The Observe of Cleanliness for Thoughts, Physique & Spirit – Fitsri Yoga

“When there’s each inside and outer cleanliness, it approaches godliness.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi 

The house we stay in each bodily and psychological shapes the standard of our life. Our environment, ideas, and experiences create the inside and outer worlds the place our complete lifespan unfolds. What determines happiness in these areas? It’s the purity of the house itself cleanliness.

In yoga philosophy, this concept of cleanliness shouldn’t be restricted to hygiene. It represents an inside self-discipline that purifies physique, thoughts, and feelings. This idea is expressed in Saucha, one of many 5 Niyamas, the second limb of Patanjali’s Eightfold Path. By Saucha, yoga builds a clear and regular basis for self-development and religious development.

What’s saucha?

Saucha (usually written as Shaucha) is the yogic follow of cleanliness and purification each inner and exterior. It refers back to the purity of the physique, thoughts, and spirit, achieved via each day habits, ideas, and acutely aware residing.

Earlier than any yoga follow can actually work, the medium of yoga should be clear and clear. Bodily, this contains your yoga room, mat, garments, and the surroundings the place you practise. Mentally, it refers to cultivating pure, optimistic, and calm ideas. Saucha encourages the cleaning of those mediums in order that the circulation of power stays unobstructed.

In yogic philosophy, Saucha holds a particular place. Within the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it’s described as a part of the Niyamas, the second limb of Ashtanga Yoga a system that guides private self-discipline and self-purification.

Saucha: the primary niyama

The Niyamas are observances that situation the thoughts and physique to align with the rules of yoga. They act as a behavioral extension of the ethical codes outlined within the Yamas, the primary limb of Ashtanga Yoga.

Whereas the Yamas present a ethical compass, the Niyamas translate these rules into each day follow. Saucha, or cleanliness, addresses impurities — whether or not bodily, emotional, or mental that may disturb the thoughts, physique, or surroundings. By cultivating Saucha, a practitioner purifies themselves, supporting the Yama precept of non-harming in thought, phrase, and deed.

As the primary Niyama, Saucha varieties the inspiration for all others. Its follow triggers a sequence response, guiding a practitioner naturally via the remaining 4 Niyamas:

1. Santosha – Contentment
2. Tapas – Austerity or self-discipline
3. Swadhyaya – Self-study and reflection
4. Ishvara Pranidhana – Devotion to the Divine

Cleanliness of physique and thoughts cultivates self-contentment (Santosha). A wholesome and purified thoughts helps self-discipline (Tapas), which in flip enhances studying and self-awareness (Swadhyaya). This basis in the end results in devotion and give up (Ishvara Pranidhana), finishing the trail of Niyama.

Saucha in each day life

As the primary Niyama, Saucha extends past mere hygiene it encompasses life-style and yogic practices that domesticate religious, psychological, and bodily purity. To completely perceive Saucha, it helps to discover its completely different dimensions in each day life:

To grasp the true that means of Saucha we might want to consider the various kinds of Saucha:

• Saucha of physique
• Saucha of Thoughts 
• Saucha of power
• Saucha of speech
• Saucha in weight loss plan
• Saucha on Mat
• Saucha at House
• Saucha of Setting

1. Saucha of physique

Saucha of the physique entails sustaining cleanliness each externally and internally. Conventional yogic texts, particularly in Hatha Yoga, emphasise inner purification via Shatkarma practices.

Whereas each day hygiene routines bathing, brushing tooth, washing arms, and private grooming — help exterior cleanliness, Shatkarma methods cleanse the interior organs, tracts, and methods. These kriyas purify the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, stomach organs, and rectal pathways, supporting general bodily well being.

By integrating each exterior and inner cleaning, Saucha of the physique ensures a bodily wholesome basis, getting ready the practitioner for deeper yogic and religious practices.

2. Saucha of thoughts

Saucha of thoughts refers to mental purity. Mental impurities could cause two methods of hurt. The person who bears the poisonous ideas in thoughts suffers from psychological regression, and biochemical deficiencies that have an effect on the physiology of the physique. Additional, poisonous ideas can set off behaviors dangerous to others and the environment.

