Ancient Ayurveda cleansing practices are explained in what is billed as an accessible and comprehensive guide called “The Mindbody Cleanse: A 14-Day Detox and Rejuvenation Program From Ancient Ayurveda,” by islander Ronly Blau and Adrian Nowland. Blau will read from the recently released book at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at Vashon Bookshop.

Experience is a powerful teacher. After struggling through various allopathic and alternative treatments for ongoing, unsolved health issues, Blau and Nowland each found longed-for relief through Aryuveda, a practice and path they continue to follow.

“My springboard into Ayruveda was the first home panchakarma cleanse I did, guided by an Ayurvedic practitioner. It rocked my world,” Blau writes in the book’s introduction.

Today, Blau is a certified Ayurveda practitioner and yoga teacher. She’s been leading group cleanses for eight years. When Nowland worked with Blau five years ago, she said Blau helped her find a middle-way approach to diet and lifestyle that healed her problems and changed her life. Following Ayurveda principles, Nowland has developed recipes that are included in the book.

The duo began writing the book two years ago. Using the 35 pages of notes Blau typically handed out to participants of group cleanses, plus Nowland’s recipes, Blau said their intention was to communicate the wholistic nature of the cleanse.

“It is not just food and herbs, but time and space to see habits and make lifestyle changes,” Blau said. “We want others to know it is not black and white, you can do the cleanse in a gentle way — try a mini cleanse for a week that includes meditation, yoga and self-care. You can read the book and see your (body) type, use the recipes, get healthy tips about diet and herbs, self-care and stress-management.”

Based on the 5,000-year-old Aryuveda tradition, the book distills the main points of the panchakarma cleanse and how to use it at home. The co-founder of Mount Madonna Institute, who knew Blau when she was a student there, writes in the foreword, “The authors’ mastery of Ayurvedic knowledge is evident. They clearly explain classical Pancha Karma and have created a 14-day cleanse that will benefit just about everyone…. Their personal results from the Ayurvedic cleansing are impressive.”

Blau writes that panchakarma “is a deep healing. It is not a fad, a diet or quick fix. It is a profound process that can offer you a real window into well-being, a moment of clarity in body and mind that can lead to real insights, wisdom and transformation.”

Blau will have samples of the recipes at the reading. “It’s tastier than people think,” she added with a laugh.