What does it mean to be Clean?
Scroll to the end of the post for October’s Playlist!
October 2022 Focus
The first Niyama: Saucha, Cleanliness
“As a temple or a church is kept clean each day, the inner body, the temple of the soul, should be bathed with a copious supply of blood through āsanas and prāṇāyāma. They cleanse the body physically, physiologically and intellectually. The body, having its own intelligence, develops its potential to change its behavioral patterns.”
What does cleanliness have to do with Yoga? The theme this month at WYAY is the first Niyama, moral observance, Saucha (cleanliness). Working on cleanliness (inside and out) can support your whole wellness and transform your life.
One of the first rules I can remember, in my house, growing up, was “You must wash your hands before you can eat.” It makes a lot of sense, hand washing can prevent illnesses and I remember relearning this practice in the pandemic, to ensure that I was actually cleaning my hands instead of just getting them wet. I’ve seen daycares where they have a practice of stamping children’s hands with blacklight ink, so that if they washed their hands well it would wash off, but if they didn’t, it would show when the teacher shone a blacklight on it. It’s easy to get complacent and to ask ‘does it really matter?’
Getting dirty is a part of life. I’m not afraid of getting muddy in my garden, getting flour dusted from baking, or getting encrusted with paint and glue from the process of making art, but it doesn’t mean I eat with those hands. The process of removing a layer of grim and germs can be soothing like a bubble bath or annoying like scrubbing off half the skin when you glue your fingers together, but getting clean is still important. Not just the appearance of cleanliness either, but the real deal clean, shine the black light and see, clean.
Cleaning your physical body, having good personal hygiene; like taking showers, washing your hands, and brushing your teeth are some small ways to practice this Niyama. Take care of yourself in the simple things, and your whole health will follow. Washing your hands really can prevent illness. If you catch yourself doing the bare minimum, check in with yourself and try to be present, even in those mundane tasks, because you will feel better for it.
Eating clean might mean just being more aware of what you put in your body. It can also mean working toward an organic plant based diet or focusing on where your food comes from. When you make good food choices you feel better and you have more energy. It’s hard to focus on the big questions in life if you are in bed with a tummy ache.
A tidy space, can lead to a tidy mind. Another small way to work on this Niyama is to tidy up your external spaces. This one is a big challenge for me, but I know I am more likely to make good choices and think more clearly in a tidy environment. If my desk is cluttered with papers, it’s hard to focus. If my sink is full of dishes, it’s hard to cook. When I clean my yoga mat and other props I can stay focused on Yoga and not get distracted by a bit of dust or a hair.
Life long practices of cleanliness and purity start on the outside but need to be internalized to in our mind and heart too. You energy flows to where your mind goes. Ahimsa (Non-Harming) and Satya (Truthfulness) are important to our mental Saucha practice. Compassion and loving kindness come from a place of peace and non-judgment. Clean out toxic thought about yourself and others.
In A Light on Yoga BKS Iyengar speaks on this Niyama saying, “As a temple or a church is kept clean each day, the inner body, the temple of the soul, should be bathed with a copious supply of blood through āsanas and prāṇāyāma. They cleanse the body physically, physiologically and intellectually. The body, having its own intelligence, develops its potential to change its behavioral patterns.”
In our Asana (physical yoga practice) we move in ways to help our circulation and sometimes work the body into a sweat this is a way of washing our insides out. In Pranayama (breath practice of yoga) we work to increase our efficiency in oxygenation. In both asana and pranayama we practice Dhyāna (meditation practice of yoga), to clear the mind and work on cultivating peace.
When you clean out your body you will feel more vibrant. When you clean out your mind and your thoughts will tread on healthier paths. Over time as you purify your heart you will be more open to compassion and love.
Ok so now here’s the assignment:
Wash your body
Eat clean, healthy food
Tidy your house and workspaces
Clean your mind of toxic thoughts
Release emotional baggage
Practice vigorous Asana and Pranayama
Easy right? LOL!
No, you do not need to be perfect! That’s a LOT and way too much to just suddenly magically change in your life. Yoga is a 100 year practice and just as it took me years and years to get the splits I think it will take years and years for me to get into the practice of doing all the things I know I should without falling into complacency. That’s where hand washing comes in. You are going to go out into the world and get dirty. Stress and a full schedule might keep you from keeping your environment in ship shape. You might lose your resolve to eat healthy and binge on food you know will make you feel sluggish and unmotivated. People, oh people will test your patience, your compassion and your ability to trust with an open heart. You might need a break from exercise or get complacent about your awareness of breath.
The REAL assignment
Do your best and set small goals
Notice what is not right, without judgment. Judgment will just hold you back in the cycle of blame and frustration, so be kind with yourself.
Take a moment to pause (maybe the amount of time it takes to thoroughly scrub your hands).
Try again a new way
One small step in the right direction can lead to another, over time new habits can form. We are all on this journey together. There are so many ways we strive to be clean, the next time you are washing your hands maybe think about the ways we can be renewed with Saucha!
Here’s October’s Playlist!
