It sounds to me like raising Kundalini energy is exactly what kriya techniques are doing, although SRF doesn't really plainly state that, or I missed it.
From my experience of reading SRF material i would say u are right. i think that many spiritual groups use similar terms to designate the same thing. As u know the term kundalini is not used in the Bible. This does not mean that this energy was not mentioned--just with out that term. i believe that during Yoganandas' time here on earth kundalini and raising the energy in the spine was considered dangerous by many people. Not to even begin to mention the social belittlement of anything not fitting into normal clone life here in Cloneland.
Yogananda emphasized the safe use of Kundalini safe use thru kriya yoga and the guidance of a guru who could help the devotee avoid the pitfalls of misusing such a technique. Yogananda used many western terms to describe eastern life. He was already considered exotic and strange by most Americans. He did use American customs and terminology to get his message across. Amma and other gurus have come at a different time and there is more tolerance of other cultures in the states. Notice i say more tolerance... still not enough....but more tolerance. Amma has literally unabashedly brought her culture to the states whereas Yogananda adapted his spirituality and religion to western civilization and religion. Perhaps what you may have missed is cultural evolution which is what we are beginning to see as we move forward into the dwapara yuga. Most Americans, especially from the Christian community look at with suspicion: the practices of the east.
As a friend said this morning to me; "Hail to the God of Cloneland. Resistance is futile" Welcome to Cloneland. Let us clone more people into our image. Hail to Hiclone. 
