The Glory of Following a Disciplinary Routine

In Sanskrit, the daily routine known as ‘Dinacharya’ is an ideal schedule celebrating nature’s rhythm. In Ayurveda, the center of attention is mobilized in the early hours of the day as it is significant in setting the mood of your day.

‘Ayurveda’ firmly believes that discipline for the body and mind strengthens immunity and purifies the body of its offscourings. With the help of a disciplinary schedule, one can clean the body and mind, balance their doshas, strengthen immunity, and begin the day on a rejuvenating note. Here is your guide to a significant routine that will help you to commence your daily chores on a blissful note –

1. Waking up at Brahma Muhurta – You should wake up about one and a half hours before sunrise to synchronize with the rhythm of the sun. Ayurveda recommends an auspicious time – the Brahma Muhurta – for waking up early. Hope, inspiration, and peace manifest at this time. The time in the early morning is considered best for meditation, self-analysis, supreme knowledge, and eternal happiness.

2. Enhance the Power of Breath – Check through which nostril your breath flows stronger. According to Ayurveda, the right nostril is solar-pitta, and the left is lunar- kapha. The right side of the brain controls creative activity, while the left controls logical verbal activity. When you breathe through your left nostril, the right side of your brain is more pre-dominant and vice versa.

3. Embrace the Positive Vibrations – Follow the custom of observing the lines in your palms and remember the deities of wealth, knowledge, and power. Rub your fingertips with your thumbs in a circular soothing manner – right clockwise and then left anticlockwise circles. Rub the palms using your fingertips, then turn the right wrist clockwise and the left anticlockwise. Kiss the palm of your side where the flow of breath is more robust, then kiss the other palm. By kissing your palm, you give the best vibrations to self-expression. Rub your hands together and move your palms slowly over your face, covering your head, shoulders, arms, and legs, creating an energy shield that wards off negative influences throughout the day.

4. Clean Up Yourself – Rinse yourself with cold water as it is an electrical conductor and can never irritate sensitive tissues. Henceforth, wash your hands, face, mouth, and eyes with cool water. Clean your nose, teeth, and tongue.

5. Meditate and Exercise – Perform ‘Pranayama’ while centering your vitality in the heart chakra or the third eye. Alternatively, take a short, slow walk in the fresh morning air. ‘Vyayama’ or physical exercise usually comprises yoga postures like ‘Surya Namaskar’ or sun salutation. Early morning exercises eradicate stagnation in the body and mind, make the digestive fire effectively stronger, reduce fat, and give you a feeling of lightness and joy as it fills your body with liveliness.

6. Pamper yourself and Bathe Right – Massage your body with sesame oil. Massaging the scalp, forehead, temples, hands, and feet for about 2-3 minutes is sufficient. Take your bath in water which is neither too hot nor too cold.

7. Make your Noon-time activities appropriate – Lunch should be taken early, between 12-1 pm, as the heaviest meal of the day. After the meal, take a walk to help the food digest.

8. Prayers and Meditations in Twilight Zone – This is a particular time of balance between day and night. It is the perfect time for evening prayers and meditations.

9. Move Forward to Dinner – Have your dinner lighter than lunch, around 6–7 pm. Take it at least three hours before bedtime, providing your body ample time to digest the food. Sleeping just after dinner with a heavy stomach should be strictly avoided. Walk for about 10 – 15 minutes or 150 steps to help digestion.

10. Bedtime Essentials – The ideal time to sleep is by 10:30 pm. You can massage the soles of your feet, palms, neck, and shoulders to calm the system before bed.

Seven Basic Steps to Get Started with Meditation

Meditation is the art of focusing or clearing your mind using mental and physical techniques. It gives you a sense of calm, peace, and balance, benefiting your emotional wellbeing and health to a great degree. You can also meditate to relax and cope with stress by refocusing your attention, calming, and making yourself more organized. Meditation shares duties with your daily routine and healthy lifestyle choices to balance your inner peace.

Through meditation, you can not only relax but also reduce anxiety, stress, and hypertension, increase self-awareness, enhance your creativity and imagination, increase patience and tolerance, gain a new perspective for every stressful situation in your life, eliminate negative emotions, lower resting blood pressure and heart rate, focus on the present and improve your sleep quality.

By corroborating a few simple things before you commence meditating, you can have a wonderful, fulfilling experience in meditation. Here are seven basic steps to get started with the art of meditating –

1. Choose a particular time at your convenience. Meditation is relaxation. If you are thinking about meditating correctly, give yourself time to practice it when you are comfortable and convenient. Pick a time when you want to have the freedom to relax and enjoy. Make your mind free of all odds and things in your work-life routine. The hours of sunrise and sunset are also ideal for meditation. These hours are when there is a serene calm at home, helping you to meditate easily.

2. Choose a quiet place and a peaceful environment to meditate. Meditation demands commitment and space free from distractions. Therefore, a quiet room in your house, a soft open spot in the nature or garden amidst the greenery, or even a meditation center can make your experience more soothing and enjoyable. Meditation in a calm space also helps you reconnect with your mind, body, and self, effectively channelling your inner and outer auras.

3. While meditating, your posture makes a difference. Get familiar with a comfortable seated position to rejoice in the benefits of meditating. The best way is to sit on the floor on a ‘yoga mat.’ Keep your spine straight and relaxed with your hands resting on your lap. Relax, and be steady as much as possible. Sit straight with your spine vertically upright, focus on your breathing technique, keep your shoulders and neck relaxed, and keep your eyes closed throughout the process.

4. Start with a few warm-ups before meditation to bring your attention to the present moment and prepare your body and mind for the same. If you are wondering how to start meditating, a few warm-up or subtle yoga exercises before meditation helps improve blood circulation, remove inertia and restlessness, and make the body feel lighter. Warm-up exercises such as rotating your neck, wrists, waist, and ankles are essential steps in learning to meditate, enabling you to sit steadily for longer.

5. Taking deep breaths before meditation is another essential tip for learning the soulful process. Deep breathing before beginning a meditation technique is preferable. It helps to anchor your breathing pattern in an exemplary flow and leads the mind into a peaceful meditative state. Pay attention to your breath as you inhale and exhale. Count your breaths if it helps you to stay focused. Tenderly bring your consciousness back to your breath if your mind gets diverted.

6. Keep a gentle smile on your face and feel the positivity surrounding you. Smiling gently throughout the meditation keeps you relaxed and peaceful while enhancing your experience. It helps you to bridge the gap between your heart and mind, eradicate negative thoughts and welcome the goodness of liveliness.

7. As you come to the end of the meditation, skip being in a hurry to open your eyes or move your body immediately. Instead, become aware of yourself and your surroundings, rub your palms and generate mild heat between them, cup both palms on your eyes, and gradually open them. Then slowly move your body, and you are ready for the day with a rejuvenating energy!

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