Creating Ayurvedic Ritual through Tea

Each day I wake up looking forward to the benefits of dinacharya—the practice of building routines into each day that helps the natural rhythms of our body work as they should. In doing this, we support our overall health and well-being. An Ayurvedic tea ceremony is one of my favorite dinacharya practices. For me, the outward-facing ritual of preparing and drinking tea manifests inner harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. It is a meditation that by providing time and space to learn about the inner self while showing respect for the material world invests not only the tea but also each step of the ceremony with positive value.

It might surprise you to know that there’s a scientific basis for understanding how the tea ceremony works. Modern experts on the topic point out that this ritual can help focus and calm the mind by stimulating both sides of the brain. The  Buddhist monks who developed the tea ceremony in ancient times understood that experiences that comprise a sequence of fixed, repeated steps and that activate all five senses can induce a relaxed yet alert state of mind that fosters a feeling of well-being and inner peace.   

Smell, touch, taste, hearing, and sight converge  with the various elements of the ritual: the earthy aroma of the tea and the straw in the floor matting, the smooth texture of the pottery’s glaze, the flavor of the tea,  the sound of the water bubbling in the teapot, the décor inside the room, and the sights and sounds from the natural environment outside the room. With all five senses awakened and in tune, the entire brain is engaged in the ceremony. The left brain hemisphere enjoys analyzing the material and factual aspects of the ceremony, such as the implements and the steps in the process, while  the right hemisphere focuses on intuitive elements like the beauty and serenity of the ambience and the emotions of the participants. 

When I’m planning a daily tea ritual, my first step is finding handmade ceramics from local artisans. By doing this I am not only supporting my community, but also surrounding the ceremony with a culture of respect for artistry. Equally important, the visual beauty and delightful feel of each container awaken my sight and sense of touch. 

My second step is sourcing fair trade organic herbs and spices from reputable dealers. I’ve committed to this practice because I believe that one person can make a difference. Buying organic supports organic agriculture, which reduces the overall exposure of the soil, air, and water and the food supply to synthetic pesticides whose toxic effects include an increased risk of myriad diseases from asthma to cancer. This commitment also contributes to the growing demand for sustainable farming methods. Over time, if there’s enough demand, the industry will have to change to accommodate consumer preferences. 

The third step in the planning process is creating the right environment for the ceremony. The quality of energy in the environment greatly affects our mental state. Hence it is not always something tangible that might make it difficult to focus when you sit for tea. You should learn to be able to differentiate between the positive and negative vibrations in different areas of your house. This is a relatively easy task. All you have to do is to observe your emotions. Places where you find it easy to think good thoughts are energetically appropriate for meditative rituals. There are surely more than enough corners in your house where you could feel these uplifting spiritual vibrations.

Setting up a dedicated space can make or break your ceremonial tea habit. Imagine you have to put away your current project, clean up counter space, pull out a teapot, tea cups, and tea. By now you’ve exhausted most of your willpower just by thinking about getting to the point of making tea. Choose a place in your house that has the positive vibrations that I mentioned, and reserve this space for your ceremony. The décor should be a very simple reflection of the natural world. Spaciousness and simplicity in your decoration is essential to enable the mind to relax and reflect.

Now let’s talk tea! One of my favorite herbs to use in my daily tea ritual is tulsi. Aromatic, delicious, beautiful, and sattvic (“pure, harmonious”) tulsi is one of those magical Ayurvedic herbs that can benefit just about everyone. However, the best is to find a tea that is suited for you. Our custom skin tea’s would be a wonderful option to use for your daily ceremony, and it will make your skin look great too! Take our on-line holistic consultation to get your perfect blend.

When preparing the tea, stay present with each step: heating the water, steeping the tea, and pouring the warm water over the tea leaves. Inhale the aroma of the tea. Notice the smell: Is it gentle or pungent? Is the aroma cooling or warming? Let your eyes take in the colors as the tea is infusing; notice the texture of the tea leaves. Allow your gaze to take in the colors of your ceramics while your hands are holding the cup. Let your gaze be gentle, passively taking in all there is to see.

