All of our physiological functions follow a set pattern and seem to be controlled by a biological clock. During the day and night our body temperature, weight and hormones have their well-defined periods of highs and lows, and most obvious of our body functions — the sleep and wake cycle — also follows its own rhythm.
Ayurveda believes that to be optimally healthy, we should tune our bodies to nature’s master cycle which in turn regulates our body functions in a right manner. The right “dincharya” or the balanced daily routine is instrumental in keeping our body in harmony with nature, thus preventing disease and promoting good health.
Of the vast treasure of ayurvedic wisdom, here are a few guidelines regarding the daily routine we should follow:
Early morning or the time around dawn is the most pure and fresh time of the day. Getting before sunrise enables us to adopt and enshrine certain subtle qualities of nature. Slowly taking a glass of water kept in a copper vessel in the previous night facilitates the normal bowel movements. Try to establish a routine where bowels are evacuated at the same time every morning.
• The ayurvedic concept of right daily routine also focuses on maintaining personal hygiene and giving meticulous details like cleansing the mouth and teeth in the morning. It further emphasises that depending upon their endurance, all able-bodied persons should adopt an exercise schedule, which can be as light as simple walking, heavy like jogging or doing aerobics or the balanced one like doing yoga and meditation.
• Regular bathing with water which is neither too cold nor too hot purifies the body, eliminates fatigue, sweat and dirt and induces freshness. It is better if bathing is preceded by a gentle massage of the body by any of the oils like sesame, mustard or coconut. Breakfast should be light and the ideal time for it is between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Persons who follow two meals a day pattern can opt for a heavy breakfast around 10 in the morning.
• As the time around noon is the peak “pitta” period, Ayurveda believes lunch to be the principal meal of the day. Delaying it to later than noon can cause digestive upsets. Eat the conducive, wholesome and right amount of food and that too at the right pace. Day-time sleep is detrimental to good health, but keeping in view the seasonal variations, one can have a brief afternoon nap in summer only.
• Do not snack between the meals as it makes the appetite erratic. Take adequate amount of fruit and also drink plenty of water. Restrict the intake of tea or coffee to two cups a day. The desirable time for dinner is around 8 pm and it should be lighter than the lunch.
• To facilitate the proper functioning of the digestive system, there should be a gap of two hours between dinner and sleep. A minimum of six or seven hours sleep is essential for all healthy persons. Ayurvedic texts emphasise that one should obtain sleep at proper time and adequately, neither much nor less. Proper relaxation and leisure relieve stress and strain and restore physical and mental energy.
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