Cleansing and Detoxification

Recently, there's been some conflicting information being propagated by the media channels in Vancouver which state that detox cleansing products and methods are useless. I disagree. I wouldn't necessarily blame the products themselves but rather the approach that most people employ out of ignorance on how "cleansing" actually works. The detox approach that most people use is analogous to performing an automobile oil change by simply dropping a few tablespoons of clean oil into the engine without draining the old dirty oil out. If this was my method for performing oil changes, could I one day claim that oil changes "don't work" when my engine suddenly dies? Of course not - because that's not how you perform an oil change if you want to maintain the health of your car for more than a couple years. And like the oil change scenario, most people that don't get any value from performing cleanses don't cleanse properly. Remember, it's not necessarily about what you do, but how you do it that matters.

Cleansing your system isn't as simple as popping a bunch of pills and drinking herbal tea a couple times a year. Comprehensive systemic cleansing requires a rather big commitment in order to adopt a healthy lifestyle while significantly reducing (or eliminating) the number of toxins that enter our bodies everyday. As far as I'm concerned, doing a simple cleanse is absolutely useless if you continue to smoke, drink alcohol more than 2x/week, eat like crap and don't exercise. If this is you, you need to commit to changing your lifestyle before embarking on any kind of detox program. And if you're not willing to do this, then you might as well stop reading this article right now. The 'Prioritization Principle', (Duquette Strength's second most important principle behind 'Personalization') states that things have to be done in a specific order for it to produce actual benefit. If you invest time and energy into something, why wouldn't you take the measures to ensure REAL measurable benefits - isn't that the point? The bottom line is this: If you've had a crappy diet and lifestyle for most of your life, going on a 2-week cleanse isn't going to do anything for you.

In the following video clips, Dr. Brenda Watson explains the importance of cleansing and detoxification. This is an excellent description of what cleansing is, and why we all need to cleanse our bodies 1 to 2 times a year.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


To review, a comprehenisve cleanse consists of:
1) a specialized Detox Diet incorporating high-fiber, all-natural, nutrient-dense foods which promote alkalinity over acidity
2) specialized herbs to assist bile production, liver and kidney function
3) the use of an infrared sauna 2 to 3 times a week for 2 to 4 weeks, followed by a maintenance schedule of once a week

This is the infrared sauna system we have at Duquette Strength Clinic:


The two best times of the year to cleanse are:
1) Immediately following the Christmas holidays since it's likely that you are over-eating and eating a lot of junk foods
and
2) Middle of spring since this is the best time to prepare the body for an upcoming fat-loss phase for the summer

Welcome to Duquette Strength Clinic

Duquette Strength Clinic offers traditional rehabilitation therapies like massage and acupuncture with the most innovative programs and services menu in the fitness industry. Our mission is to help rebuild your body, empower your mind, and ignite your soul by providing challenge and inspiration in support of all your health and fitness goals.


We work in partnership with the medical and alternative health community by offering our integrative approach to physicians, chiropractors, and massage therapists seeking a more comprehensive treatment plan based on sound nutrition, personalized exercise, and lifestyle education – in an effort to create a complimentary team of professionals dedicated to your exceptional health and well-being.


Since 2002, we have developed a loyal following by delivering outstanding results for our clients not only in Vancouver, but also New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. At Duquette Strength Clinic, we are committed to meeting the highest possible standards and look forward to working with you.


Duquette Strength Clinic places a tremendous amount of emphasis on personalized therapeutic exercise and nutrition programs for our members. We believe that the foundation of any rehabilitation program should always be placed on postural education, fostering body awareness, developing 'core' stabilization, total-body strength training and sound nutrition. This innovative approach facilitates long-term success as opposed to merely offering temporary relief. Duquette Strength is a pioneer in blending posture-specific exercise and sports nutrition research with clinical fitness programs.


This is where we conduct all Postural Reprogramming System (PRS) sessions. The PRS is a comprehensive solution for poor posture which incorporates a lifestyle ergonomics consultation with specialized body awareness drills and posture-corrective exercises.

The PRS retrains efficient body mechanics and enhances the connection you have with your body. The movements you develop by performing the PRS ultimately evolve into a progressive exercise program designed to simultaneously develop strength and flexibility.

The PRS succeeds by helping to create more mobility in movement-restricted areas while stabilizing your body’s core, pelvis, and spine.

The PRS assists in the effective treatment of chronic pain and compromised mobility by creating a more balanced, properly aligned body – which projects poise, radiates confidence, and expresses youthful vitality.


The Duquette Strength Clinical Pilates and Yoga Program is based on specialized floor exercises using body weight as resistance. These group classes are practiced in an intimate clinical setting, where maximum guidance and individual attention is always provided.

Our ultimate goal is to help you enhance your body awareness by developing an understanding of how your body works. By strengthening the key muscles responsible for maintaining proper posture and alignment, you may experience a significant (or total) reduction of chronic pain and stiffness. Clinical Pilates and Yoga will help you achieve a perfect balance of total-body strength, stability, and flexibility.

All classes are taught by Duquette Strength Clinic’s Head Therapist Annika Hodgson, a Registered Kinesiologist, Level 4 DS Master Trainer, Certified Sports Nutrition Advisor, and Certified Pilates Instructor.


This is our Infrared Sauna Room. Extensive medical research has been conducted on the values of Far Infrared Therapy. Not only does it provide fast and effective relief from chronic joint and muscle pain, but it also helps to accelerate recovery from surgeries, lower back injuries and even relieves various skin conditions. Our athletes use it to recover faster from brutal training sessions. Infrared Therapy improves cardiovascular function as well as stimulating the metabolic rate. There are even direct weight-loss benefits: each 30-minute session burns roughly 300-500 calories, which is equal to a 30-minute run at 8-mph. Several of our members have already lost up to 10-pounds of fat in a few months by simply using the sauna twice a week. Combat athletes like wrestlers, judoka, and MMA competitors use it as an invaluable tool for cutting-weight while healing up minor injuries before doing battle.

Perhaps the most significant reason to use the Infrared Sauna is its unique ability to drive environmental toxins like PDBEs, Phtalates, Pesticides, PFAs, PCBs, Dioxins, Bisphenols and heavy metals out of the body's internal system. These chemicals have been shown to greatly increase the risk of everything from birth defects to various cancers. Sweat analysis reveals a high-concentration of toxic heavy metals being expelled from each 30-minute sauna session. This is not the case with regular sweating from exercise or conventional saunas. Along with a detox-specific diet and lifestyle changes, the Infrared Sauna is an absolutely vital component of any cleansing program.

In my opinion, EVERYONE should be using Infrared Therapy one to two times per week. It has worked wonders for my mother who completely transformed her body in the last year. In addition to working out almost everyday and following a 90% organic diet for the past year, the Infrared Sauna has most definitely been a strong contributing factor in her rehabilitation, enabling her to lower her blood pressure, increase joint range of motion, decrease chronic pain, and improve her metabolism. She is better able to manage stress and many of her joint and skin conditions are finally gone. She not only looks 10-years younger, but she actually has energy for the first time in years. That's the power that only an active lifestyle, fueled by proper nutrition, supplementation, and personalized therapy can have.








Location: #105 - 19610 64th Avenue, Langley, BC, V2Y 1H3
Phone: 604.530.8840
E-Mail: info@duquettestrength.com
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm

Roy Duquette MMA: Circa 2003 - 2004.

I recently dug up some old footage of mixed martial arts training. Oh the good ol' days.

Roy Duquette MMA: Circa 2003-2004 from Duquette Strength on Vimeo.