DINCHARYA (दिनचर्या) : Powerful daily routine of Ayurveda for Healthy Happy and Calm Life.

What is “DINCHARYA”??

Our great ancient Ayurvedic texts have always emphasized an individual to inculcate healthy routine for a healthy body that is dincharya in Ayurveda. The reason it holds is to glorify the concept of healthy and conscious living thus not allowing any pathology to bud inside the body without using medicines. Usage of medicines to cure a disease is a secondary task while primary has always been to maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep diseases at a bay.

Why “DINCHARYA” is so important in Ayurveda??

Our generation has already stepped in, into the era of lifestyle disorders. It is right time to enlighten ourselves, take the charge of our health in our hands, reconnect with nature and re-establish our health naturally.
Concept of dincharya emphasizes on inculcating some general health benefiting practices that we may gift to ourselves for gaining longevity. This may be considered as a form of “self care” or “Me time”. One may start practicing dincharya in the following sequence as mentioned in our vedic texts.

DINCHARYA: 10 Significant Daily Routine for Happy Health and focused life

1.Rise before Sunrise-

Acharya Vagbhatta has mentioned “One must wake up early in Brahmmuhurata (before sunrise) for his healthy self and longetivity”. Brahmmuhurata is the time approximately 45 minutes before sunrise. This is the best time to enrich oneself with the threshold essence of pure air and mindfulness. This time is considered to heal the mental health of an individual. Here, one may self introspect and begun taking affirmations regarding daily plans, future plans and life goals.

2. Elimination –

Healthy bowel movement is a sign of healthy body. If your bowel movements are not rhythmic and constant, it’s a matter of concern. Irregular bowel movements are often guided by chronic constipation. Ayurveda explains, vitiated Vata Dosha in the body is responsible for such conditions to occur. When body undergoes dehydration and starts absorbing required hydration from stool then disease like chronic constipation occurs. This limits the natural bowel movement thus affecting the elimination. So as to maintain the proper hydration and defecation routine, one must consume healthy liquids like water, fresh juice, lemon water, buttermilk etc sufficiently.

3. Brushing and Tongue scrapping-

This practice is a part of dincharya so as to eliminate bacteria, toxins and residues present in between teeth and on tongue which may lead to problems like bad breath. This practice stimulates taste buds by scraping “Ama” or undigested remains out of the body. It is advised to practice the same twice a day.

4. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling has recently become a health trend across the globe. This is a part of dincharya because it uplifts the oral health and hygiene. It is so because of its excellence in strengthening the gums, rebuilding enamel and whitening of teeth. It also subsides bad breath and plaque. In Ayurveda, this is referred as Kaval graha. This technique involves swishing oil from the teeth for about 15 – 20 minutes. People use medicated (herbs infused) oils or non-medicated sesame, mustard seed or coconut oil for the same.

5.Nasya-

Nasal pathway is of great clinical significance. This passage is considered as pathway for eliminating waste from upper part (head) of the body. Also, medicated oils are infused via this path. This medicated oil, when reaches throat has to be spitted out and not gulped. This practice reduces the chances of budding infections in nasal passage and sinuses. Due to its potency it is also indicated in dreadful conditions like Migraine.

6. Abhyanga-

Ayurveda has uplifted the practice of self care in form of self-abhyanga. Abhyanga is to “rub” or “massage” the body using warm oil with the force of magnitude that body can easily surpass. Abhyanga emphasizes on providing required nutrition to our Dhatu, hydrates body, induces healthy sleep, enhances circulation and stimulates vital points of the body.

7.Vyayam

Investing about 15 – 30 minutes daily on physical workout of the body is an essential part of dincharya. It enhances bodily circulation, balances the Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), builds up the strength and improvise flexibility. It brings about stability, calmness and lightens the body.

8. Shower-

This is an universal practice that each one of us blindly follows. This practice not only frees body from bacteria but also brings about freshness. It ignites the digestive fire. Use of medicated soaps and scrubs enhances the utility of bathing. Ashtanga hridayam (Ayurvedic text) quotes “One must not use hot water on the body parts above clavicle”. Hot water tends to destroy the roots of hair which may enhance falling of hair. This is one of the reasons why using hot water is not advised. Also, mixing of hot and cold water is prohibited.

9. Food-

Ayurveda has always been in support of healthy dietary habits. Diet should be taken precisely and consciously. Amount of food depends on 2 factors.
# One’s digestive fire
# Nature of food
Only that amount of food should be taken that can easily be digested by Jatharagni (digestive fire) and not that much as much it soothes taste buds. Nature of food is also of 2 types. Some food items like Red meat, oily and processed food, stored food items are considered heavy to digest. Such food items should be taken in minimal amount so as to aid digestion. Meanwhile, food items like fresh leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, pulses like Moong dal are easy to digest. Thus, such eatables should be included more in diet.

10. Sleep-

Healthy and sound sleep is very important for the body. It’s the time when body is in state of relaxation and calmness. It helps to regenerate the exhausted energy. It is advised not to sleep in day time. Sleeping in day time vitiates the Kapha Dosha in the body which is responsible for making body lethargy. One must sleep timely at night time. For inducing better sleep, add exercises to daily routine. Dincharya plays an essential role in bringing about discipline in life. It paves a way for easy and intelligent life management. Its best essence can only be felt once it is practiced in routine. It has the power to heal all the ailments of an individual if practiced religiously.

Stay Healthy !