Achieving yoga through balanced living and meditation involves controlling the mind, reducing cravings for material enjoyments, and settling the mind on self or deity through meditation practices like mantra japa. A balanced life with proper food, sleep, exercise, play, and work aids in concentration during meditation sessions. By letting go of desires and maintaining a focus on self-awareness or deity, one can attain a state of yoga and prevent the mind from being distracted by the constant pull of desires.