Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra tells us that a belief in “God,” loosely speaking, is one of three requirements for success in the practice: “tapah svadhyaya isvara pranidhanani kriya yogah”(Chapter 2, Verse 1). This sutra states that Kriya Yoga consists of discipline, self-study, and devotion to God. Many people are driven to yoga by back pain and stress, not a deep longing for Self-realization, and that’s fine. Sometimes the stress relief opens new doors, and other times, it serves

I used to think that being spiritual meant being poor. My grandmother worshiped tortured saints and humble servants as the epitome of devotion. She hung pictures of sad humility on every wall as a reminder. I thought the ultimate godly sacrifice would be scrubbing latrines in a convent. No wonder religion left me with something to be desired! I’ve since learned that we don’t have to renounce modern luxuries to be spiritual. But rags and loin cloths aren’t the dress code of sa