Willpower and Energy: Yogananda's Energisation Exercises

Paramhansa Yogananda’s 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 one’s 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 Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi. You have read the story, now practise to get direct experience.

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 Saraswati’s (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 prÄá¹‡ÄyÄma 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 (KriyÄcharya) to teach and initiate others into Kriya meditation by Roy Eugene Davis (1931–2019), 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.