Dinācharya For Deeper Connection

Have you heard of “dinācharya” before?

It is the Ayurvedic term for a daily regimen that is followed to support the maintenance of a healthy life. There is also the term and practice of “rutucharyā”, which is the Ayurvedic word to encompass our seasonally-influenced rituals for optimal wellness. More than likely, you have put it into practice in various forms over the span of your life.

Around this time of year, we are seeing the concept and various themes of romantic love all around, as Valentine's Day approaches. With this heavy push of certain ideals upon us (particularly in the Western world), this is also an invitation to dive-in deeper, and reflect on how we love and respect ourselves through a consistent dinācharya.

The energies of this month can be harnessed to examine and reflect on your deepest love connections, starting with your relationship with yourself and what commitments you are upholding to ultimately walk your best path.

In this post we will delve into the benefits of dinācharya and what they can include. And as mentioned above, perhaps you already have a version of one or more of these rituals, or you already have a daily wellness practice (even if on an off-and-on basis). May this serve as a reminder or encouragement for each of us to journey into our own versions of dinācharya, apply it in our lives and ultimately reap the most benefits from it.

*This article is inspired by a recent course led by Jenna Furnari and some of her specific references. Along with cited sources, you can find a glossary below with Ayurvedic and other less-common terms that are included throughout this article.

Under the teachings of Ayurveda, establishing a physical routine for the body can help to create balance beyond the physical, and extends all the way to seek an internal balance relating to finding your mental and spiritual alignment, as well as your own unique energetic dosha. Learn what your dosha is here. The many benefits of following closely to a daily rhythm include both cultivating and maintaining a seasonally-regulated Agni), the domino impact being a healthy self-esteem, general vitality, and overall longevity - to name just a few. Integrating the daily regimen of dinācharya supports an overall grounded quality within, even while life continues to move through constant transitions.

Below is an introduction to a few steps you can take to begin bringing the practices of daily Ayurveda into your life through dinācharya, presented below, specifically as a morning ritual.

*As with most authentic wellness practices, this is not a one-size-fits-all regime. It’s important to seek additional resources and support (from trusted and recognized sources), along with getting medical clearance if relevant to your specific context, to compile your own unique version of what is outlined below.

This morning routine sets the tone and ample opportunity to maximize the potential of the rest of your day.

Tools for Dinācharya

• Tongue Scraper

• Sesame and/or Coconut oil

• Neti Pot

• Nasya Oil

Morning Dinācharya

• Rise before the sun

• Splash cool water on your face

• Drink warm lemon water

• Visit the toilet

• Scrape your tongue

• Oil pulling *Learn why and how to do this

• Rinse with a Neti pot

• Follow up with Nasya oil nasal massage

• Abhyanga with coconut or sesame oil

*Benefits of daily massage include bestowing good health and nourishment to the body, which slows down the aging process and supports restful sleep.

Glossary of Terms :

Agni: Our internal, biological fire that aids our ability to digest, absorb and assimilate the food that we eat, the experiences we have and the emotions that occur within. This transformation also takes place with the sensory impressions that come our way.

Abhyanga: A self-given body massage

Āyurveda: This system of medicine is translated as the science of life, originating from India.

Dinācharya: A daily regimen followed to support the maintenance of a healthy life.

Imbolc : The halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox/Ostara).

Kriyas: Specific sets of exercises, breathing techniques and sound mantras practiced to unlock energy channels or chakras in the body with intention.

Nasya: A method of administering herbal oil through the nostrils as a therapy for one of the five major senses.

Neti: A body cleansing technique used for nasal irrigation and cleansing of nasal membranes. This simple therapy has many benefits for the both the body and the mind.

Sources Cited:
Acknowledgment and thanks to the contributing resources of this publication, Jenna Furnari for her supplied content, and inspiring this entire article, and Aruna Bakhru via literature included in “Nutrition and Integrative Medicine: A Primer for Clinicians.”

Gratitude to our community near and far, both for taking the time to explore our blog and for walking the path to your best self - we hope this resonated and aids you in finding balance within.

Tell us in the comments what mornings rituals you look forward to most.

All Photos - Copyright Nectar Yoga

Winter Dream Work + DIY Dream Pillow

As we step into a new year, in the Northern Hemisphere, we are held in the yin energy of the winter months alongside the in-between Ayurvedic seasons of Vata and Kapha.

During the day, as we move through the cold months, you may notice a gradual and incremental return to more vibrancy and drive within yourself. The upcoming Kapha season (Kapha season lasts from the second half of winter through spring), is the time to go deeper into any exercise program with specific attention placed on movement and a time to solidify your commitments to yourself and your plans for the near future.

However, in the dream world, there is a juxtaposition to these daylight hour natural motivations forward.

You may notice that your dreams have been revisiting issues in your past. During these natural outer-world shifts, your time in the dream world is susceptible to revolve around very old memories, both desired and undesirable, often playing out to recreate new scenarios.

Take notice of how you feel when you awaken, reflect on what your dream may be asking you to pay attention to or hold space for. Consider what the lessons may be from the dream, and if it is asking you to make a choice or step into action, then reflect if you’re ready.

What matters with dreams is how you relate with them. What are you learning? Is it asking you to show up in a new or renewed way?

A meditative craft that can be supportive in your dream work is making a Dream Pillow.

You can typically create a dream pillow with materials that you already keep in your home.

What you’ll need:

• A small muslin or cotton drawstring bag

• Favourite calming herbs (dried)

Crafting the dream pillow itself is a mindful exercise on its own that offers its own calming effects. If you’re using multiple herbs, pour them into a bowl and gently mix them with a small spoon or your hands. Breathe in the smells that waft around you as you set your intentions for what you desire to manifest in your dream work.

Use a spoon or small scoop to pour the herbs into your drawstring bag, secure it tightly, and place it under your sleeping pillow (or beside your bed).

The ritual of making a dream pillow can be done as often as you like, using different favoured and/or seasonal local herbs to tap into various energies they embody and support.

Having a calming night ritual prior to going to sleep is the best way to tap into our most profound intuitive dreamwork insights. This may include exercising your journal practices (specifically dream journaling), a slow movement practice, using a dream pillow, or all of the above.

Whether a morning journal practice is already part of your wellness routine, to hone in on your dream work, we suggest keeping your journal next to your bed to write down the details of your dreams as soon as you rise in the morning.

If you wake up in the middle of the night from a particularly intense dream, write whatever memorable details about it before going back to sleep, as you may likely forget by morning. Documenting your dreams allows you to work through unprocessed issues in your waking life and the symbolic lessons you explore in your sleep.

Sources Cited:
Acknowledgment and thanks to the contributing resources of this publication, Rebecca Turner via Lucid World Dreaming and Irene Wolansky via Mountain Rose Herbs - a precious resource for herb ideas if you’re unsure where to start.

Gratitude to our community near and far, both for taking the time to explore our blog and for walking the path to your best self - we hope this resonated and aids you in finding balance within.

Tell us in the comments what herbs you’re inclined to add to your dream pillow this season.

All Photos - Copyright Nectar Yoga, Adrienne Andersen, Subi Yanto, Ana Pou, Yan Kruko and Olena Bohovyk