Your Doshic Clock & The Circadian Rhythm

Just as the flowers and leaves of plants open and follow the course of the sun during daylight, closing again at night, so too do our bodies respond to different times of the day.

In the 5000-year-old system of Ayurveda, our own inner biological clock is understood by dividing the shifting energies of daytime and nighttime among the three Doshas (bio-energetic principles):

• 2-6am and 2-6pm are dominated by the lightness of airy Vata
• 6-10am and 6-10pm are dominated by the stability of earthy Kapha
• 10am-2pm and 10pm-2am are dominated by the drive of fiery Pitta

Circadian Rhythms

The Circadian Rhythm, also known as the body clock, came into focus in 2017 when The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded to three scientists who discovered genes and molecular mechanisms within cells that control the circadian rhythm.

This vital inner clock is understood to regulate a variety of functions in the body, including metabolism, sleeping patterns, hormones, blood pressure, and behaviour.

Your Doshic Clock

Our bodies are programmed to adapt to the different phases of the day as the earth revolves around its axis. The Ayurvedic understanding of the body clock gives us beautiful instruction on how to spend our day.

The Natural Times for Daily Activities

The timings and lengths of the 4-hour cycles in the above diagram change according to the time of sunrise and sunset, with the sunrise and sunset initiating the start of the morning and evening Kapha phases, respectively.

Dinacharya

In addition to observing the daily phases of time, Ayurveda recommends very specific morning and evening routines called Dinacharya ("dina" or daily routine) and Ratricharya ("ratri" or night routine) to help cleanse and nourish the body and senses.

These include grounding practices such as self-massage and the nourishment of the sense organs. After all, our quality of life is largely dependent on the strength and clarity of our sense organs—Ayurveda therefore recommends cleansing and nourishment of each sense organ on a daily basis.

These practices can act as an inner compass, keeping us calm and on an even keel throughout the day. By aligning ourselves with these shifting phases of the day, we bring a sense of ease to the body, allowing it to function optimally.

References:

1. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2020. Mon. 13 Apr 2020. Nobel Prize 2017 Press Release

This article has been kindly supplied by Colette Park. colettepark.co.uk