Yoga is not only about the body, it is a vast philosophy with many paths that lead to deeper understanding and spiritual growth. While the physical practice is foundational, most traditional yoga systems place much of their emphasis on the inner practices and way of life. At the beginning, there is a focus on the body, but the true essence of yoga unfolds through practices such as pranayama, breathing techniques, meditation, concentration, and energy work.
One well-known tradition in the West is Kriya Yoga, made famous by Paramahamsa Yogananda, whose book Autobiography of a Yogi inspired many to seek out this internal form of yoga. Kriya Yoga is about creating an action within the body and mind through a combination of pranayama (breathing technique), asana (physical postures), meditation, and mantra (sound, vibration).
There are also other paths, such as Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, the yoga of action, Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of emotion, Raja Yoga, the yoga of meditation, Gyana Yoga, the yoga of the intellect, and Nada Yoga, the yoga of sound. These different schools and systems create a web of pathways toward personal transformation and, ultimately, enlightenment.
What is enlightenment? In Patanjali’s classification of the stages of yoga, it is the ultimate state called Samadhi. The state where a person has fully unfolded their true potential as a human being.
I would define it poetically as the ability to experience a brighter, more connected way of living, a state that great yogis describe as super-consciousness and oneness with all during deep meditation.
Yoga provides many ways to approach this, but all lead to the same purpose, a more fulfilled, meaningful existence.
Yoga is an extremely vast philosophy, and there are many ways to practice it.
A Note on the Inner Practices
While yoga offers a wide range of physical and mental techniques, the more advanced states, such as samadhi or higher consciousness, are not reached through technique alone. In traditional systems, these inner practices are transmitted through initiation, a direct energetic process between teacher and student.
Initiation is not symbolic, it is a real influence that activates the subtle aspect of a practice, allowing it to unfold over time. Without it, certain techniques may remain inert, no matter how well they are performed.
Because of this, the deeper layers of yoga are rarely taught openly or by just anyone. They require the presence of a true teacher, a mystic, a guru, someone who has dedicated their life to the path and reached a higher state of awareness.
Yoga instructors, like myself, are not gurus. My role is to guide and inspire, allowing each person to decide for themselves how deeply they wish to explore this path.