The first thing is to have an experienced yoga teacher who is spiritually minded. If were  to master a trade such a plumbing, carpentry, sheet metal working, welding, etc. we would study with a journeyman, someone who has mastered the trade and can convey knowledge that may have taken humanity a hundred years or more to accumulate. If we were to master a profession such as medicine, we would study with a doctor who has undergone many years of rigorous training. So if we were to master the spiritual life, we would make the greatest  advancement by studying with a spiritual master. A spiritual master discerns fantasy from reality and saves us many years wasted on false learning. The master helps the student to get the lesson.

Devotion and spiritual discipline: 

Spiritual discipline is a plan for continuous self-improvement and spiritual progress despite the obstacles in our way. The long-term will be upward.  Daily and weekly fluctuations are of no concern as their duration is too short to be a reliable indicator of progress. Devotion is linked to spiritual self-discipline. These guarantee there will be enough time every day for prayer and meditation necessary for spiritual progress and self-improvement.

When you put this all into practice, with a spiritual teacher, your whole life will be truly amazing.