Creating a Healthy Daily Routine According to Ayurveda
What does a "daily routine" look like?
We have so much going on throughout the day that the thought of establishing and committing to a daily routine does not seem to "fit in" to the daily routine that we already have. Instead of looking at it as a "daily routine," let's change the vocabulary to Lifestyle Enhancement.
Let’s break down what an Ayurvedic daily routine looks like and the importance of establishing and maintaining one. Honoring this aspect in your life will improve your overall outlook on the relationship you have with yourself, and the relationship you will nurture with others. "One can only give to others, to the extent one can give to themselves only."Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
We go over some tips to help you get started. 21 days is all you need to formulate a new habit and integrate a new routine. Let’s begin…
This is Step 1. Understanding what Dosha you are.
Once you discover what your Prakriti is, and your physiological makeup, then we can begin examining which routine will work best for you.
Knowing if you are Vata, Pitta, Kapha, or a combination of two, or even of the three, will provide more insight on how to curate a routine that fits your lifestyle and your needs.
Ayurveda is a personal medicine and science. It is structured on prevention, intervention, and transformation. Although simple, the complexity of its art may pose a challenge when embarking on such a journey.
Patience is key when parenting oneself to nurture the Self.
“People change after circumstances, but rare is the tine they change the inner to move on in liberation.”
Step 2. is understanding what is your Vrikriti. This is your “imbalance.” Is it your appetite? Sleep quality? Activities? Depression? What seems to be getting in your way? When did it start? How?
In this step, you are faced with two options. 1. you are in pre-contemplation, not recognizing that a change is needed, or 2. you are serious about making this change and are considering it.
It may be hard at first to commit to the realization that “maybe it’s you,” and you are the one that needs to change. Once you are able to accept that growth is inevitable, and we let go of the resistance, then, we are able to take the step into consideration of the change at hand.
How do we make these changes?
Change begins within. Making a commitment to make a difference and to stay the course no matter how challenging it may get takes grit, will, and a healthy Pitta fire. The tools you will come to learn over the next few weeks will help you to achieve the goals you have been desiring all this time.
Step 3. What is important to understand, is that change also does not happen overnight. It is best to make a pact with yourself as you begin this next phase of your wellness journey. If you back slide into old behaviors, shrug it off, and start again. Each day is a step closer to your goal. Take it 1% at a time. Start small and start with one attainable goal and evolve from there.
Once we have this area of our awareness strong, then we are able to proceed with making a commitment to improving our health and wellness lifestyle and routines.
Step 4. is now integrating a morning routine.
The Morning Routine
The morning routine tends to have a bit going on and thankfully so. The Ayurvedic daily morning routine is a routine that most of us do already. There are only a few areas that may be a bit intriguing to you.
Arise early is very important so as to have time to accomplish these lifestyle changes to improve your health. It begins with an early rising during the quietest time of the day to prepare time to be with yourself. No phones, emails, Instagram, etc. Just you and the stillness of the morning.
Dental Hygiene is crucial to heart health and is regarding very important part of the Ayurvedic Dental morning routine. Elimination comes natural, as does breakfast. Knowing what to eat for breakfast is going to be important, as this may change according to your Vrikriti.
Drinking room or warm water in the morning stimulates the digestion and prepares the body to take in food. Abhyanga is a self-body oil massage that is done either daily, a few days, or once a week according to your dosha and vrikriti.
Meditation and yoga are key in the morning, to establishing a positive mindset and reducing Pragya Aparadh, mistakes of the intellect.
Remember that we do not want to take on too much at one time. After you learn about what your imbalance is, then we are able to determine if you need an Abhyanga, or another method of PanchaKarma, or purifying treatment.
Mid-Day Routine
During the middle of the day, energy is at its highest. The lunch hour rush is normally in full swing, people are eating on the go, multitasking, and trying to squeeze something in, before going back to work.
This time of the day is also known as the Pitta time of the day because it is the transformative time of the circadian clock, along with our Agni- digestive fire. The internal biological clock is also aligned with this time of day.
Our biggest meal of the day is best consumed at this time, along with any deserts, sweets, and fruits. As in the evenings, you want to stay clear of these tastes before bed. They will dull the fire needed to go through the metabolic process during sleep.
Step 5. is preparation and developing an action plan to shift into the “I’m Ready” mindset. This is where we are writing goals, making shifts, and seeing improvements. Transformation is happening.
We tend to cram a lot into a day, only to feel like we were busy and not productive. Sometimes even asking ourselves,
‘What did I even accomplish today?’
