Saucha: Cleanliness 10 Yamas and 10 Niyamas

Saucha Yama - Cleanliness. Master Tidying Up for Your Wellbeing

There are 10 Yamas and 10 Niyamas - yogic take on human values and ethical practices that help us reach our full potential for personal, spiritual, and professional growth, and to liberate us from the repetitive cycle of suffering. When we live in contradiction to the highest values, when we avoid taking the higher road - we get stuck in a rat.

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This month, we focus on aligning our daily actions with the value of Saucha (cleanliness)—a practice that nurtures both mind and body. I love thinking about cleanliness through the lens of the Universal Law of Correspondence: As within, so without.

In this post, you will learn the importance of tidying up, how our physical and mental health depends on it, and the 5 simple steps you take every day that will not take you more than 5 minutes to implement more zen into your life.

If our surroundings feel calm and harmonious, it’s likely a reflection of our inner peace. Have you ever stepped into a minimalist, zen-inspired space and felt an immediate sense of serenity? That’s why I loved visiting Japan—the design philosophy there cultivates peace. Similarly, checking into a well-organized hotel room with no clutter can bring instant relief, like shedding a heavy backpack.

What is interesting about cleanliness is that the outer clutter usually represents the 'inner' disturbances, and vice versa - our physical & spiritual well-being cannot be optimal while living in a messy mess. When we live in physical clutter, our mental space mirrors that disorder. A messy home, an unkempt car, or a cluttered inbox often reflect internal unrest. Even our computers freeze when too many tabs are open—our minds work the same way! On a larger scale, our oceans are filled with trash, our air is polluted, and the numbers of chronic disease, mental and physical are only growing.

Since I was 8, I remember that daily cleaning chores were just a normal part of house life. My dad used to throw away or hide things if we didn't place them back where they belonged. 'You girls don't care about that hairbrush/toy/you name it/ enough if you didn't neatly put it back' was his philosophy. As rough as it seemed back then, it has helped me develop both, non-attachment and personal responsibility 😄. My grandma Nadzeya (Hope) with whom we spent all our summers, a school teacher and a farmer used to say: 'The neatest places are not ones someone cleans, but the ones WE don't spoil'

The Psychological Science Behind Clutter and Well-Being

A Harvard study found that clutter negatively affects feelings of security, safety, and belonging—the very foundation of psychological well-being. A chaotic home disrupts our ability to feel grounded, while a tidy space fosters clarity and calm.

Interestingly, extreme cleanliness (such as OCD behaviors) often stems from a dysregulated nervous system—a subconscious attempt to regain control in a world that feels unsafe. Once the nervous system heals, the compulsion to clean excessively often fades. The key is finding balance—harmony inside and out. Today, I never take cleanliness for granted because I’ve seen how it directly impacts health.

Mindful Consumption: Saucha Beyond Cleaning

Cleanliness isn’t just about tidying up—it extends to what we consume. When we overfill our lives with junk food, unbounded media, or clutter, we compromise not only our environment but also our bodies and minds.

Do you consider where your waste goes when you throw something away?
How much trash does your household generate each week?
Could you adopt zero-waste habits, such as cooking from scratch instead of buying pre-packaged meals?
Instead of mindlessly consuming entertainment and scrolling, could you re-direct that time to clean, declutter, and restore your environment?

A Zen Master Once Said… "If you have a free moment, spend it sweeping your street."

Wouldn’t our lives—and the world—be better if we all took collective responsibility for keeping our surroundings beautiful? In ancient thriving cultures, aesthetics were always a sign of health and vitality. Let’s work together as a community to become more mindful of our consumption.

Clean Speech: Mindful & Effective Communication

Saucha extends beyond our physical space to how we speak. Clean speech is truthful, kind, and clear, free from gossip, lies, and filler words like "like," "you know," and "um." These clutter our communication and weaken our message.

Speaking with precision and purpose helps others understand us better, whether we’re giving clear directions to our team, setting expectations for family, or guiding those around us. Clear communication eliminates confusion, fosters trust, and ensures that our words lead to meaningful action. Before speaking, ask: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? By refining our words, we cultivate self-awareness, confidence, and presence, ensuring that our messages are heard and acted upon.

Clean Consciousness: A Pure Heart & Clear Mind

True Saucha is about letting go of emotional clutter—resentment, attachment, judgment, and envy. Holding onto past pain is like carrying mental trash that weighs down our energy. By practicing forgiveness, gratitude, and non-judgment, we free ourselves to live with lightness and joy.

A clean consciousness also means being objective and fair, focusing on solutions rather than blame. When we stop measuring ourselves against others, let go of envy, and focus on our own growth, we cultivate inner peace and resilience. A clear mind, free from negativity, allows us to be fully present, make sound decisions, and lead with clarity.

The Moment of Truth: How Does Your Life Feel Right Now?

Look around—how does your home, car, or workspace look at this moment?

If I stopped by in 5 minutes by your home, would you feel comfortable welcoming me in? 😉
Can you have a messy desk but an organized life—career, health, relationships, finances?
Remember: As without, so within. The way we do one thing is the way we do everything.

Living in harmony with Saucha is about creating a peaceful home, a peaceful body, and a peaceful mind. At Glow Yoga, we work together to maintain a clean, sacred space—thank you for being part of this collective practice. 💛

Five 5-Minute Daily Steps to Embody Zen LifeStyle:

1. Pure Surroundings: I start my day with morning hygiene, emptying the dishwasher, and tidying up my bedroom. Find one thing to clean every day - whether it's taking trash out, or shredding collected mail.

2. Pure Mind: I set my mind for a productive day with a morning workout and mindfulness minutes, and I minimize screentime by taking a workout class, or a long walk sometime during the day.

5. Pure Communication: schedule meetings, make calls, and send notes to your team/family to clarify what needs to be completed for today so everything stays organized and clear.

4. Prepare for a Fresh Start Tomorrow: I end my day with a shower/bath, cleaning dishes, and tidying up my workspace. Waking up in a pure space always sets me up for a successful day.

5. Pure Heart and Consciousness: Before falling asleep, I practice Forgiveness and Letting go, clearing my heart, keeping my spirit light with this simple prayer: 'I forgive myself and everyone with ease. I let go of all control so I can rest, and show up as my best tomorrow. May everyone be safe, and things work out for the greater good of all.'

In addition to the 5 daily steps above, here are the Saucha Habits I've implemented so far:

1. I've replaced all paper napkins with cotton towels to reduce the compost, and I hope you've been enjoying our lower-waste bathrooms. We now produce 80% less trash at Glow - thank you all, it's been so great 😇

2. I never buy water or any beverages in plastic bottles and try to minimize food packaging waste by cooking from scratch, and by shopping at farmers' markets.

3. I eat loads of veggies everyday to keep my tummy fresh and clean - fiber!

4. I replaced my plastic shampoos and body wash bottles with shampoo-conditioner bars and body soap bars. My hair LOVES these shampoos by Tangie

5. I keep all my drawers in Marie Kondo style - it's been really fun rolling up and color-coordinating yoga pants 🥰

Take a moment to reflect:

Where can you invite more Saucha into your life?
What small changes can you make today?

I look forward to seeing you in classes this month as we continue to cultivate self-awareness, clarity, and peace—on and off the mat. 💫

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