Ask Yogi: What is Sangha?

Ask Yogi: Looking at our Yoga Roots

What is “Sangha”?

Sangha is Sanskrit for community, referred to in Wiki as an “association, assembly, company or community with common goal, vision or purpose”.  The Sangha is maintained by the community via the daily practice of rituals and observance of rules of behavior and conduct characteristic of the Buddha.   In the Buddhist sense the Sangha, or community has four common characteristics:

1. practicing the good way
2. practicing the upright way
3. practicing the knowledgeable or logical way
4. practicing the proper way;

In looser terms Sangha can also mean your ‘yoga community’ – or the group of people you practice yoga with on a regular basis.  Every yoga class is its own ‘Sangha’, created between the participants (teachers and students) by the rituals and norms of the typical yoga class.  Most of us take the Sangha for granted and only notice it when someone breaks the Sangha, by leaving the room or distracting other yogis, and thus disrupts the circle and flow of energy in the class.


The Sangha is often symbolized by the Lotus Flower or the Dharma Wheel. The lotus is deep-rooted in mud but the blossom is open in the sun and it shows very attractive and fragrant. In Buddhism the lotus represents the real character of beings, which rise through “samsara” which is a process of defining the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Dharma Wheel is comprised of eight spokes that represent the eightfold Buddhist path (similar to the eight limbs of yoga referenced in previous columns).  The shape of the circle represents the perfection and continuity of the Sangha; the hub stands for discipline, which is the essential core of asana and meditation practice; and the rim, which holds the spokes, refers to mindfulness (Samadhi), or state of consciousness induced by complete meditation, which holds everything together.

The Dharma Wheel

Source: Wikipedia

Ask Yogi- What is Saucha?

What is Saucha?

The Sanskrit translation of Saucha is ‘purity and cleanliness.’  Within the eight limbs of yoga, Saucha is the first of the five Niyama’s (personal observances for coming to terms with oneself).  The interpretation of ‘purity and cleanliness’ differs depending on each individual.  The practice of Saucha is particularly relevant during the early Spring when many yogis have the seasonal urge to engage in some “Spring Cleaning” of home and lifestyle.  Saucha typically has both inner (heart and mind) and outer (body and environment) aspects.  Outer purity means keeping our bodies and yoga gear (matt, towel, clothes) clean - something to keep in mind at HBHY as the weather gets warm!  Inner cleanliness has to do with the quality of our relationships and the clarity of our mind. The yogi practicing Saucha seeks to cleanse the mind of its “clutter” and stressful emotions, and to be open and clear in his or her actions and interactions both on and off the yoga matt. 

Practicing Saucha

Yoga: Any twisting yoga posture (i.e. seaated Ardha Matsyendrasana, half spinal twist) facilities Saucha because twists squeeze toxins out of our organs like a washcloth, releasing old energy, and making space for new revitalized energy to enter our body. 

Body/Diet:  shower daily, consume plenty of fresh, chemical-free, unprocessed foods and pure water, avoid eating meat and fast food

Environment:  recycle, ride your bike, skip the perfume or cologne, clean your work area of clutter, rid your home of clutter

Heart/Mind: Relationships:  let go of toxic people, tell your family and friends “I love you”, smile at strangers, meditate regularly, let go of anger

Image Source: http://www.hangrypants.com/2011/03/yoga-has-eight-limbs/