what is kriya yoga?
Published: 25-05-2018 - Last Edited: 12-08-2021

much more than physical fitness!
Yoga increases in popularity year on year, as people all over the world discover its mental, physical and spiritual benefits in their daily lives. Studios around the globe offer Hatha, Bikram, Ashtanga, Yin, Restorative, Anusara and so many other flavors of yoga practices, and it can be hard to know how they all differ, and which is the right school for you.
One path of yoga, called Kriya Yoga offers a way to integrate several ancient yogic forms into a complete whole. So then, what exactly is Kriya Yoga? This article will help you learn more about this ancient wisdom, get a taste of its core principles, and discover why many are engaging in the practice.
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The first thing to know is that Kriya Yoga is much more than physical fitness! While keeping your body fit and healthy is obviously important, Kriya Yoga points to the mental and spiritual context of your practice. It is this holistic approach that sets Kriya Yoga apart – it takes the emotional, mental and spiritual facets into account as much as (or even more than) the physical.
· Raja – this refers to the 8 limbs of practice that contribute to a fulfilling life
· Bhakti – the state of fully surrendering oneself to the teachings of Kriya Yoga · Jnana – focused self-inquiry and constant attention to awareness · Karma – selfless service to one’s community Yogacharya O’Brian stresses that we should not view these dimensions as separate and discrete. Instead, they should be blended and integrated in order to create a holistic embodiment. With this practice, you are challenged to see the patterns of your behavior in a greater cosmological context, consciously make decisions about your life from this higher perspective, and benefit others in the process. The Modern Teachings of Kriya Yoga Yogacharya Ellen O’Brien, as one of the West’s leading Kriya yoginis, teaches that we can free ourselves from ways of seeing and behaving that cause unhappiness and realize our true life purpose by cultivating mindfulness. She calls for us to “Live our Higher Purpose”, explaining “the call to awaken can come in different ways, as a radiant joy, as sweetness, as sorrow, or loss. Then we say, “I’m going to live a different way. Pay more attention to what is really important, to what I know is true, worthy of me.” Wise and salient words in our hectic, busy world where it can sometimes feel like life is living us, rather than the other way around. It is no wonder that so many people around the world are turning to this ancient wisdom made relevant for today’s modern world.