairy, refined sugar, GMOs, industrial vegetable oils, highly processed soy, caffeine and alcohol.
In an effort to get back to basics and revive her energy, The Class Digital Producer and Teacher Courtney Deri participated in The Cleanse meal delivery program. Today, she shares how she overcame cravings and how the experience reset her system.
Where did your wellness journey start? Was there a turning point in your life when you knew you had to start prioritizing your health?
Taking care of my body and mind has always been a priority in my life. Growing up as a dancer, which meant being in motion 8+ hours a day enforced that I learn how to properly take care of myself. In the past four years, I have definitely taken it to the next level and have been much more interested in supplements and mushrooms… honestly I’m open to trying things that will help keep the body and mind young.
Why did you decide to do The Cleanse?
I felt as though I needed to give my system a reset. I was feeling sluggish physically, and foggy in the mind... so I figured I needed to pay some attention to my gut - AKA the second brain.
How did you feel at the start versus the end?
In the beginning, I was very enthusiastic and actually quite excited to experience the ten days. I felt like I had something to look forward to. I would say the first four days were the hardest when it came to cravings… but now completing Day 10… I would say my cravings have subsided, it is much easier for me to wake up in the mornings, and I don’t have a mid-day crash!
What was the best part? What was the hardest part?
The best part was putting clean and high nutrient foods into my body, and after Day 4, not experiencing the sugar cravings throughout the day. Going into this, I thought the hardest part would be going ten days without coffee, dairy, and refined sugars - however, I learned the hardest part about this program was remaining dedicated to my plan and not eating anything I was craving. In the past ten days, I have learned how much fun I have when thinking about what I want to or where I’d like to eat. I really missed the social aspect of going out to eat!
Which meals were your favorite? I loved the zucchini pesto noodles, the breakfast shakshuka, and chia bowls.
As a trained Yogi and long-time teacher with The Class, movement and mindfulness are already part of your every day routine. What other forms of self-care do you prioritize on a daily or weekly basis?
Drinking plenty of water and meditation. These two things are non-negotiable.
How do you fuel your body, food-related or otherwise?
Introducing new environments, experiences, and people in my life are a great source of fuel for me… with a healthy dose of Whole Foods.
About Courtney
Courtney Deri is currently the Digital Producer for The Class by Taryn Toomey, also serving as a teacher. Courtney's life has been fueled by movement. Her classical ballet training began at age three and continued with prestigious schools that led a professional career across the United States. Her deep passion and dedication to that practice guided her to where she is today: personally and professionally. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher certification at Back Bay Yoga Boston under Lynne Begier, Ryan Cunningham, and Caitlyn Graham Visconte in 2014 and has taken various continuing education courses with different teachers in NYC. When Courtney discovered The Class by Taryn Toomey, she immediately connected with the transformative practice and felt compelled to dive deeper into the method. She was in awe of The Class experience: the safe space that was created for students to step into higher consciousness and discovery of strength.
