diseases arise at the junctions of the seasons
Rtusandhishu vyadhayoh jayante
In my last article, Promptly Eliminate the heat of Summer, so it doesn’t cause damage, I touched on the topic of how the time between seasons is a sensitive time. We are still there, in this delicate time, in that, the fall has just begun, the energy is just beginning to cool and contract. With the warmth of summer, our interior channels expand and dilate, and with the cold of fall and winter, these channels contract.
Similarly, as we are part of nature,
our internal channels are beginning to contract…
Our internal mana/prana/life force is beginning to recede from the surface as it descends deeper into our bodies until the springtime when that sweet incubated vitality emerges into the new life, new growth. By the way, we use this exact, deep wisdom-action of nature, to; dilate, lubricate and expand the tissues, (so that we can then pluck toxins out) in Ayurveda’s cornerstone cleansing and rejuvenation programs called Pancha Karma.
We want to be mindful of this energetic shift because
“If we are not properly prepared our bodies will not be able to
adequately adapt, which can lead to internal disharmony”
~ Dr. Robert Svoboda
Just like it helps us to eliminate the excess from the previous season, Ayurveda helps us to prepare for the transition of the seasons with suggested Dina-charya or daily routines, in this way we are cyclically (daily & seasonally) aligning our internal prana with the earth’s prana. Daily routines provide us with immediate value by calming our nervous system and mind, cleansing of impurities, and nourishing the body. In this way, we can grow in health, and Ayurveda shows us how!
If our goal is to be Seriously Healthy and prevent disease, Dina-charya or daily routines,
help us ease into transitions.
If our goal is to be Seriously Healthy, Dinacharya suggests we begin the day with certain practices.
The whole reason we do daily routine is to clean, lubricate & hydrate our sense organs so they can perceive clearly and that our life force circulates well within our organism. Then, and only then, we can interact clearly with nature and be able to adapt. When our 5 pranas are balanced, we have good digestion and the wastes are eliminated … Only when we are in balance can we be truly healthy.
4 practices that ‘clean’ the sense organs, prevent disease & help us perceive better.
Dinacharya to clean the sense organs:
- brush teeth, clean the tongue and do neti
- drink a glass of warm or hot water & have your morning bowel movement
- do an oil massage, the short version is: apply a small amount of oil to the skin.
- then sit, meditate for 5-30 minutes and regulate your breath/prana, here is a practice to help do just that.
The morning is also the best time to do exercise, yoga practice etc.
Attitude is everything
While you do these practices, see how you can do them with kindness and reverence toward yourself, and pay attention… pay loving attention to yourself, listen to your organism, that’s the point. (the point is the process of loving and nourishing yourself with the correct activities) To help you listen to your true nature. What is your organism saying?
In conclusion, these practices help us to regulate our sense of calm, ergo our prana for the day, and a lifetime, when we are consistent, we will have consistent health.
I care about you, let me know about your process, in your life, and with your daily routine.!
With warm alohas,