Counting Stars Yoga
Join me as we explore yoga philosophy, the eight limbs of yoga, the wisdom of Ayurveda, and the many styles of yoga practice that guide us back home to ourselves.
Counting Stars Yoga
Saucha – The Practice of Clarity
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In this episode, we begin exploring the Niyamas — the second limb of yoga.
The first of the Niyamas is Saucha
Saucha is often translated as cleanliness, purity, or clarity.
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Thank you for joining me here. Lisa x
Welcome to Canny Stars Yoga. Hi, I'm Lisa, a lifelong student of yoga and diaveda, and the lover of travel and discovering the sacred, woven through everyday life. Thank you for joining me as we support yoga philosophy, the eight links of yoga, the wisdom of Ayurveda, and the many stars of yoga practice that have got us back home to ourselves. Whether you're new to yoga, I've been working this past for many years. This podcast is here to support our work gently, practically, and solving. A gentle note before we begin, this podcast is offered for educational and inspirational episodes. It is not medical or psychological advice. Please always listen to your body and seek professional care when needed. So take some time for yourself. Take a slow, steady breath in, and exhale arriving here with me. Hi everybody, welcome. In this episode, we begin exploring the niyamas, the second limb of yoga. And while the yamas guide us on how we relate to the world around us, the niyamas invite us inward. They are personal practices, gentle ways of caring for ourselves, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. And the first of the niyamas is sortcha. And sortcha is often translated as cleanliness, purity, or clarity. At first we might think simply of physical cleanliness. Our bodies, our homes, and the spaces we live in. And that is certainly part of it. And there can be something deeply calming about creating a clear and nourishing environment around us. Opening the windows, fresh sheets on the bed, a quiet cup of tea in a peaceful space. Small things that help the nervous system soften. But sortia reaches much deeper than physical cleanliness alone. It also asks us to notice the state of our inner world, our thoughts, our energy, and what we consume each day. Because in modern life, we are constantly taking things in information, noise, conversations, images, opinions, notifications. And without even realizing it, our minds can begin to feel clotted, heavy and overstimulated and disconnected from stillness. And Sortia gently invites us to clear some space, not through perfection of strict control, but through awareness. And it asks, what is nourishing me and what is creating heaviness? And this might relate to the food we eat and the media we consume, the people we surround ourselves with, and the pace we keep in life. Sortia encourages us to move towards what creates clarity rather than depletion. And this doesn't mean life has to become perfectly clean or minimal. That's not realistic. The practice is not about rigid purity. It's about creating enough space within ourselves to feel grounded and connected again. In everyday life, sortia might look very simple. It might be just taking a few deep breaths before reaching for your phone in the morning. Stepping outside for some fresh air. Cleaning a small corner of your home that has been weighing on your mind. Choosing moments of quiet instead of constant stimulation. It might also mean becoming more mindful of what you allow into your world. Because what we consume affects us. Over time, these things shape the way we feel. And Sontra invites discernment. Noticing what leaves you feeling calm, clear, and nourished, and what leaves you feeling unsettled or drained. And this Niyama also reminds us that clarity often creates space for deeper awareness. When the mind becomes quieter, even for a moment, we begin to hear ourselves more clearly. And we notice our intuition, our needs, and our emotions. And this can feel unfamiliar at first, especially in a world that constantly pulls our attention outward. But there's something deeply healing about creating moments of simplicity. Moments where nothing extra is required of us. Just breathing, just being present, just allowing ourselves to pause. And like all yogic practices, Sonja is not about perfection. There will be busy days, messy moments, mental clutter. The practice is in simply returning again and again, creating small pockets of clarity when we can. A little more space around what truly matters. And so as you move through your day, you might gently reflect on this. What helps me to feel clear? What helps me to feel nourished? And what would it feel like to create just a little more space for that in my life? And perhaps torture is not about becoming perfectly pure at all. Perhaps it's simply about clearing enough of the noise that we can come home to ourselves again. Thank you for practicing with me. And if you're enjoying the podcast, I'd love a review, or you can also click on the link below in the show notes to send me a message or ask a question. Sending you lots of love. As we close today's podcast, thank you so much for spending your time with me. If you'd like to stay connected, you can find more yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic wisdom at countingstars.com.au. And you can also practice with me in TV or online. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook at Counting Stars Yoga and subscribe to the Counting Stars Yoga YouTube channel as we explore sacred places. Until next time, take a breath. Move gently through your day, sending you lots of love.