Welcome to Day 4 of International Week of Yoga: Movement, Meditation, Spirit & the Divine Feminine.

In this episode, we explore the many spiritual paths of yoga and how yoga is not a one-size-fits-all practice. While many people think of yoga as physical movement or postures, yoga offers many doorways into healing, self-awareness, devotion, meditation, service, sacred sound, energy, and rest.

This episode introduces major paths of yoga including Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra or Japa Yoga, and Yoga Nidra. Each path offers a different way to connect with the body, mind, soul, and Divine.

You may be drawn to one path more than another, and your practice may change depending on the season of life you are in. Some people come to yoga through movement. Others come through devotion, study, chanting, service, meditation, energy work, or deep rest.

There are many ways to come home to the Divine.

In This Episode, You’ll Explore

• Why yoga is not one-size-fits-all
• How different people are drawn to different forms of yoga
• Bhakti Yoga as the path of devotion, prayer, chanting, and surrender
• Jnana Yoga as the path of wisdom, study, inquiry, and truth
• Karma Yoga as the path of service, compassion, and sacred action
• Raja Yoga as the royal path of meditation, discipline, and mastery of the mind
• Hatha Yoga as the path of body, breath, energy, and preparation for meditation
• Kundalini Yoga as the path of spiritual energy and life force awakening
• Mantra or Japa Yoga as the path of sacred sound and divine vibration
• Yoga Nidra as the path of conscious rest, nervous system healing, and spiritual restoration
• How to choose the path of yoga that supports your body, energy, and soul

Main Paths of Yoga

1. Bhakti Yoga — The Path of Devotion

Love, prayer, chanting, worship, surrender, and devotion to the Divine.

2. Jnana Yoga — The Path of Wisdom

Study, reflection, inquiry, and the search for truth.

3. Karma Yoga — The Path of Service

Selfless action, compassion, and sacred service without attachment to reward.

4. Raja Yoga — The Royal Path

Meditation, discipline, concentration, and mastery of the mind.

5. Hatha Yoga — The Path of Body and Energy

Physical postures, breathwork, energy balance, and preparation for meditation.

6. Kundalini Yoga — The Path of Spiritual Energy

Awakening life force energy through breath, mantra, movement, meditation, and awareness.

7. Mantra or Japa Yoga — The Path of Sacred Sound

Repeating sacred words, names, or phrases to focus the mind and connect with divine vibration.

8. Yoga Nidra — The Path of Conscious Rest

Deep guided relaxation, inner awareness, nervous system healing, and spiritual restoration.

Spiritual Reflection

There are many ways to come home to the Divine.

Yoga can be devotion, wisdom, service, meditation, movement, breath, energy, sacred sound, or rest. The invitation is to discover which doorway is calling to you in this season of life.

Journal Prompt

Which path of yoga feels most natural to me: devotion, wisdom, service, meditation, movement, sound, energy, or rest?

You may also reflect on:

• Which path am I already practicing?
• Which path have I been resisting?
• Which path does my body need right now?
• Which path does my soul long for?
• Which path feels like medicine in this season of my life?

Closing Practice

Choose one simple path to practice today:

• Chant if sacred sound is calling you.
• Serve if Karma Yoga is calling you.
• Study if wisdom is calling you.
• Breathe if life force awareness is calling you.
• Move if the body is calling you.
• Rest if restoration is calling you.
• Meditate if stillness is calling you.
• Pray if devotion is calling you.

Repeat:

There are many ways to come home.

There are many doorways to the Divine.

Today, I choose the path that supports my soul.

Links

Listen to the podcast:

https://www.bertena.org/en/podcast

View the full International Week of Yoga schedule:

https://bertena.ezycourse.com/en/international-week-of-yoga

Keywords

paths of yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Japa Yoga, Yoga Nidra, yoga as spiritual practice, yoga for beginners, yoga beyond the poses, yoga and devotion, yoga and meditation, yoga and service, yoga and sacred sound, yoga and rest, yoga and Divine Feminine, priestess path, sacred embodiment, International Day of Yoga, International Week of Yoga, yoga podcast, spiritual yoga podcast, Bertena, The Spiritual Sanctuary Podcast

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Day 4: The Paths of Yoga — Many Doorways to the Divine

Main Focus

Explore the major spiritual paths of yoga and how different people may be drawn to different forms of practice.