The easiest way for Saucha of thoughts is to meditate, take correct relaxation and interact in psychological therapies if crucial. A disciplined life-style and a each day routine additionally assist cut back psychological toxicity.

3. Saucha of power

Prana or the life pressure power is believed to be very important to our existence. The life pressure also known as the very important air, is essential to motion and movement at a mobile stage.

Blocked power gateways and impurities result in ailments and issues. Saucha of power promotes a wholesome power circulation that normalizes the functioning of physique methods. Power and chakra cleaning meditation methods are efficient methods to purity the power.

4. Saucha of speech

Our phrases even have the potential to be polluted with impurities. Phrases that trigger hurt to others and to the environment are thought-about impurities in speech. Usually the impurities of thoughts and power manifest themselves in speech. The yogic practices of Saucha warn the practitioners to be conscious of their speech. 

The Saucha of speech might be practiced via consciousness and consciousness bettering meditative processes. Consciousness gives you acutely aware management over speech formation, which is able to assist you to filter out impurities from coming into your speech stream.

5. Saucha in weight loss plan

The yogic philosophy categorizes our existence into 5 completely different sheaths, PanchaKoshas. Probably the most exterior sheath, our bodily physique, is known as the meals sheath (Annamaya Kosha). It’s because our bodily physique is kind of actually made up of the meals we eat. If impurities are included in our weight loss plan, they finally grow to be part of our bodily existence. Thus to remain wholesome Saucha of meals is essential. 

For this, the yogis observe a sattvic weight loss plan or yogic weight loss plan. A sattvic weight loss plan is nutritionally full and simply digestible. It lays a heavy emphasis on fruits and recent greens, entire grains, milk and ghee, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds, candy fruits, medicinal herbs, pure sweeteners like honey and cold-pressed oils.

6. Saucha on mat

Saucha can be noticed via the yoga asana. Clear your physique completely earlier than beginning your follow. Put on recent clear garments whereas practising, and make sure that your yoga Mat is maintained and cleaned commonly. You also needs to clear and tidy the house the place you follow yoga. 

Working towards in an open house is normally supportive of the follow of Saucha. Observing cleanliness in your Asana follow will guarantee perfection of the postures and potent advantages.

7. Saucha at dwelling

Your own home is the place you reside. Protecting it clear shouldn’t be solely your ethical obligation but additionally useful. It’s usually believed that the situation and association of our environment have the power to influence our inner power. Even the traditional Chinese language conventional follow, Feng Shui, is predicated on this concept.

Saucha of the abode we stay in is essential for psychological and bodily well-being. Protecting the constructs and furnishings clear of grime, and sanitized of germs. Tidying up our belongings, commonly cleansing up our garments and varied inside materials, are a number of fundamental Saucha at-home practices.

A clear surrounding has a number of results on our existence. Primarily a clear and germ-free dwelling prevents the event of an unhygienic ecosystem. That will in any other case play host to a variety of ailments. And secondly, a clear surrounding is shortly felt by our senses, to generate a sensation of well-being.

8. Saucha of surroundings

Mahatma Gandhi, the person we all know for India’s Independence, himself acknowledged that “sanitation is extra essential than independence.” Our existence isn’t just influenced by our houses, but additionally the surroundings we stay in. An surroundings stuffed with poisonous parts will pollute our lives, unleash a plethora of ailments, and suffocate us to demise.

Thus Saucha of the surroundings might be a very powerful type of cleanliness. In spite of everything, what’s the purpose of cleansing your physique, if the air you breathe in is polluted and the meals you eat is contaminated. 

Few Saucha for Setting practices are to extend environmental consciousness, take heed to particular person waste disposal, develop communal waste administration and recycling methods, develop life-style practices with a low environmental footprint, use eco-friendly merchandise, and such.

