Daily Routine–Use Ayurveda Clock
The wisdom of Ayurveda teaches that a daily practiced routine is more beneficial “medicine” than the occasional remedy. The 3 doshas, vata, pitta and kapha are also applied to periods of time within each day. When we look at a 24 hour period this is how it is divided by dosha:
*Kapha—6am-10am and 6pm-10pm
*Pitta—10am-2pm and 10pm-2am
*Vata—2pm-6pm and 2am-6am
Using the flow of these elemental energies in our daily routines assists with supporting our body’s own rhythms and potential for healing.
The most peaceful energy of the day is Kapha and makes our wakeup time ideal between 4am and 6am. During this time of day, you will gain the most benefit from your deep breathing, meditation or other spiritual practice.
This time of day is when the body releases old toxins and needs to rehydrate from the overnight work. So plan in elimination (bathroom) time and be sure to drink 8 to 12 ounces of pure (filtered, if possible) water. An additional cleansing enhancement is to practice your oil pulling, followed by a warm water (with or without a pinch of sea salt) swishing and rinsing of the mouth before brushing and flossing your teeth.
Next in the day is to enjoy a nourishing breakfast before 8am. If your type is dominantly Kapha, you may skip this meal. Plan a short routine before bathing, known as abhyanga. Abhyanga is an all over body massage using sesame, olive, or coconut oils. Be patient and take from 5 to 15 minutes to massage oil into your skin using long strokes on bones and circular ones on the joints and over the abdomen and chest. It is believed that this strengthens the body, stimulates internal organs and enhances blood circulation. The Vata dosha is especially soothed by this practice.
During the Pitta daytime hours, you should plan your most challenging work to be at peak productivity. This is a good time of day for problem solving. Lunch also falls during this time and is when digestion is the strongest. Ayurveda suggests that your lunch be your largest meal.
As your day enters the time of Vata, you should naturally begin to relax. Dinner should be lighter than lunch and 3 hours before bedtime. Enhance this time of day with good conversation, reading, pleasant music or gentle breathing, meditation and stretching. Prepare to sleep by 10pm. This will ensure that you are not up when Kapha returns in the evening with a chance of creating a “second wind” of energy that could last until 1 am!
If you noticed the lack of exercise in the routine above, it was omitted. This of course, is important in your daily routine. Exercise is related to your individual type and the corresponding season of the year. In other words, it will need a more in depth review for understanding, so we will re-visit that soon. Conscious awareness of our daily habits and choices create more balance, wholeness and well-being in our lives. Having harmony with the cycles of nature brings us true freedom. If freedom is exciting to you, be sure to sign up for our FREEDOM 30 coaching plan here.