Before drinking the tea, offer up appreciation. Take time to remember and give thanks for each being that went into the making of this tea: the sacred water, the cherished plant, and the many hands that tended to the tea that’s now in front of you. By setting this tone you are allowing your senses to embrace the experience entirely, and you will watch stress start to melt away. As you sip, joy will fill your heart, starting the day off with a deep sense of wholeness, gratitude, and self-awareness.

Ground Vata While Traveling

Traveling is a mix of wonderful and exhausting. While exploring new places, relationships, and foods adds beauty and joy to our lives, travel’s pleasures often come at a price. Amidst the expansive experience of travel, it’s easy to become unsettled and erratic, especially for someone who is vata in nature or has a vata imbalance. The nature of travel is vata, and this dosha embodies movement as well as spaciousness. When we travel, we incorporate the principle of movement into our lives and increase the level of vata. As the subtlest of the doshas, vata is quickly thrown out of balance, which means we must take extra care to stay grounded and stable. But don't worry: Ayurveda offers excellent tips to help better manage your energy and keep your body, mind, and spirit in balance while traveling.

1. Carry your daily routines with you.

The Ayurvedic principle of following daily routines can help us maintain balance not only when at home but also while traveling. Try eating your meals at the same time each day to help your digestive process acclimate to changes in your diet and environment. Regulate your bedtime and morning wake time. These practices stabilize us and help us stay in synch with our natural circadian rhythms.

2. Pack some Triphala.

Have you ever noticed that after a long flight, you do not poop for a day, or two, or three? This tends to happen because the vata elements of air and ether permeating the airplane are cold and dry and moving hundreds of miles a minute. These qualities will naturally increase the vata in your body and affect your bowel movements. To address this issue, start taking Triphala a couple of days before you travel, and continue to take it during your trip. This will not only help offset the effect of the flight, but it will be helpful in digesting the delightful new foods you will be trying.

3. Eat foods that are grounding.

Raw foods, salads, dried fruit, and smoothies are all drying foods that will further aggravate the vata dosha. Skip the chips, and grab a meal that is warm, moist, and perhaps heavier. Root vegetables, soups, fish, chicken, and oatmeal with cooked apples are a few examples of grounding foods. Bring herbal or digestive teas on the airplane with you, and ask for hot water instead of the usual beverages served on board. Also, pack a bag of healthy unsalted raw nuts to eat on the plane instead of the snacks the airline provides.

4. Stay hydrated.

Staying hydrated is key to counteracting the dry qualities of vata! In addition to increasing your intake of fluids and water-rich fruits and vegetables, pack a small amount of ghee or good quality olive oil, and take one teaspoon each morning while you travel. Oils nourish and lubricate the dry, depleted channels traveling can bring. Using fragrant herbalized oils for abhyanga, or self-massage, is another great way to balance vata. This practice not only helps our skin retain moisture but also calms and nurtures us through our sense of touch. Blend sesame and almond oils with a few drops of lavender essential oil and bring it with you for a daily massage before or after your shower.

Sip warm or room temperature water throughout the day. If you sip your drinks instead gulping them, your body will absorb and assimilate the liquids better. Stay away from cold water as it dampens our agni (digestive fire) and can exacerbate a vata imbalance.

5. Rest and reflect.

Often in the effort to make the most of our vacations, we overlook the need to rest and rejuvenate. The new sights and experiences we’re taking in tend to heighten and stimulate our senses, which can prove overwhelming for anyone who’s dealing with an excess of vata. Find the time with in your trip to withdraw your senses. Go inward, though meditation or pranayama. Allow yourself to be present with your experience, and journal daily gratitudes, experiences, or insights throughout your travels.

6. Have a day of rejuvenation upon your return home.

Instead of heading straight into the office after a long trip, take one day to reground at home. Let your body rest; drop back into your daily routines. Allow this day to be a ritual of self-love and reconnection to yourself and the life you have at home.

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease

Why Ayurveda For Skincare?

Ayurveda: The First Word in Skincare for the Real You

It’s often said that our  skin is the mirror of our internal health and well-being. This popular metaphor points to an important truth: The way we care for our skin is inextricably intertwined with the way we care for our health. Ayurveda, the holistic medical system that has flourished in India for thousands of years, has always recognized this connection. Ayurvedic skincare practices are rooted the same intuitive wisdom that drives Ayurveda’s approach to nurturing overall wellness. In both cases, the individual as a multi-faceted whole, rather than the particular dysfunction afflicting that individual is the primary focus of treatment.  

 An Ancient Path to Wellness That Proves Ahead of Its Time

The founders of Ayurveda sought to understand individuals in terms of their prakriti—the unique constitution each person is born with. Their conception of prakriti as the physical expression of interconnected energy patterns reflects the same profound insight into the nature of reality that underlies modern-day quantum physics. In the ancient language of Ayurveda, the energetic rhythms that manifest in every aspect of our external and internal reality are called doshas. The three doshas described in Ayurvedic theory—vata, kapha, and pitta—are each said to possess a distinctive character that derives from its elemental make-up. In this scheme of things, vata shares the mobile nature of space and air; pitta, the transformative character of fire and water; and kapha, the binding quality of earth and water. Ayurveda proposes that our prakriti integrates all three of these doshas, but that one or two dominate it, determining our individual strengths and weaknesses, the diseases we’re susceptible to, and how we respond to various treatments. Recent scientific studies show that each of the doshas does in fact correspond to a particular genetic profile that’s associated with specific biological traits and tendencies. 

With the rise of new game-changing therapies designed for individuals with a particular genetic makeup, Ayurveda’s prakriti-based approach to healthcare has proven to be an idea whose time has come. Centuries before the term personalized medicine was invented, Ayurvedic physicians recognized the value of tailoring treatments to an individual’s defining characteristics. This emphasis on customization is equally fundamental to Ayurvedic skincare. Like the Ayurvedic healthcare model, this timeless innovation in complexion care transcends the limitations of one-size-fits-all treatment. 

The Right Product for the Right Person at the Right Time

Ayurvedic skincare starts from the premise that our skin’s qualities and behavior reflect the hallmark features of our constitution. For instance if your constitution is dominated by the fiery energy of pitta, your skin will have pink or reddish undertones, feel warm to the touch, and show a tendency toward inflammation and irritation. This tendency can erupt into an angry rash or a full-blown acne flare when serial stressors that share this dosha’s fiery, intense qualities add up to an overload of pitta energy. Anything from a spate of hot, spicy meals to an overdose of direct sunlight or even the built-up tension from a heated family feud can tip the balance. 

In fact, according to Ayurveda, every skin issue, from excessive dryness or oiliness to eczema and age spots, ultimately stems from a disruption in the balance of doshic energies that is natural and healthy for your constitution. These imbalances can arise from a variety of environmental and lifestyle influences. Among the chief culprits are harsh weather, toxins and pollutants, poor diet, insufficient sleep, and erratic schedules. Just as tropical temperatures or strong chemicals are likely to aggravate sensitive pitta complexions, the thin, dry skin, wrinkle-prone skin of vata types tends to react negatively to stressors that amplify the cool, light, rough, changeable qualities of their constitution. Frigid weather, desert winds, and irregular mealtimes can all wreak havoc on delicate vata skin. Likewise, lack of exercise; overindulgence in rich, fatty foods; or too much sleep can disturb the equilibrium of kapha complexions. While balanced kapha skin is smooth and moist, it may suffer from dullness or oiliness, clogged pores, and breakouts when unhealthy habits provoke a buildup of that dosha’s dense, slow, heavy energy. 

