Daily Yogi’s Guide to Saucha (Purity)

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Daily Yogi branch of Niyamas lower limb of yoga - Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya, Ishvara Pranidhana
Niyamas – Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya, Ishvara Pranidhana

2nd Limb of Yoga – Niyamas (Personal Observances) #1: Saucha

The first 2 of the 8 Limbs of Yoga are the Yamas and Niyamas. There are 5 Yamas and 5 Niyamas, and we will take a full day on our Daily Yogi journey to focus on practicing each of the five. Niyamas (KNEE-ya-mas) are guidelines for our own personal habits or observances. Let’s take a closer look at the first of five Niyamas – Saucha.

All about Saucha (Purity)

What does Saucha mean? What is the translation of Saucha?

Saucha (SOW-cha) literally translates as purity or cleanliness from Sanskrit.

What is Saucha?

Saucha literally translates as purity or cleanliness from Sanskrit. This is a logical first for Yoga’s personal observances.. many of us start our day with a shower every morning. Saucha is about purity of the body as well as the mind, and reminds us to take a self-inventory of behaviors in our lives that no longer serve us, like unhealthy habits or negative thoughts. We should also strive to practice Saucha with our surroundings, and keep our spaces clean and organized.

How do I practice Saucha?

My favorite Saucha practice is self-care. Enjoy a long shower or bubble bath. Maybe give yourself a pedicure, with a warm foot soak and lotion massage after, whether you paint your toes or not. Relax with a face mask and cucumber slices over your eyes. If you want to try a new Ayurvedic practice, maybe try oil-pulling (I recommend 2-15 minutes, not 20-30) with coconut oil.Clean your insides with a clean-eating day – no junk food, or perhaps try another clean eating diet method or cleanse of your choice.
Or, practice Saucha with your surroundings. Pick what area of your living or work space needs some attention in your life, and get clean and organized! Make sure to mindfully appreciate your new space when you are done!

How to practice Saucha (Purity)

How to practice Saucha (Purity)

  1. Self-care with a deep cleaning or self-care practice of your choice.

    Enjoy a long shower or bubble bath. Maybe give yourself a pedicure, with a warm foot soak and lotion massage after, whether you paint your toes or not. Relax with a face mask and cucumber slices over your eyes. If you want to try a new Ayurvedic practice, maybe try oil-pulling (I recommend 2-15 minutes, not 20-30) with coconut oil. Book a last-minute facial or salon treatment of your choice. Clean your insides with a clean-eating day – no junk food, or perhaps try another clean eating diet method or cleanse of your choice.

  2. Bring some Saucha into your home, car, or office.

    Pick what area of your living or work space needs some attention in your life, and get clean and organized! Make sure to mindfully appreciate your new space when you are done! I also love 30 Day Decluttering and Organization Challenges!

  3. Practice purity with your thoughts, words, or actions.

    This is similar to a lesson from the 8-fold path of Buddhism. Pick one to focus on… try to only hold positive and pure thoughts, words, and actions for the day,

Asana Practices

Here are some Asanas (poses) and Asana series I feel embody the spirit of Saucha! Click the images to learn to how perform the pose or more about the Asana style!

Please note this section is currently under construction – please check back soon for more!

Jathara Parivartanasana - reclined twist - yoga pose girl sunny day yoga on the beach
Jathara Parivartanasana – Reclined Twist Pose

Meditation Practices

Here are some of my favorite meditations I feel embody the spirit of Saucha!

Guided Meditation on Organizing our Thoughts.

Cleansing Guided Meditation.

Please note this section is currently under construction – please check back soon for more!

