Integral Yoga San Francisco

Full Moon Chanting
2023-03-07 20:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Free
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We gather once a month to chant the Gayatri Mantra, the great mantra of Light and Liberation, to maximize the spiritual benefits of the full moon.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”
– Rigveda 3.62.10[11]
Snehan 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.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-03-10 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Free follow-up Friday, March 24, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Monthly on the fourth Friday
In 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.
Tools we will Practice:

The Art of Paying Attention
Acceptance
Play
Writing from the Heart

Together we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.
Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500, began practicing yoga when she was 18 years old. Her first yoga teacher training was Accessible Yoga through Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) and began teaching in 2011. Susan has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher at IYI since 2012. She specializes in Gentle Yoga and working with people with disabilities, heart disease, arthritis, anxiety, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and meditation. Susan has been certified in Yoga for Arthritis, Therapeutic Yoga, Raja Yoga and Meditation Teacher Training.

Kirtan
2023-03-11 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Acharya Mangalananda has learned by deep immersion the traditional spiritual music of India. His kirtan is couched in the mystical ragas of India and is full of the lively ecstatic joy of the Divine Names.
Mangalananda has toured extensively throughout India, Europe and the USA, presenting kirtan concerts, yoga classes and workshop retreats. He is an Acharya (an appointed Spiritual Teacher) of Ma Anandamayi Ashram in Omkareshwar / Indore in the lineage of Sri Anandamayi Ma.
Chanting mantras and prayers are elements of the Bhakti Yoga path which leads to union with the Divine Consciousness. Chanting calms the nerves, purifies the emotions, heals the body and opens the heart. It elevates and concentrates the mind, preparing one for silent mantra repetition, meditation and communion with the Divine. Chanting done with a devotional attitude lifts the emotions toward selfless, divine love.

The Shoulders Workshop
2023-03-16 18:00 - 20:00
Online & In-Person | $35
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Presented by the Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic
Have you ever felt like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Are the neck and shoulders the area where you feel tension due to stress? Do you have recurring or chronic pain?
We will explore how to release the tension and also how to support the area with mindful movement.
In this workshop you will learn:

How to build supportive muscle strength
Basic anatomy of the shoulders
Discuss the common causes that trigger shoulder pain
Preventive measures that can minimize the recurring pain
Stretches and strengthening practices to incorporate into your personal Hatha practice
Ways to release strain in neck and shoulders with mindfulness practice

There will be time for questions. This workshop is open to students of all levels. There will be some seated (chair or floor) and some laying down practices.
Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, e-RYT500, started to offer individual yoga therapy sessions and working in clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente in 2005. She uses wide variety of yoga practices; including individualized physical postures, breathing, guided relaxation, meditation, mantra, as well as mindfulness practices. Her clients are often post-injury, post or pre-surgery, have chronic pain and other chronic illnesses, have pregnancy complications, and in the clinical setting are often recommended by Kaiser Permanente physicians. She focuses also on healing aspects of yoga on the mind; anxiety, depression, trauma, and emotional health. Spiritual counseling is part of what is offered in the individual sessions as well as developing a healthy daily routine, when requested. Her personalized application of yoga teachings help to find healing and ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Please visit her website for more information: dianameltsner.com

Satsang: Yoga for Healing Collective Trauma
2023-03-18 17:30 - 18:30
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Because of the high value that the dominant culture places on individualism, it’s common for trauma to be investigated and addressed through an individualistic lens. However, trauma experienced by a group of people is a collective experience—and transforming these wounds together reminds us that we’re not alone on our journeys.
In this workshop we’ll explore the role that Yoga can play in the transformation and healing of collective trauma—in particular, collective trauma experienced as a result of living under structural and systemic oppression.
Satsang, 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 spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.
Kamala 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. For the last 12 years, 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.