Despite their vulnerability to internal and external stresses, each of these doshas also possesses the intrinsic potential to manifest a beautifully balanced complexion. Ayurveda prescribes individualized skincare plans to bring that potential to fruition. These multidimensional wellness-based plans address the particular needs of your constitution with dosha-specific dietary, exercise, and stress-reduction strategies, as well as customized herbal treatments. This highly nuanced approach to skincare stands in stark contrast to mass market offerings. The vast majority of skincare products sold today are aimed at broad, loosely defined complexion types. A product designed for a hypothetical customer with dry, oily, combination, or normal skin lacks the precision of an individualized solution based on detailed knowledge of a real person. Ayurveda’s precisely targeted treatments really zero in on the unique mix of qualities that distinguishes your complexion while also taking into account your skin’ response to the particularities of your external circumstances. 

Because these circumstances are ever-changing, the best Ayurvedic skincare providers treat your complexion as a work in progress. At Purusha Botanicals, we recognize the importance of providing you with products that are meticulously tailored to the current condition of your skin. Our product development process accounts for the fact that your skin’s needs change as you pass through different seasons of the year, different stages of life, and different lifestyle situations.  

The process starts with an online survey that captures a wide range of details about your overall constitution, the qualities and tendencies of your skin, the nature of your environment, and the characteristics of your lifestyle. A computer analysis of this data then generates an Ayurvedic product formula that draws from centuries of accumulated knowledge of which herbs, plant-derived oils, and other botanical ingredients are best suited to your skin’s present requirements. Whether it’s deeply hydrating aloe vera juice in a cleanser for vata types, anti-inflammatory rosehip oil for a pitta moisturizer, or oil-reducing gram flour in an exfoliating scrub for kapha complexions, each ingredient in our formulas is specifically chosen to bring the physiological properties and functions that define the nature of your skin back into balance.    

Handcrafted by our product experts, your made-to-order formula continues to evolve every time you order from Purusha. As you provide us with fresh input about the state of your complexion, seasonal changes in your environment, and any new skincare goals and concerns that have come into play, we update and refine your formula. By adding or removing ingredients or tweaking their proportions, we make sure you get exactly what you need when you need it. The resulting product fulfills the promise of Ayurvedic skincare to nourish and perfect the true natural beauty that is yours and yours alone.

4 Benefits of an Ayurvedic Facial

Ayurvedic therapies offer a unique way of addressing each client’s particular needs. If you have dry, aging, combination, or sensitive skin, an Ayurvedic facial treatment will ensure you get the best treatment for your specific skin type. The herbal ingredients gently and thoroughly cleanse skin, leaving every complexion smooth, soft, and moist, without causing blemishes to erupt. 

Here are four more ways this Ayurvedic beauty treatment benefits everyone who’s seeking a complexion that reflects total wellness:

1. Makes Your Skin Glow

The herbal and natural ingredients in a customized Ayurvedic facial contain the perfect blend of nutrients to add radiance to your skin. Ayurvedic facial packs made from healing botanical ingredients like lentils, rose, or saffron optimize cellular functioning and leave your complexion glowing with health. 

2. Relieves Dryness and Supports Aging Skin

The herbal packs, steams, and moisturizing oils used in Ayurvedic facials benefit dry and aging complexions in more ways than one. The nourishing and healing properties of Ayurvedic facial treatments not only help repair and prevent free radical damage, but also deeply hydrate and lubricate skin without clogging pores. The continued use of proper Ayurvedic skincare practices and products at home is the best way to see long-term results.

3. Treats Pimples and Acne Scars

Ayurvedic facial massage supports the reduction of acne and acne scars. If you have blemishes that leave dark patches on your face, a massage with herb-infused oils and packs tailored to your skin type can help minimize their appearance. Using harsh products on delicate facial skin can make your acne worse. Ayurveda offers gentle natural ingredients that harmonize with your skin’s pH,  thus creating the desired healing effect.

4. Enhances Overall Well-Being

Ayurvedic facial massage is not only profoundly relaxing but deeply restorative, instilling a sense of peace and joy that pervades the entire body. This effect occurs because the gentle pressure of the facialist’s fingers stimulates the 11 marma points located on the face. Marma points, which are similar to the acupoints defined by Chinese medicine, are vital energy centers that affect our whole body. Activating the marma points on our face helps with everything from stress management to the release of toxins.

