MORNING MINUTES/The Morning Routine
Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation. And that is an act of political warfare- Audre Lorde
In Ayurveda, the importance of a consistent daily routine can’t be underestimated. As part of your self-care, self-love habits and rituals of this Spring re-boot, let’s commit to changing the trajectory of jumping out of bed and running into our days (and our electronics). It is going to take effort and, perhaps work, to break the “cycle” but once you do so you will feel more peaceful throughout the entire day. The goal is at least three minutes of the morning that is truly yours.
The daily routine sets the tone for the day, bringing a sense of calm and wellbeing. It gives the mind and spirit the chance to ground and cleanse, to start refreshed.
- Wake up at the same time each day
- Wake to a pleasant non-jarring sound (some ideas are; Now and Zen’s progressive chime-based alarm, Philips Wake-Up Lamp, and the Mosche sunrise alarm clock).
- Take some time for a self-enhancing practice for at least 3 minutes. Light a candle at the beginning and end of the the practice to demarcate it. You can go longer if you so desire. Some ideas:
- Loving kindness meditation
- Waft some essential oils and breathe deeply
- Pick a wisdom card or short passage inspirational passage from a book
- Step out into the sunshine and take a short walk or just stand and watch the clouds go by
- Listen to the birds or attune to the outdoor sounds and if you get distracted by thoughts or a monkey mind come back to the sound
- Do some light stretching or yoga
- Pet your dog or cat
- Doodle in your sketchbook or write a journal entry
- Think about three things you’re grateful for taking one deep breath for each
- Just sit there, do nothing, and notice how it feels
- Put on your favorite music and have a dance party
- Drink a glass of warm, lemon water to stimulate bile production
- Scrape your tongue: Use a tongue cleaner or a stainless-steel spoon to remove the bacteria filled coating on the tongue and to stimulate the digestive system
- Brush the Teeth with a non-toxic toothpaste such as Himalayan Neem Pomegranate, Jason brand toothpastes or Risewell Toothpaste
- Oil pull: swishing and gargling with organic coconut oil, flax oil or sesame oil helps strengthen the teeth, gums, jaw, and voice and improves the sense of taste. Swish for 5 to 20 minutes as time allows
- Eliminate: Hopefully upon rising you will have a bowel movement. If you are not having a daily bowel movement, increase your water and fiber rich foods.·
- Rinse, Face, Mouth and Eyes. A splash of cold water is soothing and rejuvenating to the face, mouth and eyes. It brings a sense of freshness to the body and mind.·
- Self-massage (Abhyanga)
- This is a profound practice of rejuvenation and loving self-care. Performing a self-massage with room temperature or warm oil calms the nervous system, lubricates, and rejuvenates and promotes healthy circulation. You may choose among blends designed for different Ayurvedic doshas or use a Daily Massage Oil.
- Place a few drops of Nasya Oil in the nose if you so desireBathe: Alternating 3 minutes of warm/hot water, with 30 seconds of freezing cold 3 times.
- A bit of extra self-care in your day goes a long way towards soothing anxiety and making you more resilient throughout the day. Remember to stop, pause, observe to see how you feel afer investing this small amount of time in yourself.
