Ananda yoga
Encyclopedia
Ananda Yoga, or , Ananda Yoga for Higher Awareness is a school of yoga
advocated by Swami Kriyananda
(1997), a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda.
Ananda Yoga's purpose is to prepare the student for meditation, and is based on Yogananda's Kriya Yoga
teachings. The postures are enhanced by the use of affirmations, and by the emphasis of relaxing deeply into the poses.
(the science of yoga asanas, or postures) back "under the wing" of its predecessor, Raja Yoga
("royal yoga").
Its full name, Ananda Yoga for Higher Awareness, reflects its main goal of raising the student's level of awareness. Ananda Yoga includes Hatha Yoga, asana
(literally means "posture" or "a steady, comfortable position") and pranayama
(prana 'life-force'; yama 'control'), along with meditation and the classical teachings of yoga
philosophy.
Ananda Yoga differs from other styles of yoga
in several ways. First, it's designed to prepare the student for meditation; it uses affirmations associated with each posture; it includes Paramhansa Yogananda's Energization Exercises, which directs the body's life force to different parts of the body. Paramhansa Yogananda developed his "Energization Exercises" as a method for increasing the flow of life-force and strengthening the entire body. In addition, Yogananda taught that they help the student understand the body as energy.
Ananda Yoga is a relaxation-based practice, though it also includes some strenuous techniques. It teaches that relaxation is a necessary prerequisite to Self-Awareness.
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
advocated by Swami Kriyananda
Swami Kriyananda
Swami Kriyananda , born J. Donald Walters , is a direct disciple of the yogi Paramhansa Yogananda and founder of Ananda, a worldwide movement of spiritual intentional communities based on Yogananda's World Brotherhood Colonies ideal...
(1997), a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda.
Ananda Yoga's purpose is to prepare the student for meditation, and is based on Yogananda's Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga finds mention in the ancient spiritual texts of Patanjali Yogasutras "Tapah svadhyayeshvara pranidhani kriyayogah" . It was later revived by Yogiraj Sri Shyamacharan Lahiri in the 19th century. Subsequently Paramhansa Yogananda in his Autobiography of a Yogi reported the same for his...
teachings. The postures are enhanced by the use of affirmations, and by the emphasis of relaxing deeply into the poses.
Principles
Ananda Yoga is an attempt to bring Hatha YogaHatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
(the science of yoga asanas, or postures) back "under the wing" of its predecessor, Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga
Rāja Yoga is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation to further one's acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation.Raja yoga was first described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and is part of the Samkhya tradition.In the context of Hindu...
("royal yoga").
Its full name, Ananda Yoga for Higher Awareness, reflects its main goal of raising the student's level of awareness. Ananda Yoga includes Hatha Yoga, asana
Asana
Asana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, originally identified as a mastery of sitting still, with the spine as a conduit of biodynamic union...
(literally means "posture" or "a steady, comfortable position") and pranayama
Pranayama
Pranayama is a Sanskrit word meaning "extension of the prana or breath" or more accurately, "extension of the life force". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to extend, draw out, restrain, or...
(prana 'life-force'; yama 'control'), along with meditation and the classical teachings of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
philosophy.
Ananda Yoga differs from other styles of yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
in several ways. First, it's designed to prepare the student for meditation; it uses affirmations associated with each posture; it includes Paramhansa Yogananda's Energization Exercises, which directs the body's life force to different parts of the body. Paramhansa Yogananda developed his "Energization Exercises" as a method for increasing the flow of life-force and strengthening the entire body. In addition, Yogananda taught that they help the student understand the body as energy.
Ananda Yoga is a relaxation-based practice, though it also includes some strenuous techniques. It teaches that relaxation is a necessary prerequisite to Self-Awareness.