Key Talking Points

Yoga is not one-size-fits-all. There are many paths.

Main Paths of Yoga

1. Bhakti Yoga — The Path of Devotion

Love, prayer, chanting, worship, surrender, and devotion to the Divine.

2. Jnana Yoga — The Path of Wisdom

Study, reflection, inquiry, and the search for truth.

3. Karma Yoga — The Path of Service

Selfless action, compassion, and sacred service without attachment to reward.

4. Raja Yoga — The Royal Path

Meditation, discipline, concentration, and mastery of the mind.

5. Hatha Yoga — The Path of Body and Energy

Physical postures, breathwork, energy balance, and preparation for meditation.

6. Kundalini Yoga — The Path of Spiritual Energy

Awakening life force energy through breath, mantra, movement, meditation, and awareness.

7. Mantra or Japa Yoga — The Path of Sacred Sound

Repeating sacred words, names, or phrases to focus the mind and connect with divine vibration.

8. Yoga Nidra — The Path of Conscious Rest

Deep guided relaxation, inner awareness, nervous system healing, and spiritual restoration.

Spiritual Reflection

There are many ways to come home to the Divine.

Journal Prompt

Which path of yoga feels most natural to me: devotion, wisdom, service, meditation, movement, sound, energy, or rest?

Closing Practice

Invite listeners to choose one simple path to practice today: chant, serve, study, breathe, move, rest, or meditate.

SEO-Rich Podcast Title

The Paths of Yoga Explained: Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, Raja, Hatha, Kundalini, Mantra, and Yoga Nidra | International Week of Yoga Day 4

Alternate SEO Title Options

International Week of Yoga Day 4: The Many Paths of Yoga and Doorways to the Divine

Yoga Is Not One-Size-Fits-All: Exploring the Spiritual Paths of Yoga

The Sacred Paths of Yoga: Devotion, Wisdom, Service, Meditation, Energy, Sound, and Rest

________________________________________

Podcast Script

International Week of Yoga: Movement, Meditation, Spirit & the Divine Feminine

Day 4: The Paths of Yoga — Many Doorways to the Divine

Hello and welcome to The Spiritual Sanctuary: Wisdom for the Divine Feminine.

I’m Bertena, Priestess and Spiritual Coach, and I am so happy to welcome you to Day 4 of our special series, International Week of Yoga: Movement, Meditation, Spirit & the Divine Feminine.

So far in this series, we have explored yoga as more than movement. We began with the deeper meaning of yoga as union, connection, and a practice of returning home to yourself. Then we took a gentle journey into the history of yoga and its ancient roots. Yesterday, we explored the 8 limbs of yoga as a spiritual map for living.

Today, we are going to explore the many paths of yoga.

And this is such a beautiful topic because it reminds us that yoga is not one-size-fits-all.

There are many ways to practice yoga.

There are many ways to come home to yourself.

There are many ways to connect with the Divine.

Some people are naturally drawn to devotion. Some are drawn to study. Some are drawn to service. Some are drawn to meditation. Some are drawn to movement. Some are drawn to energy work. Some are drawn to chanting. Some are drawn to rest.

And all of these can become doorways into yoga.

This is important because sometimes people think, “I’m not good at yoga,” because they are only thinking about physical postures.

But yoga is much wider than that.

Maybe you are not drawn to a strong physical practice, but you love chanting, prayer, or devotion.

Maybe you struggle to sit in silent meditation, but you feel deeply connected through service.

Maybe you do not enjoy fast movement, but you love gentle breathwork, Yoga Nidra, or somatic rest.

Maybe you are deeply curious and love spiritual study, sacred texts, philosophy, and reflection.

Maybe your path is energy, mantra, sound, meditation, or sacred movement.

There is room for all of this in yoga.

Today’s spiritual reflection is:

There are many ways to come home to the Divine.

So let’s explore some of the major paths of yoga and how they may show up in your life.

________________________________________

Bhakti Yoga — The Path of Devotion

The first path we will explore is Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion.

Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love, prayer, surrender, worship, chanting, and devotion to the Divine.

This is the path of the heart.

