The last month of the year is here! The new year is rapidly approaching, and it is time to get my ‘house’ back in order. Over the past few weeks, I have done my own internal work and have realized I want to clean up a few things to start the new year fresh. This reminded me of one of the Niyamas, “observances” or practices to help live a more balanced life.
Saucha translated is cleanliness or purity. This may seem straight forward, but I would invite you to expand this meaning. This is important in your mind, body, and spirit as well as your physical environment. Alan Finger author of “Tantra of the Yoga Sutras: Essential Wisdom for Living with Awareness and Grace” writes:
“When the body is cleansed on a regular basis, it is kept free of the buildup of toxins. When the mind is cleansed on a regular basis, it is easier for it to function and to become still. Then our relationship with our lives and surroundings stays pure and easeful.”
And who doesn’t want to be more easeful?! What if we could go into the last few weeks of this year and the beginning of next year feeling lighter and free of things that our weighing us down?
Cleansing the physical body
During the holiday season there can be a lot of temptations that can distract us from our health journey. Practicing cleanliness with our bodies asks us to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and properly hydrate. We also need to move our bodies! Moving physically creates energy in our bodies. How many of you have had a stressful day and go for a walk to clear your mind? For me, I love to go strength train and lift heavy to get my energy flowing and the endorphins released. Other times if I am having anxious energy, I may need to take a meditation seat and do a pranayama practice to bring my focus back to my body with the breath.
Cleansing the environment
When the space around us is cluttered, it becomes a distraction. Having a clean space helps reduce stress and feelings of anxiety. Cleaning can also help you feel a sense of control and accomplishment.
Your environment is not just your physical spaces but also what you allow into your space. What things are you allowing yourself to consume that may make you feel heavy? Social media, movies and tv, music and even certain relationships need to be looked at. Evaluate how these things make you feel. Do they weigh you down or lift you up? Do they add value or take away?
Cleansing the mind
Like the things that need to be cleansed in our environment, Saucha reminds us to purify the thoughts that we think and speak both internally and externally. Is it time to forgive, release anger and judgement within yourself or to someone else? Can you love yourself exactly as you are right now? Be honest with yourself. The more we peel back the layers and explore what lies beneath, the more we come to know ourselves. This self-exploration makes us more compassionate with ourselves and ultimately with others too.
“In any way that we hold on to past wounds, we injure ourselves and keep ourselves from the ability to be pure with what is current in our lives. Forgiveness of self and others is the most generous gift we can give ourselves.”
-Deborah Adele
Relish the simple things
This is a BIG one! Saucha also invites us to be purely in the moment without thinking it should be something different or trying to change it. AND to be fully present in the moment without multi-tasking or having our face glued to a screen.
As a parent with teenagers, this stays top of mind. The younger years seem to take a long time with all the physical demands of feeding, bathing, and dressing them. Then as they become big kids, you are running them to their activities and school functions. Around 7th or 8th grade, you start the countdown of how many summers you have left to vacation with them! I had dinner last night with my 16-year-old and we had a discussion on why he thinks pre-calc is ridiculous and how most of the stuff he learns in school he will never use as an adult. We were both present. If we had both jumped up and cleaned up like we normally do, I would have missed the opportunity to get to know him better and to realize how mature he has become.
Yogic practices to cleanse
- Candle gazing-light a candle and stare into the flame with a soft gaze. This is said to bring the mind to a state of awareness and clarity.
- Kaphalabhati (Breath of fire)-this breathing technique has short, staccato exhales at your own pace. This is said to build a fire inside to discharge any impurities in the mind and body.
- Twists & inversions in your asana practice-twists wring out your system and inversions turn your upside down to let anything not serving you fall out.
I hope that some of this resonates with you. Let me know in the comments below.
Much love and health,
Carrie
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