Ayurvedic Self Care Morning Routine
Written by Jessica De Somma, Hair Stylist, Yoga Teacher, Ayurvedic Health Counselor
Begining your day with Ayurvedic self care practices has many befenifts. Cleansing the 5 senses in the morning can aid in clarity and discernment throughout the rest of the day and leaves you feeling fresh and balanced.
Ayurveda is the Sanskrit word for the science of life that started in India thousands of years ago. Ayurveda includes yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, herbs, spices, balanced meals, detoxing, etc. Any way of changing your diet and lifestyle to promote a healthy life is considered Ayurveda.
Wake up taking a deep breathe and surround yourself with soft uplifting sounds. Avoid your phone, news and television first thing in the morning.
Boil a full cup of water and add lemon. It hydrates you after a long night, and can help aid in detox and elimination.
Along with your normal routine of brushing your teeth, try a tongue scrapper. It removes excess āma, the sanskrit word for toxins, on your tongue.
Wash your face with a natural or organic face cleanser. My favorite cleanser is the Neem and Burdock root cleanser from Sundari, an organic Ayurvedic skin care line. Sundari is ecologically sustainable and does not contain synthetic dyes, fragrances, parabens, mineral oils and they don't test on animals.
One of my favorite parts of my daily routine is my rose water. After I cleanse my face, I spray a few sprits of rose water on my face instead of a traditional toner. I also spray some rose water in my eyes as well- just make sure its organic! I use the Sundari chamomile eye oil for my sensitive skin around and under my eyes. Finishing off with a moisturizer is vital for your skin. I like the Sundari Elder Flower cream moisturizer which is light for more naturally oily skin. If your skin tends to run dry, use a nice, light oil base facial moisturizer. Oil may sound too heavy for the face, but with the right herbs and essential oils, the moisturizer can totally absorb well into the skin.
If you have allergies, its spring time, or you feel a common cold coming on, try using the netti pot as well! When using the netti pot, completly dissolve organic Himalayan pink salt into filtered water. Make sure there are no salt chunks left in the water! Lean forward with a flat back and place the end of the netti pot in one nostril as you tilt your head to the side. This allows the saline water to pass through the nasal canal and comes out the other nostril. Watch a video on YouTube for more info!
The most important thing to do in the morning is to do an oil massage 10 min before the shower. While I'm busy getting ready, i melt coconut oil in a closed container by soaking it in hot water in the sink. I massage by body with this coconut oil (skipping the sensitive areas and the armpits). There are amazing benefits to doing abhyanga, the sanskrit word for the practice of oiling yourself. It relaxes the muscles and softens and protects the skin. By making circular motions over the joints, it can help promote the production of synovial fluid, your natural shock absorber in your joints. It can also promote elimination of waste by manually moving the lymph throughout your body. Oiling can also has profound benefits on the mind. It can soothe anxiety, insomnia, constipation, sore muscles, and stress.
After cleansing your 5 senses, listen to relaxing music and do some yoga and meditation. Even if it's a 10 min stretch of rolling out your joints and stretching your back, it can produce long lasting effects. Take a few minutes to quiet your mind and set a positive intention for your day such as 'I am peaceful, I am happy, I am patient.' Never set an attention focusing on a negative word such as 'I will not stress out today'. Instead, try 'I feel happy and carefree today'.
It usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half to go through the whole Ayurvedic regime depending on how long you practice yoga and meditate. Starting your day in such a beautiful, positive way is an amazing way to honor yourself. What part of your morning routine makes you feel most mentally prepared for your day?
