If our pandemic year has taught us anything, it’s the importance of taking care of ourselves, both physically and mentally. Part of that is keeping up routines that help us realize our best selves. In Ayurveda, these daily rituals and practices are called
dinacharya (in Sanskrit,
charya, routine) and are believed to support our overall health and wellness.
“Every human has an internal clock running in the background that carries out all the essential processes and functions at a proper time, very similar to nature, which follows the pattern of day and night, seasonal changes, tidal rhythms, and moon cycles,” says Hrishikesh Ashok, chief Ayurveda consultant at Naad Wellness in New Delhi, India. “Ayurveda recommends a routine of morning and nighttime practices collectively known as dinacharya, to maintain this connection between us and the circadian rhythms of nature”