Dinacharya – The Daily Routine for a Long and Healthy Life

Daily Routine, Dinacharya

A daily routine is absolutely crucial to bring necessary change in body, mind and consciousness. Routine helps to establish the required balance in one’s constitution. It also helps in regulation of person’s clock [biological], absorption as well as assimilation. It also helps in digestion as well as in generation of self-esteem, happiness, discipline, peace and longevity.

Wake up Early in the Morning

It is very good to wake up when there are loving (sattvic) qualities in nature and before the sun rise which brings peace of mind and freshness to the senses. Sunrise varies in different seasons, but on average vata people should get up at 6 in the morning, pitta people by 5:30 in the morning, and kapha by 4:30 in the morning. Look at your hands for a few moments, right after waking, then gently rub them on your face and chest down to the waist. This helps in cleaning the aura.

Say a Prayer before Leaving the Bed

After the prayer, touch the floor or ground with your right hand, then touch your forehead with the same hand, with great respect and love to Mother Earth.

Clean the Face, Mouth, and Eyes

Rinse your face with cold water and rinse out your mouth with fresh water. Wash your eyes with the fresh water and massage the eyelids by gently rubbing them. Blink your eyes at least 7 times and rotate your eyes in all the directions. Dry your face and hands with a clean towel.

Drink Water in the Morning

Then have a glass of water [room temperature], preferably from a pure copper cup filled night before. This washes the digestive track, cleanses the kidneys and helps in stimulation of peristalsis. It is not fine idea to start the day with coffee or tea, as this will drain off the energy of the kidneys, stresses the adrenal gland and leads to constipation and habit-forming.

Evacuation

Sit or better squat [sit when you do not have enough time and do squat when you have enough time], on the toilet so as to have a bowel movement. Improper digestion or improper sleep can prevent this. Alternate nostril breathing may also help to evacuate. Wash the anal orifice with warm water and then the hands with soap, after evacuation.

Brush or scrape your tongue gently

Scrape or brush the tongue from the back forward and scrape until you have scraped the whole surface for 7-14 strokes. This helps in stimulating the internal organs which helps in digestion and removal of the dead bacteria. Generally, pitta can use a silver scraper, vata a gold one, and kapha can use the copper one. Stainless steel can be used by all people who cannot afford all these scrapers.

Clean your Teeth

Always prefer a soft toothbrush and an astringent, pungent, and bitter tooth powder or tooth paste. The traditional Indian toothbrush ‘neem stick’ can be used which dislodges fine food particles between the teeth and makes gums strong and healthy. Sticks of liquorice root are also used by some people. Powder of almond shell [roasted] can be used for vata and kapha person, and ground neem for pitta.

Gargling

Gargle twice daily with warm sesame oil. Keep the oil in your mouth then swish it around in a vigorous manner, then spit it out and then gently massage your gums with a finger.

Chewing

Chewing a handful of sesame seeds helps in strengthening gums and strengthens teeth. Another option is chew at least 3-5 dried dates and an inch of dried coconut meat. Chewing in the morning helps in stimulation of the liver and the stomach and improves the digestive fire. After chewing brush the teeth again without using toothpaste or powder.

Nasal Drops (Nasya)

Put at least 3 to 5 drops of warm oil or warm ghee into each of the nostril in the morning which helps to lubricate the nose, cleanses the sinuses, and improve vision, voice, and mental clarity. Our nose is the main door to the brain so, nose drops nourish prana and bring intelligence.

Oil drops in the Ears (Karana purana)

Conditions such as ringing in the ears, poor hearing, excess ear wax, lockjaw, and TMJ are all because of vata in the ears. Putting 5 drops of warm sesame oil in each ear can help in treating these disorders.

Apply Oil to the Head & Body (Abhyanga)

Put and rub warm oil over the head and body. Gentle, daily oil massage of the scalp with the oil can bring happiness as well as helps in prevention of headache, baldness, greying, and receding hairline.

Bathing

Bathing helps in refreshing and cleansing. It removes sweat, dirt, and fatigue, brings fresh energy to the body, clarity to the mind, and holiness to your life.

Dressing

Always wear washed and cleaned clothes so as to bring beauty as well as virtue.

Use of Perfumes

Always use natural scents, perfumes or essential oils so as to bring the freshness, charm, and joy to your life. It gives vitality to the body and improves self-esteem.

Exercise

Daily exercise especially yoga, improves circulation, endurance and strength. It helps one to relax and have sound sleep, and improves digestion as well as elimination. Daily exercise to half of your capacity, which is until sweat forms on the forehead, spine and armpit.

Pranayama

After exercise, sit quietly and do some deep breathing exercises.

Meditation

It is necessary to meditate in the morning as well as in the evening for at least 15 minutes. Meditation brings balance as well as peace into your life.