Open House for 2-part 200-Hour Basic Teacher Training
2023-03-21 17:30 - 18:30
Free | ONLINE
Enroll
Come join us to learn more about our 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training program that we are offering in a new 2-part format.
The first module, Yoga Immersion Program, provides a strong foundation for personal and spiritual development. It will offer well rounded in-depth yoga studies and an authentic experience of living Yoga whether you aim to become a teacher or not. Students can choose to register for this module alone if they are not interested in becoming teachers.
The module 2, Yoga Teaching Essentials, provides further understanding of Hatha Yoga and a thorough training in developing the skills necessary to become a confident, knowledgeable Yoga instructor. This module has a new expanded curriculum in anatomy, teaching methodology and professional development. Already certified teachers are welcome to join to refresh or deepen the teaching skills.
Meet the trainers and learn more about the curriculum. There will be time to ask any questions you may have. Sign up for one or both modules at the event and receive a discounted rate!
The program’s trainers are Swami Ramananda, Diana Meltsner and Mia Velez. The anatomy will be taught by Rashmi Dianne Galliano.
Visit our website for more information about the 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Mia Velez and Rashmi Dianne Galliano, MS, I-IAYT, E-RYT500, RPYTnanda 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.
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 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 is a co-founder of 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.
Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, ERYT-500, has been teaching 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 worked in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator and is teaching mindfulness and meditation to the medical staff.
Her focus is on the healing aspects of yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the teachings of Yoga, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find healing and the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition.
Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager and serves on the board of directors at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. She is a yoga teacher trainer for the 200-hour and Meditation Teacher trainings.
dianameltsner.com
Mia Velez entered the Integral Yoga Sangha in 2016 through the kitchen by helping to cook Thursday community lunches and silent retreat meals. In 2018 she certified as an Integral Yoga teacher to learn more of the IYI approach and be part of the lineage. Mia is a disciple of the Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu lineage and is highly influenced by her martial arts training. After completing her first 200 hour teacher training in 2008, she began to see undeniable parallel in Yoga and Kung Fu. When she began teaching Kung Fu in 2014, she incorporated Yoga insight and principles in her classes. Her goal in teaching is to connect with the students and to facilitate a safe space for exploration and self inquiry. Yoga and Kung Fu is integrated into her daily life as a mother, a preschool teacher, and an advocate for gender, race and class equality through multiple non-profits groups.

Ask the Swami, Guidance for Personal Growth
2023-03-22 18:00 - 19:30
Online & In-Person | $15, $20
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
This workshop is intended to offer guidance for your personal spiritual growth. Swami Ramananda will answer any questions about spiritual life and will address topics like how to make sustainable changes, resolve inner conflict, customize your practice and create healthy boundaries.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, 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.
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 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 is a co-founder of 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.

Ananda Rasa Kirtan
2023-03-25 19:00 - 21:00
In-person | $20
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Ananda Rasa Kirtan led by vocalist and musician David Estes is rooted in traditional Sanskrit chants and mantras sung to original Indian raga melodies and explores the ecstatic and mystical moods of Bhakti in call and response chanting with the audience.

Full Moon Chanting
2023-04-05 20:00 - 20:30
Free
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.

We gather once a month to chant the Gayatri Mantra, the great mantra of Light and Liberation, to maximize the spiritual benefits of the full moon.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”
– Rigveda 3.62.1011
Snehan 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.

Satsang: Easter and Passover
2023-04-08 17:30 - 18:30
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We will contemplate with Swami Ramananda the message of Easter that even when our body dies, it doesn’t mean our Self (or soul) dies. Jesus Christ appeared to others after his bodily death to make clear that His essence was still alive.
Surya will introduce the Great Festival of Liberation and the profound rituals and ceremonies of Passover. Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the Jewish faith’s most sacred and widely observed holidays.
We will open a discussion about the holy day’s mystical and practical significance in Jewish, Christian and Yogic traditions. There will be time for personal sharing.
A simple vegetarian meal will be offered after this in-person Satsang with a suggested donation of $5-10.
Satsang 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.
People of all faiths are welcome.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Mia Velez and Rashmi Dianne Galliano, MS, I-IAYT, E-RYT500, RPYTnanda 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.
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 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 is a co-founder of 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.
Surya Stuart Dick – bio coming soon.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-04-14 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15 sliding scale, pay what you can.
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
In 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 to 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.
Tools we will Practice:

The Art of Paying Attention
Acceptance
Play
Writing from the Heart

Together we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.
Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher at 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 the storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.

TRE® (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) Intro Workshop
2023-04-15 10:00 - 12:00
Online | $55 or $50 early bird exp. 4/8/23
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
TRE 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.
TRE 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 100 countries worldwide.
Reported benefits include:

Decreased anxiety
Release chronic tension
Discharged emotional and physical trauma
Increased energy and flexibility
Bettersleep and mood
Decreased aches, pains and symptoms of fibromyalgia and sciatica

This workshop is suitable for all ages and fitness levels as the exercises can be modified to accommodate any body’s need. Maria offers a FREE weekly online refresher class that workshop participants can attend.
CEU certificate available upon request from the teacher for psychotherapists and massage therapists.
Please read a downloadable pdf with important preparation instructions about your Online TRE® session. It will be sent to you with an enrollment confirmation email. This document contains information about how to set up your camera and mat and checklist of needed items.
For more information about TRE please visit TREcalifornia.com
Maria Alfaro 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 she has taught thousands of people in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East since 2004. 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.

