You always remember your first time.

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 19. My boyfriend at the time showed me how to do it. He was gentle and guided me through my hesitation. “This won’t hurt a bit,” he said. As we began, it was quite entertaining at first, but the clean up was awful. When we finished, we had made together the most delicious experience.

And that was the first time I juiced!

My boyfriend at the time was addicted to everything Jack Lalanne—the juicing super hero 70-year-old strong man of the early 21^st century. Needless to say, in the long run this was not a bad addiction nor was it a bad thing to be turned on to.

I am now 30 and have had four different juicers in my life. Oddly enough, I have also had four different boyfriends since him before finding my husband. Anyway, I believe it is safe to say: it is not what juicer I have, but how I utilize it that matters most.

Here are a few key pointers to juicing:

>>About fruits and vegetables that are high in pesticides: I prefer to use organic. Otherwise, if it has a hard peel such as a grapefruit or and orange, buy what you can afford. Do not allow cost to keep you from feeling great!

>>Experiment! When it comes to juicing, use ingredients that interest you. Once, I juiced orange, celery, carrots and apples—then I threw in a clove of garlic. It looked great, but I had to hold my nose to chug it down. Have fun with it.

>>Buy a juicer that suits your needs and budget. Do not fall into the marketing ploy. Many companies claim juicers “cook” your food if the engine runs too high. The truth is you do not lose valuable enzymes until you reach 116 degrees—you are not getting there with a juicer.

>>Apples and carrots make a great base in my opinion. I have had success with using mostly apples and carrots together, then adding in a few other ingredients I fancied for the day, such as: strawberries, spinach, plums or ginger.

>>Do not juice avocados or bananas—they will clog your juicer, and they do not juice. You can prepare a juice and then add them with a blender.

>>Find a time of day to juice that works with your schedule. I juice in the morning to start my day and it is a way for me to avoid processed juices.

Whatever you choose on your path to juicing, know that you are giving your body the whole foods it deserves. Enjoy your new found energy, your new glowing skin and of course your delicious new drink!

Cheers!

Brittney Hiller has been practicing yoga since the fun age of 15—just when pimples begin to shine through and the reality of being good enough sets in.  Yoga gave her the confidence she needed to turn away from the gossip girls and instead enjoy the beauty each fellow student had to share.  She is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Yoga Instructor eager to share her love of yoga and massage with everyone she meets. Follow Brittney:The Outdoor Yogini on Facebook. (www.facebook.com/outdooryogini) Join her mailing list for information on events: www.theoutdooryogini.com

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Ed: Kevin Macku
Ed: Kate Bartolotta