Ananda Yoga means “yoga of divine joy.”  It is based on Paramhansa Yogananda's teachings of Self-realization. For that reason its most important goal is inner spiritual growth, expansion of consciousness.

At the same time, as Yogananda explains, any true teaching (even the scriptures!) should address the needs of body, mind, and soul. Ananda Yoga therefore works on all three levels: it aims at healing the body, bringing it to a state of radiant health; it aims at transforming the mind through positive affirmations; and it aims at bringing the soul back to union (yoga), to spiritual enlightenment.

In Yogananda’s teachings, the key for achieving a transformation on all three levels is energy. So energy (prana)  is also the most central instrument in the Ananda Yoga system, which is based on Yogananda's energization exercises. The Ananda Yogi learns to feel, to send, and to withdraw prana.

The school of Ananda Yoga was established over 50 years ago by Swami Kriyananda, who learned the postures practicing them in Yogananda's presence. "This is my Guru's system, not mine, he states."

Here is a quote by Kriyananda, which sums up the Ananda Yoga system:

Yoga, as union, implies perfect harmony of body, mind and spirit.
On a physical level, it implies glowing health.
On a mental level, it implies the harmonious integration of the personality, and the corresponding elimination of psychological 'complexes'.
On the soul level, yoga implies union of the little self with the greater Self, of the ego with the vastness of cosmic awareness, and of the individual soul with its infinite Source: God."