On our journey through the Eight-Fold Path of Yoga we now move from looking at the Yamas to the Niyamas – the second limb of Yoga according to the teachings of Patanjali.
And the first of these is Saucha – usually defined as cleanliness and purification and protection of the energy that is around and part of each and everyone of us. On a day-to-day basis in our yoga classes this can be as simple as coming to class without body odour, ensuring the mats and props are kept clean and not stepping on other peoples’ mats. It can extend to having respect for our surroundings – ensuring mats are put away in order at the end of the session and rugs folded neatly. In yoga our mat represents our world….. So if we treat our mats with respect and care, it can help us learn the essence of respect for all things in the wider world.When we align ourselves in class in straight lines or circles the energies around us flow in an orderly fashion and this keeps the energy of the room clean. If the mats are not arranged in an orderly fashion, one student’s energy may interfere with that of another. When we are flowing together in an orderly way, a synergistic effect takes place – the effect of one student’s work and energy helps the rest of the class to do the pose. Likewise the energy of the collective group helps each individual into the pose. You have probably noticed this in our sessions together, during the wonderful collective, calm energy in Tadasana and balancing poses which follow the high energy sun salutations.
Overall Saucha refers to cultivating purity of mind, speech and body …not allowing ourselves to be tainted by thoughts of poor quality or impurity …. Another example is practising vegetarianism and thus not tainting our bodies with animal products…
As always our work with Saucha starts on the mat … when we are relaxed and connected to our inner selves in shivasana and other meditative states ….such as after double breathing or Alternate Nostril Breathing …it is at these times that we can set our intentions deep within our Being..