Ayurvedic Morning Routine: Start the Day Fit with Ayurveda
A good day already begins with a positive start in the morning. An Ayurveda morning routine keeps the doshas in balance and helps you start the day strong and harmonious. Here we show you a revitalizing Ayurvedic morning routine, both in an extensive form and in a slightly shorter version. Even if you're not a morning person, you'll start the day fit after this routine!
Begin the morning with the first ray of sunlight
Your Ayurveda morning routine starts very early. To get up full of energy, you should get up before 6 am. From 2 to 6 in the morning, the body is in the Vata phase, making it easier to get out of bed. From 6 to 10, the sluggish, heavier Kapha phase begins, where getting up is much harder. So, greet the dawn with solar energy and use the Vata energy of the early morning hours!
The extensive Ayurvedic morning routine: Treat yourself to some time for yourself
It doesn't matter whether you practice it every day or only occasionally – a comprehensive Ayurveda morning routine grounds you and gives you strength. Pamper yourself and take time for this morning ritual. You'll soon notice the revitalizing effects in everyday life!
1. Oil pulling
Oil pulling or Gandhusha has a long tradition in Ayurveda and has been used for thousands of years to strengthen the body. Since it has purifying and anti-inflammatory effects, it is considered an effective Ayurvedic healing method. Oil pulling also stimulates the senses and strengthens teeth and chewing muscles. You can simply take 1 tablespoon of oral care oil or sesame oil in your mouth and move it back and forth with chewing movements for a few minutes. Then spit it out into a cloth to prevent the toxins from ending up in the drain.
2. Tongue scraping
Oral hygiene is particularly important in Ayurveda morning hygiene and begins with tongue scraping. During the night, residues of Ama have formed as deposits on the tongue. Use a tongue scraper or alternatively a small spoon and gently scrape the tongue with it. Work your way from the root to the tip to remove the deposits. This way the body is freed from Ama and thus detoxified.
3. Brushing teeth
To complete the Ayurvedic oral hygiene, don't forget to brush your teeth. Especially after oil pulling, it's important to clean the teeth thoroughly. It's best to use a herbal toothpaste and a soft toothbrush.
4. Drinking hot water
Start the day by drinking at least one glass of hot water. Consider it a kind of internal shower, as you stimulate your metabolism and ignite Agni,the digestive fire. It's best to enhance the water with honey, lemon or also with ginger or turmeric to make it even more invigorating.
5. Yoga exercises
Morning is the ideal time for a few yoga exercises to stimulate body and mind. They not only strengthen the body but also help you find your center and prepare for the day. The sun salutation is well-suited for this, but there are also many other yoga exercises specifically for the morning. If you integrate yoga into your Ayurveda morning routine, you'll notice that you can concentrate better throughout the day.
6. Abhyanga self-massage with meditation
The conclusion of the morning routine is an invigorating Abhyanga massage. The massage is designed so that you can perform it yourself. All you need to do is gently spread sesame oil over your entire body using massaging movements. The oil massage stimulates circulation and nourishes the skin.It's best to use a large towel as a base and also ensure a pleasant room temperature before you start.
Here's how it works: Begin in the head area with small, circular movements and work your way from your neck down to your shoulders. Stroke along the length of the long bones in your arms and legs. You can massage the chest and abdominal area in circular movements. Finally, massage the feet and soles.
Spread the oil evenly and carefully in harmonious movements. Let the oil sit for 20 minutes afterward. Meanwhile, you have time for yourself and can use it for meditation. Then it's off to the shower, where the oil is rinsed off without soap. Combined with meditation, the Ayurveda massage in the morning can bring body and mind into harmony.
We know, of course, that it is often not easy to find enough time for an extensive ritual in the morning, especially in working life. That's why we now show you a version for days when things need to go a little faster.
The short Ayurveda morning routine for those in a hurry
If you're in a bit of a hurry, you can make the morning ritual a little shorter.
Start your Ayurvedic morning routine with oil pulling, to remove toxins and promote oral health. Then gently scrape your tongue with a tongue scraper.
Then brush your teeth with a natural toothpaste to remove plaque and ensure a fresh feeling in your mouth. Finish by drinking a glass of warm water, to soothe the digestive tract and activate the digestive fire Agni.
Even the Abhyanga massage can be slightly shortened if needed. Massage the sesame oil only on the head, ears, and soles of the feet into the skin. These are important reflex zones that positively influence the body when stimulated.
Quick, type-specific Ayurvedic morning routine
If you want to keep the Ayurvedic morning ritual shorter, it's important to proceed according to your type. This means choosing the points that are most important for your dosha type and must definitely be part of your morning routine. Vata-type:
Cool Vata types need warmth in the morning above all.+
Drinking warm water is quick and should definitely be part of the morning routine. A few yoga exercises and a quick oil massage are particularly good for Vatas in the morning.
Pitta-type:+
Fiery Pittas should mainly ensure that extensive oral hygiene is maintained. Part of the ritual in the morning is also an oil massage. It is soothing and should be included before showering. Pitta types can also use cooling coconut oil to calm their fiery dosha.
Kapha type:+
Even if it takes some effort, Kapha types benefit greatly from getting up before 6 AM and starting early with the morning routine. Also, a massage is beneficial for Kaphas.
Ayurvedic breakfast: strengthening and light
After the Ayurvedic morning ritual, it is important for you to have a strengthening breakfast. Since the Kapha dosha dominates after 6 AM, the digestive tract is still quite weak. Therefore, the breakfast should be light and nourishing and stimulate the metabolism. Cold muesli or hard-to-digest foods like whole grain bread or yogurt with fruits are less suitable.
Instead, the breakfast should be consumed warm, as this warms the heart chakra. It positively influences the mood, and you start the day in a better mood. A warm porridge with stewed fruits and spices is ideal for this.
But: It is important that you consciously listen to your body while eating. Ask yourself: How hungry am I? What do I really need? What is good for me right now? Do not eat because you have to, but listen to the needs of your body. Here you can get some more breakfast inspirations.
This is how the Ayurvedic morning ritual works
Overcome your hesitation and introduce an Ayurveda morning ritual. We recommend occasionally indulging in an extensive Ayurvedic morning routine to fully enjoy its invigorating effects. Here we have a few final tips for making it work better:
You don't have to apply the entire morning routine at once. First, pick a few points that are important for your dosha type and concentrate on them. Once these have become a habit, you can then add more steps.
Set the alarm 15 minutes earlier initially. It may not sound like much at first, but it already gives you some time to carry out a few points of the Ayurveda morning routine.
Avoid using your phone during the entire morning routine to ensure that you don't lose focus on yourself. Checking messages or emails can wait. Instead, take real time for yourself.
Give yourself a pat on the back at the end of the routine and acknowledge that you have done something good for yourself. This is how the morning starts off well!