Day 1.
The theme of today is awakening.
We’re waking up from our winter hibernation.
We bring movement and create space in all stagnant and sticky areas of the body and mind.
Advised schedule for today
6:00 Rise
6:15 Ayurvedic morning ritual (see description below)
6:30 Morning Yoga (see video below)
7:30 Preparing and eating breakfast
11:00 Make and drink the herbal drink
11:30 Prepare lunch
12:30 Lunch
16:00 Drink herbal tea
17:30 Prepare dinner
18:30 Dinner
20:00 Prepare the next day
22:00 Goodnight
Anytime before 14:00: Energizing Kriya breathing technique (see video below)
Anytime during the day: Calming Pranayama breathing technique (see video below)
Menu of today
BREAKFAST
Juice
Mix together ½ cucumber, 5 grams (±1 cm) grated ginger and 1 juice limed.
Kapha Reducing Porridge
Mix together 1 apple, 1 dash of cinnamon, 1 dash of ground cloves, 1 dash of ground ginger, 1 tsp of honey, ¼ cup of quinoa porridge and 1 cup of water. Cook for about 20 minutes and check the consistency on the way. Add water if necessary.
Basil, cumin, cinnamon digestive drink
Pour water into a medium sized pot, put the pot on a stove over a medium flame. Add 6 Thai basil leaves, ½ tsp cumin powder, ½ tsp cinnamon powder, 500ml of water. Bring to a boil until its reduced to half the amount (250ml). Strain the tea and keep warm in a thermos. Drink one glass at 11:00 and one glass at 16:00.
PRE-LUNCH
Castor oil trial
1.5 hours before lunch, do the castor oil trial by taking a maximum of 5ml (1 tsp) mixed with 30ml of water and wait for the effects for about 1 hour. If the effect is minimal, take 20ml on day 3, if the effects are very present, take 15ml on day 3.
LUNCH
Kapha reducing Red Lentil Lemongrass Soup
First make the paste: in a blender, combine 2 tbsp sunflower oil, ¼ onion, 3 stalks of lemongrass (outer layers removed and chopped), 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp red chili pepper (seeds removed), 1 kaffir lime leaf (if not available ½ tsp lemon zest), and 2 cloves of garlic. Blend to a thick paste. You could also use a mortar and pestle for this if you have the time!
Then make the soup: in a medium saucepan, warm 1 tbsp sunflower oil over a medium-low heat. Add 4 tbsp lemongrass paste, ¼ tsp Himalaya salt, and a pinch of Hing powder (asafoetida). Sauté until fragrant. Stir in 2 plum tomatos.
Add 200 grams of red lentils and 500 ml water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered until the lentils are soft. The lentils will lose their shape and become nice and mushy. Add lime juice and coriander to taste and top with finely chopped mustard leaves for a digestion kick.
DINNER
Vegetable stir fry
Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan and sauté ½ onion (chopped) and 2 garlic cloves. Stir for 3 minutes. Add 1 chopped carrot, 100 grams of daikon and 100 grams of red bell pepper and 100 grams of broccoli until well cooked. Season with salt and pepper.
To prepare for the next day: soak Mungdahl and basmati rice overnight
(see recipes Day 2).
Ayurvedic morning ritual
When we rise, we tend to go along with the noise of the outer world - like checking your phone immediately after waking up (who doesn’t?). In Ayurveda, we use morning rituals to set an intention for the rest of the day - by starting with a moment of silence and self care.
Here are some steps for your morning ritual (this can be done before or after your Yoga practice, however your prefer):
1. When you wake, take a moment to be still. For a few minutes, take a moment to feel what kind of body you’ve woken up in. What is it that your body needs today?
2. Scrape your tongue (±7 times) to remove any build up toxins from the night.
3. Use your dry brush to stimulate the blood flow. Make circular movements from your toes up to the heart space.
4. Apply your self-massage oil. Keep your senses open! Smell the oil, feel the warmth of your skin and the touch of your hand.
5. Let the oil sit on your skin for a few minutes. Maybe take this moment to meditate (for grounding) or, if you could use upliftment, put on some nice juicy salsa music. Kriya or Pranayama breathing exercises (see videos below) are also very nice in the morning.
6. Take a warm shower, so your pores can open to soak up all the oil. Afterwards, your skin will feel soft and nourished.
Yoga class of today*
*Please listen to your body; modify postures according to your level (especially in case of injuries). For any questions or concerns, reach out to Anna (info@inner-purpose.com).
Pranayama breathing technique
Kriya breathing technique
