The Paleovedic Diet by Akil Palanisamy

Author:Akil Palanisamy
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2014-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

Exercise, Sleep, and the Mind-Body-Spirit Balance

CHAPTER 8

YOUR DAILY ROUTINE—AYURVEDIC TIPS AND INTERMITTENT FASTING

In this chapter, I discuss a dinacharya, or daily routine, based on the principles of Ayurvedic medicine. Dinacharya is important to help balance your body, regulate your natural circadian rhythm, and maintain healthy digestion. It is a ritual that provides a sense of grounding and everyday routine that can be very balancing for both body and mind. In our modern society, the power of ritual is often not utilized, and this is a simple way that you can start to incorporate basic rituals into your daily life.

The dinacharya is individualized according to your specific body type, which was determined in Chapter 2. The basic routine is listed here in sequence and explained in more detail below. Common elements for all body types include the following:

• Wake up as early as you comfortably can, preferably without an alarm clock. You should feel well rested when you arise, so go to bed earlier if you require more sleep.

• Have a tall glass of hot water with a little bit of lemon or lime juice first thing in the morning after you wake up. This is a simple beverage that strengthens your digestive fire and helps promote healthy elimination. It’s best to have this drink first thing when you wake up.

• Practice oil-pulling, a technique that supports oral hygiene and detoxification.

• This should be followed by brushing your teeth and scraping your tongue, preferably with a tongue scraper, which is a U-shaped wooden or metal tool. The main benefit of tongue scraping in Ayurveda is not hygiene or cleanliness but rather stimulation of your digestive organs. The tongue is considered a microcosm of your entire body, and scraping the tongue from back to front stimulates and awakens all your organs, especially your digestive organs.

• Next, perform nasal irrigation with a neti pot and incorporate nasya; these are traditional methods to purify and revitalize the breathing passages, reduce allergies, and decrease your chances of contracting upper respiratory infections.

• Some type of reflective or contemplative practice, even for just a few minutes, is encouraged. This could include setting some goals for the day, journaling, visualization, or a mind-body practice such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing. This helps set the tone for the day and puts your mind in a good space as you start your morning.

• At least once a week when you have additional time (perhaps on a weekend), perform a simple Ayurvedic self-massage known as abhyanga.

• Have a shower or bath to conclude your routine.

Oil-pulling

Oil-pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic therapy that involves holding oil in the mouth for about ten minutes and then discarding it. In Ayurveda, oil-pulling has been used to strengthen the teeth, gums, and jaws and to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. It is believed that oil-pulling removes toxins from the body and stimulates Agni, or digestive fire.

The practice is usually done with either sesame or coconut oil. Basically one takes about a teaspoon of oil into the mouth and swishes and “pulls” the oil around through one’s teeth.

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