What’s a Ritual? And What’s a Routine?

.

Prepare my friends! For my shortest pithiest newsletter ever! Are you ready? ;)

In writing and reflecting recently about rhythms, the question of ritual vs routine came up in my Essential Ayurveda training. 

The teacher, Indu Arora, said that rituals require special care and attention, but routines are boring and baked-in to the fabric of our lives. She encouraged us to make our self-care possible practices boring, to make them into routines. 

Brushing your teeth is hopefully a routine. 

And now, for me, going to the gym once (and occasionally twice) on the weekend is now a routine. My weekends are intentionally wide-open so it doesn’t take a lot of thought to get to the gym. 

I also head to the gym a couple other times during the week, but that is more of a ritual. With my self-employed schedule I have to use energy and effort to bake those weekday visits in. 

I would love to invite you to select tiny self-care step that you would like to pattern in this late summer season. 

A little regularity is deeply soothing to the organs of digestion and respiration that govern this muggy late summer season. 

Don’t get lost in the sauce! Just pick something and try. 

Want help settling? My next at-home restorative yoga session is Thursday August 20th at 7-8:15pm on Zoom. If you can lie down, you can do this yoga with me. I promise. 

Lots of Love to You,

Monica (sometimes known affectionately as “Momica”)