As you delve deeper into your yoga practice, you may notice your yoga practice leak out into your life off the mat. Yoga teaches us to see the big pictureso maybe we can muster up more patience during rush hour, or find contentment even in the face of a challenge, or tap into the courage and discipline that has been cultivated through yoga practice.

Way back in the second century BCE, there were some yogi guidelines written down called the Yoga Sutras. This organized text defines the discipline of yoga and provides steps to quieting ones mind. One of the steps is a list of yamas, or moral restraints, which will help a yogi on their path. The first yama is saucha, which means purity or cleanliness. Whatever style of yoga you practice, you work to purify your body and mind. This cleanse may start out on the physical level and turn more psychological as you deepen your practice. By clearing out what you dont need, you release blockages and allow energy to flow freely.

When you first make it to your mat, you may see noticeable changes as you move through the purification processyour body becomes stronger, leaner, and more flexible. Then you will notice how your life off the mat can affect your yoga practice. Some foods or habits may no longer serve you. When you practice saucha, it includes the way you shower, clean your teeth, wear clean clothes, organize your home, eat nourishing and clean foods that move efficiently through your system, and how you absorb pure or clean imagery (like movies or television).

In other words, through saucha practice, you can find a balance that makes you feel clean and clear. Besides the obvious advantages, cleanliness can reinforce self-esteem, feelings of self worth, and increased mindfulness of the self. So over the holidays, stay grounded by asking yourselfwhere in your life can you practice saucha? In addition to cleaning your body, mind, and environment, you can take a mindfulness walk in nature (appreciate the snow!), sing or chant, fast from sleep or food, abstain from television, clear out your clutter, recycle, and surround yourself with clean energy and laughter.

Colleen isan assistant manager and yoga teacher atYoga by Degreesin Western Springs. She is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Register Yoga Teacher witha focus on PowerYoga. Colleen enjoys teaching andpracticingheated power vinyasa (flow), yin style (restorative), andnatureyoga.

--

See the original post here:
Yoga by You: Practicing Saucha

12/19/2013 - West Side Leader

The five-year-old studio, owned by John Poleondakis and located at 2830 Copley Road in Copley Commons, was recently expanded to add 1,000 square feet more.

Poleondakis said Iyengar yoga focuses on the in-depth study of asanas (posture) and pranayama (breath control). It differs from traditional yoga in three areas: technique, or making fine adjustments in the alignment of postures and breathing; sequencing, or the order of the postures and breathing; and the length of time spent in each posture.

The yoga taught at the Centre is more like hatha yoga instead of the more typical flowing yoga that continues to move from one posture to the next, he said. We move at a slower pace and we use tools. We also take a more physical approach rather than a spiritual or meditative one in our yoga classes.

Poleondakis said yoga taught at the studio uses items such as blocks, the wall, bolsters, straps and blankets to assist participants in attaining and holding certain postures.

These props can help participants who have mobility issues, he said. They can help overcome or stabilize a physical limitation.

Poleondakis said many people believe yoga is only for those who are flexible, but he stressed increasing and improving flexibility is what the practice of yoga is for.

Other benefits include improvements to balance and strength and overcoming physical limitations, he added.

Yoga is for both the young and old, said Poleondakis. Our yoga here is more about physical fitness, but there is also a relaxation component.

The practice of Iyengar yoga often will result in eliminating aches and pains and improving posture, but it also can be used to treat many ailments, including extremely serious medical conditions, under the supervision of a suitably experienced teacher, according to Poleondakis.

More:
Yoga Centre classes focus on physical fitness