If the mantra ‘rise and shine’ seems to pass you each morning, you might benefit from an Ayurvedic morning routine. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, the choices you make regarding your daily routine either build-up or knock down your resistance to disease. Getting the body ready for the day is important in order to approach it with confidence and bountiful wellbeing. Adopting one or more of these practices can help to radically alter your experience for the day. You may even look forward to the mornings!
Beat the Sun
This might be the hardest of all the practices to adopt but it could offer some of the best benefits. Try rolling out of bed at least 20 minutes before sunrise – vata energy fills the atmosphere during these hours before dawn, and vata is known for movement. By waking up before sunrise, you’re exposing yourself to the special energy in the air. It’s the perfect time to wake up, get out of the house and enjoy the morning air. When the sunlight brightens up the sky, vata energy is replaced by kapha or muscle energy which is why sunrise is such a vital time to get up and moving.
Activate Your Insides
The philosophy believes the first item you ingest sets the mood for the remainder of the day, so if you start the day with a glass of lukewarm water flavoured with lemon or lime, you’re more inclined to eat fresh ingredients. The idea behind the water is that the warm water stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and the citrus fruits are high in minerals and vitamins to loosen the toxins in the digestive tract. Begin your day with this simple beverage and you’ll notice that you have a lot more energy throughout the day.
Face Value
Sleep is quite harsh on your face, so rinsing your face the moment you wake up is an easy way to disperse heat and prepare the skin for the day’s challenges – in particular, heat, stress and pollution. Mishra recommends splashing the face seven times with cold water. The face is the most exposed area of the body so rehydration in the morning is crucial. You’ll be amazed at the difference this small but significant addition to your routine makes.
Be Sense Sensitive
An ear massage is helpful to the whole body, which many people don’t realise. Begin at the top of the ear and use the thumbs and index fingers to rub the rim of the ear, moving slowly to the lobe. You can then place a few drops of sesame oil just outside of the ear canal opening, to keep drying vata energy in check. Ayurveda considers the nose to be the pathway to the brain so you may find it helpful to add a few drops of sesame or olive oil just inside the nostril to clean the sinuses and ensure mental clarity.
Eat Wisely
It’s important that you eat breakfast each morning, but you shouldn’t overindulge. From sunrise to 10am is considered kapha time, which is the period during which you should be exercising and moving. A light meal won’t overload the digestive fire which doesn’t peak until noon – it’s recommended that you begin your day with something fresh and light, such as fruit, vegetable juice, non-fat yoghurt, or grains such as muesli and granola. A healthy diet is crucial for improved wellness and resistance against disease and infection, but how you start the day really makes an impact on how you feel for the remainder of it.