 By Eric Carriere 

It’s no secret that we lead busy lives, struggling to find a sensible work-life balance. Yoga is a form of spiritual, physical, and mental exercise that allows an individual to complete their outer transformation, releasing negative energy in the process. Yoga is now a mainstream form of exercise that many people rely on to live a healthy lifestyle and to achieve mental clarity.

And like types of exercises, there are many forms of yoga serving different purposes.

Kriya yoga is likely one type of yoga that you’ve never heard or experienced before. It has existed for thousands of years, and unlike other forms of physical yoga, it is heavily rooted in inner action for achieving spiritual growth and self-realization.

But how did it come to be, and how did it catch on in the west?

The History of Kriya Yoga

Kriya yoga was once a traditional practice only reserved for initiated Gurus. Its origins date back thousands of years to the 18 original Siddhas of ancient India. The powerful scientific art of Kriya is considered the master key for self-realization.

Yogananda’s best-seller Autobiography of a Yogi is often credited for raising awareness in the west for this ancient mysterious form of yoga. The teachings and yogic practices are now applicable by anyone who wants to find greater happiness, inner well-being, and success.

"The real Kriya Yoga way is not a bypath. It is the direct highway, the shortest route, to divine realization. It teaches the man to ascend heavenward by leading the ego, mind, and life force through the same spinal channel that was used when the soul originally descended into the body." - Yogananda

Famous People Who Practice Kriya Yoga

Kriya yoga has impacted many famous people including Steve Jobs (who visited India seeking knowledge), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, singer Ricky Martin, and many others.

In fact Job’s discovery of Kriya Yoga had such an impact on his life that he even encouraged Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to visit India when he sought Job’s advise on Facebook as it was on the verge of collapse.

Jobs planned every detail of his own memorial service that was eventually held at Stanford University in October 2011. All guests at the ceremony were provided a special gift from Jobs - a copy of Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi.

Salesforce founder and CEO Mark Benioff, who was one of the guests at Job’s memorial service, recalls receiving the book. "This is going to be good,” he recalled. “I knew that this was a decision [Steve] made, and whatever it was, it was the last thing he wanted us all to think about."

"Yogananda...had this book on self-realization.... [Steve's] last message to us was that here is Yogananda's book... Actualize yourself.”

What Is Kriya Yoga and Why Is It Different?

Kriya Yoga focuses on helping individuals raise their consciousness and energy levels to purge their egoistic inner-selves and allows them to exercise greater control over their lives. An individual can accomplish this through three levels of pranayama, mantra, and mudra, which lead to accelerated spiritual development.

This form of yoga emphasizes using one’s awareness to unlock their hidden potential. Yogananda promoted Kriya yoga because he saw it as the fastest path to self-realization, awakening, and liberation.

“Kriya Yoga means action with awareness,” said Ingvar Villido, Ishwaranda, one of the world’s leading master teachers, acharyas, of Kriya Yoga.

“This ancient system that we know as Babaji Kriya Yoga is indeed the highest teaching. It was put together by Babaji – a student of mahasiddhas (maha – great; Siddha – the perfect one) Agastyar and Boganathar,” he added.

Kriya yoga allows you to control the life force that is found directly in your spine using breathing exercises and the Kriya technique.

What Are the Benefits of Kriya Yoga?

Kriya yoga has many benefits that can help you improve your mental, physical, and spiritual health. However the ultimate goal of Kriya yoga is to unlock your true inner-self through the process of self-actualization and self-realization.

Here are a few of the major benefits of Kriya yoga:

Recognize your true self and permanently stay in that form. This is accomplished by purging your egoistic identification.
Promote emotional and mental clarity. Those who engage with this form of yoga will learn how to channel their life force.
Develop consistency in your life and identify your true path. The improved mental clarity that Kriya yoga provides makes it easy for you to expand your consciousness and use less energy in doing so.
Strengthen your intuition and your power of healing. Kriya yoga strengthens your immune system and allows you to live a healthier life, maintain a strong nervous system, benefit from increased energy, and achieve a state of peacefulness and relaxation.
Awaken your potential power. By aligning your body, mind, and spirit, you can awaken your potential and consciousness and improve your quality of life and the way you interact with the world and others in your life.
Live a more positive life. The process of self-actualization allows you to live a more fulfilling life that is rooted in positivity.

What to learn more about Kriya Yoga and practice with a true Kriya Yoga Master?

———————

Learn Kriya Yoga with the Master Himself

Are you interested in learning more about Kriya Yoga and how it can have a positive impact on your life? Now you can by using the teachings and system of Ingvar Villido (Ishwarananda).

Ingvar is a self-realized master who holds the rare distinct honor of being an Acharya of Babaji Kriya yoga. His work includes revitalizing the ancient Kriya Yoga and Siddhar teachings, making them more accessible to a modern audience through his own empirical research, ancient wisdom, and scientific knowledge.

Ingvar also happens to be a:

European best-selling author
Wisdom teacher and speaker
Founder of the School of Practical Awareness

Ingvar is focused on helping his students achieve spiritual awareness by sharing his experiences, teachings, and practices. The first initiation (July 24th to 28th) is a comprehensive weekend course that’s being held at a relaxing resort that’s located on sacred land just two hours north of San Francisco in Northern California.

Learn how to find your true self and live a more fulfilling life. Register for the Kriya Yoga Retreat Today (July 24-28)!

[REGISTER NOW]