The approximate times are as follows: From 6:00 to 10:00, A.M. or P.M., an influence of Kapha is dominant in the environment. There are three cycles, each predominantly influenced by a different dosha, that take place from sunrise to sunset, and they repeat themselves from sunset to sunrise. But Ayurveda says that there are master cycles in us governed by the quantum mechanical body and that each day we pass through these various cycles, which can be defined in terms of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Scientists have observed many different influences on our your weight, your fluid balance, and the various thermostats throughout your body all undergo changes from minute to minute, from hour to hour. This is a key element in our approach to insomnia. The rest of this chapter is devoted to helping you reset your biological clock to its regular, orderly functioning in accord with all the cycles of nature. For above and beyond any man-made distractions, the rhythms of nature still exist and assert their force: The sun continues to rise and set, the tides ebb and flow, and these phenomena remain immensely powerful and influential, whether we recognize them or not. There are enticing aspects of an irregular lifestyle that appeal to many people, but if the quality of your sleep has become a concern, you must learn to bring your body's rhythm back into harmony with the natural cycles surrounding you.

Today, this imbalance may be considered an epidemic. The increasing divergence between our daily routines and the natural rhythms of life have been crucial in producing the sense of instability that arises from Vata imbalances. They were certainly going out more, but they were probably sleeping less, and definitely sleeping worse. But by the beginning of the twentieth century, people were moving to the cities, and also moving further and further from the natural rhythm of light and dark, of sleeping and waking. They lived mostly in the country, and those who didn't were too frightened of the poorly lit streets to take any chances.