I can confirm the Genius of Paramhansa Yogananda in devising these exercises. The innovation is not in the calisthenics themselves, rather in the conscious control of life energy which is employed by muscle tensing to revitalize all bodily parts.
Yes it amazing having exercises that help you use imaginary barbells without paying for a gym or expensive workout equipment. You can take your gym equipment wherever u go! There is muscle tension associated with picking up a barbell. In the same way u can consciously exert tension in those same muscles. You can get the same result but at the same time consciously draw energy inward to do so and develop will power in the process!
well, actually the results are not exactly the same, since the mechanical stress provided by weights or bodyweight in some calisthenics is much more than that provided by simple energization. In other words, weights will tend to cause substantial increase in skeletal muscle mass, whereas the EE might act more on mitocondria , the cellular energy plants, that seems more germane to pranic control.
Also to grow muscles is not always necessary to emply weight and gym appliances. Jail inmates in lack of gyms practice push-ups,. pull-ups and many other exercises which take advantage of bodyweight.
EEs remain a unique concept anyway and a sure way to keep muscles and connective tissues healthy.
