We're more than halfway through March and Spring is upon us! The warming weather, and passing storms provide a fertile foundation for the next generation of flower buds, insects, and birds to start making their way into this beautiful world. Not unlike the weather, our March Matness Challenge has been putting a fire into our practice and warming things up as we build our consistency and tally our star stickers. We still have one more week left for anyone trying to get to 21 stars and be entered into a bonus raffle at the end of the month, so keep things up, and don't forget there's more than one way to earn a star!
Last week, we finished our journey through the first aid/limb of Yoga, the 5 Yamas that make up what Patanjali considers the most important/fundamental adherences and restraints in a yoga practice:Non-violence, Truthfulness, Non-stealing, Sexual Restraint, and Non-attachment. This week we will move on to the five Niyamas, or personal observances that contribute greatly to the Yogi's path.
The Niyamas
The 5 Niyamas consist of: Saucha, Santosha, Tapas, Svadhyaya, and Isvara Pranidhana. Though this week we will be focusing on the first two.
1. Saucha: Cleanliness and purity.
"Our bodies are our Temples"
Cleaning the body, maintaining proper hygiene
Maintaining a healthy environment
Abstaining from invasive or impure thoughts
Saucha is much about how we treat our bodies and our minds, and extends into our environments. Keeping a sense of cleanliness for the body, mind, and spirit, we practice this everytime we bathe, when we are mindful of negative thoughts, or when we do a little spring cleaning as householders.
2. Santosha: Contentment or Satisfaction
"I have everything I need"
Having gratitude for things exactly as they are
Avoiding the pitfalls of greed, and hoarding
Detaching from outcomes, whether positive or negative
Santosha can have a profound effect on our outlooks and can broaden our perspective of the world when practiced regularly. We may even find solace in times of anguish, through practicing mindfulness without judgement.
Self Practice!
Here's a list of ways we can incorporate Saucha and Santosha into our daily lives!
Do a little Spring Cleaning: As a way to usher in new life and energy into our homes, and practice a bit of Saucha.
Treat yourself to a nice cozy bath: Take your time to clean your body in comfort, maybe adding some epsom salts and your favorite book
Engage in a Mindful Meditation: Whether that is by bringing yourself to nature, writing out gratitude lists, or following a guided meditation, carve out some time to practice Santosha.