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

“When there may be each internal 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 internal and outer worlds the place our whole lifespan unfolds. What determines happiness in these areas? It’s the purity of the house itself cleanliness.

In yoga philosophy, this concept of cleanliness is just not restricted to hygiene. It represents an internal 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 means of Saucha, yoga builds a clear and regular basis for self-development and non secular development.

What’s saucha?

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

Earlier than any yoga apply can actually work, the medium of yoga should be clear and clear. Bodily, this contains your yoga room, mat, garments, and the atmosphere 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 move 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 day by day apply. Saucha, or cleanliness, addresses impurities — whether or not bodily, emotional, or mental that may disturb the thoughts, physique, or atmosphere. 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 apply triggers a series response, guiding a practitioner naturally by way of 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 finally results in devotion and give up (Ishvara Pranidhana), finishing the trail of Niyama.

Saucha in day by day life

As the primary Niyama, Saucha extends past mere hygiene it encompasses way of life and yogic practices that domesticate non secular, psychological, and bodily purity. To totally perceive Saucha, it helps to discover its completely different dimensions in day by day life:

To know the true which 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 eating regimen
• Saucha on Mat
• Saucha at Residence
• Saucha of Surroundings

1. Saucha of physique

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

Whereas day by day hygiene routines bathing, brushing enamel, washing fingers, and private grooming — help exterior cleanliness, Shatkarma strategies cleanse the interior organs, tracts, and techniques. These kriyas purify the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, stomach organs, and rectal pathways, supporting total bodily well being.

By integrating each exterior and inner cleaning, Saucha of the physique ensures a bodily wholesome basis, making ready the practitioner for deeper yogic and non secular 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 needed. A disciplined way of life and a day by day routine additionally assist scale back psychological toxicity.

3. Saucha of power

Prana or the life drive power is believed to be very important to our existence. The life drive sometimes called the very important air, is essential to motion and movement at a mobile stage.

Blocked power gateways and impurities result in illnesses and problems. Saucha of power promotes a wholesome power move that normalizes the functioning of physique techniques. Power and chakra cleaning meditation strategies 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. Typically the impurities of thoughts and power manifest themselves in speech. The yogic practices of Saucha warn the practitioners to be aware of their speech. 

The Saucha of speech will be practiced by way of consciousness and consciousness bettering meditative processes. Consciousness provides you with aware management over speech formation, which can assist you to filter out impurities from getting into your speech stream.

5. Saucha in eating regimen

The yogic philosophy categorizes our existence into 5 completely different sheaths, PanchaKoshas. Probably the most exterior sheath, our bodily physique, is named the meals sheath (Annamaya Kosha). It is because our bodily physique is kind of actually made up of the meals we eat. If impurities are included in our eating regimen, they finally develop into part of our bodily existence. Thus to remain wholesome Saucha of meals is essential. 

For this, the yogis observe a sattvic eating regimen or yogic eating regimen. A sattvic eating regimen is nutritionally full and simply digestible. It lays a heavy emphasis on fruits and recent greens, complete 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 by way of the yoga asana. Clear your physique completely earlier than beginning your apply. Put on recent clear garments whereas training, and be certain that your yoga Mat is maintained and cleaned frequently. You also needs to clear and tidy the house the place you apply yoga. 

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

7. Saucha at residence

Your own home is the place you reside. Holding it clear is just not solely your ethical obligation but additionally helpful. It’s usually believed that the situation and association of our environment have the power to affect our inner power. Even the traditional Chinese language conventional apply, Feng Shui, relies on this concept.

Saucha of the abode we stay in is crucial for psychological and bodily well-being. Holding the constructs and furnishings clear of filth, and sanitized of germs. Tidying up our belongings, frequently cleansing up our garments and varied inside materials, are just a few fundamental Saucha at-home practices.

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

8. Saucha of atmosphere

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

Thus Saucha of the atmosphere might be an important 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 Surroundings practices are to extend environmental consciousness, take heed to particular person waste disposal, develop communal waste administration and recycling techniques, develop way of life practices with a low environmental footprint, use eco-friendly merchandise, and such.

Private advantages from saucha

Training Saucha gives 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 threat of infections by sustaining hygiene and bodily purity.
• Improves digestion and immunity, supporting total bodily well being.
• Enhances organ and system perform, 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 day by day duties and meditation.
• Cultivates self-discipline, supporting different points of yogic apply.
• 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 day by day life, practitioners not solely strengthen their bodily and psychological well-being but additionally lay a strong basis for non secular development.

Shatkarma apply 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 whole 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 tissue. After which the water is flushed out by way of the anus, cleansing the massive gut.
• Neti – Cleaning of the Nasal passages. The practitioner makes use of a Neti Pot to place water by way of one nostril, and go it out by way of the opposite. The water enters one nostril, passes by way of the nasal cavity, and exits by way of the opposite nostril. Alongside the best way, 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 tissue, in clockwise and anti-clockwise instructions. This system stimulates digestion and resolves stomach motion problems.
• Kapalabhati – Cranium cleaning. Kapalabhati is successive forceful exhalation spurts, the place the lungs, diaphragm, and stomach muscle tissue are exercised. This system acts alongside the road of the seven chakras, offering efficient power cleaning. Since respiration controls the move of power, Kapalabhati improves your command over the power move.

Modern saucha practices

The Yoga Sutras and different historical yogic texts are knowledge treasure chests, however they don’t deal with just a few issues of contemporary instances. The impurities have largely elevated for the reason that Vedic interval, which varieties the bottom for yogic tradition. And these elevated impurities imply there should be just a few up to date inclusions to the apply of Saucha.

• Asana apply with Shakti yoga move. The Shakti yoga move more and more advantages thoughts and power cleaning. Heat-up with Pranayama.
• Hold your yoga house and equipment clear.
• Keep strict oral hygiene. Our enamel and gum are a serious avenue for illnesses.
• Hold a clear wardrobe.
• Bodily grooming like moisturizing, deep pores and skin cleaning, blackhead removals, and completely different pores and skin therapies are good. They preserve the pores and skin wholesome and hydrated and shield in opposition to air pollution. We regularly ignore our pores and skin however neglect they type the primary line of protection in your immunity system.
• Hold your hair and nails clear.
• Bathe frequently.
• Hold your property clear, tidy, and organized.
• Hold your mattress notably clear and sanitized.
• Follow hygienic sexual interactions.
• Hold 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 ingesting.
• Meditate frequently

Conclusion

Saucha is a apply that transcends cultures, traditions, and time. Its advantages are universally acknowledged from non secular teachings to fashionable scientific understanding. Actually, practices of cleanliness and self-purification have existed for the reason that very genesis of human civilization, taking part in a key function in each private and societal evolution.

The essence of Saucha is deeply embedded in our day by day lives, usually with out aware consciousness. From a younger age, the habits of hygiene, care, and self-discipline taught by elders are all expressions of Saucha. By bringing 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 non secular development.