111: What Is Yoga? The Deeper Meaning Beyond the Poses | International Week of Yoga Day 1

Welcome to Day 1 of International Week of Yoga: Movement, Meditation, Spirit & the Divine Feminine.In this opening episode, we begin with one of the most important questions: What is yoga?Yoga is often seen in modern culture as stretching, fitness, flexibility, or physical exercise. But the deeper meaning of yoga is much more sacred and expansive. The word yoga is often translated as union, connection, or yoking together. It is the practice of bringing together the body, breath, mind, spirit, and the Divine.In this episode, Bertena introduces yoga as a spiritual, philosophical, and embodied practice. You will be invited to explore yoga beyond the poses and begin seeing it as a path of self-awareness, healing, devotion, liberation, and sacred connection.This episode is especially supportive for beginners, spiritual seekers, women on the Divine Feminine path, and anyone who has ever felt that yoga was not accessible to them.You do not have to be flexible, young, thin, athletic, experienced, or perfect to practice yoga. Yoga can meet you exactly where you are.Yoga can be practiced through movement, breathwork, meditation, mantra, prayer, Yoga Nidra, somatic movement, chair yoga, bed yoga, and sacred rest.At its heart, yoga is the practice of returning home to yourself.In This Episode, You’ll ExploreThe deeper meaning of the word yogaYoga as union, connection, and coming home to yourselfHow yoga connects body, breath, mind, spirit, and the DivineWhy yoga is more than stretching or exerciseYoga as a complete spiritual systemYoga as a path of self-awareness, healing, discipline, and liberationWhy yoga does not require flexibility, youth, thinness, or perfectionHow accessible yoga can include chair yoga, bed yoga, somatic yoga, breathwork, meditation, mantra, and Yoga NidraHow yoga can support the Divine Feminine and priestess pathA simple closing breath practice and affirmationSpiritual ReflectionYoga is the practice of returning home to yourself.Yoga does not ask you to become someone else. It invites you to return to your breath, your body, your spirit, your intuition, and your inner truth.Journal PromptWhere in my life do I feel disconnected from my body, breath, spirit, or inner truth?Take time after the episode to write, meditate, pull a card, or simply sit with this question.Closing PracticeTake three slow breaths and repeat:I return to myself.I honor my body.I welcome peace.LinksListen to the podcast:https://www.bertena.org/en/podcastView the full International Week of Yoga schedule:https://bertena.ezycourse.com/en/international-week-of-yogaKeywordsWhat is yoga, meaning of yoga, yoga beyond the poses, International Day of Yoga, International Week of Yoga, yoga as spiritual practice, yoga for beginners, accessible yoga, somatic yoga, chair yoga, bed yoga, Yoga Nidra, breathwork, meditation, mantra, Divine Feminine yoga, priestess path, sacred embodiment, yoga for mind body soul, spiritual yoga podcast, Bertena, The Spiritual Sanctuary Podcast🎧 Listen & SubscribeFind Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/1pNkD0FKF4TpgzcRFQQrhASubscribe to my newsletter here Help Support the Sanctuary here🤍 Podcast Sponsor: Cosmic Connections NashvilleThis episode is proudly sponsored by Cosmic Connections, a beloved metaphysical shop and spiritual community in Nashville.🎁 Listener perks:Discounts on online purchases use bertenapodcast10 for 10% offEntry into a gift card drawing when you comment on the episode or share it on social media and tag @bertena11Supporting Cosmic Connections helps sustain a heart-centered spiritual space for seekers, healers, and practitioners.👉 Visit Cosmic Connections: https://yourcosmicconnections.com