We are only weeks away from the mid summer solstice and the sun is currently rising at 4:57am.
Many of us are familiar with hitting the ‘snooze button’ on our alarms every nine minutes until we can finally bring yourself to wake up and face the day. Staying in bed for as long as possible sounds good but how would it change things if you got up straight away or even as the sun rises?
We can feel groggy in the mornings, especially if we’ve got off to sleep the night before with the aid of sleep medications or an alcoholic night cap. Of course we find ourselves craving caffeine early next day. We’ve adopted a mindset whereby our bodies feel the need to aggressively snap ourselves out of slumber. We force ourselves into being awake with stimulants, expecting our brains to function and keep up with yet another day which seems to be filled with dread simply because we are not ready for it.
Our circadian rhythm, or internal clock is controlled by a part of the brain which responds to light, meaning that we want to wake up on a biological level at the first signs of daylight. Someone with a strong circadian rhythm will feel energised first thing in the morning and towards dusk their energy will decrease and they will feel sleepy. Disturbing our sleep/wake rhythm by working/playing through he night can lead to sleep disorders and has been associated with obesity, diabetes and depression.
Inhabiting a more natural body clock rhythm can bring a holistic sense of balance to the body and mind. I have always loved camping holidays for this reason especially without technology and time keeping devices. It is the best way to regulate our bodies back into our more natural circadian rhythms. You have no choice but to go to bed when you can’t see in the dark. The next morning we naturally wake earlier with the sun feeling refreshed and energised.
The sleep-wake principles found in Ayurveda’s holistic healing systems follow the sun and it’s rhythms. This ancient Indian healing modality aims to prevent disease by balancing the three energy fields – or ‘doshas’ in the body using food, rest and herbs. In Ayurvedic philosophy, the time right before sunrise is filled with energy of the ‘Vata dosha’, which promotes movement and stamina.
Think about a camping trip this summer to boost you into your natural circadian rhythm. See if you can adopt a bedtime no later than10pm (the time associated with a slower, restful ‘Kapha’ energy) and wake up before 6am to allow you to make the most of the mental alertness that the first light of sun brings.
