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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250808T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250808T173000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250623T212654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250623T235105Z
UID:46095-1754668800-1754674200@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:New Beginnings Writing Group
DESCRIPTION:Online | $1-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nMeets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday | Ongoing \nIn these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos\, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity\, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome\, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry\, prose\, short stories\, memoir\, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life\, place\, family\, images\, poetry of others\, while using pranayama\, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.\nTools we will Practice:\n• The Art of Paying Attention\n• Acceptance\n• Play\n• Writing from the Heart \nTogether we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.\nUpcoming sessions:\nFriday\, August 8 Book now\nFriday\, August 22 Book now \n\nSusan Ford\, C-IAYT\, RYT-500\, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco (IYISF) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, aging\, bone health\, anxiety\, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga\, Raja Yoga\, Hatha Yoga\, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry\, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups\, tutored many in writing\, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at IYISF.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/new-beginnings-writing-group-66/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Susans-New-Beginnings_2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250802T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250802T183000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250623T205726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250730T181209Z
UID:46079-1754155800-1754159400@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Satsang: Poetry Reading
DESCRIPTION:Online\n$5-$20 | Enroll for free\, use promo code FREE \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nJoin us for an evening of shared poetry that reflects the voice of our souls. We will read and discuss that which awakens inspiration\, delight and peace in the heart. All are welcome to bring a poem or two to share or simply listen and enjoy.\nMystical Poetry and Sacred Songs are powerful expressions of the human experience\, a dynamic meeting of the mind with the Grace of the Divine that crosses the lines of time and specific religious views.\nEveryone is welcome to stay for tea and light snacks afterwards.\nSatsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit\, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge\, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice. \nPeople of all faiths are welcome.\n\nSusan Ford\, C-IAYT\, RYT-500\, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, aging\, bone health\, anxiety\, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga\, Raja Yoga\, Hatha Yoga\, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry\, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups\, tutored many in writing\, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI. \nDiana Meltsner\, C-IAYT\, ERYT-500\, YACEP\, has been teaching a variety of classes and workshops since 2001 and since 2017 offers yoga therapy sessions privately and at Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic in San Francisco. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher\, yoga therapist\, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures\, practices of breath-control\, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease\, stress resilience\, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute\, an urban ashram in San Francisco. dianameltsner.com
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/satsang-poetry-reading-2/
CATEGORIES:By Donation,Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Satsang_Mystical-Poetry_2023.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250802T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250802T140000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250623T205200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250623T210503Z
UID:46076-1754132400-1754143200@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Celebrating Community; Karma Yoga
DESCRIPTION:Free \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nJoin us for a few hours of fun\, food\, and meaningful connection as we explore how to transform our work into spiritual practice. We’ll begin with a brief talk and discussion on the practice of Karma Yoga\, led by Swami Ramananda. This will be followed by an opportunity to support our beautiful building through mindful service—cleaning the Institute’s classrooms\, hallways\, and outdoor areas with awareness and joy.\nWe’ll conclude our time together with an extended deep relaxation and a nourishing meal. During the meal\, we will honor the dedicated Karma Yogis who have generously supported the Institute over the past few years.\n“Work done in the right attitude becomes consecrated; becomes a sacred act. A life consecrated in doing selfless acts will become a divine life.” – Swami Sivananda\n\nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many. \nKia Meaux. I have been a dedicated student of yoga since 1989 beginning with my first teacher\, Richard Freeman in Boulder\, CO. I began teaching my alignment-based vinyasa flow classes in 1998 here in San Francisco and then eventually opened my own yoga studio\, Kaya Yoga in 2006. Due to Covid I closed my yoga studio in 2022 and currently only teach yoga online. My interest has moved more towards meditation and the practice of deeply contemplating “What Am I? I am currently a Resident of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco where I have the great fortune to manage the daily organization of the house. \nRaama Das\, C-IAYT\, is a former director of the Integral Yoga® Teachers Association and has been instructing Integral Yoga since 2009. He is a lead trainer for the Integral Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training at Yogaville and co-presenter for the 200 and 500-hour Yoga Alliance programs at Heal Me Institute in Fredericksburg. Raama recently received certification as a Yoga Therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT)\, having studied Yoga programs for specific health conditions\, including\, anxiety\, depression\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, and addiction. He is also certified as a teacher of Intermediate Hatha\, Raja Yoga\, Meditation\, Stress Management\, Yin Yoga\, and Yoga for our Elders. Raama has studied and served extensively at the Integral Yoga Academy at Yogaville and managed the Integral Yoga Therapy Program. In addition\, he has participated in many months of deep Tantric and classical Yoga sadhana (practice) at the Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School in Sweden under the direction of Swami Janakananda. He currently serves as Institute Manager at the Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/celebrating-community-karma-yoga/
CATEGORIES:By Donation,Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Karma-Yoga-Day_Sep-2023.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250731T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250731T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250709T165652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T170911Z
UID:46167-1753984800-1753988400@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Open House: Intermediate Teacher Training
DESCRIPTION:ONLINE | Free \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nWe invite you to attend this information session to learn more about our ONLINE Intermediate Yoga Teacher Training (ITT) program. You’ll have the opportunity to meet the trainers\, explore the curriculum\, and ask any questions you may have.\nThe ITT is a highly interactive training in which we will explore and experience the profound benefits of advanced Yoga practices. Please note that this program does not include instruction in basic teaching methodology.\nOur 2025 Intermediate Teacher Training team includes lead trainers Swami Ramananda\, Snehan Born\, and Letícia Padmasri\, with guest trainer Swami Asokananda and senior staff member Raisa Punkki.\nWe welcome all 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified teachers from other schools. Completion of this program qualifies you to teach at any Integral Yoga center worldwide.\nFor over forty years\, we have led teacher trainings here in San Francisco. Our experienced faculty use time-tested methods to ensure a high-quality and supportive learning environment. This program is designed to prepare you to teach both in person and online\, with dedicated staff providing personalized online coaching throughout the training.\nFor more details about the Training or to apply please visit:  Intermediate Yoga Teacher Training\n\nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many. \nSnehan Born\, E-RYT 500\, has over four decades of experience with yoga. He resides at the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco\, where he teaches yoga classes and is a lead teacher trainer. Snehan is certified in all levels of Integral Yoga Hatha and has received additional certifications in Pranayama\, Meditation\, Raja Yoga and Stress Management from Integral Yoga. Chanting mantras and playing the harmonium are part of his regular practice and classes. Snehan has lived and traveled extensively within India and practiced with many teachers there. He has taught yoga all over the US as well as in India\, Nepal\, South America\, Australia\, New Zealand\, Mexico\, Japan and Europe.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/open-house-intermediate-teacher-training/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ITT-Open-House.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250727T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250727T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250519T211811Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250623T221205Z
