The Healthy Habit of Sauca

How cultivating cleanliness inside and out-can bring you peace of mind.

- RINA DESHPANDE

THERE IS A SUBTLE BUT IMPORTANT ritual I naturally follow before stepping over the threshold onto the cool cement floor of my aunt's bungalow in Bengaluru, India: I remove my chappals and wipe the red earth from my feet. In Indian culture, prior to entering homes and other kinds of sacred spaces, we take off our shoes and sometimes even rinse our feet. This ritual is spiritual and a sign of respect, but it is also practical. Especially before the influence of colonization on India, most people ate their meals from banana leaves or from steel plates placed on the floor. Mats were usually rolled onto the ground for cool sleeping. Keeping the floors spotless protected against contamination and illness. Though tables and beds are a modern-day norm for many in India, the observance of floor cleanliness continues.

I realized in adulthood that this was one of many forms of sauca (Sanskrit: 9T, pronounced like "shau-cha" or "sau-cha"). In yoga communities, sauca is often translated as hygiene or purification. We relate it to washing hands, bathing, or tidying a space. But this niyama, or personal practice, covers a broader definition of cleanliness that is external and internal, physical and spiritual. I've come to appreciate the concept of sauca for its subtle power: cleanliness allows the harmonious flow of energy, inside and out.

CLEARING WAY FOR ENERGY FLOW

Prana, the energy of life, flows in and around all things in the system of our Universe. When our systems are clean, energy moves easily and productively. But if part of the system is clogged or dirty, it disrupts energetic flow and may even cause damage.

Imagine a laptop hard drive that's overloaded or infected with a virus. Programs freeze, valuable information is lost, and the battery drains quickly. But once the hard drive is cleaned, using the computer is a swift, satisfying experience again.