Dinacharya: Lifestyle Experiment
Reflections by Sara Spring RYT 200 and TYI Graduate
For seven days I was asked to practice at least 5 Ayurvedic daily habits from a list given in my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. I have to say this was interesting. I was definitely curious to see how this would work, how I would feel, and how committed I would stay to the experiment.
Sara Spring is a therapeutic yoga teacher based in Kansas City, MO.
Let's start with the options I chose.
Morning Practices: Wake close to sunrise, tongue scraping, drink warm lemon water, evacuation of bowels, followed by either gentle yoga or breathwork/meditation. I think I chose so many here as I already do a few, mornings feel most productive to me.
Daytime Practices: Eat Largest Meal at midday, also try to pause between activities. This one didn't happen each day. The pausing.
Evening Practices: Eat a lighter dinner, finish by 7pm, gentle stretching or restorative yoga, go to bed by 10pm or 10:30pm. I also included dry brushing, while not on the list.
Of these the most natural habits for me were the early rise and evening bedtimes as I was mostly already on that schedule. Minor adjustments made to time, but still felt the most natural. Surprisingly the most challenging habit was the warm lemon water. Not the concept of drinking it, the warm water itself. I am used to drinking cool or cold water, drinking warm water has been challenging to drink straight down. I had to drink some, pause, then drink more. I spent most of the mornings on my patio deck drinking the water. It felt nice to breathe in the mornings and view the skyline to start the day. I felt I noticed changes in my energy, digestion, mood and sleep as well. I typically feel pretty tired by the end of the day, during this week I actually felt pretty even in energy throughout the entire day, unless I had done something more exhorting. For example I played pickleball a few mornings and evenings as well. Playing hard in games can sometimes wear me out! Hahaha! My digestion is usually good to begin with, however I noticed craving snacks in between meals was significantly less. The desire to eat much at dinner was apparent, so the smaller meals were welcomed. I feel like my mood stayed pretty level the whole week. We did have some health issues come up with my husband’s mom. He went out of town to be with her and his dad. Being at home dealing with the emotions of it all from afar was hard at times but over all I managed. I never felt overwhelmed with emotion anyway. Thankfully she has improved greatly and we are hopeful for her recovery. My husband was able to come home. That has been a blessing. Both that he is indeed home and that his mom was doing well enough he felt it ok to leave. Interesting enough to myself, my sleep has greatly improved. I usually toss and turn at night, I also wake regularly. It's been so annoying! While I still woke a few times here and there, for the most part I slept decently.
Waking up each morning looking back, I feel I was indeed nicely rested. I took on dry brushing at bedtime. I honestly feel it contributed to my good sleep. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it felt and almost instantly relaxing. Will definitely continue dry brushing long term, stretching lightly after. I feel I will also continue with tongue scraping, oddly this was not as weird as I thought it would be. It is something easy to do in the morning and it has probably aided somehow in my lack of snacking between meals.
Since I am removing bacteria that comes up while sleeping, I have to think it plays a factor. Honestly I will most likely stick with the majority of the habits. I enjoy the bedtime rise and sleep routines. I like the effects I feel when I drink warm lemon water, time will tell how long this hard for me to drink down habit will last. Hahaha! Iam going to continue it for now too.
This has given me a new perspective, look into understanding how daily rhythms can support yourself in other ways too. Just as what we do on the mat, can absolutely carry with us off the mat. Trial and error. I had to try new things, use things I already knew. I saw that these new “things,” habits mind you, put together became a learning experience. The new habits became habits, habits I already did, became new with some adaptations.
Learning about myself some too each day along the way. I can see myself becoming a yoga teacher. I see that the way I will teach will be welcomed, loved even, I also know some ways I teach may not register to my students just as drinking warm lemon water does for me. So I will regularly pause, watch AND learn from my students. See what is connecting and what isn't. Adapt and learn together regularly. Figuratively I will swallow that warm water. Tomorrow the adventures of life continue.
