Discover the yoga concept of Saucha (cleanliness)

Greetings from Bali! 🌴 ☀️ 🧘🏻‍♀️

Last Sunday, as I lay in the four-poster bed in my resort room, I was woken up by loud noises. Not the typical noises of roosters or of Hindu priests praying through loudspeakers, which I've become used to here in Bali.

No, these were the noises of children, lots of children. I looked at my watch and saw that it was only 6 AM.

What was going on?

Turns out a hundred or so school-aged Balinese children came to our resort to join "Clean-Up Bali Day".

This event, which was happening simultaneously at numerous locations throughout Bali, was organized by a non-profit environmental organization.

The kids were given big bags and spent a few hours picking up discarded plastics from the beaches and streets. The secondary goal, aside from cleaning up the environment, was to teach the children the importance of taking care of their beautiful island by keeping it clean.

As a reward, there was a party at the end where the volunteer organizers gave out little prizes to the kids. I was tasked with picking names out of a clear glass bowl to select the winners.

Why am I telling you about this?

Because cleanliness (Saucha in Sanskrit) is one of the tenants of yoga. As you probably already know, yoga is so much more than movements on a yoga mat. There is a whole philosophy behind it.

In the broader context of yoga philosophy, Saucha is one of the Niyamas, which are the ethical guidelines for personal behavior. The Niyamas were first outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a classical yoga text that’s believed to have been written around 200 BC.

Now, before you start picturing yourself scrubbing toilets and taking endless showers, let me explain what Saucha actually means.

At its core, Saucha is about purifying your mind, body, and environment. It's about creating a sense of inner and outer cleanliness that allows you to feel more balanced and focused in your daily life.

So, let's dive into some tips on how to incorporate Saucha into your daily routine:

• Declutter and clean up your physical environment. Channel your inner Marie Kondo (the version before she had a change of heart about decluttering and started selling clutter to her followers 😉).
• Nourish your body with healthy foods and plenty of water.
• Get rid of mental clutter. This could mean practicing meditation, journaling, or simply taking a few deep breaths. Let go of negative thoughts or emotions that may be weighing you down. Focus on positivity and gratitude instead.
• Surround yourself with people who uplift and inspire you. Let go of any toxic relationships that may be holding you back.
• Be mindful of your impact on the environment, and do your part to reduce waste and pollution. (I need to work hard on this one to offset the environmental impact of my airplane ride to Bali).

So, let's roll up our sleeves, start cleaning (just like the Balinese kids), and get ready to live our best, cleanest lives according to ancient yoga philosophy!

Best,
Christine

P.S. New or newish to yoga, but don't know where to start? Download your FREE Starter Guide to Yoga: