Stephen Sturges - Willpower and Energy: Yogananda’s Energisation Exercises

Stephen Sturgess has been practising yoga and meditation since 1969, when he was first introduced to it by Swami Pragyamurti, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Satyananda Saraswati of the Bihar School of Yoga in India.

During those 48 years, Stephen has studied, practised and experienced the different paths of yoga and meditation hatha, raja, kriya, kundalini, tantra, jnana, karma and bhakti which increased his spiritual insights, experience and spiritual knowledge. While following these different paths, he studied under well-known yoga masters. These include three of Swami Sivananda Saraswatis (of Rishikesh) foremost disciples: Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Swami Venkatesananda and Swami Vishnudevananda. These inspiring Yoga gurus were making regular visits to London in the 1970s.

Stephen was initiated by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1979 and given the spiritual name of Shankara. It was also in this year that he received the British Wheel of Yoga Teaching Diploma and began teaching Yoga.

Stephen also met and studied Yoga and pryma during the 1970s under the expertise of Yoga Maharishi Dr Swami Gitananda of Pondicherry, India.

In 1982, Stephen met Swami Kriyananda (a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi) in London. The night after meeting Swami Kriyananda, Paramhansa Yogananda appeared to Stephen in a superconscious dream and told him that he was his guru, and that the Kriya Yoga path is the path he should follow. Then, in 1983, Swami Kriyananda personally initiated him into the ancient science of Kriya that Mahavatar Babaji taught to Lahiri Mahasaya, and that was passed down in succession to Swami Sri Yukteswar, and then, Paramhansa Yogananda.

For 26 years, Stephen led the Ananda Kriya Meditation Group in London. Then, in 2011, Stephen was ordained as a Kriya Yoga Meditation Teacher (Kriycharya) to teach and initiate others into Kriya meditation by Roy Eugene Davis (19312019), a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, who was the director of the Centre for Spiritual Awareness (Georgia, USA).

In addition to his primary devotion to Yoga and meditation, and related subjects, Stephen has a BA (Hons) Ayurveda Degree from Thames Valley University (2004). He is also a graphic designer, artist and a writer. He lives in London and continues to guide and inspire others on the spiritual path of Kriya Yoga Meditation.

Stephen is also the author of The Yoga Book, The Book of Chakras and the Subtle Bodies, Yoga Meditation (published by Watkins Publishing, London), The Supreme Art and Science of Raja and Kriya Yoga (Singing Dragon Publishers) and Mastering the Mind, Realising the Self (O-Books).

Stephen teaches Kriya Yoga Meditation in London and initiates those who have spiritually prepared and are ready for commitment to practising Kriya meditation.

Stephen can be reached at:

Website: www.yogananda-kriyayoga.org.uk

About the Book

Paramhansa Yoganandas unique spiritual Yoga system of 39 Energisation Exercises can be used to develop your will power by using concentrated attention to draw abundant energy consciously into your body at all times from the eternal limitless Source of Cosmic Energy that is within and around you, recharging it with energy and vitality. With such will power and life energy, you can experience your spiritual subtle nature and positively transform your life.

The Energisation Exercises invigorate the mind with vitality and enthusiasm, creating a spiritually elevating influence on ones attitude to daily life.

The physical benefits of these exercises are important for keeping your body fit and healthy, but their primary benefit is that their practise strengthens the will power, which is the cornerstone of the science of Raja Yoga and an essential tool for the practice of Kriya.

A practical companion to Paramhansa Yoganandas Autobiography of a Yogi. You have read the story, now practise to get direct experience.

Dedication

Paramhansa Yogananda_small copy copy

I dedicate this book with love and gratitude to my beloved spiritual guru, Paramhansa Yogananda (18931952), the embodiment of grace, wisdom and love, who appeared to me in a superconscious dream in 1982, and his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda (19262013), who wisely taught and guided me for 30 years on the Kriya Yoga path of meditation.

Copyright Information

Stephen Sturgess (2019)

The right of Stephen Sturgess to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528956390 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to Violaine le Delezir for modelling for Yoganandas Energisation Exercises, and to Katerina Kyrou for modelling for Swami Kriyanandas Superconscious Living Exercises, and for Laura Archini who modelled for the Aum Technique.

I am also grateful to all those who took the time to write their testimonials for their experience of practising Yogananda's Energisation Exercises. A big, warm thank you to you all!

Preface

As I write this book, I am reminded that this year, 2016, is the 100th anniversary of Paramhansa Yoganandas innovation of the principle of life force control (pranayama) that he devised and developed in his system of Energisation Exercises, in India, 1916. In the beginning, Yogananda used the term Yogoda as the name of his teachings and his spiritual organisation in India (Yogoda Satsanga Society); this included the Energisation Exercises (Yogoda Exercises). The word Yogoda is derived from the Sanskrit word Yoga meaning union; and da meaning that which imparts. Yogoda means a system of Yoga that imparts harmony, equilibrium and unity to the mind, body and soul. Sat means truth, and Sanga means community or assembly.

In his Autobiography of a Yogi (original edition, 1946), Paramhansa Yogananda wrote:

"The ideal of an all-sided education for youth had always been close to my heart; I saw clearly the arid results of ordinary instruction, aimed only at the development of body and intellect. Moral and spiritual values, without whose appreciation no man can approach happiness, were yet lacking in the formal curriculum. I determined to found a school where young boys could develop to the full stature of manhood. My first step in that direction was made with seven children at Dhikia, a small country site in Bengal.