Timing is everything
A regular routine is essential for creating a healthy body and mind.
One of the most important principles for living a healthy balanced Ayurvedic lifestyle is to cultivate a regular routine. This means getting up at the same time every day, eating at regular times, going to the toilet at a similar time every day and going to bed at the same time each evening. Another advice is the actual timing of one’s activities.
This is not because Ayurveda is a military regime, boring or rigid. It isn’t. Ayurveda is very much “going with the flow” but most of us have forgotten to listen to our individual flow. Ayurveda is about getting back in touch with our bodies, nature and our instinctive rhythm.
Having a routine is essential to keep Vata balanced. The Vata Dosha is mobile and irregular and when Vata becomes increased the other Doshas and our health are affected. The easiest way to balance Vata is to establish a regular steady routine.
Quick Doshas Guide
Ayurveda believes everything is made out of five elements: Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These elements manifest into three principles or Doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Here is a short guide to some of the qualities of the Doshas
Vata (space and air): Mobile, dry, rough, light,Movement of thoughts, communication, mind
Pitta (fire and water): Hot, sharp, light, Metabolism, courage, ambition
Kapha (earth and water): Heavy, slow, dense, static Contentment, strength, stability
Timing is everything and each Dosha are governing specific periods of our 24 hour clock. We can embrace these Doshic tendencies to enhance our daily activities.
The daily Dosha cycle.
As Vata is mobile, active and energetic Vata time is the best time to wake up. Vata is active between 2 am – 6 am. By waking up just before 6 am you will start your day fresh and alert.
After 6 am we move into Kapha time. Kapha is slow, steady and possess stamina. Sleeping into Kapha time will create a heavy and lazy quality to the day. However as Kapha is strong it is a brilliant time to be active. This is a good time for yoga asana practise and exercise. Kapha time covers the hours between 6 – 10 am.
At 10 am we enter Pitta time. Pitta being sharp, hot and penetrating our focus, ambitions and determination are at their highest. This is the time to organise, plan, make those important work related phone calls and have meetings. Pitta is also governing digestion and metabolism making Pitta time an excellent time to consume one’s main meal. Cultivate a healthy appetite for 12 noon and enjoy a good meal at this time.
Pitta time ends at 2pm and the cycle of the Doshas repeats with Vata time commencing at 2pm. A time where one can let out the creative juices, write, dream, paint, think and feel inspired.
We now move into the slower and more grounded Kapha time at 6 pm. The digestive process slows down so eat lighter easily digestive foods early in the evening. Heavy meals at night are not recommended in Ayurveda. Enjoy the Kapha qualities in the evening to slow down, relax and maybe go for a walk after a light dinner to aid the slower Kapha digestion and take advantage of the Kapha stamina.
Kapha time is a good time to go to bed and to fall asleep quickly. At 10 pm the strong hot Pitta starts again making it more difficult to relax. And then the cycle of the Doshas commence again with Vata becoming the dominant factor at 2 am.
Try to notice how you, your body and your mind, feel during the 24 hour clock and how making small changes might just improve you daily activities. Notice how nature around you also have a specific flow and rhythm. Embrace it and simply go with your instinctive and natural flow.
Do you feel the changes of the doshas in your body/mind/emotions? Please stay in touch on Twitter andFacebook.
from my blog at familiesonline.co.uk/yoga April 7, 2012