Good Morning, Sunshine

The healing ways of Ayurveda are so plentiful, they can even make getting up in the morning a pleasure.

Try some of these rituals for a lovely, relaxing way to start your day tomorrow. Give them a try and see for yourself. You might even want to make them a part of your daily routine.

As part of its approach, Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of developing morning rituals that help balance your body with nature, and work your doshas. It’s true-building just one of these practices into your daily routine can change the way you experience your day.

-Get up before the sun rises. It’s a simple–and somewhat difficult push for many of us, but the early morning air is believed to possess special qualities and energies. Ayurvedic philosophy holds that Vata energy fills the earth’s atmosphere during pre-dawn hours. And the bonus–if you’ve already awakened your body by the time the sun rises, you’re more than ready to meet the day when the sun comes up.

-Get your body moving. A very soothing Ayurvedic practice is drinking a glass of warm water with a slice of lemon or lime. The warm water wakes up your intestines and tummy. The lemons and limes are high in vitamins and minerals, which can help loosen the toxins in your digestive tract.

-Wake up your face. I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but waking up your face after a sound night’s sleep can be a challenge. You’re puffy and dehydrated. Ayurveda recommends splashing the face with water. Try seven splashes–seven is an important number, as it represents the number of chakras or energy centers in your body. Well, this does feel good. And I find it a relaxing way to refresh my skin in the morning.

-Douse your eyes. While you’re at it, splash your eyes, too. I’ve actually done this by accident, before trying any type of Ayurvedic practice, and it felt good, even then. Try splashing your open eyes with cool water in the morning. It’s believed to help balance your dosha, and it does wake up your eyeballs. You might even try lukewarm water at first. This feels good, too.

-Eat lightly. Yes breakfast is the most important meal. But according to Ayurveda, morning is the time to get your body exercising and moving, so it’s recommended you eat lightly, maybe some fruit, vegetable juice or yogurt. Some whole grains are always a good choice.

Lovely ways to start your day, and hopefully, rituals that will become day-changers for you too!