The Kriya Yoga Podcast

In this episode of the Kriya Yoga Podcast, Ryan Kurczak responds to a thoughtful question many sincere practitioners ask.

What happens when we enter the Kriya path through clarity, discrimination, and philosophical coherence—yet feel hesitant around devotion? When Sāṃkhya’s precision builds trust in the process, the Bhagavad Gita offers a first glimpse of theistic meaning, and Krishna appears as a guide rather than a belief—how do ...

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, Bryan Crigler sits down with Kriya Yoga Teacher Ryan Kurczak for a wide-ranging, candid conversation that blends practical technique, experience, and the deeper questions that naturally arise on a committed spiritual path.

This episode unfolds as a thoughtful dialogue shaped by Bryan’s real questions—many of them drawn directly from his own meditation practice and from conversations with f...

In this opening Kriya Yoga Online Sunday Service of the year, we explore a question that sits at the heart of the spiritual path: What part of us doesn’t feel pain?

While pain is an unavoidable part of human life—experienced through the body, emotions, relationships, and changing circumstances—yogic wisdom points to something within us that remains untouched by suffering. This episode reflects on that deeper dimension of our being:...

In this episode of the Kriya Yoga Podcast, we explore how Internal Family Systems (IFS) can support deeper meditation, psychological integration, and an authentic experience of divine communion.

Drawing from yogic philosophy, contemplative practice, and modern therapeutic insight, this talk examines why sincere meditation and devotion sometimes feel blocked—even after years of practice. The core insight: spiritual realization flour...

In this episode of the Kriya Yoga Podcast, Ryan Kurczak explores the essence of yoga as the practice of Samadhi—a theme that will guide all classes, retreats, and offerings throughout 2026 as we celebrate a “Year of Samadhi.” Ryan shares upcoming opportunities for study and practice, including a monthly Patreon series on the preparatory processes in the Yoga Sutras, a six-week Samadhi Yoga Book Study Group, and a June Solstice retr...

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast we talked about Merchant to Mystic, Isha Das’ powerful re-telling of the life of Francis of Assisi—not as a distant saint, but as a true hero whose journey mirrors our own. We explored how this young, privileged pleasure-seeker from medieval Assisi transformed into one of history’s most beloved spiritual figures, and how failure, mission, community, meditation, lifestyle change, and surrend...

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast I speak with David McGrath, author and Kriya Yoga teacher. David and I discuss his most excellent and engaging commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Pada 1.  David has written one of the most lucid and helpful modern commentaries on Patanjali's work. It is well worth the read for any serious student of yogic meditation. 

You can find David's new book, Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali: Book One...

On the spiritual path, enthusiasm often gives way to what one teacher called “the icky middle”—that in-between place where the excitement of beginning meets the challenge of transformation. It’s here that we learn: awakening isn’t just about peace or bliss. It’s about endurance, sincerity, and courage to live in the truth of the present moment.

To experience what’s real, we must let go of the small, famil...

This episode of the Kriya Yoga Podcast features an in-depth conversation with Asha Nayaswami, a spiritual director from Ananda Palo Alto and a longtime disciple of Swami Kriyananda since 1969.

Asha shares her early quest for truth, her transformative encounter with Kriyananda, and her subsequent journey in the Ananda community.

She discusses the importan...

Experiencing and understanding Chitta, what Chitta is, how to know it, and its relevance to your yoga meditation practice is necessary for the promise of yoga to give its final fruits. 

In this episode, we continue on from episode 7 and explore the nature of Chitta.

Advised Reference Material Can be Found:

Free Class on Chapter 1 (Pada 1) of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

The American Sanskrit Institute

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🌟 Stay Connected & Deep...

One of the most fascinating ideas in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is the subtle inner transformation that happens as the mind becomes still.

What Is Nirodha?

Patanjali defines yoga as:

“Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ” (Yoga Sutra 1.2) Yoga is the cessation (nirodha) of the fluctuations of the mind.

But how do we actually reach that state? It doesn’t happen all at once — it’s a gradual...

This episode of the Kriya Yoga Podcast is recording from our annual June Kriya Yoga Solstice Retreat.  Kriya Yoga teacher Ryan Kurczak explores ways to access the mystical state and what it is like to function and experience that state.

Topics include:

• Imagining the Mystical Experience
• Allowing Yourself to Experience a Mystical State
• Losing Yourself in Mystical Experience
• Extreme Techniques Don't work for Real Mysticism
• The Ps...

This episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast is an excerpt from a talk given during the 2025 summer annual Kriya Yoga week-long retreat in Rochester, NY. In this discussion we explore the power of Sattva as grace and an essential component of our enlightenment practice. 

For a full explanation of this topic, please see Ryan Kurczak's book,

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🌟 Stay Conn...

This episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast is an excerpt from a talk given by Kriya Yoga Teacher Ryan Kurczak during the 2025 Kriya Yoga Online Solstice Retreat.

The Discussion includes:

Patanjali offers auxiliary methods to stabilize the mind in Sutras I.33–I.39, forming a meditative ladder:

• I.33 – Cultivating attitudes of friendliness (toward the happy), compassion (toward ...

This episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, When You Know Samadhi explores the philosophical and practical aspects of meditation within the framework of Kriya Yoga and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The main topics include:

1. The Purpose of Meditation Meditation is presented not as a relaxation technique but as a means to access one's true, timeless essence. The goal is the cessation of mental fluctuations to recognize the stillness...

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast Ryan reflects on a conversation with yoga retreat attendees struggling to understand or experience what is "sacred." This sparks a broader exploration of how modern life—especially overthinking, distractions, and unresolved inner conflicts—prevents many from recognizing sacredness in daily life.

Key Points:

1. Invitation to Reflect: Listeners are asked to consider what "sacred" means to ...

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, we explore the Foundations of Authentic Spiritual Realization.

In this insightful episode of the Kriya Yoga Podcast, host Ryan Kurczak welcomes Isha Das, the spiritual director of the Assisi Institute, for a profound conversation on the vital connection between mental health and the deeper practice of Kriya Yoga.

Together, they explore why cultivating a balanced psychological state is not ...

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, we explore the power of Kriya Yoga.

Kriya Yoga is a profound spiritual discipline that seeks to bridge the gap between the human experience and transcendence. This podcast delves into the reflections shared in a comprehensive lecture on the power of Kriya Yoga, touching on its transformative potential, philosophi...

In this episode of The Kriya Yoga Podcast, we explore:

The ultimate goal of meditation, according to authentic spiritual traditions, is to foster clarity, wisdom, and a deep connection with the divine. However, many practitioners unwittingly use meditation as a means of escapism. Instead of addressing psychological or emotional wounds, they employ meditation to suppress these issues, akin to putting a temporary bandage over a wound...