UID:45919-1753610400-1753617600@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:TRE® – Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises
DESCRIPTION:Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \n$50 Early bird\, use promo code TRE\, exp. 7/20\n$55 Regular \nTRE is a simple\, gentle and profound technique that facilitates the lengthening and relaxation of the psoas muscle and the release of physical and emotional tension and stress. The TRE exercises mildly tire the legs\, triggering an involuntary shaking and trembling response\, which begins in the legs and often spreads throughout the body. This natural response is the nervous system’s way of discharging long-held tension and unconscious body contraction\, caused by everyday stress and traumatic life experiences\, in order to restore the body to wholeness.\nTRE was developed by Dr. David Berceli\, a bio-energetic therapist and social worker\, who used it successfully worldwide working with soldiers\, firefighters\, police officers and survivors of war\, natural disasters and other traumatic circumstances to help alleviate the many symptoms of post-traumatic stress. TRE is taught in over 75 countries worldwide.\nOriginally developed for sufferers of trauma\, over the past few decades\, TRE is becoming an increasingly popular way to also deal with the stressors of everyday life.\nReported benefits include:\n\ndecrease anxiety\nrelease chronic tension\ndischarge emotional and physical trauma\nincrease energy and flexibility\nimprove sleep and mood\ndecrease of aches\, pains and symptoms of fibromyalgia and sciatica\n\nThis workshop is suitable for all ages and fitness levels as the exercises can be modified to accommodate any body’s need. Maria offers a weekly online refresher class that workshop participants can attend by donation.\nCEU certificate available upon request from the teacher for psychotherapists and massage therapists. \n\nMaria is a native Italian living in Santa Cruz\, California. She has over 30 years of yoga experience and a background in Chinese martial arts and massage. As a senior TRE® Certification Trainer\, since 2004\, she has taught thousands of people in the US\, Canada\, Europe\, Asia and the Middle East. She assisted Dr. Berceli\, TRE’s founder\, in numerous trainings in the US\, South Africa\, Brazil and Japan and led hundreds of public workshops and over hundred certification trainings worldwide. Maria is also the co-creator of Neurogenic Yoga™\, the sister method of TRE. Maria facilitates workshops and trainings globally. She creates a supportive environment that makes people feel safe as she leads her classes with compassion and a sense of humor
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/tre-tension-and-trauma-releasing-exercises-3/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/TRE_Maria-Alfaro.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250726T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250726T203000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250530T191116Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T191145Z
UID:45967-1753556400-1753561800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Sukhawat Ali Khan & Cali Qawwali in a Sufi & Kirtan Concert
DESCRIPTION:In-person \n$20 In advance\, use promo code SOULFUL | $25 Day of \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nSukhawat Ali Khan leads Cali Qawwali\, a soulful qawwali ensemble. Performances by Cali Qawwali bring you group singing and an instrumental sound\, combining introspective prayer and joyful celebration. This music is performed both in unplugged and in electric abandon. Cali Qawwali’s unique spiritual music calls upon traditional Sufi and classical raag-based songs from Pakistan and India\, new compositions\, Bollywood\, kirtan\, ghazal and folk. The music is nourished by Sukhawat Ali’s immersion in the Shaam Chaurasi gharana\, his musical family dating from the sixteenth century. Lyrics are in Urdu/Hindi\, Punjabi\, Arabic and Persian\, sometimes combined effortlessly in one song. The audience is often invited to clap\, sing and move with the band\, creating a Cali Qawwali form of dhamaal\, which is a song and dance seen at Sufi shrines. Instagram: @caliqawwali Soundcloud: Cali Qawwali\nSukhawat Ali Khan ji’s Sufi music samples:\n\nAllah Hu: https://soundcloud.com/caliqawwali/allah-hu\nGhulam Ali: https://soundcloud.com/casaganeshrecords/sets/laaj-review\nJogiya: https://soundcloud.com/caliqawwali/jogiya\nRaste Juda Juda: https://soundcloud.com/casaganeshrecords/raste-juda-juda-sukhawat-ali\nGhoom Charakhana: https://soundcloud.com/caliqawwali/ghoom-charakhana\nHeer: https://soundcloud.com/casaganeshrecords/heer-sukhawat-ali-khan\nDoor: https://soundcloud.com/casaganeshrecords/door-sukhawat-ali-khan\n\n\nSukhawat Ali Khan\, vocals and harmonium – Sukhawat Ali is a classical vocalist from the Sham Chaurasi Gharana\, a tradition founded in the 16th century. He is the son of legendary Indian-Pakistani vocalist Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and nephew of Nazakat Ali Khan. In addition to being a master of Hindustani classical music\, he is an accomplished performer of North Indian and Pakistani devotional and folk music and ghazals. He began singing and playing music at the age of seven with his father Salamat Ali Khan\, and has performed extensively around the world. Based in Sacramento he teaches individual students in the San Francisco Bay Area and leads Cali Qawwali. Instagram: @alisukhawat \nVivek Anand\, vocals – A vocalist deeply rooted in emotional and spiritual expression\, Vivek hails from a musical family in Bombay and has studied with Sukhawat Ali Khan for sixteen years. His repertoire spans Hindustani classical\, semi-classical\, bhajans\, Sufi songs\, and ghazals. Vivek performs solo and in other ensemble concerts in the Bay Area with Rita Sahai\, her Vasundhara Choir\, and with Anhad Naad. Instagram: @vivek.anand.sf \nIrum Aftab\, vocals – A vocalist and passionate student of Sukhawat Ali Khan\, Irum hails from Pakistan and now lives in Berkeley. Her musical focus is on understanding the raagas that form the foundation of ghazal\, folk\, geet\, and qawwali music across South Asia. Instagram: @irum.out.west \nSaima Jamshed\, vocals and percussion – A multi-instrumental percussionist and vocalist\, Saima began playing dholak at age six. Now a key member of the qawwali ensemble led by Sukhawat Ali Khan\, she brings joyful energy to the stage through dholak\, darbuka\, tambourine\, and shakers. Originally from Karachi and now based in Berkeley\, she continues classical and qawwali training under Sukhawat Ali Khan and Rita Sahai. Instagram: @saimamilesaway \nVarun Pattabhiraman\, drum set and percussion – An Indian percussionist based in San Francisco\, Varun seamlessly blends traditional Carnatic percussion with global rhythms. He explores hybrid setups that incorporate instruments like the cajón\, Roland HandSonic\, drum set and mridangam. Instagram: @varunrpraman \nCraig Reiter\, acoustic and electric bass guitar – Craig Reiter is a multi-talented creative spirit whose musical expression transcends form. Known for channeling the divine through any instrument he encounters\, his eclectic interests include everything from card counting to feline domestication\, all of which somehow feed into his musical persona. \nDaljeet Singh\, acoustic and electric guitar – Daljeet brings the magic as a music director and guitarist\, fusing devotional\, classical Indian\, Sufi\, old-school Bollywood\, and rock influences into a sound that is both soulful and electrifying. A master at building bands and weaving traditions\, he is the driving force behind the group’s unique sound. Instagram: @ka8mandude
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/sukhawat-ali-khan-cali-qawwali-concert/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Sukhawat-Ali-Khan-and-Cali-Qawwali.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250725T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250725T173000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250530T221659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T222221Z
