How to Do Kriya Yoga

Kriya Yoga explores the ways that breath, energy and mind interact. Guided meditations are a primary means of experiencing sound, light and vibrations of the Divine. Ancient disciplines of Karma, Bhakti and Jnana Yoga are emphasized.

Things You'll Need

• Kriya Yoga teacher
• Yoga mat
• Comfortable, loose clothing
• The works of Paramhansa Yogananda

Instructions

The Kriya Path of a Kriyaban

1. 

   Connect with a guru. Even if your guru is not present with you all the time, you can still enjoy a relationship that will help you move toward self-realization.

2. 

   Prepare your mind. Kriya pranayama is not like other yoga breathing techniques. In the Kriya tradition, the breath harmonizes the spine and the central nervous system. Kundalini breathing is a tool that leads to the transfer of energy.

3. 

   Select a chant. One of Yogananda's chants is "Door of my heart, open wide I keep for Thee. Wilt Thou come, wilt Thou come? Just for once, come to me? Will my days fly away without seeing Thee, my Lord? Night and day, night and day, I look for Thee night and day." (Cited from http://www.geocities.com/thailandmeditationgroup/classes.htm?)

4. 

   Chant with devotion. Chant between your eyebrows. Begin by chanting aloud, moving into a whisper as you begin to control your conscious mind. Finally, chant silently and gently.

5. 

   Increase the flow of energy with Raja Yoga meditations and Hatha Yoga asanas. This is Kriya Yoga's emphasis on the body-mind connection.

Tips & Warnings

• You can introduce a chant into your daily activities

• Deepen your practice

• Devotion and good works are essential Kriya Yoga elements

Resources

• The Kriya Yoga Institute
• Kriya Yoga at Ananda
• Swami Shankarananda Giri's Kriya Yoga