Easy Ways to Incorporate Ayurveda into Your Daily Routine

Ayurveda, the ‘sister science of yoga’ is an Indian healing system which is thousands of years old. It provides an elder-like wisdom and simplicity which Western medicine so often lacks. 

A core difference which makes Ayurvedic medicine so profound is that it is preventative, with a focus on a daily dedication to cleansing and detoxifying the body as opposed to Western medicine which only treats the symptoms of an illness or disease.

As the old saying goes, ‘prevention is better than a cure’ and Ayurveda is definitely rooted within that premise. At the core of Ayurveda is the belief that people are made up of three life-giving forces, or doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

The doshas are considered to be the intrinsic wisdom of the body and fuel the function of our bodies. When all three doshas are balanced we are considered to be healthy and aligned. Each person has a predominant dosha, followed by a secondary and then a least prevalent. Like our unique finger print, Ayurveda believes that we each have our very own blueprint pattern of energy which makes up our overall constitution. Ayurveda celebrates the sacredness of each human being and treats it accordingly as opposed to a ‘one size fits all’ medical approach.

Each dosha is made up of a combination of some of the five elements: air, water, earth, fire and ether. Ayurvedic principles believe that all health issues arise from an imbalance of the five elements.  Incorporating Ayurvedic wellness into your daily routine can dramatically improve our vitality, balance and energy.  Essentially Ayurveda is all about bringing mind, body and spirit into equilibrium and restoring a sense of calm, clarity and wellbeing. 

You needn’t book a flight to India and sign up for a month long panchakarma to receive the healing benefits of Ayurveda. We’ve complied a list of easy to implement daily rituals for you to enjoy. 

Wake and Hydrate 

 In Ayurvedic practice it is believed that sleeping past sunrise can deplete the body of natural vitality and energy. Okay so not all of us are game for rising with the lark but upon waking be sure to ease into the new day gently and with ease.  Mindfully breathe into your intentions for the day, gently stretch your body and begin with water.  Opt for lukewarm water to aid elimination and rehydrate the cells. 

So Fresh So Clean

 In Ayurvedic wellness it is believed that the overall health and cleanliness of the mouth is incredibly important and Ayurvedic practitioners and doctors can determine a great deal about their patients overall health just by studying their tongue.  During the night while we sleep the body is busy nourishing our organs and systems and any bacteria in the mouth can be found on the tongue the next morning.  Tongue scraping is a key morning ritual in Ayurvedic wellness and you can use a tea spoon to do this or invest in a copper tongue scraper.  Opt for a fluorine free herbal toothpaste and spend a few minutes either swishing coconut oil around the mouth or salted water to conclude the mouth cleansing ritual. 

Give yourself some love

Daily self-massage known as abhyanga is a wonderfully nourishing way to start your day.  After showering use a body oil which delights your sense or a classic choice of sesame or coconut and begin stroking the skin with love, care and intention.  It’s recommended to perform self-massage for 15-20 minutes each morning to both relax the nervous system and invigorate the senses ahead of a brand new day.  This is a perfect opportunity to set your intentions for the day and recite some positive affirmations or mantras which serve your soul and provide a potent window of self-care to start your day off on the right foot.