The Daily Routine by Vasant Lad, MASc

The Daily Routine

by Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., [Link]., Ayurvedic Physician

A daily routine is absolutely necessary to bring a person's biological clock, aids digestion,
radical change in body, mind, and absorption and assimilation, and generates
consciousness. Routine helps to establish self-esteem, discipline, peace, happiness, and
balance in one's constitution. It also regularizes longevity.

1. Wake Up Early in the Morning 2. Say a Prayer before Leaving the Bed

It is good to wake up before the sun rises, when "Dear God, you are inside of me, within my very
there are loving (sattvic) qualities in nature that breath, within each bird, each mighty mountain.
bring peace of mind and freshness to the Your sweet touch reaches everything and I am
senses. Sunrise varies according to the well protected.
seasons, but on average vata people should get
up about 6 a.m., pitta people by 5.30 a.m., and Thank you God for this beautiful day before me.
kapha by 4.30 a.m. Right after waking, look at May joy, love, peace and compassion be part of
your hands for a few moments, then gently move my life and all those around me on this day.
them over your face and chest down to the waist. I am healing and I am healed."
This cleans the aura.
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 Then drink a glass of room temperature water,
your mouth. Wash your eyes with cool water (or preferably from a pure copper cup filled the night
one of the eye washes mentioned below) and before. This washes the GI track, flushes the
massage the eyelids by gently rubbing them. kidneys, and stimulates peristalsis. It is not a
Blink your eyes 7 times and rotate your eyes in good idea to start the day with tea or coffee, as
all directions. Dry your face with a clean towel. this drains kidney energy, stresses the adrenals,
causes constipation, and is habit-forming.
Tridoshic eyewash: try triphala eyewash -¼
tsp. in 1 cup water, boil for 10 minutes, cool and
strain.
Pitta eyewash: use cool water or rose water
from organic rose 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 Gently scrape the tongue from the back forward,
bowel movement. Improper digestion of the until you have scraped the whole surface for
previous night's meal or lack of sound sleep can 7-14 strokes. This stimulates the internal organs,
prevent this. However the water, followed by helps digestion, and removes dead bacteria.
sitting on the toilet at a set time each day, helps Ideally, vata can use a gold scraper, pitta a silver
to regulate bowel movements. Alternate nostril one, and kapha copper. Stainless steel can be
breathing may also help. After evacuation wash used by all people.
the anal orifice with warm water, then the hands
with soap.

7. Clean your Teeth 8. Gargling

Always use a soft toothbrush and an astringent, To strengthen teeth, gums, and jaw, improve the
pungent, and bitter toothpaste or powder. The voice and remove wrinkles from cheeks, gargle
traditional Indian toothbrush is a neem stick, twice a day with warm sesame oil. Hold the oil in
which dislodges fine food particles from between your mouth, swish it around vigorously, then spit
teeth and makes strong, healthy gums. Licorice it out and gently massage the gums with a finger.
root sticks are also used. Roasted almond shell
powder can be used for vata and kapha, and
ground neem for pitta.

9. Chewing 10. Nasal Drops (Nasya)

Chewing a handful of sesame seeds helps Putting 3 to 5 drops of warm ghee or oil into
receding gums and strengthens teeth. each nostril in the morning helps to lubricate the
Alternatively, chew 3-5 dried dates and an inch nose, clean the sinuses, and improve voice,
of dried coconut meat. Chewing in the morning vision, and mental clarity. Our nose is the door to
stimulates the liver and the stomach and the brain, so nose drops nourish prana and bring
improves digestive fire. After chewing, brush the intelligence.
teeth again without using toothpaste or powder.
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 Rub warm oil over the head and body. Gentle,
ear wax, poor hearing, lockjaw, and TMJ, are all daily oil massage of the scalp can bring
due to vata in the ears. Putting 5 drops of warm happiness, as well as prevent headache,
sesame oil in each ear can help these disorders. 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 Wearing clean clothes brings beauty and virtue.
sweat, dirt, and fatigue, brings energy to the
body, clarity to the mind, and holiness to your
life.

15. Use of Perfumes 16. Exercise

Using natural scents, essential oils, or perfumes Regular exercise, especially yoga, improves
brings freshness, charm, and joy. It gives vitality circulation, strength, and endurance. It helps one
to the body and improves self-esteem. relax and have sound sleep, and improves
digestion and elimination. Exercise daily to half
For vata the best scent to use is hina or amber. of your capacity, which is until sweat forms on
For pitta try using khus, sandalwood, or jasmine. the forehead, armpits, and spine.
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 It is important to meditate morning and evening
breathing exercises as follows: for at least 15 minutes. Meditate in the way you
are accustomed, or try the "Empty Bowl
12 alternate nostril breaths for vata; Meditation". Meditation brings balance and
16 cooling shitali breaths (curling up your tongue peace into your life.
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 6 AM 5:30 AM 4:30 AM
Breakfast 8 AM 7:30 AM 7 AM
Lunch 11 AM to 12 PM 12 PM 12 to 1 PM
Supper 6 PM 6 to 7 PM 7 to 8 PM
10 PM 10 to 11 PM 11 to 12 PM
Sleep
Sleep on your back Sleep on your right side Sleep on your left side