The niyamas series - Saucha

We’ve previously discussed the Yamas - the first limb of yoga, and I’ve mentioned the second limb - the Niyama.

“The first two limbs, the Yamas and Niyamas, give us direction on how to bring yoga into our lives. The yama are about us as individuals and our actions, our thoughts, words and deeds. The niyama, how we relate to the world around us”

As we come to the end of summer and after a weekend celebrating a friend’s 40th birthday I’ve been thinking about Saucha - purity - and it leads me to think that it’s a good time to consider all the niyama over the next few weeks.

Saucha, the first of the niyama, considers purity in two ways - how we purify our bodies, thoughts and actions, but also how we can react with a clear mind and be pure in a moment. Autumn and a change of season give us time for a fresh start. As an aside, I can’t be the only person who still smells the morning autumn air and thinks of a new school term - and the need for new stationary - even though it’s been a good 20 years since I was last at school. Anyway, Autumn and all the change it brings, gives us a chance to examine our habits and patterns, our diet and check if it’s working for us.

As Summer turns drier and windier it’s important to keep hydrated and that’s one part of saucha. Maybe it’s also a time for a clear out, packing away summer clothes and moving into autumn and winter, eating foods including wholesome root vegetables? Think about what works for you and what you might need.

It’s important to remember ahimsa here and to be kind to yourself. Purity does not mean perfection. Do your best, do what you can, but recognise we’re all also dealing with many things that are outside of our control. To be pure is not to be perfect, it is to see things and accept them for what they are. To calm the mind - be in the present moment.

I’ll be spending this time with grounding yoga practices, including plenty of time for meditation and savasana, taking extra time to look after my body and mind. I’ve a lot of things up in the air right now and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated. By clearing the mind and looking at a situation with fresh eyes, I’m hoping to find balance and clarity, and also contentment, but we’ll come on to that next time.

More information

Deborah Adele (2009), The Yamas and Niyamas, Exploring Yoga’s Ethical Practice

Rachel Bonkirk (2020), Flex your mind, 10 powerful Yoga principles for less stress in a busy world.