141: Yoga Has a History: Honoring Its Roots | South Asian Origins, Yoga Philosophy & Respectful Practice | - Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine | Lyssna här

Yoga has a history, and honoring its roots matters. In this beginner-friendly episode of Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine, Bertena explores yoga’s South Asian roots, the diversity of yoga traditions, and why learning yoga with curiosity and respect is so important.

This is Week Three of the 15 Weeks of Yoga series, and in this episode, we talk about how yoga is much more than modern postures or a fitness trend. Bertena offers an accessible introduction to yoga history, including the importance of South Asia in yoga’s development, the role of traditional texts, and the need to approach yoga as a rich and evolving tradition rather than a single simplified system.

You’ll also hear reflection on the Yoga Sutra associated with Patanjali, the eight-limbed path, and why that framework is influential but not the whole story of yoga. This episode encourages both students and teachers to practice humility, context, and respect as they continue learning.

If you are new to yoga, this episode reminds you that you do not need to know everything before beginning. You can start where you are, enjoy a gentle practice, and remain open to the deeper philosophical, contemplative, and cultural roots of yoga. If you are a teacher, this is also an invitation to study beyond the poses and to give credit and context to the traditions that inform what you teach.

In this episode, we explore:

Yoga’s roots in South Asia
Why yoga is more than poses or fitness
The importance of learning yoga history with humility
The Rig Veda and early references to yoga
The Yoga Sutra and the eight limbs of yoga
Why no single book or teacher tells the whole story
How modern yoga developed through tradition, adaptation, and global exchange
Ways students and teachers can honor yoga’s roots in practical everyday ways
A simple curiosity pause activity to support deeper learning

Curiosity Pause Activity

Take a comfortable seat and ask yourself:

What is one thing I would like to understand better about yoga history or philosophy?

It might be a Sanskrit word, a yoga text, a practice, or a question about how yoga evolved over time. You do not need to solve it right away. Let it become a doorway to future learning.