The Daily Routine
by Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., [Link]., Ayurvedic Physician
A daily routine is absolutely necessary to bring radical change a person's biological clock, aids
in body, mind, and consciousness. Routine helps to establish digestion, absorption and
balance in one's constitution. It also regularizes
assimilation, and generates selfesteem, discipline, peace,
happiness, and longevity.
1. Wake Up Early in the Morning
It is good to wake up before the sun rises, when there are
loving (sattvic) qualities in nature that bring peace of mind and
freshness to the senses. Sunrise varies according to the
seasons, but on average vata people should get up about 6
a.m., pitta people by 5.30 a.m., and kapha by 4.30 a.m. Right
after waking, look at your hands for a few moments, then
gently move them over your face and chest down to the waist.
This cleans the aura.
2. Say a Prayer before Leaving the
Bed
"Dear God, you are inside of me,
within my very breath, within each
bird, each mighty mountain.
Your sweet touch reaches everything
and I am well protected.
Thank you God for this beautiful day
before me.
May joy, love, peace and
compassion be part of my life and all
those around me on this day.
I am healing and I am healed."
After this prayer touch the ground
with your right hand, then the same
hand to the forehead, with great love
and respect to Mother Earth.
3. Clean the Face, Mouth, and Eyes
4. Drink Water in the Morning
Splash your face with cold water and rinse out your mouth.
Wash your eyes with cool water (or one of the eye washes
mentioned below) and massage the eyelids by gently rubbing
them. Blink your eyes 7 times and rotate your eyes in all
directions. Dry your face with a clean towel.
Then drink a glass of room
temperature water, preferably from a
pure copper cup filled the night
before. This washes the GI track,
flushes the kidneys, and stimulates
peristalsis. It is not a good idea to
start the day with tea or coffee, as
Tridoshic eyewash: try triphala eyewash - tsp. in 1 cup
this drains kidney energy, stresses
water, boil for 10 minutes, cool and strain.
Pitta eyewash: use cool water or rose water from organic rose the adrenals, causes constipation,
and is habit-forming.
petals - most commercial rose water has chemicals in it that
will sting the eyes.
Kapha eyewash: try diluted cranberry juice, 3-5 drops in a
teaspoon of distilled water.
5. Evacuation
6. Scrape your Tongue
Sit, or better squat, on the toilet and have a bowel movement.
Improper digestion of the previous night's meal or lack of
sound sleep can prevent this. However the water, followed by
sitting on the toilet at a set time each day, helps to regulate
bowel movements. Alternate nostril breathing may also help.
After evacuation wash the anal orifice with warm water, then
the hands with soap.
Gently scrape the tongue from the
back forward, until you have scraped
the whole surface for 7-14 strokes.
This stimulates the internal organs,
helps digestion, and removes dead
bacteria. Ideally, vata can use a gold
scraper, pitta a silver one, and kapha
copper. Stainless steel can be used
by all people.
7. Clean your Teeth
8. Gargling
Always use a soft toothbrush and an astringent, pungent, and
bitter toothpaste or powder. The traditional Indian toothbrush is
a neem stick, which dislodges fine food particles from between
teeth and makes strong, healthy gums. Licorice root sticks are
also used. Roasted almond shell powder can be used for vata
and kapha, and ground neem for pitta.
To strengthen teeth, gums, and jaw,
improve the voice and remove
wrinkles from cheeks, gargle twice a
day with warm sesame oil. Hold the
oil in your mouth, swish it around
vigorously, then spit it out and gently
massage the gums with a finger.
9. Chewing
10. Nasal Drops (Nasya)
Chewing a handful of sesame seeds helps receding gums and
strengthens teeth. Alternatively, chew 3-5 dried dates and an
inch of dried coconut meat. Chewing in the morning stimulates
the liver and the stomach and improves digestive fire. After
chewing, brush the teeth again without using toothpaste or
powder.
Putting 3 to 5 drops of warm ghee or
oil into each nostril in the morning
helps to lubricate the nose, clean the
sinuses, and improve voice, vision,
and mental clarity. Our nose is the
door to the brain, so nose drops
nourish prana and bring intelligence.
For vata: sesame oil, ghee, or
vacha (calamus) oil.
For pitta: brahmi ghee, sunflower or
coconut oil.
For kapha: vacha (calamus root) oil.
11. Oil Drops in the Ears (Karana purana)
12. Apply Oil to the Head & Body
(Abhyanga)
Conditions such as ringing in the ears, excess ear wax, poor
hearing, lockjaw, and TMJ, are all due to vata in the ears.
Rub warm oil over the head and
Putting 5 drops of warm sesame oil in each ear can help these body. Gentle, daily oil massage of
disorders.
the scalp can bring happiness, as
well as prevent headache, baldness,
graying, and receding hairline. Oiling
your body before bedtime will help
induce sound sleep and keep the
skin soft.
For vata use warm sesame oil.
For pitta use warm sunflower or
coconut oil.
For kapha use warm sunflower or
mustard oil.
13. Bathing
14. Dressing
Bathing is cleansing and refreshing. It removes sweat, dirt, and Wearing clean clothes brings beauty
fatigue, brings energy to the body, clarity to the mind, and
and virtue.
holiness to your life.
15. Use of Perfumes
16. Exercise
Using natural scents, essential oils, or perfumes brings
freshness, charm, and joy. It gives vitality to the body and
improves self-esteem.
Regular exercise, especially yoga,
improves circulation, strength, and
endurance. It helps one relax and
have sound sleep, and improves
digestion and elimination. Exercise
daily to half of your capacity, which is
until sweat forms on the forehead,
armpits, and spine.
For vata the best scent to use is hina or amber.
For pitta try using khus, sandalwood, or jasmine.
For kapha use either amber or musk
Vata: Sun salutation x 12, done
slowly; Leg lifting; Camel; Cobra;
Cat; Cow. Slow, gentle exercise.
Pitta: Moon salutation x 16,
moderately fast; Fish; Boat; Bow.
Calming exercise.
Kapha: Sun salutation x 12, done
rapidly; Bridge; Peacock; Palm tree;
Lion. Vigorous exercise.
17. Pranayama
18. Meditation
After exercise, sit quietly and do some deep breathing
exercises as follows:
It is important to meditate morning
and evening for at least 15 minutes.
Meditate in the way you are
accustomed, or try the "Empty Bowl
Meditation". Meditation brings
balance and peace into your life.
12 alternate nostril breaths for vata;
16 cooling shitali breaths (curling up your tongue lengthwise
and breathing through it) for pitta;
100 bhastrika (short, fast breaths) for kapha.
19. Now it is time for your breakfast!
Your meal should be light in the hot months or if your agni is low, and more substantial in the cold.
Enjoy your day!
Typical Daily Schedule for Each Dosha
Vata
Pitta
Kapha
Wake up
Breakfast
Lunch
Supper
6 AM
8 AM
11 AM to 12 PM
6 PM
5:30 AM
7:30 AM
12 PM
6 to 7 PM
4:30 AM
7 AM
12 to 1 PM
7 to 8 PM
Sleep
10 PM
Sleep on your back
10 to 11 PM
Sleep on your right side
11 to 12 PM
Sleep on your left side