I am Early Bird. How I begin my day · Я - Ранняя Пташка. Как я начинаю свой день

I love mornings! Since i started my experiment of exploring Ayurvedic approach to the regime of the day morning has turned into time when lot's of good things happen to me. I'd like to share what makes it so joyful.
I wake up by 6 am SST. Although it is approximately 8.30 am this time of the year i do not stay in bed till so late, i am up by 6 am actual time of the place i am in. 
I fold the bed linen. 
I purify my mouth with few gargles and then have 2 cups of water. 
I make the room neat by putting everything in it's place, clean the floor and sprinkle a little bit of water on the bed. Ayurveda advises this as the first step of purification of one's consciousness after sleep. 
I brush my teeth, take care of my nails, visit toilet and after all that perform morning ablution which is both religious purification and Ayurvedic swill using cool water (cold water is not advised to women). I learned that just by performing morning ablution along with early awakenings one can become a 60-70% happier person. My experience proves it's true.
I return to the room and say prayers. This is time for conversation with God when i hear my inner self better and feel the love in and around me... 
No morning happens without special breakfast consisting of:

• milk blended with cardamom, cinnamon and honey
• sweet fruits like bananas, dates, raisins etc.
• home-made cream cheese mixed with sweetened condensed milk
• listening to the fascinating birds' singing.

Yes, my breakfast is very sweet but consumed before 7-8 am SST sugar not only does not affect your health but benefits it by giving good energy and positive mood - something that women must have a sufficient "stock" of =)
All this gives me incredible start and makes me feel like hugging the world!
It is said that happiness must be shared in order bring you a well-being. The simplest way to do it is to selflessly wish happiness to other people. I realized it is not so easy. I am so happy to have recently discovered that i can learn it from the person who knows the art of it every morning by tuning in Ayurveda radio channel on the internet. So at 8 am (6 am Moscow time) i meditate and spread the wish of happiness to all people.
Good beautiful morning, great blessed day, all happiness, well-being, virtuous things to you!

I am Early Bird. Week 2 · Я - Ранняя Пташка. Неделя 2-ая

Analyzing the 1st week of my Early Bird experiment i realized that excess of energy that had suddenly came to me thanks to the new regime of the day, has to be given the right application. Imagine activities of a daughter invited to help her hyper-responsible mother, and you'll know what i am talking about =) Back then i decided to focus on what makes a girl happy. Could i imagine how the week would turn out to be? 
Two car accidents (do not worry "all is well") and postponed arrival of my sister added stress and changed my initial plan for which i am really grateful as i had a good opportunity to "practice" womanhood =)
There were no visits to SPA salon, no manicure, no long telephone girly talks... Of all others it was handling car accident with a missing guilty party that commenced the week-long lesson on how being a girl and acting as one helps solve the problem in the best way. You accept the situation as it is, relax, speak confidently but softly, listen carefully, do not argue, do not expect but develop strong faith in a good outcome and by sincerely sharing a kind smile, expressing gratitude inspire people who are here to help you... and magic happens. 
Getting the guilty driver identified and found within 1 day, making a "win-win" case out of the accident for both of us - no doubt i couldn't do it by myself. Professional management skills i was taught in the school of management alone wouldn't help either. It is the school of  relationships where Girls learn that they only then contribute the world when they increase amount of love in it. So regardless what i was doing after that incident: cooking, singing, sewing, emailing, conversing, washing clothes, making phone calls, getting work done, beautifying the house, playing with cat, sms-ing,... - i added extra kindness and care to my thoughts, words and actions. I do not have big results to share. Just peace it has been filling my heart with. It will take time and effort to see whether my inner change contributes my well-being as well as well-being of the world around me. But i hope that with time, energy, optimism, inspiration, inner motivation, confidence and insight resulted from following regime of the day i have been blessed with so much of what it takes to make it happen.

I am Early Bird. Week 1 · Я - Ранняя Пташка. Неделя 1-ая

Few of my veg creations i cooked last week

Hello Guys!

First of all sorry to keep a little silent about my experiment. I have to say new routine has given me so much energy so there was no time to post about but so much of it to do things =D

I have got a little time and the right mood so let's not loose it to numerous words and focus on facts!