Reducing Stress Through Ayurveda

In my practice, I find most people come to me for help with some kind of stress-related imbalance. Stress is a fact of life, but too much stress can be quite harmful and can compromise our health on all levels. 

It is important to understand that the human stress response is an evolutionary adaptation that has helped humans cope in moments of crisis. Stress is also a powerful tool for launching an appropriate response to danger; however, the circumstances of our lives in modern times have changed rapidly and our stressors have multiplied: They are everywhere, every day. It’s important to note that stress hormones linger in our systems long after a stressful event is over.

Ayurveda offers wonderful advice on how to cope with this universal element of human experience — from lifestyle suggestions to herbal support. In this article, I will provide you with a few tips from Ayurveda’s ancient wisdom, equipping you with some simple tools to combat the everyday stressors that are such a prominent feature of modern times. 

First, the most important tip is to SLOW DOWN. You may think, how is this possible? It’s hard to slow down when you are trying to do a million things. Our culture has trained us to move from one thing to the next without taking a break, and we are  teaching our children to do the same by encouraging them to get involved in as many activities as possible. It can be frightening to allow ourselves to do nothing. However, with time and practice, the positive changes that come from doing things at a slower pace reinforce our intentions and encourage us to slow down a bit more, and then a bit more, and later even more. So take baby steps, and incorporate small ways of slowing down. I have included a few ideas below:

• Just do less. Focus on what’s really important, what really needs to be done, and let go of the rest. 

• Focus on people. Too often we spend time with friends and family, or meet with colleagues, and we’re not really there with them. 

• Appreciate nature. Many of us are shut up in our homes and offices and in cars and trains most of the time and rarely get the chance to go outside.

• Eat slower. Instead of cramming food down our throats as quickly as possible — leading to overeating and a lack of enjoyment of our food — learn to eat slowly. Be mindful of each bite. 

• Breathe. When you find yourself speeding up and stressing out, pause, and take a deep breath. Take a couple more. Really feel the air coming into your body, and feel the stress going out.

• Spend 5-15 minutes meditating each day — practice meditation without expecting anything special to happen. I like to use a simple method by the name of empty bowl meditation. See the meditation described at the end of this article.

• Focus on self-care. Purposeful and committed self-care can be a beautiful part of the healing process and a meaningful opportunity to practice self-love. Ayurveda offers a lot of ideas on how to create a routine of self-care in your daily life. I have written a whole article about these practices. Take a look and pick a couple that will be easy to incorporate into your life. 

• Establish a consistent  sleep routine: Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day. Make sure to be in bed before 10 p.m., so your body has the chance to heal and rest itself during the critical hours between10 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Of course, the avoidance of stress seems like the ideal strategy for reducing anxiety and other-stress related symptoms, but we know that is not possible, and we sometimes have trouble maintaining the proper lifestyle routine for limiting the impact of stress on our physical and emotional health. Fortunately, Ayurveda helps fill the gaps in our stress management strategy by prescribing several herbs known to provide stress relief. 

Brahmi is a wonderful herb used for reducing stress and regulating the hormones involved the body’s stress response. Known as one of Ayurveda’s brain tonics, it revitalizes the cells of the brain and soothes the central nervous system. It is known to decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body and is widely used in stress relief formulations.

Ashwagandha is one of Ayurveda’s most revered herbs. It is classified as an adaptogen, meaning it supports your body ability to manage stress, providing you with energy when you need it and calmness when that’s what your mind and body require. Ashwagandha also provides numerous other benefits for your body as a whole as well as  specific support for the brain and nervous system. For example, it can boost brain function, lower blood sugar and cortisol levels, and help fight symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Bhringaraj: Bhringraj massage oil is a common medicinal oil that is valued in Ayurveda for its neuroprotective effects. This creeping vine is known for its full spectrum of benefits, including lowering stress levels and supporting  a consistent supply of oxygen to the tissues of the brain. 

