Ayurveda describes daily routines in addition to nutritional guidelines for physical, mental and spiritual health and a healthy life time.
Today we will talk about our daily routines.
What is the purpose of the daily routine?
Ayurveda is based on the principle that human beings are a part of nature and when we are in harmony with nature, we can really talk about health. Therefore, in Ayurveda, a lot of importance is given to the daily routine determined according to the rhythm of the sun.
Certain times of the day have the characteristics of different doshas. It is believed that the hours of the day are divided according to the Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. This division is as follows; 06:00 – 10:00 Kapha, 10:00 – 14:00 Pitta, 14:00 – 18:00 Vata, 18:00 – 22:00 Kapha, 22:00 – 02:00 Pitta, 02:00 – 06:00 Vata. For this reason, it is among the basic principles of Ayurveda to go to a division of labor in accordance with these hours during the day. For example, since the highest digestive power is in the pitta, it is correct to have the strongest meal during the day at lunch, which is between 10 am and 2 pm. Since the vata doses between 2 and 6 are at the highest level, you can do calming mental exercises or meditation during these hours in the evening. It is healthy to do morning exercises between 6-10, when Kapha energy is highest.
How should we set our daily routine according to Ayurveda?
According to the information we learned thus far, a typical daily routine suitable for Ayurvedic life is listed below.
Waking up before sunrise,
Drinking a glass of warm water with three or five drops of lemon juice when you wake up,
Washing the face with cold water,
Cleaning the tongue with a tongue scraper,
Brushing teeth with natural products,
Complete oral cleaning by rinsing sesame oil or coconut oil in the mouth,
Cleaning the nose with a neti pot,
Emptying the bladder and bowels within an hour after waking up,
Practicing yoga asanas (postures), walkin for 15-30 minutes and practicing pranayama (breathing exercises),
15-20 minutes of quiet sitting or meditation,
A short self-massage and shower,
A light breakfast in accordance with your dosha,
Eating lunch between 12:00-13:00 and lunch should be the biggest meal of the day,
Take a walk after the lunch for 10-15 minutes which helps digestion,
Practicing yoga, meditation and pranayama towards evening,
Eating dinner before sunset and dinner should be light,
Brushing the teeth, washing the face, rubbing the feet and head with sesame oil, and relaxing before going to sleep,
Transition to sleep between 22:00 and 23:00.
4 indicators of a complete state of health according to Ayurveda
- All “doshas” should be in balance.
- Digestive fire should be in balance
- Tissues and drains should function normally
- The sense organs, mind and soul must be in bliss.
My next blog post will be about the nutrition guides for each dosha in the Ayurvedic world.
Stay with me and stay safe!
Anıl Uzun