UID:45999-1753459200-1753464600@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:New Beginnings Writing Group
DESCRIPTION:Online | $1-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nMeets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday\, ongoing. \nIn these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos\, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity\, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome\, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry\, prose\, short stories\, memoir\, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life\, place\, family\, images\, poetry of others\, while using pranayama\, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.\nTools we will Practice:\n• The Art of Paying Attention\n• Acceptance\n• Play\n• Writing from the Heart \nTogether we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.\n\nSusan Ford\, C-IAYT\, RYT-500\, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco (IYISF) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, aging\, bone health\, anxiety\, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga\, Raja Yoga\, Hatha Yoga\, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry\, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups\, tutored many in writing\, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at IYISF.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/new-beginnings-writing-group-65/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Susans-New-Beginnings_2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250720T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250720T120000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250528T190359Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T190857Z
UID:45962-1753009200-1753012800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Sunday Spiritual Talk: Eastern and Western Wisdom's Approaches to Thought Fluctuations
DESCRIPTION:$5-$20 | Enroll for free\, use promo code FREE.\nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nThere is a vast body of content across time and cultures on the experience of thinking and how this function of the mind can lead to profound suffering. The Yoga Sutras describe yoga as “the restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff” (योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः॥२॥ – Yogas Citta Vritti Nirodhah)\, suggesting that mental activity distorts reality\, resulting in a sense of disconnection and pain.\nModern teacher Eckhart Tolle speaks of identification with form—particularly attachment to thought forms—as a primary factor in the creation of ego and the illusion of a separate “me.” Similarly\, many Western psychotherapeutic approaches focus on our interpretations of events as a core driver of emotional distress\, aiming to increase awareness of thought patterns and promote cognitive restructuring as a path to well-being.\nOverall\, both conscious and unconscious attachment to thought forms is a significant theme closely linked to spiritual and emotional suffering. In this workshop\, we will explore how both Eastern and Western teachings approach the nature of thinking\, and we will learn techniques to help loosen the grip of thought and free ourselves from its trance.\nSatsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit\, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge\, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice. \nPeople of all faiths are welcome.\n\nDylan Burditt has his RYT-500 from the Integral Yoga Institute\, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)\, and currently resides in and serves the community of Mammoth Lakes\, CA through yoga teachings and working professionally as a psychotherapist. In his personal life\, he enjoys spending time with his partner and dog\, being in nature\, buzzing through cities\, cooking and eating delicious plant-based food\, traveling\, experiencing music\, being quiet\, and connecting to body\, mind\, soul\, and higher power. You can learn more about him and his offerings at dylanburditt.com.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/sunday-spiritual-talk-eastern-and-western-wisdoms/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dylan_Sunday-Spiritual-Talk.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250713T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250713T150000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250530T194156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T194418Z
UID:45971-1752411600-1752418800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Knees Need Good Yoga
DESCRIPTION:Online & In-person \n$40 Early bird\, use promo code KNEES\, exp. 7/6 | $45 Regular \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nMost people with knee issues can benefit from a deeper understanding of the underlying causes and learn how to tailor their yoga practice to strengthen the supporting muscles. With the right knowledge and techniques\, you can improve stability while maintaining essential mobility.\nIn this workshop\, we’ll explore fundamental stretches and strengthening postures for the knees. Participants will also receive a brief written practice to continue the work at home.\nKeep walking—and doing all the things you love—by cultivating happy\, healthy knees.\nAttendees may request two hours of continuing education (CE) credit\, which meet Yoga Alliance or IAYT standards.\n\nDawn​ ​Summers​\,YACEP\, ERYT-500​\, is a certified Yoga Therapist who has been teaching yoga​ ​since becoming an Integral Yoga teacher in 1985. She has been a senior faculty in Teachers Training and Yoga Therapists Training Programs for the American​ ​Viniyoga Institute. She teaches classes through Ocean Yoga and works privately with individual students.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/knees-need-good-yoga-3/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Knees_dawn-summers.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250712T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250712T203000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250507T234534Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250508T000841Z
UID:45874-1752346800-1752352200@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Kirtan with Ekachakra Prana and The Bhakti Band
DESCRIPTION:In-person | $15 In advance\, use promo code KIRTAN | $20 Day of \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nCome immerse yourself in the transcendental vibrations of the maha-mantra! Drawing from the rich tradition of Gaudiya Vaisnavism (The Hare Krishnas!)\, a rockstar-turned-monk will take you on a spiritual journey through song. From meditative to ecstatic\, both emotional and highly musical\, your heart\, voice and ears are in for a treat. According to the Vedic wisdom literatures\, singing holy names of God together is the topmost process of self-realization in this age. So let’s get down to it!\n\nEkachakra Prana was a touring musician and yoga teacher searching for God when he met Indradyumna Swami\, who invited him to travel the world in his Kirtan band. Over the next several years he wrote books about his experiences living in bhakti yoga ashrams and traveling to Kirtan festivals around the world. He recently settled in Silicon Valley at the request of his spiritual teacher\, Vaisesika Dasa.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/kirtan-with-ekachakra-prana-and-the-bhakti-band-2/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ekachakra-Kirtan_2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250711T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250711T173000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250530T221338Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T222141Z
UID:45995-1752249600-1752255000@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:New Beginnings Writing Group
DESCRIPTION:Online | $1-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nMeets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday | Ongoing \nIn these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos\, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity\, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome\, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry\, prose\, short stories\, memoir\, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life\, place\, family\, images\, poetry of others\, while using pranayama\, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.\nTools we will Practice:\n• The Art of Paying Attention\n• Acceptance\n• Play\n• Writing from the Heart \nTogether we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.\nNext session:\nFriday\, 7/25 Book now \n\nSusan Ford\, C-IAYT\, RYT-500\, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco (IYISF) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, aging\, bone health\, anxiety\, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga\, Raja Yoga\, Hatha Yoga\, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry\, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups\, tutored many in writing\, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at IYISF.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/new-beginnings-writing-group-64/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Susans-New-Beginnings_2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250710T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250710T124500
