Saucha (cleanliness)
This month we will weave in the mantra of SAUCHA- Cleanliness to our daily practice. Saucha is the first of the niyamas (personal controls or observances) in Patanjali’s eight-limbed path of yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras. We have discussed several of the niyamas over the last year, including Santosha (contentment) and Svedyaya (self-study). This month, I thought we could take the time to weave in the saucha to see how creating a sense of “cleanliness” or “purity” could do to deepen your practice.
Saucha refers to both the external action of cleaning yourself AND the internal practice of cleansing your energetic and mental body. It’s a powerful thing to not only purify your body, but also you mind and heart. We are weaving this mantra in for Spring because it is such a great time of year to look at our current habits and detox or “clean house,” so that we can have more energy each day. It’s a good time to ask ourselves, which habits are serving us and which ones should we let go. I love this quote:
“Accepting your body is a very important practice. You are already beautiful as you are; you don’t have to be anyone else. When you can accept your body and make peace with your body, you have a chance to see your body as your home. You have peace, you have warmth, and you have joy. Building a true home within feels wonderful” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
I always feel like the first step to saucha is accepting that your body is your “home” or “temple” that you reside in for this lifetime. That first step of acceptance is key to going about this practice with a sense of kindness and love for yourself. Then all the practices we do for saucha are done with true gratitude for the body (physically and mentally). So how do we practice saucha?… great question. Here are some great ways to start:
Prepare your body for the practice
Make a sleep priority- got to bed by 10pm if possible and try to get 7-8 hours of sleep most nights.
Clean out the nasal cavity by practicing neti- nasal wash.
Move the lymphatic system- dry brushing or tapping/patting the body around the lymphatic drainage points.
Release sleep- take a quick bird bath or wash the face for the day.
Do the physical postures of Yoga and weave in daily breathwork.
Healthy diet that is filled with as many fruits and vegetables as you can.
Clean your home and space that you practice yoga/meditation
Make your bed first thing in the morning.
Reduce clutter by doing small acts of Spring cleaning to get rid of “old” & unused items.
Clean the space around your yoga mat and meditation cushion.
Clear your energy
Be very intentional about your actions each day. Make sure you are thoughtful about how you are engaging with others in your life.
Have a sense of purpose to your actions and words, rather than constantly being “reactive” to what comes up each day. When you are unaware that you are feeling fearful or anxious, it comes out in ways that can be hurtful to other and yourself. If this happens, take 10 deep breaths to reset yourself. If you do accidentally “react,” don’t worry about it too much, but know that there might be some underlying feelings that you can take note of and address.
Watch your thoughts
Be the watcher of your thoughts. It can be easy to mistake thoughts for reality… so just watch them without judgment. Allow for “spacious observation” to recognize what the truth is versus the story that we want to create in our mind.
Purify your heart
Always remind yourself to be grateful. Be thankful for what you have in your life and recognize that we have so many blessings each day, it acts like a cleansing of our heart. Some of my favorites are: loving meditation (thinking of 5 people in your life and sending them prayers), journalling on what is coming up for you each day, and tell people that you appreciate them.
Let me know other ways that you practice saucha (cleanliness) in your life and how powerful it is for you. Sending you SO much love
