According to Ayurveda, a good beginning is crucial for the success of an action. A good start to the day paves the way to success, well-being, health and happiness.

The classical Ayurvedic texts describe in great detail which rituals and care measures are particularly favourable to start the day perfectly. When you read these instructions for the first time, you cannot imagine how you can fit all these recommendations in every morning.

A first crucial step to have enough time for morning rituals is to go to bed early. Then you are rested in the morning and can get up between 5 and 6 am without an alarm clock.

Oral hygiene

It is best to start the day by emptying the urinary bladder, and if possible, the bowels. The next step is oral hygiene. Ama (waste products) accumulates in the mouth overnight. This can be noticed by a bad taste in the mouth or bad breath. These deposits should not be swallowed, but removed by cleaning the teeth with dental floss and a toothbrush and by cleaning the tongue with a tongue scraper. Afterwards, one should rinse the mouth vigorously and drink a glass of water. This first glass can also be cold water, ideally left to stand overnight in a copper cup.

Gandusha

The next step is oil pulling (Gandusha). It is best to use our drawing oil for this. Use about a teaspoon or 3-4 sprays of oil and keep it in your mouth under pressure for a few minutes. Then spit the oil out into a tissue and dispose of it. Then rinse your mouth with clean water.

Oil massage

While oil pulling is still going on, you can either start your morning walk or continue with other oil applications. Especially the sense organs nose, ears, eyes and forehead (representing the sense of touch) should be "awakened" with an application of a little oil. Ksheer Bala oil is particularly suitable for this. To do this, put a drop of the oil in each nostril and ear with a finger, and gently rub the forehead and eyelids with another drop. Then, if there is still time, you can follow with a full body oil massage. After the oil has soaked in for a few minutes, you should take a shower or bath. In any case, first wash off the oil with warm water and possibly a little soap, then you can finish the shower with cold water.

Morning walk and morning exercise

A morning walk, exposing oneself to the light of the rising sun, is considered particularly healthy and auspicious. This walk can be done either between oral hygiene and oil massage or between shower and the yoga asanas recommended afterwards. If you are motivated by sports, you can also do some jogging, cycling, Nordic walking or another favourite sport in the morning. For all your motivation, it is important that you do everything with nasal breathing and not mouth breathing.

Yoga, meditation and planning your day

At least 10 minutes of yoga asanas should be practised every morning, followed by a few minutes of pranayama (breathing exercise). The stretches in the yoga asanas and the circulation-boosting effect of pranayama prepare the mind and body well for the meditation (Transcendental Meditation, TM) that follows.

After 15 - 20 minutes of meditation, a light breakfast can follow if you are hungry.

Before you then dive into your activity, be sure to take a few more minutes to review your goals for the day and your goals in life.