Bhakti Yoga is not about intellectual understanding first. It is about love. It is about relationship. It is about opening the heart to something greater than ourselves.

For some people, Bhakti Yoga may look like prayer.

For others, it may look like chanting sacred names.

It may look like singing.

It may look like lighting a candle at an altar.

It may look like offering flowers, water, incense, or gratitude.

It may look like speaking to the Divine as Mother, Goddess, God, Spirit, Source, or Beloved.

It may look like devotional music, sacred poetry, or tears of release during meditation.

Bhakti Yoga reminds us that love itself can be a spiritual practice.

It teaches us that we do not always have to understand everything with the mind. Sometimes we open through the heart.

For those on the Divine Feminine path, Bhakti Yoga can feel very natural. It connects beautifully with goddess devotion, altar work, sacred songs, prayer, ritual, and offerings.

You might practice Bhakti Yoga by placing your hands on your heart and saying:

“Divine Mother, guide me.”

Or:

“May my heart be open.”

Or:

“I surrender what I cannot carry.”

The path of devotion teaches us that yoga can be love in motion.

________________________________________

Jnana Yoga — The Path of Wisdom

The second path is Jnana Yoga, the path of wisdom.

Jnana Yoga is the yoga of study, reflection, inquiry, and the search for truth.

This is the path for the seeker, the student, the questioner, the philosopher, and the one who wants to understand the deeper nature of life.

Jnana Yoga asks questions like:

Who am I?

What is real?

What is the nature of the soul?

What is the difference between the ego and the true self?

What is illusion?

What is liberation?

This path often includes studying sacred texts, reflecting on spiritual teachings, journaling, meditating on truth, and questioning the stories we have believed about ourselves and the world.

Jnana Yoga is not simply collecting information.

It is not about knowing more just to know more.

It is wisdom that transforms us.

It asks us to look beneath the surface.

To question false identity.

To notice where we are attached to illusion, fear, ego, or old stories.

To ask: What is my deeper truth?

For those who love books, sacred study, journaling, and deep spiritual conversations, Jnana Yoga may feel like home.

You might practice Jnana Yoga by reading a sacred text, reflecting on a spiritual teaching, or journaling with the question:

“What truth is my soul asking me to see?”

The path of wisdom reminds us that yoga can be sacred inquiry.

________________________________________

Karma Yoga — The Path of Service

The third path is Karma Yoga, the path of service.

Karma Yoga is the yoga of selfless action, compassion, sacred service, and doing what is ours to do without attachment to reward.

This path teaches us that our actions can become offerings.

Service can become yoga.

Compassion can become yoga.

Work can become yoga.

Caregiving can become yoga.

Community support can become yoga.

The key teaching of Karma Yoga is to act with integrity and love, while releasing attachment to the outcome.

This can be difficult because many of us want to know that our efforts will be recognized, rewarded, or appreciated. But Karma Yoga invites us to serve because service itself is sacred.

This does not mean overgiving.

This does not mean abandoning boundaries.

This does not mean exhausting yourself in the name of spirituality.

True Karma Yoga is not people-pleasing. It is not self-sacrifice to the point of depletion.

It is sacred action rooted in love, integrity, and awareness.

You can practice Karma Yoga by helping someone without needing praise.

You can practice it by offering your gifts to your community.

You can practice it by showing kindness in an ordinary moment.

You can practice it by doing your work with care.

You can practice it by dedicating an action to the Divine.

For those on the priestess path, Karma Yoga connects deeply with sacred service. A priestess serves from connection, not depletion. She offers from devotion, not obligation.

The path of service reminds us that yoga can be lived through compassionate action.

________________________________________

Raja Yoga — The Royal Path

The fourth path is Raja Yoga, often called the royal path.

Raja Yoga is connected to meditation, discipline, concentration, and mastery of the mind.

This path is closely associated with Patanjali’s 8 limbs of yoga, which we explored in Day 3.

Raja Yoga teaches us that the mind can be trained.

Not punished.

Not controlled with harshness.

But trained gently and steadily through practice.

This path includes ethics, self-discipline, posture, breathwork, sense withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and spiritual union.

Raja Yoga is for those who feel drawn to meditation, inner discipline, focus, and deep spiritual practice.

It invites us to become aware of our thoughts.

