International Women's Day: How women lead in their Divine Feminine and Yoga principles

Celebrating International Women’s Day and the divine feminine through the lens of Yoga philosophy offers space to return to inner alignment and truth, a deep remembrance of who we are at our essential core. In a world where brutality and force are increasingly used to show power, this day invites us to honor the gentler, kinder, more compassionate ways of being that unite rather than divide, that seek to understand, and that hold space for all experiences with equanimity. Today, we celebrate women’s achievements and leadership, and the gracious ways women move through the world; though do not mistake – these feminine qualities are not fragile – they are foundational.

This inner divine femininity teaches us that true power is not domination, but presence. It is the quiet courage to stay open-hearted in a time of fracture, the wisdom to soften without collapsing, and the strength to stand rooted in truth while still offering kindness. These qualities are not passive; they are deeply active forms of leadership and healing.  Looking at ancient Yoga philosophy, we recognize how these qualities have been grounding for centuries, as a quiet, gentle, guiding force to perpetuate divine humanity.

Ahimsa: The Courage of Non-Harm

In a culture that often rewards aptitude, speed, and responsiveness, Ahimsa becomes a courageous act. To do no harm (to neither ourselves nor to others) is not a withdrawal from the world but a conscious engagement with it. It asks us to pause before we speak, to breathe before we judge, and to choose curiosity over defensiveness. Ahimsa invites us to meet conflict not with force, but with a willingness to understand; it is the foundation of all compassionate action.

Saucha: Seeing Ourselves Clearly

Through Saucha, we practice clear seeing. We learn to recognize our own capacities, our boundaries, our gifts, and the places where we are still tender or growing. This clarity is not self-criticism; it is self-honesty. It allows us to move with integrity rather than urgency, to act from alignment rather than expectation. Saucha helps us remember who we truly are beneath the noise of the world.

Santosha: Contentment as Resistance

Santosha invites us to savor the moments that make life meaningful, even in turbulent times. Contentment is not complacency, it is rather the radical act of finding joy, presence, and gratitude despite challenges and grief. It is the resistance to surrender to worry, found in a soft exhale after a long day, the warmth of connection, the sweet recognition that life is happening now.  When we show up with mindful awareness, balancing both difficulty and grace, we detach from uncertainty and embrace life as it is happening, moment-to-moment and breath-by-breath.

Karuna: Compassion as a Bridge

The energy of Karuna is to nourish from the inside-out, softening our self-talk, embracing our imperfections as part of our wholeness, tending to our needs with care.  When we do this for ourselves, we foster a greater capacity to meet others with the same kindness. This compassion becomes a bridge between our inner world and the world around us. It reminds us that every person carries a story, a wound, a longing to be met with understanding. Karuna teaches us that compassion is not weakness; it is a form of strength that can transform relationships, communities, and systems. 

Remembering the Feminine in All of Us

Women have long led with these qualities, offering models of leadership rooted in connection, intuition, and care. Yet the divine feminine is not exclusive to women. It lives within each of us (male or female), as a source of wisdom, balance, and humanity. When we remember this, we cultivate a world shaped not by force, but by grace; not by fear, but by open minds and open hearts; not by individual striving, but by collective wellbeing.

International Women’s Day becomes, then, not only a celebration of women’s achievements, but a call to reawaken the feminine qualities that can guide us toward a more compassionate, equitable, and connected world. It is an invitation to lead differently, to love differently, and to live from the divine truth of who we are at our essential core.

By Jennifer Rizza, Founder of Newtown Wellness Collective, Therapeutic Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, Wellness Coach, and Yogi