Cleanse Journal Day 6

Yogic principle for the day: the external discipline of BODILY PURIFICATION.

What does this principle mean to me?
Instead of focusing on the spirit, we over-indulge and imbalance the mind and body. Purification returns balance to the mind and body, without ahimsa.

Purification goes beyond a superficial cleansing of the skin, positive thinking, or eating a clean diet, and involves prevention of future imbalances.

On the mind-body level, purification triggers the healing of negative emotions.

On a practical, physical level, purification promotes a host of benefits: youthing, flexibility, healthy weight, immunity, the release of toxins stuck in the tissues, regulated breath, and the free flow of Prana.

Patanjali says in Sutra II.40-41. "Through its effective practice of physical purity, attachments to toxins and corruptive forces disappear naturally as natural instinctual or intuitive catharsis or revulsion and as such one rids oneself of their noxious influence directly proportionately as to the development of the inner wisdom. Also through both internal and external purity (saucha) of the body, psychic environment, and through the removal of the occlusions of consciousness, there is achieved balance, cheerfulness, one-pointedness, harmony of the senses, and yogic vision. Here one is no longer attracted by corruptive influences because one has established (and is happily rooted within) an inner energetic freedom."

Purification of the body has an easy, direct influence upon spiritual consciousness. Patanjali describes the practice of Saucha (purification), as a niyama, as a beneficial aid toward realizing the goal of yoga (samadhi).

In The Sunfood Success System David Wolfe suggests that as you cleanse within, you express the virtues and become beautiful without. Outer beauty is a reflection of inner beauty. You will look more beautiful. You will attract beautiful events and experiences and realize instant karma as amazing synchronicities occur.

When administered prudently, purification is a safe way to unfold spiritual awareness, unconditional love and compassion.

How do I honour it on a daily basis? What could I improve?
Love and clean food, clean air, bathing, exercise, pure thoughts, visualization or dharana, sweating, fasting, tapas, vairaga, pranayama, asana, meditation, nature all work together to cleanse. Asana practice affects the mind/body, creates lightness, removes dross, as well as purifies. An environment of friendly animals and natural flora living in a mutually beneficial way will manifest spiritual consciousness. There are other cleansing activities that affect the mental/emotional and energy bodies; these can be further explored at a later date.

Observations regarding the practice of my assignments:

Day 6 was, again, enjoyable. In the evening, I met with two other members of the Cleanse class and the instructor at Renaissance Yoga.

My body felt great, once again, when I awoke. Zero back-of-the-throat soreness. I performed a neti-pot nasal cleanse.

Sleep record:
I was not so tired Wednesday night and had yet another long, satisfying rest, up to 10 hours. Perhaps I should be sleeping less. I am still considering adjusting sleep patterns.

Additional thoughts or feelings:
I’m getting it. My unique schedule has emerged; I can still tinker with it. Again, negative thoughts and memories did not pester me. In fact, I got a lot of work done and received more news.