Dinacharya is a collection of daily practices designed to support your well-being by following the rhythms of your body and the natural world. By following a routine aligned with the doshas throughout the day, we find balance and flow.
First, it’s important to understand which doshas (energies) are dominant at which times during the day.
Vata is dominant from 2am to 6am and again from 2pm to 6pm.
Kapha activates at 6am and dominates until 10am, then again from 6pm to 10pm.
Finally, Pitta rules from 10am to 2pm and again from 10pm to 2am.
But what does any of that mean?
Vata, which includes the elements of air and ether is all about movement, creativity, meditation, and communication. The morning Vata hours are excellent for meditating, journaling, and/or visualization. In the afternoon Vata hours, communication is supported and meetings or social gatherings tend to flow easily.
Pitta includes fire and water and is associated with movement, metabolism, planning, learning, and action. The midday Pitta hours are a great time to clear your inbox, eat your largest meal, and tackle your to-do list.
Kapha is a combination of water and earth elements and brings an energy of slowing down, grounding, preparation, and introspection. The evening Kapha hours are the time for self care, like dry brushing or abhyanga and preparing mind and body for sleep.
Obviously in our modern world, we don’t typically have the luxury of arranging our day by the doshas…but we can get pretty close and we can certainly incorporate the self-care aspects of dinacharya in a mindful way, even if the timing is a little bit off.
Below are the most basic elements of dinacharya:
- Wake up before the sun
- Say a prayer or a positive affirmation before leaving bed
- Brush your teeth and scrape your tongue
- Use a neti pot to clear your sinuses
- Apply nasya oil
- Drink room temperature or warm water throughout the day (more easily assimilated than cold water)
- Elimination (that means you gotta poop, y’all)
- Oil pulling
- Abhyanga and bathe
- Yoga
- Breathwork and/or meditation
- Eat 3 meals a day, with the largest at midday
To align with the rhythms of the natural world, wake before 6am, perform your morning self-care (#1-7), then meditate and practice yoga before having breakfast and beginning your day. Perform your dharmic duties (work) during the middle of the day and make sure to have your largest meal around noon. In the evening, incorporate light movement, time for reflection, dry brushing, oil massage, and a bath or shower. Try to have your last meal no later than 6pm and do your best to get to sleep before 10pm, when Pitta becomes active.
Send me any questions you have and let me know how it goes!
