“Each morning, we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Anonymous.
Do you ever feel like you’re running around all day and don’t have time for yourself? Or is it hard to get out of bed? A daily routine is very important in Ayurveda to help regulate and balance you. It is necessary to optimize your health on a physical, mental, and emotional level. A daily routine aids in balancing your Dosha and not feeling stressed. It can aid your digestion from absorption to assimilation of food to not build up Ama (toxins) in our fat cells. Having a daily routine is essential for the body and mind. It can help keep a positive attitude, happiness, and relaxation.
Your body is a clock, made up of smaller turning gears. Each of these gears are your organs. It is valuable to oil the gears of the clock to have it optimally functioning and not run out of batteries.
Your mind and body seek regularity. We know as professionals and students having a daily routine can often be difficult. However, irregularity in sleep, eating at different times of the day (either too much or too little), stress from a job or a class, and irregular water intake can unsettle us more. This is why it is even more valuable in creating a daily routine sleeping, eating, eliminating, and/ or doing just one little thing every day.
A way to start having a daily routine is to have a daily practice. Choose one thing you want to begin committing to yourself. This can be waking up at a certain time, having a nature sit-spot, eat vegetables, meditating for ten minutes, working out (etc.) From here you can begin to commit to a full daily routine.
In Ayurveda there are two principles to create a Dinacharya (daily routine) off of: your biological clock (when each organ is working at its best) and your doshic clock (when each dosha is working at its best). The three Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), based on the elements are an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical characteristics.
You gut health relies on regularity. In your microbiome, your intestinal flora and bacteria get attuned to what you are eating and learn to break down those foods accordingly. If you eat on a schedule your body will know how to prepare for digestion even before you eat. If you eat irregularly and chemically processed foods your gut health will be diminished. Gut health is Ayurvedas key to healing.
Daily Routine Tips:
- Try to wake up early
Ayurveda recommends getting up before the sun. Right when you wake up try to not look at your phone or technology. For Winter there is no need to get up as early. It is suggested for winter to get up around 7:00 am
- Try saying a prayer or mantra
- Wash your face, mouth and eyes
With water splash your face a few times to rejuvenate and wake yourself up. Swish water in your mouth and rub your eyes gently.
- Drink a glass of warm water
This water will help wash your gastrointestinal tract.
- Clean you teeth and tongue. Gargle sesame oil, and apply nose drops (nasya).
- Small personal oil massage
Improves circulation and sleep, prevents headaches, and keeps the body smooth.
- Bath or Shower
- Cleans your body, refreshing, and brings energy and alertness.
- Exercise
Everyone should strive to have some movement in their day. A morning walk, some yoga, stretching, surfing, or a strenuous workout.
- Meditation
- Eat regularly and warming, cooked foods for winter
- Go to sleep early. To aid in sleep stop using technology 1 hour before sleep.
- Try to add something small in your day that is just for you: read, take five-minutes alone, or go into nature.
Tips for winter:
- Be slower and don’t rush as winter is a time of turning inward.
- Oil: Sesame oil. It’s warming and cleansing.
- Try not to nap as it can increase feeling lethargic.
- Stay home, contemplate, meditate.
A recommended breakfast in winter:
Oatmeal with turmeric (anti-inflammatory), fresh ginger (awakens digestive fire and improves assimilation), flaxseed (essential fatty-acids which helps to lower cholesterol), and a tablespoon of Ghee.
Ghee, clarified butter, is one of the healthiest forms of fat. It helps calm the nerves and it lubricates the gut lining, which helps detoxification and absorption of nutrients.
Optional: maca powder (Increases energy and libido) and chia seeds (fiber, omega 3’s).
Many Blessings,
Santa Cruz Ayurveda