by Swami Ramananda
The profound benefit of spiritual community is perhaps experienced most powerfully during difficult times when we most need support. Years ago, I viewed a short videotape of some African water buffalo scattering in all directions when attacked by a pride of lions. Some lions captured a young buffalo and held it down as others gathered to kill and eat it. Slowly the water buffalo gathered into a tightly-knit group and crept towards the lions. All at once, the buffalo charged the lions together, heads down, and chased them off, saving their young one.
I remember this video when I think about how this pandemic is both challenging us and bringing us together in new ways. Especially when we are in such physical isolation, facing the myriad fears and frustrations that arise can be too much to bear alone. In whatever ways we can gather to practice or pray, to share our distress or console each other, we experience a unique form of strength and find new ways to go forward. I encourage everyone to reach out to friends and find groups of like-minded people to connect with online. Together, we can practice, share stories, cry with and inspire each other, and be reminded of the vast spiritual heart that can embrace all our stories and pain and still remain at peace.
In addition to our other online offerings, I teach a Hatha Mixed Level class on Saturday mornings at 9:30am. Also, please join us for our online Satsang on Saturday, April 11 from 6-7:30pm PST and Saturday, April 18 from 6-7:30pm PST.
Swami Ramananda is the President of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 35 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced level yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco, and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U. S., Europe and South America. Ramananda trains Yoga teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.