Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
‘Sleep is the best meditation’ – Dalai Lama
‘Never waste anytime you can spend sleeping’ – Frank H. Knight
‘Night time’ is a blessing for us in our life. It is a part of circadian rhythm and nature’s way of giving us a break, transition and relaxation. Sleep is the best and the most beautiful thing that we do at night, we have to! Quality, quantity and timing of sleep and maintaining discipline with each of these fragments would have a strong impact on physical, mental, emotional, sensual and spiritual health of individuals.
Normal and natural sleep is considered ‘bhuta dhatri’ – mother-like for all living beings.
Apart from sleep there are some other activities which need to be done at night before we sleep. These activities are classified under ‘Ratricharya’ – the night regimen by Ayurveda.
‘The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep’ – E. Joseph Cossman
In this article I will highlight the importance and impact of the ‘night time regimen’ and the activities mentioned therein over mental and emotional health.
Effect of Ratricharya on Mental and Emotional Health
Below mentioned regimens are included in Ratricharya – night regimen schedule. Each one would have a strong positive impact on the body, mind, senses and emotions and should be followed regularly after having finished the dinner.
Washing hands thoroughly..!
Washing the hands after eating food is a healthy practice. This also reflects that we need to eat with our hands. Nowadays we eat our food with spoons. Eating with hands would give a personal touch towards eating food. We also would get an opportunity to feel the food before we eat and that emotionally connects us with the food. The taste of the food also seems good when we eat with our hands. We also connect with ourselves. We also intimately connect our karmendriya – organ of action i.e. hand, jihvendriya – sense organ of taste i.e. tongue and ubhayendriya – dual organ i.e. mind and associate with them with an important life support – upastambha i.e. food. Washing hands thoroughly after eating food is hygienic and also pampering our hands. It would induce freshness in our mind and senses.
Washing mouth, cleansing teeth, betel leaf chewing, medicated smoking
Cleansing the tooth, washing the mouth and chewing betel leaves would not only freshen up the mouth but also would have a positive influence on the mind and senses. They will also lead to prasanna indriyatva i.e. calmness and pleasantness of the mind and senses. Medicated smoking would clear off the kapha from the mouth and throat adding to the freshness. To clean up our oral cavity before sleep is healthy and hygienic practice. It will keep the members of our oral cavity healthy.
Walking for 100 steps..!
Walking for 100 steps would help in digestion of food and will also relieve one from food induced fatigue and drowsiness. It is important not to sleep immediately after taking food to aid better digestion of food.
Use of Triphala and application of Anjana..!
Consumption of Triphala would act as Rasayana, to finish off at the end of the day. It would also help in easy bowel evacuation the next morning. It would have a good effect on the indriyas – eye health and vision, and so does application of Anjana. Further on, anjana would cleanse the eyes, remove eye fatigue and induce good sleep, which further calms the mind and hence keeps away the stress.
Sleep good, sleep well, sleep at times…!
‘Having peace, happiness and healthiness is my definition of beauty. And you can’t have any of that without sleep’ – Beyonce
Sleep is said to be one of the three upastambhas – supporting pillars of our life. The quality, quantity and timing of sleep should be managed properly. A proper sleep has a very strong positive impact on not only physical health but also on mental and sensual health. Sleep keeps the stress, worries, negative emotions at check and keeps the mind and senses healthy, calm and balanced.
Among the benefits of sleep sukham – happiness, pleasure or comfort and jnanam – wisdom and intelligence have been mentioned, which are related to our mind. Bad quality and quantity of sleep will impart opposite effects i.e. dukham – discomfort, stress and diseases in the long run. Modern day man is mentally and emotionally disturbed since he meddles with the natural phenomenon of sleep. Sleep is also a ‘adharaniya vega’ natural urge of the body which should not be forcibly controlled. If done, it would cause many physical, mental and emotional imbalances. Sleep deprivation for long time periods as a practice would have a bad toll on overall health. It can cause or trigger / worsen many diseases.
Sleeping at night is said to be normal and when done properly as a practice, it protects us like a mother and also nurtures us. Other forms of sleep are either compensatory or pathological. Those suffering from insomnia and sleep deprivation are seen to have many mental issues.
A good night’s sleep will restore harmony in our system after the wear and tear we experience throughout the day. It is rejuvenation to the body, mind, senses and also our emotions. Many times we see that we are different people when we wake up, physically, mentally and emotionally. We have conquered many imbalances and untoward fluctuations in each of these layers. Sleep is not only essential but also mandatory. Sleep is the most beautiful thing we can do at night time. Those who are blessed with the right quality; quantity and timing of sleep are blessed, healthy and fit.
Good quality and quantity of sleep balances tridoshas and enhances the sattva quality of mind. This guides one towards positive thinking and positive life.
Sex…!
Sex is yet another basic instinct and essential part of one’s life and a need. It is an act which has more benefits, more than procreation. It is one of the best stress-busters. It calms the mind and senses.
Bala – strength, immunity, endurance and tolerance (physical, mental and emotional) are said to be under the control of shukra – semen. Upastha – penis is a karma indriya – organ of action. It shares its chemistry and is connected to other indriyas and also manas – the mind, which is also an indriya. The thought and ideation of having sex itself has a positive impact on all the senses.
Brahmacharya is one of the supporting pillars of our life, just like sleep and food and it includes enjoying meaningful sex in terms of quality, quantity and time. Sexual intercourse practiced in diseased conditions, during day time or midnight will result in aggravation of vata and pitta and cause related disorders.
Healthy sex also is good for emotional health. It helps in building and strengthening the emotional bonding with one’s life partner. Love, care and affection associated with healthy sex are an elixir for our mind and senses and they not only trigger the happy hormones but will keep them flowing always. This will keep each cell of the body in a state of happiness.
Moonwalk…!
Walking in the moonlight will pacify pitta, high end emotions and aggression and calm the mind. Darkness of the night is said to pacify pitta and kapha, induces sleep naturally and calms the mind helping its detachment from the indriyas. It will also keep us emotionally connected with nature, cosmos and creation and make us feel oneness with them.
