Cleansing Archives -

Five ways to prepare for Spring Equinox

September 22, 2017 Joyoga / in Yoga Blogby

The Spring Equinox happens for us here in Australia tomorrow morning, encouraging ‘spring cleaning’ and new beginnings – a good time to declutter, clear-out and release.

This process of purification and cleanliness is described as Sauca in yoga philosophy, the first niyama (‘rules’ on personal observances).

Of course, this does not only mean to keep our body clean. There are a number of ways on how we can practise Sauca in our day-to-day life:

1. Find time for a regular yoga practice and/or exercise routine to engage the movement of life force & energy (prana) and allow letting go of physical waste and stale energy (apana).

2. Make healthier lifestyle choices by nourishing your body and mind with fresh food. Did you know that all food contains prana (or not)? This does not only depend on where you do your groceries, but also includes the attitude and intention you prepare your food with. So, give it some thought and love.

3. Maintain a clean space where you can thrive, live and work. They say a cluttered space is a cluttered mind, so you may choose to clear out some of the things that you no longer need (e.g. giving away old clothes).

4. Observe and become aware of destructive thought patterns. According to Osho, 95% of our being is ruled through our mind, which is scary given that this little sucker is no one to be trusted anyway. Identifying and detaching from negative thoughts may lead to more clarity of mind. I highly recommend meditation.

5. Identify toxic situations or circumstances. These can not always be changed, of course, however, simply becoming aware may change the dynamic of a situation that has been causing struggle. One of my teachers once said, there are three ways to respond to challenge: