[S A U C A] (Sanskrit: शौच)

Sauca is the first Niyama in yoga, which translates to "cleanliness" or "purity." It encompasses physical, mental, and emotional cleanliness.

Here are some key aspects to putting Sauca into practice.

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS PUT INTO PRATICE:

Maintain your personal hygiene. It may seem like common sense, but taking care to bathe regularly, brush your teeth, as well as washing your hands are all encompassed by this practice.

Eating and keeping a healthy diet. We've all been through a diet fad once or twice, but this piece of practice is more about lifestyle: eating nutritious food and avoiding unhealthy habits. The more we practice eating clean, the more the cravings will fall away and our bodies will want nothing but nutritious foods that fuel us and keep us strong.

Keep your environment clean. Keeping your living space tidy and organized is another piece of the puzzle that Sauca is asking of us. Go through your things regularly and see what is being used on a daily basis, and what can be donated or thrown away. Keeping your personal environment fresh and clean will help create a reflection of that clean space within your mind and body.

Mental and Emotional Cleanliness:

Learn to let go of negativity: Releasing emotions like anger, jealousy, or resentment. Holding onto these emotions will create a heaviness within us. . . it can oftentimes be equated with filling a suitcase full of stones, each stones representing one of these fear-based emotions. Each day you carry that suitcase around with you, lugging all your emotional baggage behind you. Eventually, you will wear your Self out and won't have the energy to enjoy your life to the fullest.

Cultivate positive thoughts: Focusing on gratitude, kindness, and compassion. Oftentimes, whenever I cannot feel love or the positive side of the situation, I will stop and ask myself: what is the loving situation that I cannot see right now?

Foster emotional balance: Managing stress and emotions through self-awareness and mindfulness. Slowing down whenever we feel upset can help us decipher what it is that we actually feel. It also allows us to recognize a fleeting reaction and dive deeper into how we really feel. Whenever we remain calm and allow that initial messy reaction to pass, we can then make informed decisions for our life.

Benefits of Sauca:

1. Improved physical health

2. Enhanced mental clarity and focus

3. Increased sense of well-being and calmness

4. Better relationships with others

By practicing Sauca, you can create a foundation for overall well-being and spiritual growth.

Would you like to explore more about Sauca or other Niyamas?

Stay tuned as we continue to explore more in depth the first limb of yoga and all that it encompasses.