Here are discoveries of the 1st week:

• I do not get lazy when i get up before 6 am. 
• It is pure, proved by practice true that you get the biggest portion of optimism and energy as a reward for early awakenings! Moreover, ...
• ... combined with timely breakfast they make your head light, thoughts clear. You get insights and slowly progress in understanding the essence of things which bothered you for long time.
• It appeared to be surprisingly easy to have been practicing new nutrition routine (no meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs or whatever is a result of taking life). At a first glance it seemed to had significantly limited variety of what i cook and eat. But in point of fact when "the door got closed, i discovered the window" - inspiration to adapt my favorite recipes and look for new ones. Herbs and spices are indeed my best helpers! It is important to add that unlike many people changing their food habits i do not crave for food. The only time i get hungry is lunch time which excites me a little. But the magic exercise i described in the next point calms me down and makes me achieve the right state of mind for having my meal and activities thereafter.
• I noticed that different approaches to cooking and having your meal affects your efficiency and the way you feel and even the way you are. Believe it or not but while reflecting on this topic the other day i acknowledged it really benefits me if i wish everyone happiness, think of my loved ones while cooking and begin all meals (especially lunch) with dedicating the food to God. It is a magic exercise that squeezes ego element from your activities and things you may be attached to, here - food. 
• My digestion has significantly improved!
• What was and is really difficult is to develop good relationships with my family. Particularly not to get upset when it comes to dealing with mom. I have accepted the fact that we are very different but i lack ability to remain unaffected by her words and behavior and react with love and kindness in return instead of getting upset. What helps me in developing this quality is reminding myself that she is my mom and creation of God and so even if i think she is not right it is my responsibility to be loving and caring because this is what God wants. I breath out and find right words that help us first listen, then hear each other. I am not always patient but when i am it works: it changes her behavior which reinforces my love for her - it is inspiring =)

Being perfectionist in everything i have completely soaked myself in to the new routine. If it was for "old" me i'd be happy about my numerous accomplishments of the week. But having decided to actualize my potential of being a girl i am sad to say that i did not spent much time on activities that contribute my female energy and womanhood in general. So the focus of this week is to combine both challenges trying not to overplay with neither of them.

I am Early Bird. Day 1 · Я - Ранняя Пташка. День 1-ый

So the beginning of my 28-day experiment was marked yesterday =) Frankly speaking while getting ready to it i have been trying to wake up and go to sleep as Ayurveda advises for approximately 2 weeks. Not every singly day but it is serious now =)
I have to say it is easier to wake up by 6 am than let's say 9 or even 11 am. Believe i know what i am talking about ;) It is even much easier to wake up at 5 am BUT provided you get not less than 7 hours of sleep (8 hours in my case as i am a learner =) every day.
I loved it and here are few reasons why:

• nothing can be compared to the understanding of the fact that you get awakened along with nature. Especially this time of the year makes it unbelievably beautiful process!
• Birds get truly excited and create happy tunes right till 6 am SST. And believe you won't hear such sweet melodies after 6!
• i love the feeling of personal space you get when the rest of the family is still asleep. I do love their company but to me it is time when i gain most of my female energy and thus feel myself so peaceful and feminine =) Right, it all happens as the Moon is still active at this time!
• i discovered happiness of beginning my day with a prayer and my intimate conversation with God. I finally allocated time to learning my daily prayers - something which used to plan since a long time but never truly fulfilled. Indeed, i agree with doctor Torsunov on his opinion that when you share your love with God you are being blessed back so much more.
• waking up so early gives me some strange inner motivation. I mean even if i feel reluctant to doing something i planned and look for excuses immediately something "kicks" me from within and i automatically go and do what is required.
• i get to eat lots of sweet things: dates, bananas, raisins and a cup of cool milk shaken with honey, cinnamon and cardamom - i have truly sweet start of the day =D  

Some people have to really work on early wake-ups. To me going to sleep is a much bigger challenge. By nature i do not watch much TV so excluding this activity from my evening routine is not a problem but surfing on the net especially when you are in bed is very tempting =) Forcing myself to fall asleep by 10 pm latest. Tips on how to go to sleep early anyone?


PS: my Monday lunch - Brussels Sprout Souse to my cute "bow" Pasta - true veg paradise dish for cheese lovers!

