Sauca: Purity as Power
Purity, My Way
When I think about teaching Sauca, purity, I have to laugh a little. I’ve got the mouth of a sailor, the wrap sheet of a never-convicted criminal, and lived experiences that would make your toes curl. But here’s the truth: purity isn’t about spotless perfection.
There is one place in my life where I know I carry absolute purity: in my willingness to grow along spiritual lines. Period.
I will go to any lengths. I’ve proven that to myself again and again.
For me, purity is about making the unconscious conscious.
It’s about turning toward the shadows instead of running from them. Because I’ve learned the hard way: what I resist persists, what I avoid hemorrhages my energy.
The moment I turn around and face it, I reclaim my power. I get to close the leaks, take back my energy, and direct it—wherever I choose.
Toward healing, toward freedom, toward the wildest dreams I never thought I was allowed to have.
That’s purity, too.
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Sauca in the Yoga Sutras
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Sauca is introduced as the very first of the Niyamas—the personal observances, or practices, that help us live in alignment.
Traditionally, it’s often translated as “cleanliness” or “purity.” But that can sound shallow if we leave it at surface level—like we’re just talking about brushing your teeth or wiping down your yoga mat (although this matters too).
Sauca goes much deeper. It’s about purification of body, mind, and spirit.
Sutra II.40 says:
> śaucāt svāṅga-jugupsā parair asaṃsargaḥ
“Through purity, one develops a distaste for one’s own body and a disinclination for contact with others.”
That sounds harsh until you realize it’s pointing us toward clarity. When we practice purity, we stop being so identified with the body and its messiness. We stop clinging to what is temporary, and we begin to crave something higher—truth, connection, freedom.
And Sutra II.41 tells us what happens when purity is cultivated:
> sattva-śuddhi-saumanasyaikāgryendriya-jaya-ātma-darśana-yogyatvāni ca
“Purification brings clarity of mind, cheerfulness, focus, mastery of the senses, and fitness for self-realization.”
In other words: when we stop running from the mess in our lives, when we purify by facing it, clearing it, and making space, we become fit for awakening.
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Purity as Power
For me, purity has never been about being untouchable, holy, or perfect. It’s about honesty. Looking straight at the mess, naming it, and refusing to let it drain me any longer.
That’s Sauca. It’s cleaning house inside and out, not to look good, but to free up energy for what actually matters.
When I see my resistance, I can dissolve it.
When I stop avoiding, I stop leaking. And then? That energy is mine again. And I get to aim it toward my dreams, my growth, my service, my love.
Purity is power reclaimed.
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Bringing It to the Mat
On the mat, Sauca can be as simple as:
Clearing away distractions so you can actually breathe.
Moving intentionally so you don’t clutter the body with strain.
Noticing the mental chatter, and then letting it go instead of recycling it.
It’s less about “Do I look pure?” and more about “Am I clearing what clouds my awareness right now?”
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A Closing Thought
If purity sounds intimidating, let it land differently: it’s not about being stainless—it’s about being willing. Willing to look, willing to grow, willing to face yourself again and again.
That willingness is purity. That honesty is purity. That courage is purity.
And that’s where the power begins.
**If you’re ready to explore Sauca in your own practice—clearing what drains you and reclaiming your power—I’d love to walk that path with you. You can dive deeper in private lessons with me, where we focus on your unique journey, or join our group classes to feel the energy of community supporting your growth.
Either way, the practice is here to help you create space, clarity, and strength for your wildest dreams.
Namaste,
Amanda