Thursday, May 2, 2013

Saucha, the first Niyama.


Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

Described in the second chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Niyamas establish the rules of conduct that apply to individual discipline.  Practicing and adhering to these principles creates self purification in the practitioner. 

This week in class we will be exploring Saucha, the first Niyama. 

The first Niyama Saucha is found in verse II.40 and II.41 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Saucha is defined as purity internally and externally.

Saucha is a relatively simple niyama for most of us to observe with regards to our physical being. We shower, brush our teeth, clean our ears, and make efforts to stay fresh and pleasant to the senses. These daily rituals purify the external body. Internally, we can purify our bodies with asana and pranayama. Asana practice tones our physical body and helps to remove impurities and toxins. Pranayama, the practice of breath control, cleanses the lungs and oxygenates the blood.

Quote from Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.  “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 asanas and pranayama.  They cleanse the body physically, physiologically and intellectually.  The body, having its own intelligence, develops its potential to change its behavioral patterns.  It helps the sadhaka to detach herself from sensual desires, and guides her towards the holder of the body, the soul.  Thus, saucha makes the body a fit instrument for the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.”

Two Quotes from Light On Yoga: 1.  “But more important than the physical cleansing of the body is the cleansing of the mind of its disturbing emotions like hatred, passion, anger, lust, greed, delusion and pride… This internal cleansing gives radiance and joy. It brings benevolence and banishes mental pain, dejection, sorrow and despair.”    and   2.  “Purity of body is essential for well being…Besides purity of thought, body and word, pure food is also necessary…. Humans are the only creatures that eat when not hungry and generally live to eat rather than eat to live…The yogini believes in harmony, so she eats for the sake of sustenance only.”

HomeworkThink about your own rituals for self-purification. What steps do you currently take to cleanse your physical being? Do you have a daily ritual to cleanse your mind and emotions? Consider how purification of your physical, mental, and emotional being can affect your asana practice. Are there any changes you can make to your current rituals that may have a desirable affect on your asana practice and your daily life?

References:

Light on Yoga, Light on the Yoga Sutras, both by BKS Iyengar

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003

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