Fasting Cleansing Detox Retreat

In Plato's words, "I fast for greater physical and mental efficiency".

The Bible mentions fasting 74 times, and Jesus himself fasted frequently, sometimes up to 40 days at a time. He recommended fasting and colon cleansing to restore the body to health. From The Gospel of Peace of Jesus Christ we quote:

"And from all the temptations of your body and your spirit , coming from Satan, withdraw beneath the shadow of God's heaven. Renew yourself and fast.

. For I tell you truly that Satan and his plagues may only be cast out by fasting and prayer. And fast till Beelzebub and his evils departs from and all the angels of our earthy mother come and serve you.For I tell you truly, except you fast, you shall never be free from the power of Satan and from all diseases that comes from Satan."

Jesus further recommends colonics. Quote:
" Think not that it sufficient that the angel of water embrace you outward only. I tell you truly, the uncleanness within is greater by much than the uncleanness without. And he who cleanses himself without, but within remains unclean is like tombs that outwards are painted fair, but are within full of all manners of horrible uncleanness and abominations. So I tell you truly, suffer the angels of water to baptize you also within, that you may become free from all past sins, and that within likewise you may become as pure as the river's foam sporting in the sunlight."

Jesus then goes on to describe how to make and do a gravity colonic. So colon cleansing is not something new, but has been practiced for over 2000 years. If diseases were caused by impurities and toxins 2000 years ago, how much more vital must it not be to fast and cleanse today, when we live in a world putrefied with chemicals and toxins. I saw an article some time ago in a London newspaper, which claimed that a person living in London, UK is exposed to 500 different toxins every day. Children today are born with toxic blood:

Benefits of fasting
By Sri Swami Sivananda

Nowadays, many educated people do not observe fasting on this sacred day. This is due to the impact of the dark, vicious, materialistic forces. When the intellect develops a little, people begin to enter into arguments and unnecessary discussions. Intellect is a hindrance on the spiritual path. They who have not developed the heart but who have developed their intellect begin to doubt and question at every step. They are led astray. They want a "why" and a "how" for everything. They want "scientific" explanations for all phenomena.

God is beyond proofs and presumptions. One has to approach religion and the scriptures with great faith, reverence and purity of heart. Then only are the secrets of religion revealed unto him like the apple in the palm of one's hand. Does anybody ask his mother to prove who is his father?

Fasting controls passion. It checks the emotions. It controls the senses also. It is a great penance. It purifies the mind and the heart. It destroys a multitude of sins. Fasting controls the tongue in particular which is the deadliest enemy of man. Fasting overhauls the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and urinary systems. It destroys all the impurities of the body and all sorts of poisons. It eliminates uric acid deposits. Just as impure gold is rendered pure by melting it in the crucible again and again, so also this impure mind is rendered purer by repeated fasting.

Young and robust Brahmacharis (celibates) should observe fasting whenever passion troubles them. Only then will they have very good meditation, as the mind will be rendered calm. The chief object of fasting is to render the system calm so that one is able to practice meditation rigorously during that period.

Withdraw the senses and fix the mind on god. Pray to god to guide you and to throw a flood of light on your spiritual path. Say with feeling: "O god, guide me! Protect me, protect me! I am Thine, I am Thine! Forsake me not!" You will be blessed with purity, light and strength. Follow this sadhana on the days that you fast, ekadashi days in particular.

Fasting is one of the ten canons of yoga. However, avoid excessive fasting. It will produce weakness. Use your common sense. If you cannot fast for the full twenty-four hours, at least fast for 10-12 hours and then take some milk and fruit. Gradually increase your fast to 15 hours and then up to 24 hours. Fasting makes a man strong, both spiritually and mentally.

In his code, the manu smriti, the great Hindu lawgiver, manu, prescribes fasting for the removal of the five capital sins. Diseases that are pronounced incurable by doctors are cured by fasting. Occasionally, a complete fast is greatly desirable for all to keep up good health, to give adequate rest to the internal organs and maintain celibacy. All diseases have their origin in overeating and verily fasting is the only method to cure this.

The traditional Taoist method of cleansing the colon involved therapeutic fasts combined with powerful herbal purgatives that dissolved mucus and dredged debris from the colon. These methods are mentioned as far back as the third century BC, in the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine.

At Moinhos Velhos we also use a selection of herbs to loosen the deposits on the the intestinal wall, as well as special powders to facilitate the evacuation of the loosened debris. Then with colon cleansing using the Clysmatic, cleansing through the skin, which is our largest organ, with the Sauna, our salt water pool and various holistic Therapies we achieve a total cleanse.

