Is Kriya Yoga a breathing exercise, a pranayam, or ?

“Control of what Yogananda used to call the “sense telephones” is essential for deep meditation. Sense control by withdrawal of the energy is the true meaning of pranayama: “yama (control) of the prana (energy).” Pranayama is a condition, not a technique. The practice of pranayama is to achieve energy control.”

— Swami Kriyananda, The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita Explained

People misunderstand Kriya Yoga when they hear it described only as a pranayama technique. Paramhansa Yogananda taught Kriya as a complete approach to life that includes the Kriya technique. Practicing the technique helps one develop the condition of pranayama. The technique is not purely mechanical in giving results—it must be practiced with devotion, energy and willpower, intuitive awareness, and attunement to the Guru. 

After nearly fifty years of observing thousands of Kriya Yogis, I’ve learned that results are directly proportional to this broader understanding. Little progress can be seen when Kriya is practiced as merely a breathing exercise, focusing mainly on the mechanics of the technique. 

Kriya Yoga: Spiritual Awakening for the New Age explores Kriya’s breadth and depth. Kriya is both science and art. The book demonstrates how progress in meditation must be applied to every aspect of life. Through Kriya practice, yogis develop the condition of pranayama—the ability to control inner energies, including emotional energy, restless thoughts, and concentration. I’ve witnessed with awe the fruits of regular practice in my own life and in the lives of many Kriya Yogis.

Kriya Yoga is a Practice

Kriya Yoga is, above all, a practice. To achieve results, the Kriya technique—along with other meditation techniques—must be practiced daily. Yogananda taught these techniques in a progression. The foundation of daily practice built in the months before Kriya initiation helps the kriya yogi achieve the desired results.

Though the technique involves the physical breath, the breath serves only as a tool to help one tune into the inner astral breath—the flow of energy in the deep astral spine (called the sushumna). Over time, one can develop awareness and control of those subtle energy currents—that’s when you see visible results in people’s lives. This is why Yogananda and Ananda Sangha teach Kriya Yoga as a comprehensive practice.

Kriya Yoga to Help Change the World

One fruit of daily Kriya practice is a growing and effortless harmony with others. In his autobiography, Yogananda explained why two great Masters—Mahavatar Babaji and Christ—brought Kriya Yoga to humanity:

The work of these two fully-illumined masters — one with the body, and one without it — is to inspire the nations to forsake suicidal wars, race hatreds, religious sectarianism, and the boomerang-evils of materialism. Babaji is well aware of the trend of modern times, especially of the influence and complexities of Western civilization, and realizes the necessity of spreading the self-liberations of yoga equally in the West and in the East.

— Paramhansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi

We live in the complex modern times Babaji foresaw. These influences can cause agitation even in strong people. Kriya helps each person stay calm and positive while becoming a positive influence on others. As a wise sage said, if you want to change the world, change yourself. Kriya Yoga gives each soul the power to change themselves.

This change doesn’t come through self-effort alone. All true yogic practices work with natural energies in body, mind, and soul—most importantly, with divine grace. Cooperation with grace is the subject of an entire chapter in Kriya Yoga: Spiritual Awakening for the New Age.

The book explores many more aspects of Kriya Yoga’s art and science. I invite you to read the excerpts and explore the chapter list. 

“Practice Kriya night and day. It is the greatest key to salvation. Other people go by books and outer disciplines, but it will take them incarnations to reach God that way. Kriya is the greatest way of destroying temptation. Once you feel the inner joy it bestows, no evil will be able to touch you.”

— Paramhansa Yogananda