In a perfect world, I would start my day with a morning ritual routine as thorough and balanced as the one I’m going to tell you about. I’d integrate the many aspects of self-care that I’ve found feed my physical body, mental body, and spirit.
Some days, I actually do this. Others, I don’t. Time, work and family don’t always allow this profound kind of nourishment.
But, for those special days that do, here is my draftl morning ritual that never fails to open the rest of my day to more beauty, grace, and inspiration.
Nourishing Spirit Dust Morning Beverage
After going to the bathroom upon rising, I immediately head downstairs and warm a cup of almond milk over the stove. Lately, instead of making myself a nut milk latte, which I often do, I’ve been enjoying this lovely adaptogens Spirit Dust powder. You can add it to milk, nut milk, or water.
I prefer nut milk, but it’s up to you of course. Add some raw honey to sweeten it up a bit if you like, and then bring the warming mug to your meditation space to mediate. This drink brightens the mood and warms your early morning.
Morning Meditation Support
With my Spirit Dust drink, I take to my favorite meditation cushion, Gaiam's Crescent Meditation Cushion, where I sit and meditate for 15-30 minutes, depending upon what time allows. (Learn more in Meditation Beginners: How to Find the Starting Point.)
This cushion is perfect for finding a comfortable seat. Comfort is key when it comes to sustaining a meditation practice over the long term. Investing in a high-quality cushion is good for your hips, and good for your practice!
Light a Candle
I have a hard time meditating without lighting a candle. Lately, I’ve been really into Karma Candle Club. These glowing products arrive on your doorstep on the 15th of each month!
It’s a candle subscription box that has recently brightened and inspired my morning meditation. And, when you subscribe, you get to choose from three charities to support with your subscription! It’s a win-win!
Choose a Meditation Practice
Making your meditation a profound, adventuresome, and deeply enjoyable relationship with your inner self is what happens when you use this book for your sadhana. Meditation for the Love of It by Sally Kempton is my favorite meditation book in the world.
It’s filled with so many practices that inspire self-inquiry and quiet contemplation. Sometimes, I stick to one technique from the book and practice it for months. Other times, I mix things up and pick a different one from one day to the next. It’s your choice—whatever inspires your personal practice! (Find more meditation inspiration in 10 Enlightening Quotes from Top Meditation Guide Sally Kempton.)
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
After meditation, I fill up this luxurious Amethyst Quartz Glacce water bottle and sip throughout the morning. This is a bit pricey, but you can use it for years and years. The bottle is a means of crystal healing, with an amethyst quartz inside to instill inner peace, intuition, and creativity. (Learn more in How to Stay Hydrated Before and After Yoga.)
For those with addictions, the amethyst is also believed to support sobriety. So drink up and heal from within!
Dress it Up
Now it’s time to shower and dress. My new favorite yoga pants are these trendy yoga leggings from Alo Moto. They’re so comfortable and fashionable and fun!
There’s just something about dressing the part that motivates my practice!
Morning Yoga Practice
My favorite sticky mat these days is the Manduka eKO Lite Yoga Mat Thrive Marbled. It’s great for travel and lightweight to boot. Harvested with natural tree rubber, this one’s perfect for the eco-minded yogi.
When time allows, I like to do an hour of yoga. This is the perfect amount of time to get in a well-rounded practice to support the rest of my day. And practicing on a beautiful mat makes the experience that much more pleasurable! (If you're in need of a new mat, check out The Best Yoga Mats You Can Find on Amazon)
Breathe In
At the end of my yoga practice, I love to burn incense and close the entire morning ritual with about five more minutes of meditation. Lately, I've been using Palo Santo Incense Sticks. These incense mark the close to the sacred morning routine. (The candle begins it, and the incense end it.)
This is also the perfect time for setting an intention for the day. By consciously setting a daily intention, the rest of your day takes on a sacred theme. In this way your morning ritual really impacts your daily life. (Learn more in Svadhyaya: Spend a Lifetime Getting to Know Yourself & Deepening Your Yoga Practice.)
Nourishment at Home
A morning ritual like this one is one of the most precious ways to fill yourself up. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars at day spas, or go on fancy yoga retreats to nourish yourself on all levels.
With some ritual-enhancing products that last for years, your routine can be both frugal and healthfully indulgent!
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.