Cleansing Reactions

Generally, the older or weaker the person is, or the more polluted the intestinal tract, the more likely there will be a cleansing reaction. Cleansing reactions may reveal themselves as headaches, skin eruptions, or in the very symptoms of the disease you are trying to get rid of. You may experience other reactions such as dizziness or "spaciness". People with Candida (which could be related to parasites) often feel weak or tired while cleansing. To help you through the cleansing reactions, remember that they are an indication that your body is crying out to be cleansed.

Our experience however, over the past 20 years, is that the majority of clients experience an increase in vitality and energy after a few days. A recent case was a participant who, by the medical establishment, had been given 3 to 6 month left to live due to pancreatic cancer. He left after completing our two weeks program bouncing with energy and could not wait to get on with his life. (April 2005). He is still doing fine (December 2006) leading a very active life.
No we do not treat cancer. That is for the medical profession. We treat the whole person.

Meat eaters may have more reactions than vegetarians only because, as a rule they have more waste to get rid of. Occasionally a very toxic mucoid layer may loosen from the intestinal wall and its debris will flood the system with temporary toxic waste. If this happens you may feel nauseous and weak. That is the time for an extra Clysmatic - this helps to move it out fast. As soon as that toxic substance comes out, you'll feel better immediately.

You will notice as you cleanse that your tongue will turn white and furry and your breath will be foul. This is somewhat a reflection of what is happening inside the digestive canal. You may notice that your abdomen swells. As more and more mucoid layers are removed, the swelling will go down and the tongue will gradually become less furry. This is a good gauge as to how clean you are becoming. For when you are all cleaned out, your tongue will be shining pink and your breath will be sweet. Even your bowel movements will become sweet-smelling.

After Detoxification

Once the entire gastrointestinal tract is cleansed of the hardened mucoid matter and you are consistently eating foods that maintain that purity, you will begin to reap the benefits. Actually, just getting a little out will help enormously. The body is now better able to absorb the nutrients from the food you eat, and you will be surprised at how little food the body actually needs. Also, the transit period of the food moving through the digestive tract becomes shorter. As long as this continues you will never be constipated again and you will not continue to build up mucoid fecal matter.

The purification program has cleansed the entire gastrointestinal tract or alimentary canal - all the way from the tip of the tongue to the anus. You have now eliminated the cause of putrefaction and fermentation; you have eliminated the perfect breeding environment for billions of diseased bacteria, germs and parasites. This means that the blood and every cell of your body is no longer being poisoned. The major organs are no longer being overloaded and working overtime - trying to correct and eliminate toxins.

Beyond Detoxification

The body is now able to rapidly repair the damage done in the past - and the miracle of the body is that it will repair itself. Once the body is clean and healthy, energy earlier spent on digestion and repairs can now flow to the mind or higher centers - facilitating increased creativity, clear thinking, joy and love.

The Detoxification Program should be a step towards a healthier lifestyle. If you reform your eating habits and change your diet after the fast, your blood and lymph will be able to keep your tissues clean for longer than they would if you were to continue polluting yourself with bad eating habits. We recommend that you read "Fit For Life" by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond. Available from Amazon

Moinhos Velhos is a tranquil valley away from the regular tourist areas, where we wake up to the songs of the birds in the morning and retire with the silence of the stars at night. Yet we are only 15 minutes from the city of Lagos and one hour from the airport at Faro. There is a special energy at Moinhos Velhos, possibly due to the thousands of small quarts crystals throughout the valley and also we are situated on one of the twelve syncronisity lines, which only come together two places, in Tibet and at Damanhur in Italy. We believe that the valley must be under divine protection, during the terrible fires in 1993 which raged out of control for a week and burned everything around us into cinder, not one blade of grass was harmed in Moinhos Velhos Fasting and Detox valley.

In 1992 we were guided to establish our Holistic Health Retreat, and since our first fasting program and detoxification retreat in 1993, people have been coming from all over the world to share our concept and to participate in the unique experience of a Fasting and Detoxification Retreat at Moinhos Velhos. With Yoga and Meditation, Complimentary Therapies, Holistic Health, Healing, Colon Cleansing, Hot Tub, Sauna and Nature Walks. Many experience a complete transformation in their lives and some come back every year for a tune-up. In the average group 25 to 30 % have to been to a Moinhos Velhos Retreat before. They love it so they come back.

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