DAILY REGIMEN - DINACHARYA

Even though the detailed therapies and complex drug formulae are available plentifully in Ayurvedic literature, yet, prevention of diseases is given much more importance than an attempt to cure them after they manifest with all the signs and symptoms. This is because if the fundamental rules of personal and social hygiene are followed religiously, building up the immunity against most of the ailments in order to enhance the quality of life an increase lngevity is a task achievable even in the present lifestyle.

The detailed rules for the daily regimen are described in brief as follows:

1. Waking up Hours - A healthy person should get up two hours before sunrise. Do as much as you can before the day gets hotter. Reluctance to do something is often a result of imbalance. The morning regime is designed to get your body, mind & spirit into harmony. It will only be hard to achieve when your mind is dull and inertia ridden.

2. Morning toilet - Your bowels should be evacuated every morning. If you have trouble establishing morning regularity, drink a glass of warm water and wait 5 or 10 minutes. A little positive thought about the issue will soon see you performing regularly when you wake up. You may tend towards constipation, so watch out for this and adjust your lifestyle and diet accordingly.

3. Brushing the teeth – Brush your teeth in the morning should be accompanied by a gum massage with sesame oil. A sesame oil gargle to cleanse and line your mouth is recommended. It gives strength to the teeth, improves the voice, and imparts proper taste to the food that is eaten.

4. Scraping the tongue – Tongue scraping is recommended to keep away furry tongue, and any coating that has accumulated overnight. Cleansing of the tongue freshens up the mouth and also stimulates the secretion of the digestive enzymes.

5. Care of the Nose - Inserting a few drops of sesame oil in the nostrils to lubricate the linings will also be of benefit. It improves the efficiency of the sense organs like eyes, ears and brain. It also helps to prevent diseases of the neck and hea region and strengthens the voice.

6. Morning massage – A light skin massage to the entire body with sesame oil is a perfect way to start the day.

7. Bathing – Bathing with still water would be more suitable than showering for your body type. Try bucket baths instead of a shower. Pay special attention to all bodily secretion areas and every orifice. Never have a bath or shower colder than luke-warm. For washing the head, the water should not be too hot. A hot water bath relieves fatigue, increases strength, cleans the body, improves appetite and generates a feeling of freshness in the body as well as in the mind.

8. Morning exercise – Use the Sun Salute (Suryanamaskar) as it involves the mind, the body and the breathing. Repeat this as your minimum morning exercise program 1-6 times each morning.

9. Meditation – Learn to meditate and use it daily. It is essential for your well being. 10-15 minutes a day can be enough to find the secret to improved health and a balanced and happy life.

10. Breakfast – Do not eat unless you are hungry. Do not drink unless you are thirsty and eat enough to only 3 quarters full your stomach. But you should have breakfast. Your breakfast should consist of cream of rice, cream of wheat, oat meal and a sweetener with some toast or bread and hot tea or milk. You should only fast occasionally.

11. Relaxing after breakfast – Relax for 15 minutes after breakfast to allow the digestion process to begin.

12. Travelling to work – Approach travelling to work with a clear understanding of what it can do to your balance. If you find you are self reacting to negativity to the frustratios, of restlessness, delay and traffic jams you must approach the problem with intelligence and fore thought. Arrange or alter your commuting patterns to reduce tensions and frustrations.

13. Occupation – If you are in a job which makes you nervous, irritable consider a change. You will be happiest in jobs with lots of variety and creativity.

14. Work break – Take a short, brisk walk during coffee break.

15. Lunch – Make sure you have it between midday and 1:00 pm. Avoid alcohol during lunch time, except in winter when a litter wine or beer can be beneficial.

16. Relaxing after lunch – Relax for 15 minutes after lunch.

17. After lunch exercise – Take a short walk to stimulate your digestive fire.

18. Midday meditation – Have a short meditation break to revitalize your thinking for the afternoon work session.

19. Afternoon work – This is the time of the day for mental work and work requiring high levels of dexterity.

20. Work break – Take a short, brisk walk.

21. Travelling back from work – Meditate for 10 minutes before leaving your work place.

22. Evening meal – Dinner should be a smaller meal than lunch and preferably taken around 7 pm two hours before bed time. Should be typically vegetable, curry, rice or noodles, dal and of course a sweet dessert.

23. Relaxing after dinner – Relax for 15 minutes and then take a short walk.

24. Evening time work or play – Avoid any form of exciting action in the evening. Avoid stimulating and action television programs.

25. Getting ready for bed – Go to bed to sleep. No reading, eating or watching television in bed. Sleeping on the left side will open your right nostril which will heat and creative your body. This is recommended for your body type.

26. Sleep – Usually 6-7 hours sleep is enough to give rest to both the body and the mind if the body routine is well balanced.

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