What Dinacharya means
Din means day, charya means activity or routine. Dinacharya is the Ayurvedic daily routine. Ayurveda has two aims: to maintain the health of healthy people and to accompany those who are ill. The daily routine belongs to the first. It invites you to live in tune with the rhythm of day, night and the seasons. Because each of us carries our own mix of the three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha, every routine may look a little different.
Begin slowly
A new routine doesn’t have to happen overnight. Too many changes at once tend to leave you tired and frustrated. My advice: choose two or three habits that come easily to you and stay with them for four weeks. Once they feel natural, you can add something new. You set the pace.
Morning: waking up gently
In Ayurveda the day starts early, ideally before sunrise. Before you get up, move your toes a few times, rub your palms until they are warm and place them over your face and eyes. Give the new day a first grateful thought before everyday life begins. A splash of cold water on your face is refreshing. Many people also like to clean their tongue with a tongue scraper and drink one or two glasses of warm water in the morning.
Oil pulling and self-massage
In traditional oil pulling (Kavala), you swish a tablespoon of sesame or coconut oil around your mouth for a few minutes. Spit the oil into the bin, not down the drain, and brush your teeth as usual. Oil pulling does not replace dental care. For self-massage (Abhyanga), warm some oil in a water bath and massage it in for ten to fifteen minutes: from arms and legs towards the centre of your body, with circular strokes over the joints and clockwise on the belly. Many people find it helps them feel calm and grounded. Then rinse off the excess oil in a warm shower.
Movement, breath and stillness
A few slow yoga postures or a walk wake up the body. Then sit quietly and take a few deep breaths into your belly: it rises like a balloon and slowly sinks again. Finally, allow yourself ten minutes of stillness. Thoughts come and go like clouds in the sky. If you get caught up in one, simply return kindly to your breath.
Meals with calm and breaks
Warm, cooked food at regular times is at the heart of Ayurvedic eating. A light breakfast could be porridge: lightly roast oats, buckwheat or spelt in a little ghee or coconut oil, pour over twice the amount of milk, plant-based drink or water, and spice with ginger, cardamom or turmeric. Eat sitting down and in peace, not on the go. In Ayurvedic thinking the digestive fire (Agni) is strongest at midday, so lunch may be your largest meal. Ayurveda suggests a break of about four to five hours between meals, and a light, early dinner.
Evening: winding down
Let the evening slow down. Spend time with people who are good for you and let the day settle: how did it go? What did I learn today? A small gratitude journal can help. A regular bedtime tells your body it is time to let go. In Ayurveda, falling asleep before ten in the evening is considered ideal.
Experience it at Anaamaya, continue at home
During a stay at Anaamaya, the day at the resort naturally follows this rhythm: early mornings in the garden, yoga, meals at set times, quiet evenings. Many guests take one or two small rituals home with them. This article is a shortened excerpt from my book on Dinacharya. It does not replace personal advice: if you have symptoms or an illness, are pregnant or take medication, please talk to your doctor before making changes.