According to Ayurveda, routine plays a very important role in health. A natural life is regulated according to the individual constitution. It is best to have daily regimen governing all daily actions such as the time one wakes up in the morning and the time one begins body purification.
In the morning before sunrise, one should wake up, excrete waste, clean teeth, mouth, eyes, nose and throat. After its good to drink a warm glass of water to help clean the kidneys and large intestine. During sleep and in the morning is the body’s natural time of purification. It is good to hold practice that will help this.
One should then massage the body with oil and take a bath. This will produce a sense of freshness and alertness. After bath, put on comfortable clothes for exercise and meditation. Breathing exercises are also important in the daily regimen. After exercises, rest comfortably on the back with arms and legs outstretched and breath from the lower abdomen.
Breakfast may follow exercise and meditation. Lunch should be eaten before or around noon, if possible dinner before sunset. Its is best to go to bed by ten o’ clock. This regimen follows the flow of energy within the body and in the external environment. It is necessary at all times to remain aware of the flow in order to get the maximum benefit from your daily routine.
Daily Routine
- Awaken Before Sunrise.
- Evacuate bowels and bladder after waking.
- Bathe every day creates a sense of bodily freshness.
- Drink a warm glass of water, can add slice of lemon.
- Exercise, breathing techniques and meditation.
- Take breakfast before 8:30.
- Take a short 15 min walk after breakfast.
- Eat in silence with awareness to food.
- Eat slowly.
- Massage the gums with the finger and sesame oil.
- Sleep before 10:30pm.
Diet and Digestion
- One teaspoon of grated fresh ginger with a pinch of salt is a good appetizer.
- Drinking real buttermilk with a pinch of ginger or cumin help digestion.
- A teaspoon of ghee with rice helps digestion.
- A glass of raw, warm milk with ginger taken at bedtime is nourishing to the body and calms the mind.
- Over eating is unhealthy.
- Largest meal of the day should be at lunch.
- Drinking a lot of water immediately before or taking food adversely affects digestions.
- Prolonged fasting is unhealthy.
- Excess intake of cold drinks and food reduces resistance and creates excess mucus.
- Taking a nap after lunch will increase body weight and drowsiness.
- Eating close to the same time everyday will optimize digestion.
Physical Hygiene
- Do not repress the natural urges of the body, defecation, urination, coughing, sneezing, yawning, belching and passing gas.
- During fever do not eat and observe a ginger tea fast.
- Rubbing the soles of the feet with sesame oil before bedtime produces a calm quite sleep.
- Application of oil to the head clams the mind and induces sound sleep.
- Self oil massage promotes good circulation and reduces anxiety and pain.
- Do not sleep on belly.
- Bad breath may indicate constipation, poor digestion, and toxins in the colon.
- Body odor indicates toxins in the system.
- Laying on the back for 15mins clams the mind and relaxes the body.
- Dry hair immediately after washing to prevent sinus problems.
- After sex, milk heated with raw cashes and raw sugar promotes strength and maintains sexual energy.
- Avoid physical exertion such as yoga or running during menstruation.
- Avoid over exercise.
Mental Hygiene
- Fear and nervousness dissipates energy and aggravates Vata.
- Possessiveness, greed and attachment enhance Kapha.
- Worry weakens the heart.
- Hate and anger create toxins in the body and aggravates pitta.
- Excessive talking dissipates energy and aggravates Vata.
- Create positive thoughts and affirmations.
- Practice of meditation and breathing techniques, they balance the mind and body, increases energy and vitality
Ayurveda comprehensively illuminates the basic laws and principles governing life on earth. To understand Ayurveda is to understand the forces that engender our well-being as well as those that lie at the root of disease. The mind, body and consciousness are harmoniously working as one. When the balance of any of these systems is disturbed all are responsible for physical and psychological pain and misery. It is now time to look into the living book, which is your body, mind and consciousness. True knowledge resides in this temple. In applying your experience in that sanctuary the knowledge is set forth here, you will find the only authentic and trustworthy demonstration of the truth Ayurveda holds. The journey is long, but we will always return to the place whence we began.