Some Musings on Yoga and 'Spirituality'
- sjholisticyoga
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Recently, I saw someone on social media asking for “spiritual focused yoga — not just exercise yoga.” And it gave me pause. Not because it was a strange question, but because it’s one I see time and again.
There’s this idea floating around that there’s “spiritual yoga” on one hand, and “exercise yoga” on the other — like they’re two separate things, two different clubs you can join. But here’s a gentle truth: any yoga that honours its roots is spiritual. Always.
It might be gentle or challenging, quiet or flowing — but authentic yoga is always pointing us back to something deeper than just physical movement.
What Yoga Has Always Been
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke” or “to unite.” At its essence, yoga is a system of connection — with ourselves, with others, with nature, with the world around us. It includes movement (asana), but it also provides breathwork (pranayama), ethical living (yamas and niyamas), meditation, self-inquiry, and a recognition of something beyond the surface layers of life.
Even the physical postures were originally designed to support stillness, to prepare the body for meditation. It was never just about the body. It was always about the whole self.
The Myth of “Exercise Yoga”
In modern gyms and fast-paced cultures, yoga has often been reduced to something you do to “get toned” or “stretch out.” There’s nothing wrong with movement for its own sake — joyful movement is a beautiful thing. But when breath, awareness, and inner reflection are stripped away, respectfully, it’s no longer yoga.
It becomes fitness — more like callisthenics or Pilates, each very beautiful and with their own valid purpose, but very different from yoga’s intention to guide us inward.
So when people ask for “spiritual yoga,” what they are often really asking for is yoga that hasn’t forgotten itself. Yoga that feels like a homecoming rather than just a workout. Yoga that helps us settle the mind, feel into our hearts, and reconnect.
What If You Don’t Like the Word “Spiritual”?
Now, on the other side of the conversation, there are those for whom the word spiritual feels uncomfortable — a bit airy-fairy, perhaps, or tied up with ideas that don’t sit well.
That’s completely valid too.
But here’s the thing: yoga doesn’t demand that you believe in anything outside yourself. Spirituality in yoga isn’t about religion or dogma. It’s about presence.
It’s about becoming more aware of yourself, noticing your patterns, building compassion, finding steadiness in a changing world. That’s spiritual work — even if you never call it that.
For some, it’s connecting to the breath. For others, it’s reconnecting to the body after stress or trauma. For some, it’s a sense of belonging in the broader web of life. For others, it’s simply carving out a little pocket of peace in a busy day. You don’t have to label it spiritual. The beauty of yoga is that it meets you where you are.
How to Find Authentic Yoga
If you’re searching for yoga that honours these roots, you might look for words like authentic, traditional, philosophy-based, holistic, or mindful in the class description.
However, the best way to find out is to ask.
Here are some simple, respectful questions you could ask a teacher before attending a class:
Do you incorporate breathwork or meditation in your classes?
Do you ever explore any of the philosophy or history of yoga?
Is your class suitable for beginners seeking a more in-depth experience, one that goes beyond just physical exercise?
How do you balance the physical and the mindful elements of yoga in your teaching?
Do you offer any guidance on relaxation, reflection, or inward connection during class?
A good teacher will be delighted to answer these questions. And the way they respond will tell you a lot about whether their classes are the right fit for you.
A Note on My Classes
In my own classes, I always weave together breath, movement, stillness, and simple reflections on yoga philosophy. I believe yoga should be accessible, grounding, and nourishing — a space where you can stretch both your body and your inner landscape. Whether you join me for a gentle practice or a stronger session, you’ll always find room for self-connection, kindness, and curiosity.
I live my yoga — it’s not something I leave on the mat. It shapes the way I move through the world, from the quiet moments when I wake, to the way I listen, rest, and respond to life’s tides. My passion is to share this deeper, more integrated approach to yoga with others; to offer practices that don’t just build flexibility or strength, but foster wholeness, clarity, and ease — on and off the mat.
If you’re local to Northamptonshire, I also love to recommend other wonderful teachers who share these values. Here are a few I wholeheartedly trust and respect:
And I know there are many more for you to discover, and if you have any recommendations, do comment below!
Wherever you find yourself practising, may your yoga be a homecoming — to your breath, your body, your heart.
Vicki x
Really enjoyed your reflections on yoga and spirituality it’s such a grounding read. I also came across this piece on yoga and stretching for weight loss (https://www.shemed.co.uk/blog/yoga-stretching-for-weight-loss) and found it complements your thoughts beautifully.