The Early Bird experiment is started · Эксперимент "Ранняя Пташка" стартовал

Read about the experiment · Читать об эксперименте

The Early Bird experiment. Regime of nutrition · Эксперимент "Ранняя Пташка". Режим питания

According to Ayurveda in order to sustain physical energy a human needs not more than 2 hands of food daily (including the daily dose of water). What really requires nutrition is our mind. Due to the fact that our mind has many different attributes, our nutrition should contain dishes with "picturesque" flavors and various ingredients. Preference of particular articles of food can tell a lot about one's personality. Moreover, having any given food forms/reinforces specific personal traits. By learning how to choose and combine different ingredients in a correct manner and having meals in compliance with the Sun and Moon cycles one is able not only to nourish one's mind with energy of optimism but also change his/her personality to the good. I shall write on how to influence on character with the help of food next time. Right now I would like to share some knowledge on how to organize your regime of nutrition in order to have an energetic and cheerful day. 
The best time for breakfast is from 6 to 7 am as per the Sun time. Raising above the horizon the Sun puts the energy of life in motion. Along with this the wind arises. In such a manner the energy of the air starts moving in our bellies. Intestine is organ of active nature that is why this energy circulates there faster than anywhere else in the body. At this time intestine "awakens". The healthiest and most "serene" articles of food which undoubtedly sustain energy of happiness and do not harm human's health, are:

• all fruits, especially dates, bananas, figs, mango and berries (dry fruits are recommended in winter and fresh ones are good in summer only if one does not have indigestion problems)
• sweetened "serene" curdled milk
• sugar, honey (even diabetic patients will not have troubles from sugar provided they have it from 6 to 8 am but receive energy of happiness; it will be completely absorbed by cells thanks to the influence of the Moon)
• sweet spices: cinnamon, cardamom, barberry, fennel, thyme, star anise
• nuts, sour cream, buckwheat (only if one is promised a physically active start of his/her day)

Following these recommendations one does not face atrophy of his/her perception, he/she has enough energy for active start of the day. Moreover this diet can improve low activity of psyche and body. If a person has grains in any form he/she does not receive energy but looses it to his/her stomach. He/she will feel worried, his/her mind will be restless, the lunch time will be shifted to a much later period when the power of the Sun will be not enough to digest the food, it will be only pushed in to the intestine. In order to recover from such a feast person will spend 3 hours which is 18 times longer than after a well-timed lunch. Lunch based on grains and beans between 11 and 12 am will not bring any digestion troubles irrespective the volume and variety of the meal. Person who follows this "law" will receive positive nourishment of the mind. He/she will not feel hunger till 6-7 pm or commonly till the next day morning. The food and time will not get wasted. All that organism needs will be absorbed thanks to the active digestion.
So grains and beans are equal to the best lunch. They are recommended to be cooked with rendered butter which gives the dish the power of heat which helps digestion. Vegetable oil could also be used but it should be added to the dish only after it's cooked. It is prohibited from being used for frying.
One can eat vegetables from 6 до 9 pm. Being influenced by the Moon, they are well absorbed and do not cause discomfort in the night. The most recommended vegetables are those that grow above the ground (except tomatoes). Underground vegetables such as potatoes, beetroots, carrots etc. are not advisable for evening meals. 
Starting from 9 pm one is recommended to have nothing but milk. Yes, despite all warnings of modern doctors of medicine, the cow milk is known to be one of the most "serene" article of food for a human if one knows when it should be consumed. The best time commences at 7 pm and lasts for 12 hours. Being a "moon" product milk is digested as well as it is beneficial (specifically to women and children) only if consumed in the night. One should have hot (almost boiling) milk before 3 am and cold one after 3 and till 7 am (in winter - only hot milk).
Important note: it is crucial to set your heart to all the daily meals by saying a prayer, dedicating your food to God, wishing happiness to all people.
Important note 2: since we are talking about food that is meant to give us pure energy of happiness and purify our sense, intellect and organism meat, poultry, fish and seafood must be excluded from the daily routine (see why) 
Food for Thought - a table that shows few articles of food and best time to have them for the healthiest nourishment of sense, intellect and body
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The "Early Bird" experiment. Sun Standard Time · Эксперимент "Ранняя Пташка". Солнечное стандартное время

I bet most of you got mixed feelings after reading my posts about regime of rest and regime of awakening. It is indeed the fact - our daily routine is too far from following what our ancestors practiced. Frankly speaking my first reaction to it was excitement but lack of belief i could do it. But here is the "icing on the cake" for some of us which may improve your motivation: time of going to sleep as well as time of waking up i mentioned previously are different from the standard time most of us live in.
As we remember Sun influences people the most. In relation to the Earth, the Sun has got it's own time "routine". I did not find such thing as "the Sun Standard Time" (SST) but allow me to use it in order to keep the difference. The latter happens due to various reasons both objective and subjective which i will not discuss here. What i'd like to do is to share how we can identify SST in our hometowns.
Step 1: identify the sunset and sunrise time in your hometown, for example here (works well for both Russian and English languages speakers)
Step 2: insert the data into SST calculator and press "Calculate".
In such a manner we find out that, for example, being in Moscow this summer allows one to wake up not later that 7.30 am and go to sleep before 10.30 pm and feel happier day by day =) Due to the fact that Bombay is located close to the equator its standard time is almost equal to the Sun time throughout the year, it is just 40 min ahead of it. As for myself, being in my hometown at the moment i can wake up and go to sleep almost 2,5 hours after the Sun time. At least it is a good start as i intend to learn waking up before 6 am irrespective the time difference. 
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The "Early Bird" experiment. The best time to awaken · Эксперимент "Ранняя Пташка". Самое лучшее время для пробуждения