Tulsi: Tulsi works to support healthy cortisol levels by mitigating stress. It is a powerful antioxidant and supports all digestive processes, including processing and assimilating mental and emotional experiences. It is the best  herb for alleviating anxiety and depression, and its adaptogenic properties reduce the intensity and negative impact of physical, emotional, and environmental stressors. 

Jatamansi Also known as Indian spikenard, jatamansi is an anti-stress and anti-fatigue herb. The roots of jatamansi are the primary parts of the plant that have therapeutic effects on a stressed mind. These roots keep our mind and body free of toxins and blockages and promote a  sense of stability, allowing the brain to function  properly.

Vacha: This magical root has soothing properties that help calm an over-stressed and anxious mind. It also has the added benefits of improving the overall strength of your memory and helping the body get good sleep. 

Stress Relief Formulation

Mix 1 tablespoon of each of the herbs in equal parts and store in a glass container in a cool place. Each morning mix 1 teaspoon of formulation in 2/3 cups of water until the water has reduced to 1/3 cup water. Drink half of the decoction in the morning and half at night. 

Disclaimer
The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of Ayurveda. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease

Ayurvedic Skincare Lights Up the Faces of Wellness Connoisseurs

With A-listers like Oprah and Gwyneth Paltrow touting its benefits, the ancient tradition of Ayurveda suddenly looks new again. Evidence of its up-to-the minute cachet is popping up all over, including inside the glamorous swag bags that will go to this year’s Oscar nominees. Among the highly coveted loot included in the bags is a Daily Ritual Kit from the newly launched Ayurvedic skincare line Purusha Botanicals. The company’s founder, Kathy Jo Staheli, AD, offers some insights into how products based on a 5,000-year-old Indian healing system acquired 21st century star power in the West. 

What exactly is a Daily Ritual Kit and how does it fit into an Ayurvedic lifestyle?

The kits consists of six custom products that work together as a complete daily skincare ritual. Ayurveda teaches that self-care rituals, known as dinacharya, foster balanced health by aligning the rhythms of the body with daily cycles of nature. As a form of dinacharya, Ayurvedic skincare routines are designed to nurture the physiological equilibrium that manifests in a radiant complexion. Ayurvedic practitioners recognize that the exact balance of nutrients, hydration, and lubrication needed to achieve that youthful glow is unique to each person. That’s why all the formulas in our kit are tailor-made for the individual who’ll be using it.

How do you account for the current surge of interest in Ayurvedic beauty treatments?

Today’s discerning skincare consumers have become way more skeptical about “overnight miracles.” They’re also super-health conscious and borderline-phobic about toxic ingredients. The result has been a shift towards natural, wellness-based skincare practices that have stood the test of time. Ayurvedic beauty traditions have persisted throughout Southeast Asia for countless generations. In the meantime, modern science is waking up to the value of ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. Mainstream medicine is increasingly embracing holistic approaches that, like Ayurvedic skincare regimens, integrate individualized diets, yoga, and meditation. Mounting research on herbs and botanicals is also boosting the credibility of Ayurveda’s claims about their anti-aging effects. 

What does an Ayurvedic skincare line offer that people aren’t necessarily getting in products they buy from a drugstore?

More and more people are looking for personalized solutions. Ayurvedic practitioners pioneered the idea that there are no one-size-fits-all remedies. They’ve always based their protocols on a deep understanding of the individual’s distinctive combination of biological energies that governs that person’s skin. Purusha’s online consultation process provides us with a view of the customer’s skincare requirements and advance software helps makes  an analysis based on these enduring principles of Ayurveda to determine the exact blend of ingredients that best aligns with their skincare needs. This customization method grew out of my guiding belief as an Ayurvedic practitioner: Ayurveda is one of the greatest gifts we can share with the world. With the creation of this company, we can extend that gift far beyond the doors of our wellness center.   