Private advantages from saucha

Working towards Saucha presents holistic advantages, impacting each the person and society. Whereas yogic philosophy emphasises the well-being of all creations, the private benefits of Saucha are vital and tangible

• Reduces danger of infections by sustaining hygiene and bodily purity.
• Improves digestion and immunity, supporting general bodily well being.
• Enhances organ and system operate, resulting in a more healthy physique.
• Promotes sensory pleasantness, creating a sense of consolation and ease.
• Brings psychological readability and reduces stress, fostering emotional stability.
• Improves focus and focus, aiding each day duties and meditation.
• Cultivates self-discipline, supporting different elements of yogic follow.
• Enhances social acceptance and relationships, as cleanliness is universally valued.
• Refines speech and articulation, bettering communication expertise.
• Prepares the physique and thoughts for deeper yoga practices, supporting all different limbs of yoga.

By consciously making use of Saucha in each day life, practitioners not solely strengthen their bodily and psychological well-being but additionally lay a stable basis for religious development.

Shatkarma follow for saucha

The shatkarma practices, or shatkriya, have given the very best significance in Hatha Yoga. Technically 6 practices of shatkarma provoke inner bodily cleaning, however in actuality, they act on our complete thoughts, physique, and power.

• Dhauti – Abdomen cleaning carried out on empty abdomen. In Dhauti the practitioner drinks 1-1.5 liters of water, after which places two fingers down the throat and pukes out the water together with remaining impurities from the abdomen.
• Basti – Bowel cleaning very similar to a yogic enema. Water is drawn in from the anus and into the colon, by contracting the associating muscle tissues. After which the water is flushed out via the anus, cleansing the massive gut.
• Neti – Cleaning of the Nasal passages. The practitioner makes use of a Neti Pot to place water via one nostril, and cross it out via the opposite. The water enters one nostril, passes via the nasal cavity, and exits via the opposite nostril. Alongside the way in which, the water cleanses the passages.
• Trataka – Cleaning the organs of focus. The practitioner gazes steadily at a degree. The regular gaze cleanses the neural pathways, eyes, and the thoughts (of impure distracting ideas.)
• Nauli – Cleaning the stomach organs and passages. The practitioner rotates the stomach muscle tissues, in clockwise and anti-clockwise instructions. This method stimulates digestion and resolves stomach motion issues.
• Kapalabhati – Cranium cleaning. Kapalabhati is successive forceful exhalation spurts, the place the lungs, diaphragm, and stomach muscle tissues are exercised. This method acts alongside the road of the seven chakras, offering efficient power cleaning. Since respiratory controls the circulation of power, Kapalabhati improves your command over the power circulation.

Up to date saucha practices

The Yoga Sutras and different historical yogic texts are knowledge treasure chests, however they don’t handle a number of issues of recent instances. The impurities have largely elevated because the Vedic interval, which varieties the bottom for yogic tradition. And these elevated impurities imply there should be a number of up to date inclusions to the follow of Saucha.

• Asana follow with Shakti yoga circulation. The Shakti yoga circulation more and more advantages thoughts and power cleaning. Heat-up with Pranayama.
• Preserve your yoga house and equipment clear.
• Preserve strict oral hygiene. Our tooth and gum are a serious avenue for ailments.
• Preserve a clear wardrobe.
• Bodily grooming like moisturizing, deep pores and skin cleaning, blackhead removals, and completely different pores and skin remedies are good. They maintain the pores and skin wholesome and hydrated and shield towards air pollution. We frequently ignore our pores and skin however overlook they type the primary line of protection in your immunity system.
• Preserve your hair and nails clear.
• Bathe commonly.
• Preserve your private home clear, tidy, and organized.
• Preserve your mattress notably clear and sanitized.
• Observe hygienic sexual interactions.
• Preserve your meals processing models, utensils, and equipment clear.
• Keep away from consumption of processed meals.
• Keep away from dangerous and intoxicating habits like smoking and consuming.
• Meditate commonly

Conclusion

Saucha is a follow that transcends cultures, traditions, and time. Its advantages are universally acknowledged from religious teachings to fashionable scientific understanding. In reality, practices of cleanliness and self-purification have existed because the very genesis of human civilization, taking part in a key position in each private and societal evolution.

The essence of Saucha is deeply embedded in our each day lives, usually with out acutely aware consciousness. From a younger age, the habits of hygiene, care, and self-discipline taught by elders are all expressions of Saucha. By bringing acutely aware consciousness to those practices, we will absolutely combine Saucha into our lives purifying physique, thoughts, and spirit, and making a basis for well being, happiness, and religious development.