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250530T201027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T201027Z
UID:45975-1752148800-1752151500@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Guru Purnima Puja
DESCRIPTION:Online & In-person | Free \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nThis annual devotional service is a time to come together\, express gratitude\, and receive blessings from our teachers—the founder of Integral Yoga\, Sri Swami Satchidananda; his teacher\, Sri Swami Sivananda of our Saraswati lineage; as well as teachers who transmit the teachings of all spiritual traditions. A puja (spiritual service) with participatory chanting will be performed. This service will include our noon meditation.\n\nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/guru-purnima-puja/
CATEGORIES:By Donation,Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screenshot-2025-05-30-at-1.06.53 PM.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250705T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250705T183000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250507T224817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T171440Z
UID:45868-1751736600-1751740200@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Satsang: Guru Purnima
DESCRIPTION:Online or in-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free\, use promo code FREE. \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nGuru Purnima is an annual celebration that offers us an opportunity to express gratitude to our spiritual teachers and to recommit ourselves to the teachings they have imparted. We will honor the founder of Integral Yoga\, Sri Swami Satchidananda\, his teacher Sri Swami Sivananda of the Saraswati lineage\, as well as teachers who transmit wisdom from all spiritual traditions.\nAll are invited to join in deepening their connection to the source of grace and guidance\, however they experience it.\nEveryone is welcome to stay for tea and light snacks afterwards.\nSatsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit\, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge\, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice. \nPeople of all faiths are welcome.\n\nSwami Vimalananda Ma\, RYT500\, is an Integral Yoga sannyasi – monk. She has been involved with Integral Yoga since 1971 and Director of the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute from 1992-2011. She specializes in teaching yoga philosophy and spiritual counseling. \nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/satsang-guru-purnima-4/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Guru-Purnima_ASw-V-Sw-Ram.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250630T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250630T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250507T171158Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250507T171305Z
UID:45827-1751306400-1751310000@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Spiritual Study: Yoga and Mystical Experiences\, 3 of 3 - part
DESCRIPTION:Online | $5-15 sliding scale\nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \n3 Mondays\, June 16\, 23\, 30 • 6:00 – 7:00pm | Offered individually\n\n6/16 Book now\n6/23 Book now\n6/30 Book now\n\nMystics from diverse traditions often describe their experiences in remarkably similar ways. In this series\, we will explore the mystical experiences of several great beings\, from ancient times to the present. We will examine how these experiences align with the teachings of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and how transcending identification with the body and mind can open the door to realms beyond time and space—realms accessible to all of us.\nThe Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts\, take time to reflect upon them\, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path. All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.\n\nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/spiritual-study-yoga-and-mystical-experiences-3-of-3-part/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Spiritual-Studies_Ramananda.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250627T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250627T173000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250507T185817Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250530T222026Z
UID:45839-1751040000-1751045400@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:New Beginnings Writing Group
DESCRIPTION:Online | $1-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nMeets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday | Ongoing \nIn these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos\, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity\, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome\, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry\, prose\, short stories\, memoir\, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life\, place\, family\, images\, poetry of others\, while using pranayama\, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.\nTools we will Practice:\n• The Art of Paying Attention\n• Acceptance\n• Play\n• Writing from the Heart \nTogether we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.\nUpcoming sessions:\nFriday\, July 11 Book now\nFriday\, July 25 Book now \n\nSusan Ford\, C-IAYT\, RYT-500\, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco (IYISF) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, aging\, bone health\, anxiety\, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga\, Raja Yoga\, Hatha Yoga\, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry\, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups\, tutored many in writing\, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at IYISF.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/new-beginnings-writing-group-63/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Susans-New-Beginnings_2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250623T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250623T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250507T170659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250507T171327Z
UID:45824-1750701600-1750705200@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Spiritual Study: Yoga and Mystical Experiences\, 2 of 3 - part
DESCRIPTION:Online | $5-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \n3 Mondays\, June 16\, 23\, 30 • 6:00 – 7:00pm | Offered individually\n\n6/16 Book now\n6/23 Book now\n6/30 Book now\n\nMystics from diverse traditions often describe their experiences in remarkably similar ways. In this series\, we will explore the mystical experiences of several great beings\, from ancient times to the present. We will examine how these experiences align with the teachings of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and how transcending identification with the body and mind can open the door to realms beyond time and space—realms accessible to all of us.\nThe Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts\, take time to reflect upon them\, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path. All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.\n\nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many. \n 
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/spiritual-study-yoga-and-mystical-experiences-2-of-3-part/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Spiritual-Studies_Ramananda.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250622T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250622T163000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250328T194232Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T073406Z
UID:45382-1750604400-1750609800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Death Cafe
DESCRIPTION:In-person | $1-$15 Sliding scale or enroll for free\, use promo code FREE. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nJoin Leslie for a Death Cafe at Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco. At a Death Cafe people\, often strangers\, gather to eat cookies\, drink tea and discuss death.\nWhat is Death Cafe?\nIt is a group discussion about death with the topics determined by attendees\, with no agenda\, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session. The objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’.\nDeath Cafes are always offered:\n\nOn a not for profit basis\, donation based\nIn an accessible\, respectful and confidential space\nWith no intention of leading people to any conclusion\, product or course of action.\n\nYou can learn more about Death Cafe\nLeslie has taken a deep dive into death and dying after losing a long time student to uterine cancer. She has had a 30 year obsession with Savasana which is the last pose done in a yoga class and is translated as “corpse” pose. She is very interested in the intersection of how yoga\, breathwork and intentional savasana can help people become more comfortable with the inevitable end we all must face. Leslie Howard has taught folks yoga for the last 30 years and has recently completed sixty hours of End Of Life Training and is a hospice volunteer at Kaiser.\n\nLeslie Howard is an Oakland-based yoga teacher\, specializing in all things pelvic. She leads workshops and trainings nationally and has written a book about caring for the female pelvis\, Pelvic Liberation. In 2022\, after losing a long time student\, she took a deep dive into the subject of death. She has 60 hours of Death Doula training\, runs a regular Death Café (a place to come and talk about death) and is volunteering in hospice for Kaiser Oakland. Her teaching is informed by over 3500 hours of yoga study with senior Iyengar yoga teachers. She considers Ramanand Patel her most important influence and mentor. She has designed two very successful studies for UCSF on how to use yoga to alleviate incontinence and pelvic pain. To learn more about Leslie or for some online education opportunities visit:lesliehowardyoga.com
