Practice 1
Cleansing (Saucha)
O
ur first practice is saucha. Saucha is Sanskrit for “cleansing” and “purity,” and it is one of the five niyamas (the five sacred observances) on the Eight-Limbed Path of Yoga. We cleanse the body with hygiene, water, and healthy foods. We cleanse the mind from false beliefs and old stories. We cleanse our physical spaces, our habits, and our relationships. We observe the practice of saucha as a way to open space and to align with our true Self—our best Self. To practice saucha, we will focus on getting lighter physically and mentally. We will create space for our senses in order to release stuck energy, acknowledge old wounds, and begin new habits instead of repeating the less healthy behaviors that weigh us down.
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