Saucha Quotes

  • waves crashing on beach with two children playing in sand and wispy clouds in light blue sky - saucha cleanliness purity Quote: The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in. - B.K.S. Iyengar
    The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in. – B.K.S. Iyengar
  • blue and pink smoky alpine sunset in mountains with pine trees - saucha cleanliness purity simplicity Quote: Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature. - Thomas Hempis
    Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature. – Thomas Hempis
  • waves crashing on beach cool perspective sunny day gentle tide - saucha cleanliness purity Quote: Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. - George Bernard Shaw
    Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. – George Bernard Shaw
  • sun and bubbles in water tide gentle wave on beach - saucha purity cleanliness clean house Quote: The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment. - Marie Kondo
    The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment. – Marie Kondo
  • close up dark maroon blooming succulent flower - saucha cleanliness purity Quote: Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. - Jim Rohn
    Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. – Jim Rohn
  • cool perspective alpine lake in the mountains bright blue water with wind rippling surface and brown rocky shoreline covered with light snow - saucha purity cleanliness clean Quote: Saucha, or living purely, involves maintaining a cleanliness in body, mind, and environment so that we can experience ourselves at a higher resolution. - Donna Farhi
    Saucha, or living purely, involves maintaining a cleanliness in body, mind, and environment so that we can experience ourselves at a higher resolution. – Donna Farhi
  • close-up garden with bright green grass and ferns and tiny yellow buttercup flowers saucha purity spring cleaning Quote: Spring cleaning doesn't have to be a dreaded list of chores. It can be a rewarding experience that helps provide some structure and organization in your life. - Peter Walsh
    Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be a dreaded list of chores. It can be a rewarding experience that helps provide some structure and organization in your life. – Peter Walsh
  • nighttime view of manhattan new york city and bridge across the river from queens - saucha purity cleanliness Quote: Sanitation and cleanliness are among the humblest of the civic virtues, and it is easy to underestimate their significance. - Ram Nath Kovind⁣⁣
    Sanitation and cleanliness are among the humblest of the civic virtues, and it is easy to underestimate their significance. – Ram Nath Kovind⁣⁣
  • cool perspective beach garden with succulent plant garden overlooking rocky beach and waves under a partly cloudy sky - saucha purity clean cleanliness cleaning Quote: Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Lower the bar. Actually spending ten minutes clearing off one shelf is better than fantasizing about spending a weekend cleaning out the basement. - Gretchen Rubin
    Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Lower the bar. Actually spending ten minutes clearing off one shelf is better than fantasizing about spending a weekend cleaning out the basement. – Gretchen Rubin
  • cool perspective snow clouds over pine trees mountain snow cloud - saucha purity clean cleanliness self-care Quote: Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. - Audre Lorde
    Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. – Audre Lorde
  • white bathtub in sunny window with silver fixtures and earthen spa supplies - saucha purity cleanliness self-care Quote: Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and then honoring them. - Kristi Ling - https://unsplash.com/photos/MqNyusb_ne4
    Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and then honoring them. – Kristi Ling
  • cool perspective boston riverwalk dock with green calm boston harbor water - saucha purity clean cleanliness cleaning Quote: Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them. - Benjamin Disraeli
    Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them. – Benjamin Disraeli
  • deep blue alpine lake in snowy mountain valley under bright blue partly cloudy sky - saucha purity cleanliness self-care Quote: Cleanliness is a habit that keeps the body, mind, and environment neat, clean, and delightful and free from dirt and toxic things. - Amit Ray
    Cleanliness is a habit that keeps the body, mind, and environment neat, clean, and delightful and free from dirt and toxic things. – Amit Ray
  • epic blue and purple alpine sunset in the mountains with darkened pine trees - saucha purity cleanliness self-care Quote: How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day. - Sam Owen
    How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day. – Sam Owen
  • cool shot of alpine mountain valley with snowy mountain and pine trees under bright blue sky - saucha purity cleanliness self-care Quote: Thirteen virtues necessary for true success: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. - Benjamin Franklin
    Thirteen virtues necessary for true success: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. – Benjamin Franklin
  • cool close up shot of snow covered dark rocks - saucha purity cleanliness self-care Quote: Don't take your health for granted. Don't take your body for granted. Do something today that communicates to your body that you desire to care for it. Tomorrow is not promised. - Jada Pinkett Smith
    Don’t take your health for granted. Don’t take your body for granted. Do something today that communicates to your body that you desire to care for it. Tomorrow is not promised. – Jada Pinkett Smith
  • cool shot of purple and blue sunset over darkened pine trees in epic alpine valley - saucha purity clean cleanliness cleaning Quote: Decluttering can be overwhelming, so start with that one small thing. Clean out your junk drawers. It can lead to so many more beautiful things. Start there, and you’ll find yourself cleaning the whole rest of the house. - Bobby Berk
    Decluttering can be overwhelming, so start with that one small thing. Clean out your junk drawers. It can lead to so many more beautiful things. Start there, and you’ll find yourself cleaning the whole rest of the house. – Bobby Berk
  • cool close up shot of bright yellow flowers among green leaves - saucha purity cleanliness self-care Quote: When we care for ourselves as our very own beloved—with naps, healthy food, clean sheets, a lovely cup of tea—we can begin to give in wildly generous ways to the world, from abundance. - Anne Lamott
    When we care for ourselves as our very own beloved—with naps, healthy food, clean sheets, a lovely cup of tea—we can begin to give in wildly generous ways to the world, from abundance. – Anne Lamott
  • alpine forest with glacial granite boulder formation among dark green pine trees - saucha purity cleanliness self-care new beginning fresh start Quote: New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. - Lao Tzu
    New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. – Lao Tzu

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