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Kathy Jo Staheli, AD, is a NAMA recognized doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine, specializing in Panchakarma, the Ayurvedic science of detoxification and rejuvenation. Her passion for sharing Ayurveda inspired her to found the Purusha Ayurveda Wellness and Panchakarma Center in Malinalco, Mexico, as a destination where people can deepen their experience of Ayurveda through residential wellness programs. She is currently an integral part of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA) and speaks globally on Ayurvedic philosophies and practices.

About Purusha Botanicals

Purusha Botanicals is committed to broadening access to authentic Ayurvedic skincare solutions. All our formulas are individualized, 100% plant derived, cruelty-free, and made to order with the utmost dedication to the health of the earth and all living things. 

www.purushabotanicals.com

Instagram: @purushaayurveda and @purushabotanicals 

Staying in Synch with the Doshas

Just as they govern the flowering and wilting of plants, the rhythms of day and night and the four seasons rule the waxing and waning of our biologic energies. These energies manifest in the three doshas—vata, pitta, and kapha—that determine our constitution and influence our overall well-being.

Have you ever found that you feel sluggish when you sleep late or that if you stay up too long you get the midnight munchies? Do you sometimes wake up at 4 a.m. feeling so agitated that you have a hard time falling back to sleep? Well, the principles of Ayurveda can explain not only what’s causing these problems but also what you can do about them.

Fatigue, cravings, emotional distress, and other troubling symptoms typically arise when doshas fall out of balance due to internal and external forces that disrupt our biological clock. Our bodies are designed to sleep, wake, and eat at specific times during the day. These times correspond to the rhythms of the natural world as well as to the dosha that predominates during those hours. When stress keeps us awake at night or a busy schedule keeps us from eating lunch or going to bed at a reasonable hour, the resulting doshic imbalances can lead to an assortment of health complaints, as well as a general sense of physical discomfort and psychological uneasiness. If the imbalance persists, it can even make us seriously ill.

Our body is constantly in search of homeostasis. It’s designed to seek balance in the midst of the many demands of the external world—from processing emotions experience to digesting food. Learning to work with the body’s internal rhythms enables us to go with its natural flow, instead of against it, ultimately reducing the stress on our tissues and slowing the overall process of degeneration. Knowledge of the doshas and their effects on us at different times of days is the key to unlocking the secret of sustainable health and vitality.

Every 4 hours over the course of a 24-hour day, one of the three doshas becomes dominant. Vata, pitta, and kapha each have unique qualities that influence our mind and body during the 4-hour intervals when it holds sway. Knowing this, we  can sustain a balanced state of wellness across time by adopting specific practices that capitalize on the distinctive energies that predominate at various points in the 24-hour cycle.

Let’s begin with the vata time of day that occurs in the morning between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. The hallmarks of this dosha’s constituents—air and ether—are clarity and mobility These characteristics align with receptivity to spiritual pursuits; thus, this time of day is perfect for practices such as meditation, prayer, chanting, and yoga. Performing sun salutations or repeating mantras or affirmations are great ways to quiet the mind after a night of restless or disturbed sleep, especially if you have a lot of vata in your nature.

It's also important to take care of your personal hygiene at this time of day. Remember a successful daily routine is all about consistency and finding what  works for you.  Like practicing yoga and meditation, performing your daily self-care ritual during the hours dominated by vata will help keep you functioning at your peak throughout the entire day.

The next stage  in the daily cycle is the kapha period extending from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. This stage is associated with the stasis and heaviness of earth and water. Waking up at this time is apt to increase these qualities within you, making you feel sluggish and setting a slow pace for the rest of your day. This is why Ayurvedic teachings recommend getting up at around 5 a.m., when the predominance of vata will energize you and clear your head.

