Once you commit to the physical aspects of your cleanse, we recommend setting an intention as the mental accompaniment to your practice. Creating an intention is about nurturing the spirit as well as the body, and it’s an effective way to extend the cleanse to our more subtle natures.

Our bodies have cellular memory, which means that traumatic or unpleasant experiences can stay with us, stifling our emotional health. So in addition to helping you stay focused and mindful on your cleanse, creating an intention has a more practical purpose: to help you clear the imprint of toxic memories, emotions or pain. While it’s a foreign concept to many in the West, it’s something we’ve all experienced. Have you ever developed a headache or stomachache as a result of an uncomfortable conflict? This is the mind-body connection in motion.

When painful events or difficult emotions aren’t released, we hold onto depression, anger and sadness, which can lead to chronic disease. Creating an intention is an exercise in emotional health—an attempt to heal mind, body and spirit. It’s a simple act of awareness in which you consciously decide to release or cleanse specific emotional matter that may be holding you back from optimal vitality. Maybe you’ve been ill, or suffered a tragedy or endured a painful divorce. Deciding to cleanse yourself of toxic emotions is as important as the physical cleanse itself.

Some strategies for setting an intention include meditating on what you’d like to release or creating affirmations you’ll see and say daily to remind yourself of your goals. We recommend writing your intention down and then burning it in a fire ceremony upon completion of the cleanse, releasing it once and for all from your consciousness. Rituals like this are important for healing deeply held emotions that can continue plague us when left unexamined.

 Click here to read more about the Fire Ceremony and other rituals recommended by Neka.