The science of Ayurveda—a time-tested 5000-year-old natural system of medicine—is based on strengthening the body, mind, and spirit with holistic practices and therapies. While Ayurveda has always emphasized the significance of a connection with nature, Western scientists have only recently begun to grasp the importance. This disconnection from the circadian rhythms has been linked to a host of health concerns, including poor cognitive function, mood and sleep disorders, diabetes, obesity, daytime sleepiness, reduced school performance, substance abuse, heart disease, and some cancers.

Ayurveda tells us that on any given day, there are two cycles of change that exist—the sun cycle and the moon cycle—and they are connected with the Ayurvedic body type or doshas (vata, pitta, or kapha). Dinacharya (a Sanskrit word made up of ‘dina’ meaning day and ‘acharya’ meaning activity) is a daily routine designed to connect us to our circadian rhythms, or the internal body clock.