Kriya Yoga is a spiritual practice that originated in India and is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The practice is said to help practitioners achieve self-realization and union with the divine. The primary focus of Kriya Yoga is on the breath and the use of specific breathing techniques, called pranayama, to control the flow of prana, or life energy, through the body.
The practice of Kriya Yoga includes several steps, including:
- Yama and Niyama: These are the ethical guidelines for living a spiritual life and include things like non-violence, honesty, and self-control.
- Asana: Physical postures that help to prepare the body for meditation.
- Pranayama: Breathing exercises that are used to control the flow of prana in the body.
- Pratyahara: Withdrawing the senses from external objects and focusing on the inner self.
- Dharana: Concentration on a single object or point to improve focus and mental clarity.
- Dhyana: Meditation on the divine and the ultimate reality.
- Samadhi: Union with the divine and the ultimate reality.
Kriya yoga is considered an advanced spiritual practice and should be learned under the guidance of a qualified teacher. It is said to have powerful effects on the body, mind and consciousness and is said to be able to help people achieve spiritual growth and inner peace.