In the 1960s I began studying yoga with Swami Kriyananda in Northern California. Around that time, he was building a 70-acre retreat center in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Through him I learned the importance and wonder of silence.

Classical kriya yoga is part of the Eightfold Path developed by Patanjali. It is especially helpful for busy people. Explore the three steps of kriya. Learn the practice of spinal breathing which can support your growth in higher awareness. Discover how kriya can bring more balance and harmony into your life.

Tantra is a wonderful type of yoga which is often misunderstood. The practice of tantra yoga can help you release negative patterns. The basic idea is that the dynamic power of God can free and change you. Instead of remaining stuck in bad habits, you can open yourself to the liberating and transforming power of the Divine.

In laya yoga you work directly with the chakras (energy centers) as a means of experiencing the harmony of body, mind and spirit. Through them you can unify your individual consciousness with Infinite Spirit everywhere. Yogis have found that the chakras are doorways to spiritual awareness.

Bhakti means love. Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion, works most effectively for people who are dominantly emotional. The great yogi Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) taught that bhakti yoga is the easiest and quickest way to find fulfillment.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is one of the greatest books ever written on yoga. Through the use of sutras (thread ideas), Patanjali explains the essential principles of yoga which can enrich your life in countless ways.

Explore the four main yogas to find the one that fits your needs. The way to find the yoga which is best for you is to try all four of the main yogas. In this way, you can determine which one helps you most comfortably and effectively to live in a state of harmony and increased well being.

People of many different spiritual paths practice yoga. Yoga is a spiritual science which is based on experience, not faith. Whatever your religion or spiritual path — or even if you are agnostic or an atheist — yoga can help improve your health and well being.

Which is best for you? Each of the four main yogas provides tools to live in harmony of body, mind and spirit, as well as establishing a connection with Infinite Spirit. When you find the yoga which best fits your nature, you progress more quickly and easily on the path. Enjoy trying different yoga practices and find those which are most beneficial.

The great yogi Patanjali used the term samyama to describe the three levels of meditation. Knowing the stages can help you understand how you are progressing and how to advance. You can receive higher states of awareness as you learn and develop. Peace and joy can come into your life as you progress in meditation.