Day 13 - Ayurvedic Journey
“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
Did you know?
Henry David Thoreau introduced the Bhagavad Gita to Americans in his book Walden in 1854.
Sunshine Vitamin
With vitamin D’s status as the “sunshine vitamin,” since the body synthesizes it from UV rays from the sun absorbed in the skin, it should come as no surprise that there is a seasonal variance in vitamin D status, with winter and early spring months having the lowest levels and summer months having the highest levels.
Dinacharya
Dinacharya is an important principle in Ayurveda. It refers to a daily routine that's meant to maintain physical health. Establishing a healthy and consistent dinacharya allows the body to be in tune with the cycles of nature, promoting optimal wellness.
We know doshas rule our bodies, but they also rule nature and the universe in the way of time and space. Doshas rule certain times of day, seasons, and stages of life, so once we know what energies are strongest at specific times, we can go with the flow of those energies to achieve overall balance.
“In short, the daily regimen asks us to wake up before sunrise, empty bowels, brush teeth, apply nasya nasal drops, gargle, massage, exercise, take a bath, and apply eye ointment (anjana) twice a week. ”
Doshas | Time of Day
Kapha: 6 - 10 a.m. and 6 - 10 p.m.
Pitta: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
Vata: 2 - 6 p.m. and 2 - 6 a.m.
The morning Ayurvedic practices of dinacharya are intended to both calm and energize the body, preparing the practitioner for the day ahead. The evening ones are to help the practitioner relax before sleep. The recommended timings for these practices are in tune with the natural cycle of the sun. Although the dinacharya practices are thousands of years old, advocates of Ayurveda say they are as beneficial in the modern lifestyle as ever before.
Guidelines can vary, but the suggested routines for dinacharya are as follows:
Morning: Rise two hours before sunrise. Wash the face and eyes, and scrape the tongue. Massage the body with oil. Exercise by practicing yoga and/or pranayama. Bathe, meditate and eat breakfast.
Midday: Eat the largest meal of the day.
Evening: Have a light dinner at least three hours before bedtime, then take a walk. Go to bed around 10 p.m.
* Starting on Day 13, Ayurvedic Coach Lisa Bermudez will bring us through daily routine to help you navigate your way to balance.
Ritucharya
Rtucarya is the modification of dinacarya according to seasonal changes. In India, the year is divided into 2 Kaals (time periods). Each Kaal comprises of 3 seasons which gives a total of 6 seasons in a year. Each season lasts for two months and these seasons are precisely found in Indian subcontinent. They are known as Adaan Kaal (Northern Solstice - Jan 14 to Jul 14) and Visarga Kaal ( Southern Solstice - July 14 to Jan 14).
While we follow the same concept here in the United States, we have different seasons, so we can adjust accordingly.
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The Doshas go through a cycle of accumulating, aggravating and palliating (lessening) in different seasons, and we have to balance them out with our lifestyle and diet.
We will experience imbalance when we push our bodies to operate at the same level all your long.
We consider the seasons for their dosha and how we co-exist with that dosha during that time period. Below is the basic outline of seasonal doshas in New York. Be mindful that this changes slightly based on where you live. It will be different in Maine than Florida, for example.
U.S. Seasons / Doshas
Vata season runs from autumn and early winter, mid-September right up to January.
Kapha season takes place from February to May.
Pitta season is June to mid-September.
We balance our diet through opposite qualities of doshas: for instance, in Pitta season, the weather is characterized by hot, light, and sharp qualities, so we counter it with cooler, sweet, bitter, and astringent food; avoiding sour, spicy, salty, and pungent foods.
“Rituacharya is the ancient Ayurvedic practice and is comprised of two words, “Ritu” which means season and “charya” which means Regimen or discipline. Ritucharya consists of lifestyle and ayurvedic diet routine to cope with the bodily and mental impacts caused by seasonal changes as recommended by Ayurveda.”
Sadhana (Practice, Training, Discipline)
That ‘heart work’ is guided through reading (scripture and inspiration), meditation and prayer. In this practice, I subordinate body and mind to the soul; accumulating a spiritual power. This spiritual power is the very strength we need to live a liberated life.
When I am strong in my daily Sadhana practice, I am able to better surrender my subconscious fears and opens new sources of energy and consciousness to live a life of love and care.
Every day, when you miss practicing Sadhana, you lose yourself to yourself. Remember that you do not do Sadhana for your loved ones; you do not even do Sadhana to please God. The only reason you should do Sadhana is to connect deeply with yourself. Stay true to your purpose, to divinity and to eternal love. God will be there and you will feel - over time - such a peace with this practice.
*Founder of Stone Wave Yoga and Ayurvedic Coach, Liz Glover Wilson will be sharing daily spiritual practices for the next few days.
Planet Care
As consider our personal journey through Ayurveda, we see the oneness with nature; all made from the great five elements. We take the journey with full attention to mother earth incorporating planet care and sound vibration through mantras.
*Author of Climate Change Yoga, Erik Phillips-Nania will be sharing with us daily practices for the next few days on how to stay connected, aware and at a higher sattvic vibration with the Earth.
“The ancient yogis who called themselves “Masters of Nature,” attain the powers of nature - the powers of air, wind, fire, earth, water, rain, and even the seasons - through the practice of yoga. The RigVeda is the source-code for our agricultural civilization.”
Nadi Shodhana
Nadi shodhana pranayama is a breathing technique that works at both the physical and mental levels. It is a Hatha yoga pranayama technique that purifies the body's energy channels, or nadis.
To practice nadi shodhana pranayama, sit comfortably with the spine erect in a posture such as padmasana (lotus pose).
Nadi Shodhana
Infuses the body with oxygen
Clears and releases toxins
Reduces stress and anxiety
Calms and rejuvenates the nervous system
Helps to balance hormones
Supports clear and balanced respiratory channels
Helps to alleviate respiratory allergies that cause hay fever, sneezing, or wheezing
Balances solar and lunar, masculine and feminine energies
Fosters mental clarity and an alert mind
Enhances the ability to concentrate
Brings balance to the left and right hemispheres of the brain
Begin by taking a full, deep inhalation followed by a slow, gentle exhalation. In this way, practice several rounds of Full Yogic Breath to help awaken the prana maya kosha (the energetic body).
Fold the tips of the index and middle fingers inward until they touch the palm at the base of the right thumb (Vishnu mudra). You will alternately use the right thumb to close the right nostril and the right ring and pinky fingers (together) to close the left nostril.
Use the right thumb to close the right nostril. Exhale gently, but fully, through the left nostril. Keeping the right nostril closed, inhale through the left nostril and deep into the belly. As you inhale, allow the breath to travel upward along the left side of the body. Pause briefly at the crown of the head.
Next, use the ring and pinky fingers of the right hand to gently close the left nostril and simultaneously release the right nostril. Exhale through the right nostril, surrendering the breath down the right side of the body. Pause gently at the bottom of the exhalation.
Keeping the left nostril closed, inhale once again through the right nostril, allowing the breath to travel up the right side of the body.
Then again, use the right thumb to close the right nostril as you release the left nostril. Exhale through the left nostril, surrendering the breath back down the left side of the body. Pause gently at the bottom of the exhalation.