Start the day the Ayurvedic way

Spring or Kapha season is the perfect time to start all of those new years resolutions that you made, but were unable to start or keep up because it was just too cold, and the mornings and evenings were too dark. Now the days are lengthening there are more hours of sunlight, so you can spring out of bed earlier and give yourself an extra hour in the morning to get yourself in to shape. The way we start our day is really important, it can affect our mood for the rest of the day. Make some time to follow a few simple routines. In Ayurveda great emphasis is placed on personal hygiene and daily routine.

•  Get up and go to the loo, if you can't go try drinking hot water with lemon and small amount of honey to facilitate a bowel movement, walk around for a bit to help the peristaltic action.
•  Instead of using toilet paper try washing with water, or use moistened toilet tissues. If you don't have bidet use a plastic jug, fill with cool water and  pour with the right hand and wash with the left. Using water cleanses the area thoroughly and doesn't irritate the delicate tissue there. It also closes the rectal plexus and brings it back into balance.
•  Wash hands afterwards.
  
• Fill the mouth with cool water then gently splash  with water to clean the eyes.
•  Suck up  warm up water through the nostrils one at a time to cleanse the nose. A neti pot with warm salt water is also good for clearing congestion.
• Clean the teeth with herbal toothpaste, then scrape tongue with tongue scraper.
•  An light oil massage with warm sesame oil, nourishes the skin and tones muscle tissue and calms the nervous system. Mustard oil is also good for Kapha types  because of it's warming nature. Use an old towel to stand on, then wrap it around body to keep warm.
• Start at the head and  massage into scalp if you are intending to wash hair. Use long stokes on the long bones and circle round the joints, include the feet as well.
• An alternative to oil massage for Kapha types, or those who have an aversion to oil, is to use silk mitts or (garshan). These mitts stimulate circulation and lymph flow, and a simple massage can be performed before bathing. You can also use a body brush or loofah.
• Leave oil on for 15- 20mins then remove with 2tblsps of gram flour, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder mixed with hot water and make into a paste. Stand in bath or shower and carefully Apply all over body, try to leave on for a few minutes, then shower off. 
• Use old towel to dry as turmeric can stain. This little ritual leaves your skin feeling silky smooth your body warm and your senses soothed.
• Next you can perform some yoga asanas, the sun salute is ideal as it strengthens all the major muscle groups in the body. 
•  Then follow with pranayama, alternate nose breathing for 5mins.
•  Last but not least meditation. Personally I think it is best to learn meditation from an experienced teacher. I have practised Transcendental Meditation for many years and have found it to be very beneficial.Now you can dress and have breakfast, then go to work! It may seem like quite a lot to incorporate into your daily routine, but you will find that after a while it's just like cleaning your teeth, you do that twice a day and don't give it a second thought. Oil massage can be done when you can make time, at least 2-3 times a week is beneficial. If you want to perform some more demanding exercise like running or team sports it's still beneficial to do the oil massage before as it warms the muscles and prevents injury. Exercise before 10am in the morning.