During the PItta time of the day, it is a best practice to stick to a “Priority List,” rather than a “to do” list. You will always have a “to do” list just like you will always have email in your inbox. Take time to focus on your priorities and space out or even delegate to a Virtual Assitant, or employee projects that you can give up control and allow someone else to do. (You still have the final say).
PItta doshas are best to refrain from working out in the middle of the day as this may aggravate your Pitta and create a disturbance in your Vrikriti. Pitta is also best taking cooler or refreshing beverages to keep their temperature down.
Begin to work on a portion of these changes at a time in order to see the best results for improvement. Remember that it takes 21 days to create a new healthy habit.
Once Pitta establishes the habits, and puts the action behind it, soon this new behavior trait becomes a part of the natural way of one’s being.
Evening Routines
Now that we have explored the Morning and the Mid-day routines, we now come to the evening routines. Traditionally the evening routine commences at around 6 pm and lasts till about bedtime at 10/10:30 pm.
Step 6. time to calm and soothe. Reducing the frequency of the day, the interactions, hostilities, or any other defeating or exciting behaviors.
In the evening, we are preparing for the next day, relaxing spending time with loved ones, reading, or watching tv. This is also a good time to do any self-care treatments, shut down all electronics, set the alarm to avoid looking at the phone, and prepare for bed. This tends to be where a light dinner may be had.
Once these behaviors are in place, then it is only a matter of time before they are as automatic as driving your car, or putting your seatbelt on.
Step 7, is seeing the action taking place. This may even present itself in the form of peers telling you that something is “different about you.” You may also see that certain behavior traits are no longer present and a sense of accomplishment that the plan in place worked. This is also where we are able to revise as we go along. Celebrate how far you have come.
When you come to Step 8, you recognize that “you have changed,” and have the ability to maintain the change through the healthy behaviors that have become a part of your daily life. Liberation is made manifest when you allow yourself permission to check back in with where you are now, make any necessary changes, and keep moving forward.
With everything we all have going on throughout the day, establishing and committing to a daily routine that works is no longer a “daily routine”, but, a Lifestyle Enhancement.
Let me know: What are your first steps to achieving your goal?
Step 9 is taking time for proper sleep. Sleep is essential for sustaining the metabolism of the mind-body connection and for the maintenance of the individual mentally, physically, and emotionally. According to Ayurveda and the Vedic Texts, the Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthan, 21.35-38
“When the mind withdraws from its activities, the individual sleeps. Proper sleep brings the following: Happiness, strength, potency, knowledge, life. Improper sleep brings the following: Misery, Emaciation, Weakness, Sterility, Ignorance, and Death.
A few evening routine suggestions.
Sleep is most important for Vata dosha, as it is the “king of the doshas” and manages all activity in the mind and body. When sleep is managed for Vata, it can manage the innumerable psychological and physiological activities taken place at any given time.
Utilize these tips to begin your journey making simple lifestyle shifts that will create a significant ripple effect of good in your life. Every little opportunity to make a difference for good in your life, is worth the small sacrifice of waking up an extra 30mins to an hour early to get your meditation, yoga, Abhyanga and routines in before the day gets started.
What have you tried before?
Did it work for you?
If you want to work with me, let me know How can I help you with your main concerns?
Are you entering into Step 3? It would be my pleasure to work with you and support you on this journey of transformation through Ayurvedic Consultation and Mentoring. If you are ready to make a commitment to improving your overall health, no matter the ailment you have, then click here to begin the journey together. Use CODE: JBY10 to Save 10% OFF
If you are interested in including Ayurveda in your professional or personal practice, then join the Ayurveda Training. If you want to take the AyurvedaYoga (200-hour Ayurveda and Yoga Teacher Training) then click here. Use CODE: JBYF20 to Save 20% OFF
Looking forward to being a part of your wellness journey.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for Free Daily Yoga classes, be part of our email community, and social media channels.
References:
written by: Christina Andrini, CEO, 500 Hour E-RYT, and Founder of Jai Bhakti Yoga Foundation, August 21, 2022, New Orleans, LA
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthan, 21.35-38
https://www.davidlynchfoundation.org/
Gardner B, Lally P, Wardle J. Making health habitual: the psychology of 'habit-formation' and general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2012 Dec;62(605):664-6. doi: 10.3399/bjgp12X659466. PMID: 23211256; PMCID: PMC3505409.
We hope that you benefitted from our free-of-charge programs and services, for which a group of expert yoga teachers, ayurvedic clinicians, practitioners, consultants, and holistic wellness leaders volunteered their time and creative effort to support you so you can live your best healthy life. Continued electronic implementation, programming, and education require considerable expense to sustain online at little to no cost for you and the community. Will you Please consider giving to JBYF in acknowledgment of this professional contribution?
Thank you very much and live well.
