DINCHARYA – AN AYURVEDIC DAILY RITUAL
Whether it is something that we would like to admit to ourselves or not, it’s true that our daily routines and habits (dinacharya) play an integral role in our long term health. Every decision made throughout the day impacts the way that we look and feel: the food we eat, lifestyle choices we make, even the subtle thoughts we think. When it comes to making decisions to support our health it can often feel overwhelming. It takes awareness, discipline, and dedication to establish healthy habits that actually stick and that is why beginning an Ayurvedic journey and self-care routine can be the best thing you’ll ever do for yourself.
Ayurveda, India’s 5,000 year old medical system, empowers us to take our health into our own hands, by providing simple practices that can be easily implemented over time to ensure a happier, healthier life. Dinacharya is the Sanskrit term for daily Ayurvedic rituals which, when practiced regularly, help to support a life of optimal wellness through routine, detoxification and nourishment. When we are healthy and balanced, we are able to fulfill our dharma, our essential life’s purpose, allowing us to feel our best and share our gifts with the world.
Dinacharya should be practiced first thing in the morning in order to maintain connection to the circadian rhythms of nature. Current fast-paced societal norms keep us disconnected from nature due to our constant access to electricity, reliance on handheld devices, pressure to make the most of our days, social media, and the numerous other disconnects we have become accustomed to having in our lives. Thankfully, through the ancient practice of dinacharya we can deepen our roots back to nature and begin to re-establish a connection with our authentic selves, while still enjoying the comforts and pleasures of the twenty-first century.