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/death-cafe-3/
CATEGORIES:By Donation,Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Death-Cafe_Leslie-Howard.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T180000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250407T233834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T172208Z
UID:45639-1750525200-1750528800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Light Immersion with Subtle Practices
DESCRIPTION:Online & In-person | $10-30 sliding scale –Class passes & memberships are accepted. \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nJoin us for a special practice of subtle Yoga as we celebrate both the International Day of Yoga and the Summer Solstice. Subtle practices\, like the physical practice of Yoga\, establish a deep connection with the universe. They offer a unique opportunity to open the doors to higher states of consciousness\, inner Light\, and pranic healing.\nThe session will include:\n⋅ Yoga Nidra: A deep relaxation practice to awaken the pranic flow within the body\n⋅ Breathing exercises: Techniques to enhance vitality and energy\n⋅ Guided meditation: Focusing on connecting with the Earth and uncovering our Inner Light\n⋅ Light invocation: Inviting positivity and illumination\n⋅ Extended Gayatri Mantra chanting: A powerful mantra to harmonize body\, mind\, and spirit chanted to enlighten the mind \nThe Summer Solstice serves as a reminder to honor our connection to the natural world and the inevitable cycles of life. It’s a time to celebrate our inner power and brightness.\nAfternoon of Yoga at IYISF in celebration of International Day of Yoga & Summer Solstice.\nPacific times | online & in-person: \n2:00-3:30 pm – Enlighten Up: How to Enjoy the Spiritual Path with Swamis Asokananda & Ramananda\n3:45-4:45 pm – Freeing Your Yoga Practice – mixed level with Raisa Punkki\n3:45-4:45 pm – Gentle Yoga class with Kayko Watanabe\n5:00-6:00 pm – Light Immersion with Subtle Practices with Diana Meltsner \nAll levels of practice are welcome. All programs are available for individual sign up online or in-person at a sliding scale pricing.\nAll proceeds will help us sustain our mission:\n“The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco\, founded by Sri Swami Satchidananda\, is a non-profit\, interfaith organization dedicated to serving the community through living and sharing the classical teachings of Yoga\, making the teachings accessible\, and cultivating peace and harmony among all people.”\n\nDiana Meltsner\, C-IAYT\, ERYT-500\, YACEP\, has been teaching a variety of classes and workshops since 2001 and since 2017 offers yoga therapy sessions privately and at Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic in San Francisco. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher\, yoga therapist\, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures\, practices of breath-control\, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease\, stress resilience\, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute\, an urban ashram in San Francisco. www.dianameltsner.com
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/light-immersion-subtle-practices/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Intl-Day-of-Yoga_Diana.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T154500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T164500
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250407T231553Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T172733Z
UID:45625-1750520700-1750524300@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Gentle Yoga
DESCRIPTION:Online & In-person | $10-30 sliding scale –Class passes & memberships are accepted. \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nThis class is suitable for beginners\, seniors\, and individuals with injuries\, disabilities\, or illnesses – or anyone seeking a gentler experience. It consists of warm-ups both in a chair and standing\, followed by modified traditional vinyasa with the chair for support. The class concludes with relaxation\, breathing\, and meditation\, promoting holistic benefits for overall well-being.\nEveryone is welcome to attend\, either in-person or online. A sturdy chair and a blanket will be used during the practice.\nAfternoon of Yoga at IYISF in celebration of International Day of Yoga & Summer Solstice.\nPacific times | online & in-person: \n2:00-3:30 pm – Enlighten Up: How to Enjoy the Spiritual Path with Swamis Asokananda & Ramananda\n3:45-4:45 pm – Freeing Your Yoga Practice – mixed level with Raisa Punkki\n3:45-4:45 pm – Gentle Yoga class with Kayko Watanabe\n5:00-6:00 pm – Light Immersion with Subtle Practices with Diana Meltsner \nAll levels of practice are welcome. All programs are available for individual sign up online or in-person at a sliding scale pricing.\nAll proceeds will help us sustain our mission:\n“The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco\, founded by Sri Swami Satchidananda\, is a non-profit\, interfaith organization dedicated to serving the community through living and sharing the classical teachings of Yoga\, making the teachings accessible\, and cultivating peace and harmony among all people.”\n\nKayko Watanabe\, C-IAYT\, has been a part of the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) community for more than two decades. She completed Basic Teacher Training at IYI and obtained her RYT 200 certification in the spring of 2019\, followed by RYT500 in 2021. Kayko is dedicated to giving back to the community of San Francisco and beyond by teaching yoga as a form of Karma yoga practice\, which is a selfless service. She strives to create a safe and nurturing environment for her students while also making sure they have fun. She strongly believes in the concept of “yoga for all” and is passionate about providing accessible yoga to people with age-related ailments\, limited mobility\, and chronic illnesses. She is a certified yoga therapist and has received training in anatomy & physiology\, psychology & mental health\, as well as Yoga for Arthritis® founded by Dr. Steffany Moonaz\, and Yoga Therapy in Cancer & Chronic Illness (YCat) spearheaded by Jnani Chapman of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program. When not teaching at IYI\, Kayko leads therapeutic yoga classes for local senior centers and community-based public health services while working privately with small groups and individuals. She also offers Hatha classes in the Japanese language\, introducing Integral Yoga to the Japanese community in the Bay Area. You can learn more about Kayko’s offerings at kaykowatanabe.com
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/gentle-yoga/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Intl-Day-of-Yoga_Kayko.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T154500
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T164500
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250407T230134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T172628Z
UID:45621-1750520700-1750524300@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Freeing Your Yoga Practice
