Even on the fullest days, when we don’t have time or space for a stretch, yoga practice, journaling sesh, meditation or breathwork we have the opportunity to nourish our nervous systems, and cellular health with a morning routine. A morning routine (or dinacharya, as it’s referred to in Sanskrit) actually begins the moment that we wake, and includes every single measure and step we take to begin our day. Regardless of how much time we have, hopefully we’re washing our faces, brushing our teeth – AND when we do these seemingly mundane tasks in the same order, and with intention, we deeply benefit the bodymind.
There are many days, as the mother of a toddler, when my nourishing morning practices don’t happen. But I’ve learned to take great solace in my morning routine; the time and space where I check in, care for my skin, my sense organs, express gratitude for my healthy body and take inventory.
This seemingly small process is critical as a moment to check in with myself, note changes in my skin, breathing, tongue, hair. To care for my sense organs (skin, eyes, nose, ears,) because they are the way I perceive the world. And, to create and hold space for a container that’s as deeply nourishing for my nervous system as it is for my skin.
Here are the steps I take, and the tools I use, to guide this most essential practice:
The first thing I do every morning is scrape my tongue. This removes ama and plaque that my digestive system has taken great care to remove and push out of the body while I slept, and I do NOT want to re-digest it. This is an absolute must.
My holistic dentist would likely love to scold me for not using an electric toothbrush, but I still love the feeling of using my own hand and a great natural toothbrush. (This brush, and this toothpaste are my favorites.)
I recall a time when my skin felt troubled and always dry, undernourished and lacking glow. It was a time before I discovered the incredible benefits of using olive oil as a cleanser. The Wonder Valley Oil Cleanser and Olive + Lotus Exfoliator is a heaven sent pair that both cleanses and brightens my skin, and truly feels like a divine ritual.
Whether you live in a high altitude climate, as I do, or you simply notice a dryness in your sinuses, Nasya (or nose) oil is the key. I put a tiny drop on my pinkie fingers and rub it on the inside of my nostrils to keep my nasal passages and subtle channels to the brain moisturized. It works WONDERS.
Several years ago, I had a small pocket that was developing beneath one of my molars. My doctor suggested that I might need a root canal, but I left her office with a different plan. Pockets in the gums are evidence that vata dosha is elevated in the body, and one of the ways to direct and ground this energy (and reverse the oral damage,) is to oil pull. Oil pulling is the simply act of swishing around a small amount of oil in the mouth – as you would mouthwash – and then spitting it out into an appropriate recepticle (ie: the trash can.) In just under a month, my new oil pulling habit had healed the pocket and there was no longer a procedure to heal my ailing gums. I’ve been a believer ever since and will continue to be until I’m an old woman (hopefully with a bountiful smile!)
Once my oil pulling is complete, I toddle into the kitchen to make warm water with salt, lime and aloe vera juice. The concoction hydrates, activates digestion, and soothes pitta dosha, helping to heal and balance our digestive systems over time. It’s the first thing I consume – before any other ritual beverages or little nibbles of food – and this practice alone is to credit with balanced digestion most of the time.
Warm water in hand, I toddle back to the bathroom to complete my skin care routine. Before I put anything on my face, I apply this Skin Support Spray from Ion. It helps to support the microbiome on the skin, and also to heal and repair skin damage. I’ve noticed a marked difference in the dark spots on my face from sun, adolescent acne and more since I started using it over a year ago. You can use the code LENTINE15 to try the product, and any of their products sitewide at 15% off.
This facial ritual is my holy grail. I know that lots of people say that about products that they love, but I really mean it. As a woman who doesn’t wear makeup, the texture and tone of my skin IS my appearance and nothing helps to moisturize, tone and protect my skin like the Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum from Vintner’s Daughter. Formulated by a winemaker’s daughter, using ingredients directly from nature that support the health of the microbiome, these products are truly brilliant. I’ve never found a skincare line so deeply aligned with ancient wisdom, and so effective at employing it. I apply the essence and serum morning and night, without fail.
As a younger woman, I was never a believer in eye cream. Then I became a slightly older woman and recognized the delicate (and dry!) nature of my skin around this area, and now I’m a younger looking woman because I apply Ursa Major Forest Alchemy Eye Cream morning and night. Gentle, deeply moisturizing and glowy.
The last “lube” is this calming lip balm. Formulated to reduce wind energy, ground and moisturize lips (especially those at high altitudes who see the sun and the elements) I just give a little swipe – it serves as my makeup most of the time.
Once I’m all oiled up, plumped and glowy, I use a kansa wand over my face. This seems like a very luxe thing to do each morning, but in fact it’s one of the oldest remedies in the world for moving lymph, balancing the doshas and reducing puffiness. Plus, it feels divine. Just a little swipe does the trick. If you’re noticing your eyes need a little extra de-puff, you can pop the wand in the fridge for a moment to cool and firm things even more.
The last step before leaving the bathroom to be launched into breakfast prep, lunch packing or maybe (just maybe) a little bit of personal practice before the men in my house wake is a little scalp gua sha. I had very very short hair for a very very long time, and brushing my locks is just not something I love or remember to do. Plus, it draws down my curls. But I really do love the invigorating and stimulating feeling of gua sha. It promotes cell turnover, keeps the scalp healthy, promotes hair growth and just feels like a million dollars.