Hello there,

I’m excited to be back in your inbox after such a long break. Returning to teaching has made me realise how much I’d missed sharing all this cool stuff with you delightful people.

With Spring starting here in Oz (and summer vacations ending in Europe), there might be a sense of wanting to start fresh. I certainly felt like going on a bit of a spring clean after months of feasting, drinking & bouncing around!

If you’ve been in class with me lately, you might’ve heard me talk about Saucha - a Sanskrit term which means cleanliness or purification.

Saucha is one of the 5 Niyamas, a set of essential practices for personal growth according to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a +2,500 years old guide for leading a meaningful life. (Learn more here)

When I first heard of it I brushed this Saucha idea off as a side note meant for people living in the Middle Ages who didn’t take baths very often. It didn’t seem that relevant today (except perhaps when you turn up to yoga class hangover and have to work 10x harder to clean up your act.. we’ve all been there).

As it turns out, this principle goes way beyond keeping our body healthy. It’s also about cultivating clarity of mind & positive emotions - which for most humans has become more challenging with modern times, not less.

Think about how a typical day feels for you.

Are you easily overwhelmed? Always rushed? Bombarded by distractions? Overloaded with unnecessary things? Stuck in negative loops?

Welcome to the 21st century!

My personal experience of Saucha has been about putting order to this internal chaos through mindful living as well as a meditation practice.


This is where the power of habits can be tremendous: how we care for our surroundings, what we consume (physically & mentally), how we spend our time and with whom - all have a huge impact on our internal state.

Being back home, I was constantly reminded of this idea… by none less than my mum! Whether she summoned me to tidy up my room, fed me delicious nourishing food, shared with me her favourite books, or showed me her beauty rituals, her daily refinement is an inspiration to move through the world with more attention, care and purpose.

It’s not about adding more to your to-do list either. Think little rituals of self-care to enliven your day, short restful pauses to be more present.

As Leonardo Da Vinci reminds us: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Rather than trying to transform our lives in big sweeping resolutions that are hard to keep, we’re often better served by making simple micro-changes. (A really helpful read I recommend for this is Atomic Habits by James Clear.)
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🌸 What habits/practices would you like to pick up and/or drop to help clear your body, mind, heart?
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Feel free to hit reply and share with me :)

Lou