DINACHARYA
“You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.” John C Maxwell
WHAT IS IT?
In Ayurveda, Dinacharya is the ideal daily routine for your constitution or DNA. Din means “day” and charya means “behavior, discipline”. Dinacharya offers insight into when to wake up, what to eat, when and how to meditate, exercise, etc. It’s an in-depth look at how to live your life to the fullest and most productive. These habits are the main indicators of a person’s well-being and consciousness. We are our habits, we are what we do.
ADHERENCE INTO ROUTINE
Ayurvedic practitioners evaluate a person’s lifestyle as part of a broader diagnostic tool to identify imbalances and begin the healing process. Dinacharya recommendations will be evaluated and targeted according to time availability, appetite, and aptitude. At first, the most difficult part of the lifestyle medicinal system is adherence. But over time adherence becomes routine and no longer requires thought or effort. This is when Ayurveda begins to do its work.
BASELINE OF HEALTH
Once we establish healthy routines this becomes our baseline of what stability is and what it feels like. As life happens and changes occur we have a secure internal compass to know how to come back to that state of stability. Instead of becoming overwhelmed and anxious, we have the tools available to us to come back to the center. We know what to do and how to get there. Essentially our health is in our hands and we are able to manage it accordingly. This is the power of Ayurveda.
INTEGRATE SMALL CHANGES FIRST
Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. Sometimes it could mean going to bed a little bit earlier, minimizing caffeine intake or it could mean a dietary recommendation like stop eating salads, leftovers, or sparkling drinks. Some of the recommendations may surprise you. At the same time, sometimes someone is attached to their disease or symptoms and isn’t looking for a way to heal. This is also true. Change can be difficult and doesn’t happen overnight. In this way focus on 2 things when trying to integrate a holistic lifestyle
#1 Make small changes first (tongue scraping, oil swishing)
#2 Practice makes practice. Don’t try to be perfect. These are tools to help you understand yourself better. Learn to listen
Even if you don’t typically enjoy structure and routine, having them during times of stress, crisis, unpredictability, and uncertainty can be harmonizing and even necessary for positive mental health. Here’s to your health!
If you’d like to know more about Ayurveda check out this adorable explainer video. For consultations with Magnolia go here. To learn more about Magnolia go here for writing, videos/interviews, and photos.
Magnolia sees client in person in her Albuquerque, New Mexico office or online via Zoom.