Wake-Up Routine

Not a morning person? These Ayurvedic rituals will turn you into an early riser and change how you face the day.

By Catherine Guthrie

Take a Dip. A bath rehydrates the skin and fends off fatigue. All three doshas benefit from a quick cleansing, but water temperature varies by constitution. Pittas benefit from cool water, while lukewarm water is ideal for vatas, and even warmer temperatures are best for balancing cool-natured kaphas. A core belief of Ayurveda is that anything put on the skin is eventually assimilated by the body, so lower the body's toxicity by avoiding products rife with perfumes and synthetic chemicals, opting instead for Ayurvedic soaps and shampoos.

Eat Wisely. It's never wise to skip breakfast, cautions Banerjee. But, you shouldn't overindulge in the morning either. "From sunrise to 10 a.m. is kapha time, a time for exercising and moving," says Sullivan. "A light meal won't overload the digestive fire, which doesn't peak until noon." Begin your day with fruit, vegetable juice, nonfat yogurt, or grains, like muesli or granola.

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