According to Ayurveda,you could not do better than to strive your life in harmony with mother nature
In Tune With Nature : Ayurveda flourished in a civilization vastly different from life today ,a world in which human life was intimately intertwined with the life of nature . The great rhythms and forces of nature –the alternation of day and night,the rhythmic cycle of seasons –all affect us ,as do the inevitable seasons and cycles of human life ,birth and growth ,aging and death .Through the plants we eat for food,the water we drink and the air we breathe in common with all beings ,we are inextricably one with nature .
Being in tune with nature also means being in tune with your nature ,your constitution .It means beings true to your own nature ,to how you are built ,mentally and emotionally as well as physically .It means that your food and exercise requirements ,how much you need to sleep ,how much sexual activity is healthy for you ,what kind of climate is beneficial ,all revolve around your doshic makeup ,your individual nature .Living in accordance with nature and natural law means continually balancing our inner ecology by adjusting to our ever-changing environment .
Ayurvedic Daily Routine : A daily routine is essential for maintaining good health and for transforming our body ,mind and consciousness to a higher level of functioning .A regulated daily rhythms .It establishes balance in our constitution and helps to regularize our biological clock .It indirectly aids in digestion ,absorption and assimilation of food and it generates self-esteem ,discipline .peace ,happiness and long life . Waking up too early or too late ,undisciplined eating ,staying up too late ,job stress and untimely bowel movements are a few habits then can unsettle us .Regularity in sleeping ,waking ,eating and eliminating ,indeed following a regular daily routine brings discipline to life and helps maintain the integrity of the doshas . Here are its most salient features
Wake up early : It is beneficial to wake up before the sun rises . At this time of the morning ,pure qualities are lively in nature ,which can bring freshness to the doors of perception and peace of mind . Right after awakening look at your hands for a few moments ,then gently move them over your face ,neck and chest down to your waist .This will bring more alertness .
Say A Prayer :It is good to start the day by remembering the Divine Reality that is our life . You may do this in your own way ,as your religion or personal experience dictates .
Wash Your Face ,Mouth And Eyes : Splash your face with cold water as couple of times. Swish and rinse out your mouth .Then wash your eyes with cold water and massage the eyelids by gently rubbing them . Blink your eyes seven times and then rotate your eyes in all directions side to side ,up and down ,diagonally ,clockwise and counter-clockwise .All this will help you feel alert and fresh .
Drink A Glass Of Water : Drink a glass of room –temperature water preferably from a pure copper cup or tumbler . If the water is too cold ,it may provoke kapha disorders such as cold coughs and sore throat . .For kapha and vata individuals ,it is actually better to drink hot water ,for a pitta person ,lukewarm is best.
It is not a good idea to start the day with coffee or black tea . These drain kidney energy ,overstimulate the adrenals and promote constipation . They are also habit-forming .
Evacuation : Sit ( or better ,squat ) on the toilet and have a bowel movement .Even if you do not have the urge,sit for a few minutes ,without forcing .If you do this every day ,following your glass of warm water ,the habit will develop .After evacuation ,wash the anal orifice with warm water ,then wash your hands with a gentle soap .
Clean Your Teeth And Tongue : Use a soft toothbrush for your teeth and an herbal powder made of astringent ,pungent and bitter herbs .Scrape your tongue every morning .This is an important part of daily hygiene ,from which you can learn a lot about your health and habits .To scrape your tongue ,use a stainless –steel tongue .You can also use a spoon . Gently scrape from the back or base of the tongue forward ,until you have scrapped the whole surface .In addition to removing bacteria from the tongue .Scraping sends an indirect message to all the internal organs and stimulates gastric fire and digestive enzymes .
Gargle : To strengthen the teeth ,gums and jaw ,to improve the voice and remove wrinkles from the cheeks ,gargle twice a day with warm sesame oil . Also hold the oil in your mouth and swish it around vigorously . Then spit it out and gently massage the gums with your index finger .
Oil Exercise : Take 4 or 5 ounces of warm ,oil ,and rub it all over your head and body .Gently massaging the scalp with oil can bring happiness into your day as well as help prevent headaches and slow balding and graying of your hair.If you oil your body again before going to bed ,it will help induce sound sleep . Oil massage improve circulation ,calms the mind and reduces excess vata . The skin of the entire body becomes soft ,smooth and brightened .
Bathing : Following your oil massage ,take a bath or shower . Bathing is cleansing and refreshing .It removes fatigue . Brings energy and alertness and promotes long time .Bathing every day brings holiness into your life .
Exercise : Everyone should do some exercise every day .A walk in the fest early morning air and some yoga stretching are good enough for many people ,some additional aerobic exercise may also be beneficial .As a general rule ,Ayurveda recommends exercising up to one half of one’s capacity .A good gauge is to exercise until sweat forms on the forehead ,under the arms and along the spinal column .Straining is absolutely not recommended .
Sex : Ayurveda has some definite suggestions about the proper role of sex in our lives .Sex is a tremendous creative force and through sex people share their love and compassion and can derive great pleasure . Sex is also correlated with constitutional type . the recommended frequency of sexual activity is quite different for the different types .