Having a good day is not just about starting your morning on the right note. It is also influenced by the quality of rest you’ve had the previous night.
While binge-watching a few episodes of your favorite sitcom can seem like the ideal way to wind down after a long day (we’ve all been there, done that!), using electronics right up until you fall asleep can be detrimental. This is because consuming foods or partaking in activities that are highly stimulating will prevent your mind & body from getting the time out it deserves.
In Ayurveda, the principle of dinacharya dictates how in tune your body is with the cycles of nature, and that affects your overall wellness. The term translates to “day activity”. According to it, a standard or habitual dinacharya helps you create balance in your life.
These are some Ayurvedic Calming Practices & so many ways to relax at night. You could also borrow a few elements from these Ayurvedic night routines to build an effective nighttime ritual.
CREATE A CALMING ATMOSPHERE WITH INCENSE
A comforting atmosphere is what you’d need to wrap up the day. You can create a night altar on your bedside table and fill it with things that optimize your wellness & Relaxation.
Be it post-dinner or just before you sleep, try to soak up the aromatic hues of essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, and bergamot. These have been shown to improve sleep habits in people. Ayurvedic Oils are Beat used for Calming properties.
You can do this with incense sticks, candles, or even with a diffuser. The more you associate your relaxation with specific fragrances, the more you get accustomed to switching into a state of peace every time you light the incense.
INDULGE IN A MASSAGE
If performing abhyanga (a full-body oil massage) seems like too much to you before sleep, even massaging your temples or feet can bring about feelings of deep relaxation.
The use of brahmi oil balances your vata. It cools your body and prevents dryness. One of our go-to routines is using blends of sandalwood, lavender, and rose for a nighttime facial massage. All three botanicals have properties that reduce stress and improve your mood. The UMA Total Rejuvenation Night Face Oil is one such potent blend that maximizes the effects of several botanicals to deliver good rejuvenation at the end of the day.
TAKE UP A MINDFULNESS ACTIVITY
This is your moment to shine, well, figuratively. The benefits of being attuned to your thoughts and emotions are one too many. That is why mindfulness activities such as journaling, meditation, reading, and breathing exercises come highly recommended by wellness coaches.
What these tasks help you accomplish is that it clears out the clutter in your mind and helps you orient yourself. The Charak Samhita, a fundamental Ayurvedic text, presents suffering as the result of the lack of mindfulness.
Your mindfulness routine can be as simple as you want it to be. Maybe listen to a soothing playlist or jot down your observations from the day – let it be a moment where you truly connect with yourself on a spiritual level.
PERFORM SOME ASANAS
There’s a yoga asana for every time of the day. A few that promote good sleep just happen to be ones you can perform from the comfort of your bed – what more could you ask for.
The simplest of the lot (according to us) is Balasana, a.k.a the Child’s Pose. It involves sitting in a kneeling position. Bend forward in such a manner that your torso is placed between your thighs. Straighten out your arms parallel to the surface, with your palms facing up.
Since this is a resting position, it would be good to hold the pose for a minimum of 30 seconds. It is meant to help you clear your mind and ease away the lingering stress from the day.
IN SUMMARY
In Ayurveda, just like in personal health, there is no one-size-fits-all. Some of the activities mentioned above may not work for you. But it’s a matter of trying what feels right.
Let your night routine be a space of solitude that is full of healing energy and prepares you, physically and mentally, for another day ahead.
