In Ayurveda, there is a lot of focus surrounding the subtle aspects of your day, how you spend each day becomes how you live the rest of your life. Establishing a healthy daily routine allows for incredible transformation to happen in the mind, body, and spirit. In Ayurveda, your daily practices are aligned with your circadian rhythm and biological clock. 

Dinacharya

Dinacharya means daily routine in Sanskrit. In Ayurveda, we live each moment with intention, alignment, and ease. Each time we choose to do something it is to help promote a balanced and productive life.

Dinacharya is based on the Doshic Clock:

6:00 am - 10:00 am - Kapha
10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Pitta
2:00pm - 6:00pm - Vata
6:00pm - 10:00pm - Kapha
10:00pm - 2:00am - Pitta
2:00am - 6:00am - Vata 

Creating your day with Ayurveda

Morning:
Arise before dawn, you want to be active and alert before Kapha time to avoid feeling groggy upon waking and tired throughout the day. Before getting out of bed, take a moment to bring awareness to your body. Try to notice what your very first thought of the day is, for Vatas with racing thoughts this is harder than it sounds! This is a perfect time to say your daily affirmations or do a gratitude practice.

In the bathroom, begin by brushing your teeth and scraping your tongue. Scrape your tongue from front to back 5-8 times, this helps prevent disease in the body as the tongue directly correlates to your internal organs. If there is a thick coat on your tongue that signifies that there is ama (toxins) in your body. Follow that up by massaging your gums with sesame oil to help maintain strong teeth and increase circulation. 

Wash your face and eyes using cool water. Activate your eyes by gently rubbing them, blinking 7-10 times, and rolling them in all directions. You can also use topical dosha pacifying eyewash:

Tridoshic eyewash: ¼ tsp. Triphala +  1 cup water, boil for 10 minutes, cool, and strain.
Vata eyewash: 1-2 drops castor or sesame oil per eye
Pitta eyewash: use cool water or pure organic rose water (commercial rose water has chemicals in it that will sting the eyes)
Kapha eyewash: 3-5 drops cranberry juice + 1 teaspoon of distilled water.

Use a neti pot to cleanse the nasal cavity then lubricate your nose with 3-5 drops of warm sesame oil or ghee. This helps support breathing, mental clarity, and your tone of voice. 

The first thing you should put into your body is warm lemon water. This helps stimulate your GI tract and flush your kidneys. If you tend to be Kapha imbalanced (slow digestion) then add ginger to your warm water. 

Once you are through with your water incorporate some kind of fun movement into your morning, even just 5 min of intentional movement can transform your energy and mood throughout the entire day! Exercise is one of our greatest allies when it comes to immune support, elevated moods, and healthy digestion. We suggest doing a Sun Salutation or Vinyasa practice on your Bennd Yoga mat. 

After you have moved your body, practice Abhyanga (self-massage) before you shower. Ensure that you are using non-toxic products as you bathe.

Then practice your preferred meditation method for 20 minutes, outside if possible. 

Finally, mindfully eat a nourishing breakfast. 

Mid-day:

Eat your largest meal of the day at noon, during Pitta time, when the sun is at its highest and your metabolism is the strongest. Eat in a pleasant, calm space without distraction. After eating, lie down for 5-10 minutes to help your digestive organs assimilate. 

Vata time is 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm, this is the perfect time to be outside, socialize and be creative. The last meal of the day should be your lightest and should be eaten before 6:00 pm (Kapha time) because after 6:00 pm your metabolism slows down. 

Evening: 

Avoid fluorescent lights (always) but especially at night because they trick your brain into being active. Low lighting will help your body know it is time to relax. This also means no more screens, set the intention to have all screens off by 7:00 pm to allow your brain to have adequate time to slow down and not be on high alert. Avoid being overstimulated by intense conversation, chaotic spaces, or high activity. Before bed, read, journal, and meditate. Be in bed no later than 10:00 pm because that is when Pitta time begins and you will get that ‘second wind.’ Have you ever noticed that if you stay up past 10:00 pm you don’t end up falling asleep until 2:00 am? That is because after 2:00 am we transition back into the low energy of Kapha time. Create a dark, quiet, cool space for you to deeply sleep in and gently allow your thoughts to drift until you fall asleep. 

Ayurvedic lifestyle 

Ayurveda wants you to feel good, and for life to be done with effortless ease. Going through the ideal Ayurvedic day may seem overwhelming or unattainable, but by incorporating just one of these tasks into your routine will allow for growth and transformation to happen. We challenge you to try on just one or two new Ayurvedic practices for a month and see how your life evolves!