Dinacharya is a word used in Ayurveda to mean daily routine. It is a routine which is aligned with the rhythms of nature, specifically the rhythms of the sun and this might be adapted according to season, age and constitutional type. This means waking with the sun, eating the largest meal of the day when the sun is highest in the sky, slowing down and preparing for sleep, reducing activities as the sun sets. 

Ayurveda recognises the various cycles and rythms of Mother Nature: cycles of the seasons, the day, the night, the years, cycles of our own life. This ancient Indian system of medicine, sees that the root of all treatment and the foundation of healthy life for body and mind lies in adjusting our daily lifestyle to align with these various cycles of nature. There’s an optimal time to eat, sleep, work, rest, and exercise. Usually our daily lives make it difficult to follow an Ayurvedically-prescribed dinacharya, daily rhythm. Whilst we are staying at home, however, perhaps there is an opportunity to try it out. As the foundation for all Ayurveda treatments to be successful, dinacharya has much to do with our health and well-being, and this includes our stress-resilience and our resistance to illness. These basics are essential keys for good energy, digestion, peace of mind and enhanced immunity. In terms of our Hatha Yoga practice, to practice in accord with these Ayurveda teachings, we would want to do a more active class in the mornings with sun salutes to stimulate the lymphatics, oxygenate the body and move the energy, clearing heaviness from body and mind to prepare for the day ahead. This means, in the evenings of course we want to ideally be able to enjoy a slower more restful practice in the evening to calm the nervous system and release the stresses of a busy day, and to prepare body and mind for that all important good night’s sleep. 

Here is a typical daily dinacharya, daily routine:

Wake with the sunrise, or as close to.

Eliminate – go to the loo! 

Do kriyas such as tongue scraping, mouth washing, jala neti (cleansing the sinuses with saline solution). eye bathing. 

Practice Hatha Yoga kriyas, asanas, pranayama and meditation. 

Drink a glass of hot or warm water.

Oil the body with an oil appropriate for your constitutional type: cold pressed organic sesame oil for vata and kapha types, organic cold pressed sunflower or olive oil for pitta types.

Leave for 10-20mins max and if you didn’t have time to practice Hatha Yoga, now is a good time to do a few rounds of sun salutes and alternate nostril breathing whilst you wait.

Shower. Apply nasya (special oil the nostrils).

Eat a good cooked wholegrain breakfast.

Walk in nature, do exercise appropriate to your constiutional type.

Have your main meal at lunch.

Eat more lightly in the evening. 

Prepare body and mind for sleep by spending the evening in quiet activities.

Go to bed  by 10pm

Of course we adapt some of these according to constitutional type and how each season might affect your type. 

Please join me for a FREE talk online April 27th 6pm to learn more about dinacharya and how to perform them for your constitutional type to sustain health-promoting balance in body and mind. Email me at sarashama108@gmail.com to reserve your place.