Yesterday we figured out how organization of your rest time in accordance with universal cycles and powers can help your pursue your happiness and quality of life in general on a daily basis. What also life tonus of our mentality, intellect and organism is directly connected to is the time of our awakening.
Those who are able to wake up between 2 and 3 am with no consequences for their mental health can show significant progress on their way of self-discovery. During this period of time the Sun activity is yet not strong whereas the Moon influences our intellect quite significantly. As a result our intellect naturally comes to the state of peace and and rest. It is quite holesome to pray and think about God during these early hours. But waking up so early makes a human extra-sensitive thus it is not advisable to such person to spend lot of time in crowded places.
Awakening from 3 to 4 am gives one enough potential to develop knowledge of their spiritual nature. At the same time the level of psychic sensitiveness of a person does not become too high so he/she is not required to follow estranged way of life. Although this period of time is recommended for spiritual practice only. By saying a prayer every morning between 3 and 4 am one will gradually discover rooted secrets of his/her soul. But there is one condition - such people have to try spending more time communicating with spiritually pure people.
If one wakes up between 4 and 5 am he/she succeeds to turn his personality from being pessimistic to a complete optimist. This is exact time when the Earth is in the state of optimism. Song birds feeling this begin to sing. At this time other activities rather than spiritual are not advisable. It is the best time to read relevant books, pray and wish happiness to all people.
Those who have the ability to wake up between 5 and 6 am every day show vivacity and potential to fight any illness. During this period of time one can practice spiritual knowledge. The best activity at this time is to memorize prayers or any other needful information. The later will be quickly borne in mind thanks to extra-sensitiveness of the intellect as well as to low activity of both the Sun and the Moon.
When the Sun "reaches" equator all functions of our organism yield to the opposite ones. At the moment of this pass through the deepness of our sleep suddenly changes due to the Sun forcing us wake up and giving life energy to our bodies. The longer we stay in bed and the higher the Sun rises above the horizon the less chances we get to be happy this day.
Those who get up between 6 and 7 am do it after the Sun and in return their life tonus occurs to be rather lower that they'd want. Their business goes not bad but they often make a muff of it, their health is more or less good but it leaves much to be desired in critical life circumstances. Such people will not have sufficient margin of physical as well as psychic safety.
In such a way in order to adopt positive disposition of the Earth and become an optimist for a whole day, one must wake up earlier than our planet, in other words before 6 o'clock in the morning.
By waking up between 7 and 8 am a person misses out his time and he is guaranteed to have much weaker physical and psychic tonus than he is assumed to. He/she fails to fight some health troubles.
People who tend to wake up between 8 and 9 am cannot win over negative attributes of their character and usually have vicious habits. Getting up at this time of the day promises big life difficulties, inveterate and obstinate health disorders, disappointments and misfortunes. Such people will find it difficult to form an estimate of a situation and take necessary decision. They will fail to make a right choice in their life and will be tied to the chariot of occasions with no energy to change their life.
The later the awakening the worse is result: depression, apathy, reluctance to live, disappointment about destiny, fears, suspicion, anger, progressing sthenic illness, early disability, premature aging.
Again if one sincerely wants to change regime of the day he finds such opportunity. Given genuine desire he/she gets understanding of how to act in any, even most difficult situation, as well as he/she gets desire to act. In such a case the person who wants to change has to learn to love his/her relatives and perform his/her duties. This all must be done irrespective of disadvantages of family members due to one reason - everybody surrounding us are sent to be our punishment for past sins (and thus for me personally they are our blessing extended to us to make us self-improve). By taking decision to become the first who acts in the wright manner and tolerates injustice coming from his/her relatives this person becomes more sensible than his/her relatives and thus becomes able to change both his/her and their destiny for good.
IMPORTANT NOTE: "Sun Standard Time"
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The "Early Bird" experiment. Regime of rest · Эксперимент "Ранняя Пташка". Режим отдыха