DESCRIPTION:Online & In-person | $10-30 sliding scale –Class passes & memberships are accepted. \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nJoin Raisa Punkki as she leads you through a mixed-level hatha yoga practice. ‘Stretch your body\, stretch your mind’ by incorporating different flow variations and breaking patterns of habitual practice. Explore the possibility of taking your hatha practice to the next level by finding the optimal level of strengthening\, stretching and awareness building. The class will include asana\, and some deep relaxation\, pranayama (breathing practices) and meditation.\nPrevious experience with yoga is welcome.\nAfternoon of Yoga at IYISF in celebration of International Day of Yoga & Summer Solstice.\nPacific times | online & in-person: \n2:00-3:30 pm – Enlighten Up: How to Enjoy the Spiritual Path with Swamis Asokananda & Ramananda\n3:45-4:45 pm – Freeing Your Yoga Practice – mixed level with Raisa Punkki\n3:45-4:45 pm – Gentle Yoga class with Kayko Watanabe\n5:00-6:00 pm – Light Immersion with Subtle Practices with Diana Meltsner \nAll levels of practice are welcome. All programs are available for individual sign up online or in-person at a sliding scale pricing.\nAll proceeds will help us sustain our mission:\n“The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco\, founded by Sri Swami Satchidananda\, is a non-profit\, interfaith organization dedicated to serving the community through living and sharing the classical teachings of Yoga\, making the teachings accessible\, and cultivating peace and harmony among all people.”\n\nRaisa Divyajyothi Punkki\, RYT-500\, was introduced to Yoga while studying at the University of Arts\, Finland in 1988. Studying with various schools of yoga and after years of practicing and wandering on the quest of deeper knowledge\, she found her spiritual home at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco in 2019. Raisa has been certified to teach Hatha Yoga from the Beginning to Advanced levels\, Raja Yoga and Stress Management. She is teaching in person and online Hatha classes at the IYI San Francisco. Raisa has over 30 years of experience in teaching movement. She holds an MA in Dance and is a Certified Pilates Teacher with two decades of teaching experience with various age groups and populations. Raisa is also a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner\, SEP®. She guides the private movement and Somatic Experiencing® sessions in her studio located by the Union Square in downtown San Francisco. She wishes to share the beauty of Integral Hatha Yoga’s healing\, centering and strengthening power with others in their journey. This sharing of wisdom of Yoga happens with kindness\, compassion and passion.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/freeing-your-yoga-practice/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250621T153000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250407T224101Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T172457Z
UID:45617-1750514400-1750519800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Enlighten Up: How to Enjoy the Spiritual Path
DESCRIPTION:Online & In-person | $10-$30 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nApproaching our spiritual journey with the same achievement-driven mindset that dominates our culture can often lead to frustration and burnout. The relentless chase for happiness may ironically pull us away from the present moment—the very space where our true joy resides.\nJoin us for this enriching workshop\, where we’ll explore together how to engage in both our spiritual practice and daily lives wholeheartedly\, with curiosity and focus\, revealing a profound sense of fulfillment that is free of dependency on results or approval. Learn to experience firsthand how both sitting still and service are potent forms of Yoga\, illuminating our immense capacity to enjoy life.\nAfternoon of Yoga at IYISF in celebration of International Day of Yoga & Summer Solstice.\nPacific Times\, all online or in-person: \n2:00-3:30 pm – Enlighten Up: How to Enjoy the Spiritual Path with Swamis Asokananda & Ramananda\n3:45-4:45 pm – Freeing Your Yoga Practice – Mixed Level with Raisa Punkki\n3:45-4:45 pm – Gentle Yoga class with Kayko Watanabe\n5:00-6:00 pm – Light Immersion with Subtle Practices with Diana Meltsner \nAll levels of practice are welcome. All programs are available for individual sign up online or in-person at a sliding scale pricing.\nAll proceeds will help us sustain our mission:\n“The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco\, founded by Sri Swami Satchidananda\, is a non-profit\, interfaith organization dedicated to serving the community through living and sharing the classical teachings of Yoga\, making the teachings accessible\, and cultivating peace and harmony among all people.”\n\nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many. \nSwami Asokananda\, a monk since 1973\, is one of Integral Yoga’s foremost teachers\, known for his warmth\, intelligence\, and good humor. His teaching comes out of his own practice and experience\, since he has absorbed the wisdom of his guru\, Sri Swami Satchidananda\, since the age of 19. While he enjoys sharing the practical wisdom of the Yogic philosophy (especially that of the great Indian scripture the Bhagavad Gita)\, he also loves his practice of Hatha Yoga and is one of our primary instructors for Intermediate and Advanced Hatha Yoga Teacher Training. In the past\, he has served as the president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville® and Integral Yoga® International; he is currently the President of the New York Integral Yoga Institute. Listen to Swami Asokananda on the Two Old Fogey Yogis podcast on Soundcloud. Phil Goldberg\, author of American Veda\, interviews Swami Asokananda on spiritmatterstalk.com podcast. Listen on SoundCloud.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/enlighten-up/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Intl-Day-of-Yoga_Swamis.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250616T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250616T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250507T170019Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250507T170949Z
UID:45817-1750096800-1750100400@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Spiritual Study: Yoga and Mystical Experiences\, 1 of 3 - parts
DESCRIPTION:Online | $5-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \n3 Mondays\, June 16\, 23\, 30 • 6:00 – 7:00pm | Offered individually\n\n6/16 Book now\n6/23 Book now\n6/30 Book now\n\nMystics from diverse traditions often describe their experiences in remarkably similar ways. In this series\, we will explore the mystical experiences of several great beings\, from ancient times to the present. We will examine how these experiences align with the teachings of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and how transcending identification with the body and mind can open the door to realms beyond time and space—realms accessible to all of us.\nThe Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts\, take time to reflect upon them\, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path. All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.\n\nSwami Ramananda\, C-IAYT\, E-RYT 500\, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco\, C-IAYT\, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 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.\nHe 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 co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda\, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate\, hospital and medical settings\, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance\, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI)\, which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth\, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/spiritual-study-yoga-and-mystical-experiences-1-of-3-part/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Spiritual-Studies_Ramananda.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250614T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250614T203000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250416T221314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T221314Z
UID:45701-1749927600-1749933000@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Music and Poetry of South Asian Mystics: an exploration of Sufi songs
DESCRIPTION:Anhad Naad Collective presents:\nMusic and Poetry of South Asian Mystics: an exploration of Sufi songs.\n$20 In advance\, use promo code SUFI | $25 Day of \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nJoin us for exploration of traditional devotional music from the motherland of Yoga.\nWe are sharing our own experience with Sufism through singing\, music and poetry. Audience is encouraged to sing along with us\, we will provide lyrics with English translations.\nHistorically\, in South Asia\, Sufism played a huge role in inter-faith syncretism and Sufi shrines (dargahs) have been pivotal to communal harmony.\nSingers:\nDivya Vyas\, Faizan Ali\, Irum M\, Vivek Anand and Ashwini Sriram\nInstruments:\nAbhay Shankar Anand -Tabla • Craig Reiter – bass • Jun Qb Moda Jazz – keyboard \, flute
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/music-and-poetry-of-south-asian-mystics-sufi-songs/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Anhad-Naad.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250613T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250613T173000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250507T180104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250507T185509Z
UID:45836-1749830400-1749835800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:New Beginnings Writing Group
