Happy Valentines Day! Although I know that Valentine’s Day is mostly about loving others I would like for you to consider this year trying something new, loving yourself by making space in your life for self care.

In Ayurveda practicing “dincharya” or daily routine is a great way to incorporate self care into your day.

Here are a few simple ideas:

Drink warm water with splash of lemon first thing in the morning. This helps with digestions and rehydration after sleeping.

Scrape your tongue using a tongue scraper like this one. Using a tongue scraper first thing in the morning is thought to remove the build up of toxins (ama) on the tongue. Don’t over do it. Just make 5-7 passes over the tongue starting at the back and moving forward. This is a great time to mention, start paying attention to your tongue. It can tell you a lot about your health and digestion (learn more).

Give yourself a massage with a warming organic oil like sesame (known as abhyanga, here’s a video on how to do it).

Gentle movement in the morning…doing a few sun salutations before getting ready for work can improve your mood and energy level for the entire day. Here’s a video if you’d like to learn more.

Meditate, pray, or journal whatever you prefer. You deserve a few minutes to yourself in whatever way you would like to spend them.

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Have you heard of dry brushing? It involves using a dry brush (as the name implies) to removing dead skin cells, increase circulation and lymphatic flow prior to showering. It is invigorating and a great way to wake yourself up in the morning and have glowing exfoliated skin. I have tried a number of different natural bristle brushes and found they were too harsh for my skin. Recently I discovered gloves during a body treatment at the Sundara Spa and have been hooked since. I purchased two different types of gloves (raw silk and jute bath gloves, pictured above) and really like both of them. Ready to try it? Check out this article.

Last but not least, have a cup of herbal tea. I absolutely love Tulsi Sweet Rose tea. Tulsi is an adaptogen and the sweetness of the tea along with the rose balances the heart and emotions. Be present while you drink the tea, feeling the warmth, smelling the rose, and tasting the sweetness.

I hope that you will be kind to yourself today and try one new self-care technique! Just a few moments out of the day to slow down and care for yourself can have a big impact. Let me know what you think!

This weekend I am so excited to talk with Meghan Sandve on the Fit and Fierce Podcast! We’ll be chatting about “Loving Yourself Through Ayurveda.”