Try out this daily routine by Vasant Lad - maybe try one thing at a time and when you’ve got it add another one. Believe me your going to need to wake up early to get his whole routine in before your day - but what an awesome day it will be!! Try some of them, try all of them, even add your own rituals - just start the day feeling awesome!!

A daily routine is absolutely necessary to bring radical change in body, mind and consciousness.

Routine helps to establish balance in ones constitution.

Wake up early in the morning- It is good to wake up before the sun rises. when there are loving (sattvic) qualities in nature that bring peace of mind and freshness to the senses. Sunrise varies according to the seasons. Right after waking, look at your hands for a few moments, then gently move them over your face and chest down to the waist. This cleanses your aura.
Say a prayer or set an intention before leaving the bed - “Dear universe, you are inside of me, within my very breath, within each bird, each mighty mountain. Your sweet touch reaches everything and I am well protected. Thank you Universe for this beautiful day before me. May joy, love, peace and compassion be a part of my life and those around me on this day. I am healing and I am healed.” After this prayer or intention touch right ground with your right hand, then the same hand to the forehead, with great love and respect to Mother Earth.
Clean the face, mouth and eyes - Splash your face with cold water and rinse out your mouth. Wash your eyes with cool water (or one of the eye washes mentioned below) and massage eyelids by gently rubbing them. Blink your eyes 7 times and rotate your eyes in all directions. Dry your mouth with a clean towel.
Tridoshic eyewash: Try triphala eyewash - 1/4 tsp in cup of water, boil for 10 minutes, cool & strain
Pitta eyewash: Use cool water or rose water - make sure its organic.
Kapha eyewash: Diluted cranberry juice, 3-5 drops in a teaspoon of distilled water.
Drink water in the morning - Drink a glass of room temp water, preferably from a copper cup filled the night before. This washes the GI tract, flushes the kidneys and stimulates peristalsis. It is not a good idea to start the day with tea or coffee as this drains kidney energy, stressed adrenals, causes constipation and is habit forming.
Evacuation - Sit, or better squat on the toilet to have a bowel movement. Improper digestion of the previous nights meal or lack of sound sleep can prevent this. However the water, followed by sitting on the toilet at a set time each day, helps to regulate movements. Alternate nostril breathing may also help. After evacuation wash the anal orifice with warm water and then hands with soap.
Scrape your tongue - Gently scrape your tongue from the back, forward, until you have scraped the whole surface for 7-14 strokes. This stimulates the internal organs, helps digestion, and removes deadly bacteria. (We have tongue scrappers here)
Clean your teeth - Always use a soft toothbrush and an astringent, pungent, and bitter toothpaste or powder. The traditional Indian toothbrush is a neem stick, which dislodges fine food particles from between the teeth and makes strong, healthy gums. Liquorice sticks are also used. Roasted almond shell powder can used for vata and kapha, and ground neem for pitta.
Gargling - To strengthen teeth, gums and jaw, improve the voice and remove wrinkles from cheeks. Gargle twice a day with warm sesame oil. Hold the oil in your mouth, swish it around vigorously, then spit it out, gently massage the gums with fingers.
Chewing - Handful of sesame seeds helps receding gums and strengthens teeth. Alternatively chew 3-5 dates and an inch of dried coconut meat. Chewing in the morning stimulates the liver and the stomach and improves digestive fire. After chewing brush teeth again without any toothpaste or powder.
Nasal drops (Nasya) - Putting 3-5 drops of warm ghee or olive oil into each nostril in the morning, helps to lubricate the nose, clear the sinus, improve voice, vision and mental clarity. Our nose is the door to the brain, so nose drops nourish prana and bring intelligence.
Oil drops in the ears (Karana Purana) - Conditions such as ringing in the ears, excess wax, poor hearing, lock jaw and TMJ are all due to vata in the ears. Putting 5 drops of warm sesame oil into each ear can helps with these disorders.
Apply oil to head & body (abhyanga) - Rub warm oil over head and body. Gentle daily oil massage of the scalp can bring happiness, as well as prevent headaches, baldness and greying. Oiling before bed will help to induce sound sleep and keep the skin soft.
Bathing - Bathing is cleansing and refreshing. It moves sweat, dirt and fatigue, brings energy to the body, clarity to the mind and holiness to your life.
Dressing - Wearing clean clothes bring beauty and virtue. (some days its important to wear clothes!! Nice one!!)
Use of perfumes - Using natural scent, essential oils or perfumes, brings freshness, charm and joy. It gives vitality to the body and improves self-esteem. (we recommended organic perfumes not commercial chemical ones)
Exercise - Regular exercise, especially yoga, improves circulation, strength and endurance. It helps one relax and have sound sleep, improves digestion and elimination. Exercise daily to half of your capacity, which is until sweat forms on the forehead, armpits and spine.
Pranayama - After exercise, sit quietly and do some deep breathing exercises as follows:
- 12 alternate nostril breaths for vata
- 16 cooling shitali breaths (curling tongue lengthways and breathing through it) for pitta
- 100 bastrika (short, fast breaths) for kapha
Meditation - It is important to mediate morning and evening for at least 15 minutes. Meditate in the way you are accustomed, or try the ‘empty bowl mediation’. Meditation brings balance and peace into your life. (You could also try some of our online meditations with Willa and Peter Fernando if you are a member - super good! - sign up here)
Now it is time for your breakfast! - our meal should be light in the hot months or if your agni is low, and more substantial in the cold.

ENJOY YOUR DAY!!!!!!!

Author: Vasant Lad B.A.M.S, M.A. Sc, Ayurvedic Physician