30 Jan 3 Ayurvedic Morning Habits to Change Your Life
Ayurveda is the Eastern “mother science” to yoga. It’s a whole body healing system, which emphasizes lifestyle changes to promote longevity. Ayurveda encourages knowing and understanding your own body and its needs in order to achieve optimal health, and eliminate imbalance. Disease is simply an imbalance in the body, so through lifestyle changes, we seek to find balance. Your morning sets the tone for your entire day, so it’s important to develop healthy habits that will promote optimal wellbeing.
Here are three ways you can change your life, by changing your morning.
Wake up early, daily. Ayurveda says rise to beat the sun. The time of the day characterized by movement and energy is between the hours of 2am-6am. In Ayurveda, it’s called Vata time. When you wake up between the hours of 6am-10am, and you can’t escape that “I’m still tired” feeling, that’s because it’s kapha time, characterized by heaviness and sluggish energy. When you greet the morning sun, your body is naturally energized, and produces more serotonin, or the “happy hormone.” Once your body is used to rising at its natural rhythm, you will experience increased productivity, and feel more rested. But don’t forget to sleep earlier too!
Eliminate. Did you know that daily elimination is essential for healthy function of the body, immunity, and clearing out toxins? The body has a natural urge to eliminate first thing in the morning. However, what often happens is we ignore that urge due to sleep or lack of movement. Drink warm water with lemon, upon rising, daily. This helps to activate your body’s natural digestive fire (agni) and encourages elimination. When you begin to eliminate more regularly, first thing in the early morning daily, you will notice a difference in your energy levels, and naturally decrease the toxins in your body.
Oil your body. Ayurveda loves oils! In fact, the practice of oiling oneself is a natural practice of self-love. There are cooling oils, and heating oils depending on your dosha, but what’s most important is the cultivation of love. After you rise, gently oil your ears, your face, your scalp and give them a sweet, gentle massage. This practice will awaken you, increase circulation and lymphatic drainage.
It’s the small daily habits that become routines that will change your life. Take the time to understand what your body needs, and then give it just that. Align with what nature calls you to do.
The Challenge: Go to sleep at least by 10pm, and set your alarm for 5am tomorrow!