Something you need to know about morning routines..

If you've ever been like me, you'll push the snooze button on your alarm maybe an average of 3.5 times every morning before flying out of bed. Which makes you rush around to get ready and out the door. 

You got ready so fast you didn't have time to eat.. or poop. 

Yeah, I went there. Did ya know? Going #2 is also an important part of a stable morning routine. I'll tell ya why later- Keep reading..

Your mind is racing and scattered, and the rest of the day you wonder why you just feel "off".

I'll tell you some little secrets that have changed. my. life.

In Ayurvedic Medicine, they call it Dinacharya (you can say it like "dee-nah-char-ee-ah"). That's Sanskrit for "daily ritual" or "routine."

Routine creates balance. It keeps you grounded.

Dinacharya focuses on morning rituals around the cycles of nature so you feel aligned with Mother Earth. 

Inner Light Botanicals was also founded on inspiration from this Ayurvedic idea of daily morning and evening routines.

I'll focus on 5 simple Ayurvedic self-care rituals that you can incorporate as part of your daily morning routine. (Keep reading.. this is where the importance of going #2 is explained).

#1 - Wake Before Sunrise

Okay, easier said than done with this one. This is probably one of the simplest in terms of effort but HARDEST one to do if you're not a morning person. However, every time I do it, I feel more alive and ready for the day.

#2 - Hot Lemon Water

The warmth of this drink helps to stimulate the GI tract to get things moving and it also helps to remove toxins, or "ama" in Sanskrit, in the digestive tract. Lime instead of lemon works too. You can add some honey. Drink it first thing in the morning. 

#3 - Tongue Scraper

I love doing this, and it's so easy to fit into your morning routine before you brush your teeth. It adds approximately 5 seconds onto this routine. All you need is a tongue scraper (I use a Banyan Botanicals stainless steal tongue scraper $7.99) or you can simply use a stainless steel spoon.

Once you grab either one of those, scrape your tongue gently from back to front approximately 7-14 times.

This also gets rid of toxins and bacteria on your tongue which is important, because the mouth is the first part of the GI tract. Tongue scraping also wakens those taste buds to get them ready for the day.

Once you start, there's no going back on this one. You'll notice the difference it makes and, if you skip it, you'll wish you didn't. 

#4 - Evacuate 

AKA poop. Here we go. You need to try to make sure you have a routine morning poop. Pick a time in the morning and make sure you go. If you can't, sit on the toilet anyway until you train yourself to go.

Think about it from a holistic perspective.. who wants to hold onto the stuff from yesterday? Get rid of it. 

Tip: Make sure you drink your hot lemon water before this, because it'll help get things going.

#5 - Self-Massage

This one takes a little longer buuut it's so worth it if you can fit it in. Abhyanga, or self-massage, is an Ayurvedic practice. There's no better way to express self-love than massaging your entire body first thing in the morning with a nice, warm oil. 

If you need some extra grounding in the mornings try self-massage with the Inner Light Botanicals GROUNDING Morning Massage Oil - It's made with a base of warming sesame oil and a scent of cinnamon and clove.

Here's what to do ~