During the morning kapha period you should eat a light. well spiced breakfast. A big, hearty meal will only aggravate the feeling of low energy associated with this dosha. Eating a warming, light, and easily digestible breakfast supports healthy metabolic function by sustaining agni (digestive fire). If we think of agni as a campfire, the reasoning behind this practice becomes clear.  This “campfire” has been burning all night and by dawn is running low on fuel. Consuming a large amount of cold or hard, heavy food shortly after waking not only undermines the balancing qualities of kapha but also equates to tossing great big logs on the dying embers of your campfire, thereby extinguishing it. What you want to do is add  just enough kindling to reignite the fire and keep it burning steadily, thus counteracting the tendency of kapha energy to slow your metabolism.

This stage of the morning is also the best time for your daily exercise routine. Kapha gives strength and stamina for exercising, helping you build healthy tissues without exhausting your body. In fact, exercising at this time will energize you both physically and mentally for the day ahead. Working out late evening or toward bedtime is not recommended, as it can elevate body temperatures and disrupt sleep rhythms. A gentle walk after dinner is enough to help you maintain healthy blood flow without overstimulating your mind and body. Also avoid exercise from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the pitta time of day, when agni is primed for the task of digesting your main meal.

Kapha time gives way to pitta time beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until 2 p.m. Composed of fire and water, pitta governs our mind and body during the hours of peak productivity—the time that the sun is highest in the sky and there’s more heat in the natural world. The fiery heat of this energy can fuel efficiency and advance our goals but needs to be carefully managed. In addition to avoiding direct exposure to the intense midday sun, you should steer clear of strenuous workouts at this time of day, especially if pitta dominates your nature. An overabundance of pitta can provoke symptoms of heartburn, skin rashes, or even flares of temper.

One of the best uses of this midday surge of pitta is digesting a substantial lunch. By maximizing agni, the heat energy of pitta enables us to easily break down complex foods like animal proteins and whole grains and absorb  the nutrients they contain more readily. Our increased digestive fire at the time of day also helps us process and assimilate the thoughts and emotions that serve as food for our minds.

As the cycle continues, a second vata period occurs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. As with the morning vata time, this interval is governed by the elements air and space (ether). These dynamic elements are associated with creativity, flexibility, movement, and expansive thinking. While these qualities make this time of day suitable for artistic pursuits, problem solving, and communication, they can cause agitation or fatigue when they occur in excess.  Consequently, individuals with a vata nature should take care to get adequate rest and avoid environments where harsh distractions like bright lights and loud noises can overstimulate their senses.

To prevent this delicate, unstable dosha from slipping out of balance, seek a serene environment and focus on grounding activities like curling up with a cup of herbal tea and a cozy afghan or catching a quick nap

When kapha time rolls around again at 6 p.m., its slow, heavy rhythms can help us wind down for the day and  transition into a deep and restful sleep. To spare your body the task of digesting an overabundance of food, eat a light, early dinner. Otherwise you might end up with a case of indigestion that keeps you tossing and turning all night.

As bedtime approaches engage in activities that subdue your nervous systems—gentle yoga moves like hero pose and cat/cow, sipping steamed spiced milk, or listening to soothing music. Turn off the TV, and keep conversations light to avoid arousing strong emotions or causing your mind to race in circles or dwell on problems.

Hopefully, you’ll be sound asleep by 10 p.m., when pitta takes over again. This time of night harnesses powerful pitta energy to reset metabolic functions and cleanse and restore the body. If you’re still awake, your heightened agni may send you to the refrigerator in search of a late-night snack. More seriously, you will be missing out on a vital period of restorative rest. That lapse can cause ama (undigested food, cellular wastes, environmental toxins, etc.) to accumulate in the body, leading to multiple health issues.   

Modern chronobiologists confirm the ancient Ayurvedic wisdom of living in harmony with our body’s natural rhythms.  Their research shows that these rhythms can affect the severity of disease symptoms, diagnostic test results, and the safety and effectiveness of medications.  It’s not surprising then that when a chaotic lifestyle disrupts the natural ebb and flow of our biologic energies, our bodies fall prey to modern afflictions like obesity, insomnia, and diabetes. Ayurveda teaches us how to avoid these problems and achieve balanced health by incorporating its understandings of the doshas and how they rule the course of our everyday life.