DESCRIPTION:Online | $1-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nMeets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday \nNext session is on Friday\, 6/27 \nIn these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos\, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity\, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome\, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry\, prose\, short stories\, memoir\, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life\, place\, family\, images\, poetry of others\, while using pranayama\, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.\nTools we will Practice:\n• The Art of Paying Attention\n• Acceptance\n• Play\n• Writing from the Heart\nTogether we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.\n\nSusan Ford\, C-IAYT\, RYT-500\, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco (IYISF) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, aging\, bone health\, anxiety\, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga\, Raja Yoga\, Hatha Yoga\, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry\, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups\, tutored many in writing\, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at IYISF.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/new-beginnings-writing-group-62/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Susans-New-Beginnings_2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250608T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250608T173000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250329T053656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T054232Z
UID:45405-1749396600-1749403800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
DESCRIPTION:In-person\n$40 Early bird\, use promo code SOUND\, exp. 6/1\n$45 Regular \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nTherapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing are remedies for the challenges of our stressful times\, and blends restorative yoga with guided breath-work and sound healing. Accompanied by the healing sounds of various instruments\, you will be gently guided to relax into postures that allow for deep relaxation and restoration of the entire body including tight muscles\, restricted fascia\, overstimulated nervous systems\, and an overactive or out of balanced mind\, resetting and restoring a natural rhythm to your whole being. The practice creates a calm\, supportive and nurturing environment in which you can relax and let go\, allowing the innate wisdom of your body to naturally restore balance and well-being. Whether you just need to decompress from stress\, recover from injury or if you’re dealing with chronic illness\, this workshop will help your body\, mind and spirit to relax\, rejuvenate\, and heal.\nNo prior yoga experience is necessary.\nPlease register in advance\, space is limited. Thank you!\n\nPJ Church\, RYT-500\, C-IAYT\, has been a practitioner of yoga\, mindfulness and related modalities for decades. Over the last 12 years\, he has taught an array of studio classes\, workshops and teacher trainings. Modalities that PJ teaches and practices include Hatha\, Raja\, Restorative\, Vinyasa\, Yin\, as well as sound healing. When not teaching\, he enjoys books\, tea\, travel\, music\, and being a grandparent. \nRachel Jennine Goudey C-IAYT\, Psy.D. As an educator specializing in trauma work and embodied practices for nervous system integration\, Rachel helps clients increase their capacity for joy and love in life through somatic movement\, breath work\, sound healing\, self-reflection\, and cultivating healthy life choices. Rachel brings years of mental health experience working with at-risk and underserved populations\, integrating Eastern and Western practices to help clients move past symptom relief into true healing. She has brought holistic yoga programs and professional trainings on yoga for mental health into community mental health centers\, hospitals and schools. Rachel’s aim is to guide individuals into states of peace and trust in their life’s story through the mind and body\, create community\, and bring the teachings and practices of yoga into various settings around the world. Rachel’s classes meet each student where they are at while still challenging them to reach new heights of self-realization\, acceptance\, and strength and flexibility\, both on and off of the mat. She will push you to challenge yourself while also guiding you to listen to your body and intuition\, teaching from a place of authenticity\, passion and playfulness. To learn more about Rachel and her work visit racheljenninewellnessandyoga.com.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/therapeutic-yoga-and-sound-healing-8/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/TherapeuticYoga_Sound_Rachel_PJ.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250607T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250607T183000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250423T190544Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T165251Z
UID:45721-1749317400-1749321000@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Satsang: Joy as Resilience\, Joy as Resistance
DESCRIPTION:Online | $5-$20 | Enroll for free\, use promo code FREE. \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nIn a world that often equates joy with ease and achievement\, how do we reclaim it as a source of inner strength and collective healing? In this heart-centered talk\, Kamala Itzel Hayward invites us to explore joy not as a performance or escape\, but as a courageous act of presence—rooted in authenticity\, emotional honesty\, and deep connection. Drawing from yogic wisdom\, social insight\, and lived experience\, we’ll reflect on how joy can nourish resilience\, disrupt isolation\, and serve as a powerful force for liberation.\nSatsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit\, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge\, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.\nPeople of all faiths are welcome.\nCheck Kamala’s recent blog article: Reclaiming Joy in a Hurting World\n\nKamala Itzel Hayward was a lawyer for over a decade before becoming a Yoga teacher and Yoga therapist specializing in trauma\, addiction\, and wellness. She is passionate about bringing Yoga and other healing modalities to adults facing chronic stress caused by living under oppression\, such as racism\, sexism\, homophobia\, transphobia\, classism\, ableism\, and more. She is founder of the Integral Yoga Institute’s Scholarship-Based Yoga Teacher Training for Black\, Indigenous\, People of Color. Since founding Attuned Living in 2010\, she has been sharing Yoga with individuals facing housing insecurity and related challenges\, including systemic barriers; structural oppression; social dislocation; physical\, emotional\, and mental health challenges; substance abuse; and addiction. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Trauma Prevention and Recovery Certificate Program at the City College of San Francisco.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/satsang-joy/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Kamala-Satsang.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250607T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250607T170000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250328T190108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250328T190108Z
UID:45376-1749301200-1749315600@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Yoga Therapy for Grief Relief; Navigating Loss in Challenging Global Times
DESCRIPTION:ONLINE & In-person\n$54 Early bird\, use promo code GRIEF\, exp. 5/31/25\n$65 Regular \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nIn a world full of uncertainty\, grounding techniques are crucial to maintaining balance. This workshop will focus on poses\, breathing exercises\, and meditations that help you connect deeply with the earth\, offering a foundation of strength and stability amidst chaos. You’ll learn to cultivate resilience\, tapping into your inner power as you face the complexities of grief and loss.\nWhether you’re navigating personal loss or grappling with the global challenges that affect us all\, this program offers a compassionate space for self-discovery\, empowerment\, and connection. Join a supportive community and together\, let’s cultivate peace\, clarity\, and resilience.\nThis combination of theoretical lecture and experiential work can help the heart of anyone who is grieving a loss or those working with them.\nThe physical\, mental\, and spiritual release that doing the practice provides truly does help your body pain decrease\, your mental fog lift\, your engagement with life return\, and eventually you begin to “ring the bells that still will ring.”~ Jessica Bell\n\nAntonio Sausys MA\, IGT\, CMT\, C-IAYT is a somatic psychologist and yoga therapist specializing in grief counseling and therapy.He studied with Hugo Bilsky and Yoga masters and teachers such as Indra Devi\, Ram Dass\, Swami Shankaradevananda\, Swami Ekananda\, Babashi Singh and Swami Mairtreyananda. He has continued his professional development with training in Integrative Grief Therapy with Lyn Prashant\, Foot Reflexology\, Swedish Therapeutic Massage and Reiki. Antonio presents his work both nationally and internationally at Schools and Universities and leads retreats at Ashrams\, Retreat Centers and Yoga Studios.\, is a member of the World Yoga Council\, the International Association of Yoga Therapists\, a TV Host for YogiViews and the founder and Executive Director of ‘Yoga for Health’ the International Yoga Therapy Conference. He is the author of Yoga for Grief Relief: Simple Practices for Transforming Your Grieving Mind and Body (New Harbinger) and a contributor for Yoga and Science in Pain Care – Treating the Person in Pain (Edited by Shelly Prosko and Neil Person – Jessica Kingsley Publishers\, 2019) and New Techniques of Grief Therapy: Bereavement and Beyond by Robert Niemeyer (Routledge 2019).
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/yoga-therapy-for-grief-relief/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yoga-for-Grief_Antonio-Sausys_02.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250601T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250601T130000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250411T005720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250411T005807Z
UID:45673-1748775600-1748782800@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Vagus Nerve Activation Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Online or in-person \n$32 Early bird\, use promo code PSNS\, exp. 5/25 | $39 Regular \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nBook now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration. \nJoin Integral Yoga Therapist Diana Meltsner for a transformative session combining Yoga Asana\, Pranayama\, and vocal vibration to activate the vagus nerve\, also known as cranial nerve X\, and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. \nA balanced nervous system is one of the many physiological benefits of Yoga\, especially through the Integral Yoga sequencing. In this workshop\, you will learn a variety of techniques to engage the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)\, which helps slow the heart and breathing rates\, lower blood pressure\, and promote optimal digestion. This process encourages the body to enter a state of deep relaxation\, fostering recovery and healing. \nSpending more time in a PSNS state promotes overall health\, dismantling stress\, trauma\, and tension patterns in both the body and breath. By regulating the nervous system\, you’ll gain a powerful tool for healing on all levels—physical\, mental\, and emotional. Some anatomy presentations will be included. \nThis workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for limited time with all enrolled students. Yoga teachers are eligible for 2 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through Yoga Alliance\, upon request. \n\nDiana Meltsner\, C-IAYT\, ERYT-500\, YACEP\, has been teaching a variety of classes and workshops since 2001 and since 2017 offers yoga therapy sessions privately and at Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic in San Francisco. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher\, yoga therapist\, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures\, practices of breath-control\, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease\, stress resilience\, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute\, an urban ashram in San Francisco. www.dianameltsner.com
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/vagus-nerve-activation/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Diana_Vagus-workshop.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250526T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250526T190000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250328T223527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250328T224126Z
UID:45399-1748282400-1748286000@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:Spiritual Study: Recognizing & Overcoming Obstacles\, 3 of 3 part
DESCRIPTION:Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Free for active IYISF teachers \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nEach session offered individually. 3 Mondays 6:00 – 7:00 pm: \n\nMay/12 Part 1 of  3\nMay/19 Part 2 of 3\nMay/26 Part 3 of 3\n\nHave current events contributed to disharmonious thoughts or feelings of anxiety? The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali provide ancient wisdom for current concerns.\nJoin Prajna in a review of the Yoga Sutras\, identifying the obstacles that contribute to feelings of disharmony\, anxiety or fear and focusing on practices that help identify and resolve concerns restoring the inner calm that is our true nature.\nWe will review Sutra 1.30 & 2.3 and will add others as we progress in the 3 sessions on May 12\, 19 and 26th.\nThe Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages\, take time to reflect upon them\, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path.\nAll are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.\n\nPrajna Tricia is a San Francisco native who joined Navy Military Medicine in 1980\, served on active duty for 20 years and as a Civil Servant for an additional 15 years. A search for natural complementary and alternative medicine treatments for a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in 2015\, led to the practice of yoga. The practice was so transformative\, (both physically and mentally) she felt compelled to bring the practice to others. Tricia completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Zenya Yoga in 2023 and teaches at the Beazley Senior Center\, the YMCA and local Yoga Studios in Portsmouth\, Virginia. A retreat to Yogaville in Buckingham\, Virginia in 2023 opened her heart to the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) community. Tricia completed IYISF Raja Yoga Teacher Training in October of 2024 with Swami Ramananda & Swami DIvyananda and received her spiritual name Prajna\, defined as wisdom & knowledge gained through intuitive insight. She completed IYISF Meditation Teacher Training with Swami Ramananda and Diana Meltsner in February 2025.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/spiritual-study-recognizing-overcoming-obstacles-3-of-3-part/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://integralyogasf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Spritual-Study_Prajna-Trica-Richardson.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250523T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20250523T173000
DTSTAMP:20260424T180003
CREATED:20250329T081430Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250329T081430Z
UID:45422-1748016000-1748021400@integralyogasf.org
SUMMARY:New Beginnings Writing Group
DESCRIPTION:Online | $1-15 sliding scale \nBook now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session\, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard. \nMeets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Fridays. \nIn these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos\, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity\, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome\, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry\, prose\, short stories\, memoir\, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life\, place\, family\, images\, poetry of others\, while using pranayama\, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.\nTools we will Practice:\n• The Art of Paying Attention\n• Acceptance\n• Play\n• Writing from the Heart\nTogether we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.\n\nSusan Ford\, C-IAYT\, RYT-500\, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco (IYISF) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities\, cancer\, heart disease\, arthritis\, aging\, bone health\, anxiety\, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga\, Raja Yoga\, Hatha Yoga\, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry\, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups\, tutored many in writing\, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at IYISF.
URL:https://integralyogasf.org/event/new-beginnings-writing-group-61/
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured
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