January: Now is the Time for Simplicity

Saucha

Inhale, and smile at the many indulgences that filled you up over the holidays.  Smile at the foods, the drinks, the desserts.  

Exhale, and smile with contentment, because you have been filled.  You don’t need any more.  The time of indulgence is over.  Now is the time for simplicity.

Inhale, and take a moment to reflect on other things that filled your cup this holiday season.  Maybe you got your fill of activities, or maybe you got your fill of gifts.  You got your fill. You don’t need to overflow your life with more.  Your cup is just fine the way it is right now.   

Exhale, and think of that which muddied things up a bit this holiday season.  Maybe you didn’t get enough alone time, or exercise, or house-cleaning, or maybe you didn’t receive the touch of a missing loved one.  Acknowledge that your cup, though full, isn’t perfectly crystal clear.  But you are still whole and awesomely ok.  

Yoga describes simplicity as cleanliness or “saucha”.  Saucha is resisting the urge to add more, more, more.  Saucha is resisting the urge to see your life as a perfect gold chalice that requires constant newer and better water.  Instead, saucha reminds us that real life is more like a simple earthen cup, filled with simple (sometimes murky) waters.  

Now is the time for simplicity.  Breathe.

Until next time,

Laura