Dear Bob:

Sorry for the delay in responding; I have been in the hospital.

Yogananda was a Hindi yogi whose book, "Autobiography of a Yogi", and other writings, helped to popularize Yoga to the Western World.

First a comment about Yoga in general:

There are several different kinds of Yoga and some are worse than others from a Catholic point-of-view.

But I cannot recommend getting involved in any kind of Yoga.

The postures, breathing, and exercise of Yoga is specifically designed to effect the body, mind, and soul according to a cosmology, ontology, worldview and philosophy that is contrary to the Christian worldview.

There is some debate as to whether one can practice Yoga without the effects of the philosophy that is behind Yoga. But how can we separate the Yoga from the philosophy that created and fuels Yoga and to which Yoga is purposed? Frankly, the prudent thing is to error on the side of caution I believe.

The Eastern Catholic Monks of 1000 - 1500 years ago already looked into these Eastern methods of meditation, contemplation, and exercise and sifting from them all that is not consistent with Christianity. We have more than 1000 years of proven track record from the Eastern Catholic Monks testifying that what they did remains Catholic.

Given that, there is no need for Catholics to borrow today from the East. What "can" be borrowed from the East has already been borrowed and tested over 1000-1500 years of monasticism.

It is better and safer to stay close to the Church and avoid these non-Christian forms.

There is a document from the Church that speaks to this issue somewhat. It can be found at: Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation

Also, in an interview with a former Yoga Master who converted to Christianity, the man said that it was not possible to do yoga without the underlying philosophical cosmology of Hinduism.

Now as to Yogananda himself. He writes in his book:

Yogananda goes on to say in Chapter 26:

Kriya Yoga is a simple, psychophysiological method by which the human blood is decarbonized and recharged with oxygen. The atoms of this extra oxygen are transmuted into life current to rejuvenate the brain and spinal centers. By stopping the accumulation of venous blood, the yogi is able to lessen or prevent the decay of tissues; the advanced yogi transmutes his cells into pure energy. Elijah, Jesus, Kabir and other prophets were past masters in the use of Kriya or a similar technique, by which they caused their bodies to dematerialize at will.

Kriya is an ancient science. Lahiri Mahasaya received it from his guru, Babaji, who rediscovered and clarified the technique after it had been lost in the Dark Ages.

“The Kriya Yoga which I am giving to the world through you in this nineteenth century,” Babaji told Lahiri Mahasaya, “is a revival of the same science which Krishna gave, millenniums ago, to Arjuna, and which was later known to Patanjali, and to Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and other disciples.”

In a word, this is hogwash. Yogananda's own practice of this "prevention of decay" must not have worked very well. The man is deader than a doornail :)

It is true that the old yogis of India have demonstrated wondrous things. These "things", however, are not miracles as suggested by many, but are one or more of the following:

1) extraordinary control of body systems;

2) tapping into preternatural abilities;

3) tapping into demonic powers.

Being able to control the autonomic nervous system is a wondrous feat, but still a natural phenomenon.

In "some" instances, psychic-type abilities may be attributed to preternatural abilities.

But the mainstay of the truly miraculous-appearing feats, such as levitation and materializations (if genuine, and that is a BIG if), are not of God and therefore must be sourced in the demonic (albeit unbeknownst to the yogi himself), or hoaxes. 

Bottomline: Such feats as levitation and materializations, bi-locations, and the like are mostly tricks and lies. If, and I say "if" such feats are in any way real, they are not of God.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary