Ksheerapaka, or ksheerakashaya, is a type of Ayurvedic preparation that literally means "cooked milk" or "milk decoction". Most decoctions are very astringent and drying but the addition of milk allows it to be more nourishing. It's better suited for those who have weaker digestion such as children, the elderly and people who are sick. This makes a terrific bedtime tonic or afternoon pick-me up depending on what herbs are employed.

Confession... I don't do all of this everyday.

However, this is an ideal for me to follow and I feel like a million bucks when I set aside time to complete everything. As I mentioned in my earlier post on dinacharya, I'm a big proponent of customization and strongly encourage you to incorporate only what resonates with you.
 

"Habits are much easier to maintain than commitments" - Seth Godin

In Ayurveda, self care is of paramount importance. Enter the Ayurvedic concept of dinacharya. The Sanskrit word translates as "dina" meaning "day" and "charya" meaning routine or schedule.  This daily routine is meant to create a foundation for excellent physical, mental and emotional health. Maintaining a stable, regular self care routine creates balance and stability. It's important both when we are ill and when we are in good health.

When I studied Ayurveda in India I was presented with a step by step routine that was touted as the ideal. I felt that there was a lot of wisdom there but I am a big proponent of customization. Certain things felt important to me and certain things didn't. Some steps I do only when I am at home but are set aside whilst traveling.

This ritual is a love letter to myself.

I've long been interested in self care rituals that both enhance and preserve beauty. When I was in Kerala in 2018 I leapt at the chance to take a course on Ayurvedic Beauty from the school I was doing my 3-week Ayurvedic detoxification at. We studied many aspects of beauty from hair to eyes to hands. However, I was most interested in how to nourish and protect the skin on my face. The following ritual was one of the highlights of the course.