Skip to content
  • Paths
    • Find Your Way
    • All Yogas
    • Bhakti Yoga
    • Karma Yoga
    • Jnana Yoga
    • Raja Yoga
    • Hatha Yoga
    • More Yoga Paths
    • Mantra Yoga
  • Videos
    • First Steps
    • Stories
    • Keys to Higher Yogas
    • Yoga Perspectives
    • Essential Life Skills
    • Spiritual Development
    • Devotional Yoga
    • Yoga in Daily Life
  • Talks
    • Classes in Higher Yogas
    • Yoga Basics
    • Sunday Morning Sessions
    • Bhakti Yoga Talks
    • Sri Ramakrishna Talks
    • Go Farther with Meditation
    • Theme of the Month
    • Devotional Chants
  • Writings
    • Yoga as a Spiritual Path
    • Discover the Miracle of Prayer
    • Keys to Higher Consciousness
    • Growing on the Path
    • Relating with Spirit
    • Spiritual Living
    • Interviews
  • Explore
    • Lifelines
    • Topics
    • Yoga Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Staff Favorites
    • Recent Additions
    • What’s Coming?
  • Courses
    • Introducing Courses
    • Online Seminars
    • Online Retreats
    • Initial Mysteries
  • About
    • Ramakrishna Ananda
    • Why Are We Doing This Now?
    • Our Ideals
    • Our Team
    • Donate
    • Get Updates
    • Contact Us
    • Terms and Privacy
  • Paths
    • Find Your Way
    • All Yogas
    • Bhakti Yoga
    • Karma Yoga
    • Jnana Yoga
    • Raja Yoga
    • Hatha Yoga
    • More Yoga Paths
    • Mantra Yoga
  • Videos
    • First Steps
    • Stories
    • Keys to Higher Yogas
    • Yoga Perspectives
    • Essential Life Skills
    • Spiritual Development
    • Devotional Yoga
    • Yoga in Daily Life
  • Talks
    • Classes in Higher Yogas
    • Yoga Basics
    • Sunday Morning Sessions
    • Bhakti Yoga Talks
    • Sri Ramakrishna Talks
    • Go Farther with Meditation
    • Theme of the Month
    • Devotional Chants
  • Writings
    • Yoga as a Spiritual Path
    • Discover the Miracle of Prayer
    • Keys to Higher Consciousness
    • Growing on the Path
    • Relating with Spirit
    • Spiritual Living
    • Interviews
  • Explore
    • Lifelines
    • Topics
    • Yoga Terms
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Staff Favorites
    • Recent Additions
    • What’s Coming?
  • Courses
    • Introducing Courses
    • Online Seminars
    • Online Retreats
    • Initial Mysteries
  • About
    • Ramakrishna Ananda
    • Why Are We Doing This Now?
    • Our Ideals
    • Our Team
    • Donate
    • Get Updates
    • Contact Us
    • Terms and Privacy
  • Share
RAMAKRISHNA ANANDA

How Does Yoga Work?

How do we progress through the three levels of yoga?

Purification, gathering and liberation are three stages of growth in yoga. Purification is removal of anything which impedes progress. Gathering is centering or focusing on the project at hand. Purification and focus prepare for the next level — liberation. The soul, the Spirit within, becomes free to move and express. You can grow in insight, peace and joy as you move through these three phases of yoga.

Essential Life Skills

Purification, Gathering, Liberation

There are three main stages through which yoga works. Purification and gathering lead to liberation — the inrush of Spirit. After practicing purification and gathering, you are ready for the liberation phase. You may experience profound peace and bliss. Perhaps ecstasy moves throughout your being and becomes ananda, ever-new joy. Spirit determines what comes next.

With liberation, a wonderful flow of spiritual awareness comes into you and your life. Spirit brings ecstasy, insight, soul-centering and wonderful visions of the Divine. Liberation brings enlightenment. You become free to live consciously in the presence of the Divine.

  • Growth in yoga and spiritual awareness generally progresses through three phases
  • Purification is the removal of physical, mental and emotional blockages impeding awareness and expression of Spirit
  • Gathering is intensifying focus and awareness on a meditation object, chakra (energy center), or spiritual practice
  • Purifying and gathering lead to liberation, freeing Spirit to express
  • Yoga has various practices to progress through these phases
  • As we move though these levels, we become free to know and express soul and Spirit

Watch Next

12:03
Want to be transformed? Try true yoga repentance
9:49
Tips for shedding your false sense of self and awakening to the true self
15:03
Find out how faith can take you to spiritual awakening
What is japa?
1. An easy way to increase devotion
1. An easy way to increase devotion
True, but there is a better answer.
2. Reverently repeating God’s name
2. Reverently repeating God’s name
True, but there is a better answer.
3. Meditative repetition of a mantram
3. Meditative repetition of a mantram
True, but there is a better answer.
4. All of the above
4. All of the above
Correct
Hear more about how the practice of japa increases devotion and concentration.

New This Week

18:04
How do we progress through the three levels of yoga?
37:36
Are you choosing to live in love?
Show More
Home > Higher Yogas Videos > Essential Life Skills > How Does Yoga Work?
Next
  • Home
  • Paths
  • Videos
  • Talks
  • Writings
  • Courses
  • Explore
  • About
  • Search
  • Home
  • Paths
  • Videos
  • Talks
  • Writings
  • Courses
  • Explore
  • About
  • Search

© Copyright 2026 Yoga World Fellowship

  • Terms and Privacy
  • Sitemap

How to Succeed

As you may know, we do not charge for our courses. All Yoga World content is free and available to you with our blessings. However, we do have a simple, but important request that’s key to the transformations necessary to succeed on the path.

We ask you to commit two hours a week to selfless service. This service can be anything you choose ranging from helping a family member or neighbor to volunteering at a nonprofit organization.

I Commit to Serve

This commitment is solely between you and your inner self.

Why the Commitment?

Share with a Friend

NOTE:  We will not share your information with third parties.