Kriya is a broad term in yoga referring to a completed action or technique designed to produce a specific effect — most often purification of the body, breath, or mind. The term covers a wide range of practices, from the simple physical cleansing techniques (shatkarmas) of Hatha yoga to elaborate, structured sequences combining breath, movement, sound, and mudra taught within specific lineages such as Kriya Yoga. What unites these varied practices is their purpose: a kriya is understood as an action performed with precision and repetition in order to clear obstructions — physical, energetic, or mental — that stand in the way of deeper practice.
Etymology
“Kriya” (क्रिया) derives from the Sanskrit root “kri” (कृ), meaning “to do” or “to act.” The term denotes a completed action or rite, distinct from mere movement — a kriya is purposeful, structured, and typically performed as part of a defined technique with a specific intended outcome, rather than incidental activity.
Kriyas as Cleansing Techniques
In classical Hatha yoga, particularly the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita, kriyas most commonly refer to the shatkarmas — six groups of physical cleansing practices intended to purify the body in preparation for pranayama and meditation. These include neti (nasal cleansing), dhauti (cleansing of the digestive tract), basti (a form of yogic enema), nauli (abdominal massaging and churning), trataka (fixed-gaze concentration, cleansing the eyes and mind), and kapalabhati (a forceful breathing technique that also cleanses the respiratory passages). Traditional texts recommend these practices for those with excess of certain bodily constitutions (doshas), and generally advise learning them under direct guidance from a qualified teacher.
Kriya Yoga
“Kriya Yoga” also names a specific meditative technique and lineage, brought to global prominence in the West by Paramahansa Yogananda through his book “Autobiography of a Yogi” and the organization Self-Realization Fellowship. In this context, Kriya Yoga refers to a guarded, initiatory technique combining breath regulation and focused meditation, said to accelerate spiritual evolution. This usage of “kriya” is distinct from, though conceptually related to, the physical cleansing kriyas of classical Hatha yoga — both share the underlying idea of purposeful, structured action aimed at removing obstacles to spiritual progress.
Kriyas in Modern Practice
Outside these specific lineages, the term “kriya” is also used more loosely in contemporary practice to describe any repeated sequence of movements linked with breath and intended to move energy or release tension — for instance, spinal flexion sequences (sometimes called “spinal kriyas”) used as warm-ups, or repetitive movement-breath sequences taught in Kundalini Yoga classes. This broader usage reflects the term’s core meaning of a deliberate, structured action rather than a single fixed technique.
Common Misconceptions
A common misconception treats “kriya” as synonymous with any yoga exercise or movement. In its precise traditional sense, a kriya is a specific, purposeful technique with a defined structure and cleansing or transformative intent — not simply a synonym for asana or general movement.
Another misconception is that kriyas, particularly the more intensive shatkarmas, are safe to attempt from written instructions alone. Traditional guidance is explicit that several of these techniques — particularly those involving the digestive or nasal passages — require direct, hands-on instruction from an experienced teacher, and are not intended for casual, self-taught experimentation.