Imagine yoga laid out like a step-by-step roadmap to inner freedom—Gheranda Samhita serves just that. Its sevenfold path begins with shatkarmas, a suite of six cleansing rituals (dhauti, basti, neti, trataka, nauli, kapalabhati) designed to sweep away toxins and energetic blockages. Think of these as the original biohacks—much like today’s cold plunges or detox retreats, they prime body and mind for what comes next.

Once the internal landscape feels refreshed, asana takes center stage. Not a buffet of poses but a focused selection—Padmasana, Siddhasana and a few siblings—each held steadily to cultivate unwavering stability. These seated postures build a firm foundation, literally sitting the practitioner down for deeper work.

Mudra follows, the “energy seals.” Here, Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha and Yoga Mudra team up to lock and redirect prana through subtle channels. Consider it akin to traffic control on a busy highway, ensuring life-force reaches every corner without jam.

Next is pratyahara, the gentle art of drawing the senses inward. Like a turtle retreating into its shell, the mind learns to detach from external clamor—Instagram scrolls included—laying groundwork for true focus.

Pranayama arrives fifth, showing how deliberate breathwork—alternate nostril breathing, cooling breaths—offers direct access to the nervous system. In an age where mindfulness apps and fitness trackers obsess over metrics, these time-honored techniques remind that real regulation happens within.

Dhyana, sustained meditation, moves the practitioner from effortful focus into a flowing stream of awareness. This phase echoes the modern craving for digital detox vacations, swapping screens for silence.

At the summit sits samadhi, pure absorption. Here, practitioner and practice dissolve into one experience—a timeless state that ancient sages praised as the heart of yoga. Rather than a distant myth, this summit remains alive today, inspiring retreats from Bali to Brooklyn, proving that Gheranda’s seven steps still light the path toward lasting transformation.