To notice our patterns.

To observe the mind rather than being ruled by it.

To create stillness.

To cultivate presence.

To move toward union.

A simple Raja Yoga practice might be sitting quietly for five minutes and focusing on the breath.

Or practicing one-pointed concentration with a candle flame.

Or setting a daily meditation routine.

Or choosing one ethical teaching to practice throughout the day.

Raja Yoga reminds us that the mind can become a doorway to liberation when it is guided with awareness.

________________________________________

Hatha Yoga — The Path of Body and Energy

The fifth path is Hatha Yoga, the path of body and energy.

Hatha Yoga is one of the paths most familiar to modern practitioners because it includes physical postures, breathwork, energy balance, and preparation for meditation.

The word “hatha” is often interpreted symbolically as the union of sun and moon energies — active and receptive, masculine and feminine, effort and surrender.

Hatha Yoga reminds us that the body is part of the spiritual path.

The body is not separate from practice.

The body is not something to overcome.

The body can be a sacred vessel.

Through posture, breath, and energy awareness, Hatha Yoga helps prepare us for meditation and deeper spiritual connection.

It may include gentle poses, stronger postures, breath practices, relaxation, and awareness of energy moving through the body.

Hatha Yoga can be practiced slowly and mindfully.

It can be adapted for different bodies.

It can be done with props, chairs, blankets, walls, or modifications.

It does not have to be intense to be powerful.

When practiced with intention, even a simple posture becomes a prayer of presence.

The path of body and energy reminds us that yoga can be embodied spirituality.

________________________________________

Kundalini Yoga — The Path of Spiritual Energy

The sixth path is Kundalini Yoga, the path of spiritual energy.

Kundalini Yoga focuses on awakening life force energy through breath, mantra, movement, meditation, and awareness.

Kundalini is often described as dormant spiritual energy resting at the base of the spine. Through practice, this energy may awaken and rise through the energy centers, bringing greater awareness, transformation, and spiritual connection.

Kundalini Yoga can include kriyas, breathwork, chanting, mudras, meditation, repetitive movement, and energy practices.

This path can be powerful because it works directly with energy.

For some people, Kundalini Yoga feels like awakening, clarity, activation, devotion, and transformation.

For others, it may need to be approached gently and slowly, especially if the nervous system is sensitive.

As with all spiritual practices, discernment matters.

It is important to honor your body, listen to your energy, and practice with grounded awareness.

Kundalini Yoga connects beautifully with the Divine Feminine through the concept of Shakti, the sacred life force energy that animates creation.

Shakti is creative power.

Spiritual energy.

Divine movement.

The current of life itself.

For those walking the priestess path, Kundalini Yoga can offer a way to connect with inner fire, intuition, voice, energy, and spiritual awakening.

The path of spiritual energy reminds us that yoga can awaken the sacred life force within.

________________________________________

Mantra or Japa Yoga — The Path of Sacred Sound

The seventh path is Mantra Yoga or Japa Yoga, the path of sacred sound.

This path involves repeating sacred words, names, syllables, or phrases to focus the mind and connect with divine vibration.

Mantra can be spoken, whispered, sung, or repeated silently.

Japa is the repetition of mantra, often with mala beads.

Sound is powerful.

Words carry vibration.

Repetition shapes the mind.

Sacred sound can calm the nervous system, focus awareness, open the heart, and create a sense of connection with the Divine.

A mantra might be a Sanskrit mantra, a goddess name, a prayer phrase, or a sacred affirmation.

For example, someone may repeat:

Om.

So Hum.

Om Shanti.

I am peace.

Divine Mother, guide me.

I return to myself.

When repeated with devotion and awareness, mantra becomes more than words. It becomes a spiritual current.

For people who struggle with silent meditation, mantra can be incredibly supportive because it gives the mind something sacred to hold.

Japa Yoga can also feel very priestess-like because it connects sound, devotion, repetition, rhythm, and ritual.

You might light a candle, hold your mala beads, and repeat one sacred phrase 108 times.

The path of sacred sound reminds us that vibration can become prayer.

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Yoga Nidra — The Path of Conscious Rest

The eighth path we will explore today is Yoga Nidra, the path of conscious rest.

Yoga Nidra is often called yogic sleep, but it is not simply sleep. It is a guided practice that brings the body into deep relaxation while awareness remains present.

Yoga Nidra can support nervous system healing, emotional restoration, inner awareness, and spiritual rest.

This practice is especially meaningful because so many people are exhausted.

Many people are overwhelmed, overstimulated, and disconnected from rest.

Yoga Nidra teaches us that rest is not laziness.

Rest can be sacred.

Rest can be healing.

Rest can be spiritual.

Rest can be a doorway into the soul.

During Yoga Nidra, you are usually lying down and guided through body awareness, breath awareness, intention, and deep relaxation.

It is accessible for many people because it does not require physical movement.

You do not have to be flexible.

You do not have to sit still in silence.

You simply receive the practice.

For those on the Divine Feminine path, Yoga Nidra connects deeply with receptivity, surrender, inner listening, and the womb-like space of restoration.

It invites us into the sacred feminine wisdom of being rather than always doing.

The path of conscious rest reminds us that stillness can be a doorway to the Divine.

________________________________________

Yoga Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

As we look at these paths, I want you to notice something.

Yoga is not one-size-fits-all.

You may feel drawn to one path more than another.

You may move through different paths in different seasons of life.

There may be a season when you need Bhakti Yoga because your heart is longing for devotion.

There may be a season when you need Jnana Yoga because your spirit is asking deep questions.

There may be a season when Karma Yoga calls you into sacred service.

There may be a season when Raja Yoga supports your meditation practice.

There may be a season when Hatha Yoga helps you reconnect with your body.

There may be a season when Kundalini Yoga awakens energy and transformation.

There may be a season when Mantra Yoga gives your mind something sacred to hold.

There may be a season when Yoga Nidra is the most healing practice because your soul simply needs rest.

All of these are valid.

All of these can be yoga.

The question is not, “Which path is best?”

The question is:

Which path is calling me right now?

Your answer may change.

And that is okay.

Yoga is a living practice.

It grows with you.

It meets you in different ways.

It offers different medicine for different seasons.

________________________________________

Spiritual Reflection

Today’s spiritual reflection is:

There are many ways to come home to the Divine.

You can come home through prayer.

Through study.

Through service.

Through meditation.

Through movement.

Through breath.

Through energy.

Through sound.

Through rest.

Through devotion.

Through silence.

Through sacred action.

Through the body.

Through the heart.

Through the mind.

Through the soul.

There are many doorways.

And the Divine is not limited to only one of them.

So if one path of yoga has ever felt difficult, inaccessible, or disconnected for you, maybe that does not mean yoga is not for you.

Maybe it simply means another doorway is waiting.

________________________________________

Journal Prompt

Your journal prompt for today is:

Which path of yoga feels most natural to me: devotion, wisdom, service, meditation, movement, sound, energy, or rest?

You may also ask:

Which path am I already practicing?

Which path have I been resisting?

Which path does my body need?

Which path does my soul long for?

Which path feels like medicine in this season of my life?

Let yourself answer honestly.

________________________________________

Closing Practice

Before we close, I invite you to choose one simple path to practice today.

If you feel called to devotion, say a prayer or light a candle.

If you feel called to wisdom, read one sacred passage or journal with a deep question.

If you feel called to service, do one kind thing without needing recognition.

If you feel called to meditation, sit quietly for five minutes.

If you feel called to movement, stretch gently or practice a few mindful postures.

If you feel called to breath, take three slow conscious breaths.

If you feel called to sound, chant, sing, or repeat a mantra.

If you feel called to energy, place your hands on your heart and notice the life force within you.

If you feel called to rest, lie down and allow yourself to receive stillness.

Let it be simple.

Let it be sincere.

Let it be yours.

Take a slow breath in.

And slowly release.

Softly repeat:

There are many ways to come home.

There are many doorways to the Divine.

Today, I choose the path that supports my soul.

Take one more breath.

Thank you for joining me for Day 4 of International Week of Yoga: Movement, Meditation, Spirit & the Divine Feminine.

Tomorrow, we will explore different types of yoga and how to choose the practice that supports your body, energy, and spiritual path.

Until then, may you honor the doorway that is opening for you.

With love,

I’m Bertena, and this is The Spiritual Sanctuary.