Saucha – Purity
Saucha or purity is the 1st of 5 Niyamas and is really about cleanliness, inside and out. While most of us have good habits in taking care of the outside of our body, yoga also has several tools to help clean the inside of the body to support the removal of toxins and waste. Some of these practices are simple like practicing the breath of fire to clean the lungs and energize the body, taking a cold shower to flush the circulatory system, or using a neti pot to clean the nasal passageway, brushing the teeth and tongue is also one of those practices. Other practices may seem more extreme like swallowing gauze and pulling it back up to clean out the digestive system or doing an enema to remove excess waste in the elimination system.
You Are What You Eat
While these practices may seem extreme, we don’t need to practice all of them to incorporate this Niyama into our daily lives. The simple practice of mindful eating is an easy, yet very beneficial way to stay in alignment with this observance. The saying “you are what you eat”, sums up what this niyama is telling us. It helps us understand that the kinds of food and beverages we put into our body greatly impacts our health and wellbeing. Much like the type of fuel you put into your car will determine how well it will run, so to, our bodies require good quality fuel in order to function at its best.
In Ayurvedic Medicine, part of yogic science, we understand that different types of foods affect us differently. For instance coffee, alcohol and sugar will overstimulate our body which in turn will affect the way we are able to focus and think. Eating whole natural foods provides more ease through the digestive system and they require very little effort to break down, this in turn creates a more calming effect in the brain and more energy in the overall system. Foods that require more work to digest, such as meat or processed foods will likewise take up more energy for the body to break it down and as a result can leave more toxic waste in the body contributing to sluggish or tired feelings which may create more negative thoughts or emotions. So simply put, the more pure our choices are the better health, wellness and vitality we will enjoy in the vehicle we have.
Accepting Our Whole Self
Saucha invites us to have a more intimate relationship with the body we have and how it works. By working with this observance, we learn to accept all of the ins and outs of our bodily functions. This awareness helps us to know what it needs or doesn’t need and when things are out of balance. This week take time to choose foods that support ease in your body, chew your food slowly so that your body can digest it well, and pay attention to the stimulants you reach for to increase energy or relax as those are often the ones that can be replaced with a healthier choice such as a nap, breathing technique or yoga pose.
Namaste
Paula
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