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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)
Saucha (SOW-cha) literally translates as purity or cleanliness from Sanskrit.
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.
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)
- 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.
- 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!
- 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!
Meditation Practices
Here are some of my favorite meditations I feel embody the spirit of Saucha!
Guided Meditation on Organizing our Thoughts.
Please note this section is currently under construction – please check back soon for more!
Saucha Quotes
The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in. – B.K.S. Iyengar 
Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature. – Thomas Hempis 
Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world. – George Bernard Shaw 
The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment. – Marie Kondo 
Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live. – Jim Rohn 
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 
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 
Sanitation and cleanliness are among the humblest of the civic virtues, and it is easy to underestimate their significance. – Ram Nath Kovind 
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 
Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation. – Audre Lorde 
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 
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 is a habit that keeps the body, mind, and environment neat, clean, and delightful and free from dirt and toxic things. – Amit Ray 
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 
Thirteen virtues necessary for true success: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. – Benjamin Franklin 
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 
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 
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 
New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. – Lao Tzu
Today’s Practice
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