SPRING CLEAN YOUR YOGA SPACE
The new Spring season often invokes in a lot of us a desire to clear, clean, and organise our spaces ready for the warmer, lighter weather. It is that primal instinct to re-appear from sheltering in the winter and swing the doors wide to let in sun and warmth. In our yoga practice, our environment can make a big difference to your mental state during the practice. During my teacher training there was a big emphasis on ensuring the safety, cleanliness, and vibe of the studio was ready for our students to arrive.
Why clean your yoga space?
To practice yoga is to honour yourself and the ancient lineage of yoga. The first of the five Niyamas (moral values in yogic philosophy), is Saucha meaning “purity” or “cleanliness”. It is a sign of respect to treat your mat and yoga props carefully ensuring they serve their purpose for as long as possible.
I can certainly relate to the phrase “your environment reflects your mind”. An untidy kitchen or room can often make me feel stressed. This is a similar concept to your yoga space.
“Yoga is the quietening of the fluctuations of the mind.”
“Yoga is the quietening of the fluctuations of the mind” (Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 1.2). How are we supposed to quieten any distractions if every time we lower down in Chaturanga you notice that dodgy mark on your mat? Or, have to kick away clutter when you roll into Wild Thing?
Here are three ways you can cleanse your yoga space:
1. Clean your mat
I am guilty of not doing this often enough, and cleaning modern yoga mats is a delicate process. At Balance + Glo we love the island-based brand “One Happy Yogi” for grippy, yet cushioned yoga mats. They suggest:
“Wipe with warm water using a soft non-abrasive cloth or sponge. If required, add a very small amount of mild detergent or lemon juice to the water. Never use harsh chemical cleaning products on your mat. We recommend you clean your mat every 5-10 uses but if you regularly practise in sweaty conditions you may wish to clean your mat more frequently. Never soak or submerge in water, and do not put in a washing machine! Regular cleaning will help preserve the grippy surface by removing oils and slippery substances.” (One Happy Yogi)
2. Arrive 5 minutes early to you zoom
The convenience of Zoom classes means that you can leave it right until the last minute to come onto your mat.
If, however, you can aim to arrive just 5 minutes early it gives you the opportunity to have a quick tidy of you space, gather your props, and maybe sneak in 2 minutes of grounding on your mat. You’ll notice how it helps you slip into the present moment in the class, reduces your distractions, and reinforces the positive impact yoga can have on your life.
3. Burn a candle or Palo Santo
Before each class I teach I burn Palo Santo a sacred tree native to South America. Indigenous Latin American communities have used the wood in traditional cleansing ceremonies for centuries and its name literally translates to “holy wood”. When you burn the wood is produced a strong, yet relaxing scent that cleanses your space.
Little rituals like burning Palo Santo or lighting a candle can be helpful to get you in the frame of mind for your practice as you brain starts to associate the smell or action with relaxation.
To burn Palo Santo you light one end so it holds a flame, then blow it out and smudge the smoke around the room.
Side note: be careful you check the sustainability of the Palo Santo seller. Panto Santo only produces the signature scent after years of dying. It is important we buy from companies that only harvest the Palo Santo if a tree has died naturally. I use St Palo to buy mine.
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