In my previous post I mentioned the fact of interconnection between quality of life of a human and universal cycles and powers. Out of all such powers the Sun has got the strongest influence on us. Certain processes flow in one's organism every second and his/her behavior depends on which phase the Sun is in. Thus human's regime of the day is strongly regulated.
The Sun is its lowest position at 12 o'clock in the night. One must be in a state of maximum rest at this time. Following this approach that our ancestors used to practice people of age between 18 and 45 should sleep 6 hours a day averagely. The best time for sleep is the period of 3 hours before 12 pm and 3 hours after that. One must sleep between 10 pm and 2 am at any circumstances.
Mentality and intellect effectively rest from 9 to 11 pm. If one neglects this information mental and intellectual power of organism will gradually decrease. First attributes of retrogression of sense is drop of concentration of attention, mind tension, strengthening of vicious habits, fall in willpower and rise in animal wants of sex, food, sleep and conflicts. Step by step failure to observe the rules of sleep results in accumulation of depression and person finds it difficult to understand what's good and bad, how to handle different situations, whom to marry, how to raise children, what work to choose, how to pull through bad habits. Along with decrease in intellectual power one starts feeling unrest, his memory worsens. He/she is tensed, inclined towards conflicts, rage, abuse and cry.
If person does not sleep from 11 pm to 1 am his life power, nervous and muscle systems get negatively affected. Weakness, pessimism, dullness, drop of appetite, heaviness, physical and psychic fatigue come to him/her immediately.
If one does not rest between 1 and 3 am his/her emotional power suffers affliction which results in excessive irritancy, aggressiveness and antagonism, spell of hysteria. Also this type of sleep disruption becomes base for maniac-depressive psychosis during which person is highly excited at first but falls into deep depression later. His/her acoustic impression subsides provided that his/her sense of hearing remains unchanged but he/she ceases using all opportunities of his/her hearing sensors. Progressively sharpness of the senses themselves through which people perceive the world decreases.
So time rewards all those who follow regime of the day with health and happiness. The rest become "hostages" of time and life puts them in such circumstances that they cannot rest in time. But it occurs that one's desire is a great power. If onу sincerely wants to change regime of the day he finds such opportunity. Given genuine desire he/she gets understanding of how to act in any, even most difficult situation, as well as he/she gets desire to act. In such a case the person who wants to change has to learn to love his/her relatives and perform his/her duties. This all must be done irrespective of disadvantages of family members due to one reason - everybody surrounding us are sent to be our punishment for past sins (and thus for me personally they are our blessing extended to us to make us self-improve). By taking decision to become the first who acts in the wright manner and tolerates injustice coming from his/her relatives this person becomes more sensible than his/her relatives and thus becomes able to change both his/her and their destiny for good.
IMPORTANT NOTE: "Sun Standard Time"
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The "Early Bird" experiment. Time, place, circumstances · Эксперимент "Ранняя Пташка". Время, место, обстоятельства

Ancient wisdom says "Time. Place. Circumstances" and connects it to a person's quality of life:
Time is God's aspect, "engine" that moves life, it "punishes" or "blesses" people. If one follows regime of the day happiness comes to one, if not - he faces depression. It happens due to the fact that we as part of this world get influenced by universal cycles and powers. So in order to be happy one must know these cycles and do everything in time: wake up, have breakfast,..organize different types of activities and even life events and milestones. Undoubtedly resolving sensitive matters at work and of course discussing difficult topics with your life partner has it's own good time =)
Place is our body. Doing what is good to human's body can help clear one's sense and vice verse. According to this approach consumption of meat by a human especially in excessive quantities leads to his depression and retrogression (modern medicine by advising meat as the best source of energy considers its chemical qualities but never studies its influence on the human body at psychological level). But if meat is excluded from the daily food routine, mind becomes clear and (thus) life easier.
Circumstances are more obvious component of the "harmonic chain" and thus easier to understand and connect our life to. But alone they just create illusion of qualitative life, lead to no or negative effect. Example: application of night cream and going to sleep after 10 pm does not contribute anti-age and pro-beauty fight, on the contrary it increases toxins and fatigue.
So one should know and combine all three parts in order to create basis for a long, wise, happy life.
In my next few posts I am going to share few ideas and practical recommendations on regime of the day that were practiced by our ancestors in order to reinforce the concept connection between time, place and circumstances in relation to a human. Then i shall start my own experiment to see how application of these ideas and recommendations benefit me. You are absolutely welcome to join me!
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