Saucha: Six Tips on Decluttering our Lives

Saucha is the yogic practice of cleanliness and purity. The niyama invites us to purify our bodies, our thoughts, and our minds to become mentally and physically lighter, or less cluttered, so we can be delivered from chaos to calm.

Decluttering inherently involves releasing. Just as we periodically clean out our closets, practicing Saucha creates a more peaceful and harmonious life by letting go of thoughts, habits, beliefs, people, places, or things that no longer serve our highest self. This practice prepares for the awakening of energy and clarity so that we can approach life with resilience and integrity.

1) Don’t Make Problems Bigger Than They Are. Taking action frees up our mind as opposed to the distracting weight of procrastination. Sort through them one by one and solve them before they get any bigger.

2) Let Go. Letting go doesn't mean you are giving up; it just means that you are allowing yourself to feel lighter and move forward with ease.

3) Forgive. Don’t underestimate the power of forgiveness and the enormous release you will feel when you practice this ultimate act of self-love.

4) Curb Worrying. Worrying never makes anything better. Invest that energy into what is right with your world and stop focusing on what is wrong with it. It is said that 90% of what we worry about never happens anyway

5) Notice Your Thoughts. Pay attention to the thoughts that are running through your head. What stories are you telling yourself? By keeping a positive tone and perspective, you can enhance the goodness of your life, instead of perpetuating the negative. Read more on Meditating with the Noting Technique.

6) Center Yourself. When you are completely overwhelmed and stressed out, your internal energy is erratic and out of control. By learning to center yourself with breathing, yoga and meditation, you can harness calm energy, and allow it to flow freely through your body.

It takes courage, strength, and energy to clear out our internal clutter, but think of it as one of the greatest ways to bring positive change into your life.

When you sort through your internal clutter and clear it out, you can make space for the things that matter most to you. Holding onto resentments and anger from the past, keeps us from having a pure and open heart in our relationships and our lives. The purity we seek is within us. Saucha shows us the path inward as we follow the journey to our hearts.