THE YAMAS & NIYAMAS SERIES - SAUCHA

Sara West
Mar 28
3 min read

Saucha: Creating Space for Clarity

In a world that often feels chaotic and cluttered—both outside and in—the yogic principle of Saucha offers something simple, but powerful: a return to clarity.

Saucha, one of the niyamas in Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, is often translated as purity or cleanliness. But not in the harsh, perfectionistic way many of us were taught to associate with being “good” or “worthy.” In yogic philosophy, saucha is much more tender. It's about clearing what clouds your connection to yourself.

It's less about being spotless—and more about feeling spacious.

Saucha in the Yoga Sutras

In Yoga Sutra 2.40, Patanjali writes:“Sauchat svanga jugupsa parair asamsargah” Through purity, there arises a sense of self-respect and a desire to avoid that which is unwholesome.

And in Sutra 2.41: “Sattva shuddhi saumanasya aikagrya indriya jaya atma darshana yogyatvani cha” Purity of being brings cheerfulness, one-pointedness, mastery of the senses, and fitness for self-realisation.

In other words, when we tend to our space—inner and outer—we don’t just “clean up,” we clear the path. We begin to feel lighter. More focused. More open to the deeper work of healing, presence, and self-discovery.

Saucha in Daily Life

Saucha isn’t about having the cleanest house or a perfectly still mind. It’s about noticing: what helps me feel clear and grounded? And what fogs me up?

It can be as simple as:

Making your bed
Clearing clutter from a corner
Drinking water first thing in the morning
Taking a long exhale
Closing your eyes and coming home to your breath

It’s also about what we consume—news, conversations, social media, food. What we take in becomes part of our inner landscape. Saucha invites us to notice: How does this make me feel? And to gently choose more of what brings steadiness.

Ram Dass reminds us:

“You can’t get clean in dirty water. You have to keep returning to that clear place inside you.”

Saucha isn’t rigid. It’s responsive. A daily act of self-respect. An ongoing practice of tending to what supports your clarity and releasing what doesn’t.

Inner & Outer Clutter

We all gather clutter—physical, emotional, energetic. Especially if we’re caretakers, healers, space-holders, or sensitive souls.

Saucha invites us to notice:

What emotions or beliefs have I been carrying that aren’t really mine?
What conversations or habits leave me feeling heavy?
What parts of my physical environment feel nourishing—and what feels stagnant?

This isn’t about judging yourself. It’s about tuning in and remembering: you deserve to feel light and clear inside your own body and life.

Saucha in the Studio

At Wild Soul Studio, saucha is woven into everything we do—not as a rule, but as a rhythm. It’s the tidy mats and clean floors, yes. But also the way we hold space with intention. The breath cues that help you reset. The time to arrive without rush. The gentle encouragement to let go—of tension, of judgment, of anything that doesn’t serve you today.

Saucha is the moment you roll up your mat and feel just a little clearer. It’s the quiet in your mind after savasana. The feeling of walking out the door a little more you.

So this week, maybe ask: What helps me feel clear? What can I let go of that’s clouding my light? And then—gently, lovingly—make space.

Because you don’t have to carry the noise.You’re allowed to feel clear.And peace doesn’t always need to be earned. Sometimes it just needs to be uncovered.

With warmth,

Sara 🙏