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in yoga, we have the practice of śauca (shau-cha), which means cleanliness and purity—of body and mind. through the practice of śauca, we recognize that the body and mind are always changing. the conditions we experience are different in the morning than in the afternoon. and anything that fluctuates is not who we really are. the sutras say that, by cultivating cleanliness, we are more inclined to that which is unchanging—our innermost self. yoga philosophy teaches us not to over-identify with anything that changes. every day, we are exposed to toxins—physical ones that are introduced through our food and water supplies, and the air we breathe, as well as emotional/mental ones that we expose ourselves to (through media, social media, and society), which influence us to feel depressed, depleted, or even inadequate. this is why i advocate cultivating a regular cleansing practice. according to ayurveda, spring and fall are the most ideal times for a physical flushing of toxins that have built up. making it a regular practice reminds us that we do accumulate baggage (emotional and physical) that keeps us out of alignment with our innermost self. the cleanse sādhanā invites you to press pause—on the cravings, behaviors, and emotions that have run amok. this is your opportunity to rinse out what’s not serving you, and connect with the best version of yourself.
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