Greetings!    

Flu season is an ideal time to practice one of yoga's niyamas, or disciplines of self-control:  Saucha, which means purity. This relates both to the internal practice of keeping our hearts and minds pure as well as to the external habits of proper hygiene. 

On a practical level, practicing saucha can reduce the risk of illness, through habits such as hand washing and hygienic food handling.  In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent infection and illness and recommends frequent hand washing--including before, during and after preparing food; before eating food; after using the toilet; after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; after touching an animal, animal feed or animal waste; and after touching garbage.

Rather than view hand washing as a boring task, try turning it into an opportunity to cultivate saucha with this mindful practice:

• Stand tall in front of a sink and take an easy breath.
• Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well--getting the backs, between the fingers and under the nails.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds--the time it would take to hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice.  Or, recite a 20-second prayer, devotional song or mantra.   Be creative -- consider reciting (mentally or aloud) something that makes you smile, such as Happy Birthday to a loved one--living or dead--or a verse from a favorite poem.
• Rinse your hands under running water then dry them with a clean towel.

The principle of saucha is particularly important when traveling, since public areas can put you at increased risk of exposure to disease-causing pathogens.   Certain travel environments may be especially risky, including airplanes--where the air is very dry and contains recirculated particles and germs--and air-conditioned cruise ships that may have high levels of mold in the cabins.  For those times when soap and clean water aren't available, carry alcohol-based sanitizing wipes.  Use them to clean hard surfaces near your seat on an airplane, including the tray table, seatbelt and seat arms.

And remember to breathe through your nose. The yogic practice of breathing through the nose--rather than the mouth--can help reduce your risk of illness, since the nose filters, warms and humidifies the air you breathe.