While the yamas are about our relationship with others, the niyamas are about the relationship we have with our Self. The first of the five niyamas is saucha. Saucha is a Sanskrit word often translated as โpurityโ or โcleanlinessโ. It refers to cleaning at many levels - the physical and mental levels, as well as the internal and external. If correctly practiced, saucha has a profound effect on our total well-being.