Moon Salutation Workshop
2023-04-19 18:30 - 20:00
Online & In-Person | $20
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
At this New Moon, we will open to our Being with the sideways flow of the Moon Salutation, a yoga asana series. This feminine flow opens the doors to allow the voice of intuition and creativity to come forth and manifest. This creative process comes from the stillness and darkness of the night, the empty canvas.
We will dive into exploration of our bodies, let our patterns surface and allow space for expression. Prior experience with yoga and meditation is helpful, but not required. Have a pen and paper available for a few minutes of guided writing at the end of the workshop.
Diana Meltsner, e-RYT500, YACEP, C-IAYT, has been teaching Yoga since 2001. Her focus is on healing aspects of Yoga ranging from stress reduction to injury recovery as well as personal and spiritual awakening. She is a certified Yoga Therapist and offers individual therapeutic sessions as well as group sessions. She offers classes and health education workshops for Kaiser Permanente. Diana is a lead trainer for 200-hour Yoga Teacher Trainings and a Meditation Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco, where she serves on the Board of Directors and also provides continuing education.
Diana has recently started writing poetry and a personal blog focused on meditation and understanding of the mind. dianameltsner.com

Satsang: Earth Day Community Action
2023-04-22 11:00 - 13:00
In-person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
As we face the climate emergency and other related crises, many of us feel helpless to take meaningful action. Taking concrete action together in our communities can give us hope, purpose and connection.
Please join us for a beautifying walk through our neighborhood. We will meet in Dolores Park to collect trash from our streets and remind each other that , in fact, we have the power to make a difference. All materials will be provided. Afterward, we will gather at the IYI for a deep relaxation practice followed by a nurturing vegetarian meal.
Pre-registration required with in-person suggested donation of $5-10 for the meal.
Satsang, 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 spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Swami Ramananda is the Executive Director of Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 40 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.
Claudia Bartsch, E-CYT500, C-IAYT, has been teaching yoga for 19 years. With over 1,500 hours of training she offers an in-depth understanding of yogic practices and techniques and how to apply them for healing, integration and transformation. In 2011 she bridged her interest in Western psychology and the yogic path and became a certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist. Additionally, Claudia is a certified Stress Management Educator and a trained Reiki and Shiatsu Practitioner.
In her work she offers a unique blend of the various branches of yoga, hands-on body and energy work, empowering her clients to move towards greater resilience, well-being and health.
Please visit her website for more information: http://claudiabartsch.com

Awakening your Inner Rhythms – A Sound Healing Journey
2023-04-29 19:00 - 20:30
In-person (space is limited) | $30
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
“Your mother’s heartbeat is the first sound you ever hear, and your heartbeat is the last.”
— Dave Brubeck
Clear the Path for 2023. Connect with your inner rhythm through a healing journey. Be guided by sounds to release old energies that no longer serve you. You will create space to embrace the new, ignite your creativity and clarity and nourish your body, mind, and spirit.
Bettina Neumann will guide you through this journey with sound healing instruments, her voice, movement, image-making, and creative writing to calm your mind and access your inner wisdom. So explore your desires and wishes, and set your intentions and medicine to lead you through 2023.
What to bring:

Comfortable clothing. Dress in layers
Anything else that would comfort you
A journal

Please arrive early to settle in before we start. The door opens 15 minutes before the start time. We will begin promptly.
Mark your calendar for upcoming dates:

Friday, August 26 • 7pm
Saturday, December 16 • 7pm

Learn more about the power of sound and the nature of Bettina’s work in her recent blog article Sound Healing.
Bettina Neumann is a licensed Physical Therapist, a certified Integral Sound Healer, a practitioner of Health Rhythms, and a student in the Life/Art Process. She founded Aurras Transformation and Rising Sun Physical Therapy. Her life experience as a mother and cancer survivor lead her to her passion for expressive dance, movement, art, and ritual, which she calls her medicine. However, her healing journey and nature’s elements are her most consequential teacher. Thirty-five years as a physical therapist made her firmly believe the body can heal itself. Holistic, intuitive, evidence-based medicine and methods helped thousands of patients recover from cancer, lymphedema, chronic pain, and pelvic floor dysfunctions. She combines her experience, tools, and intuition to guide people through transformative journeys and open up the opportunity to lead a joy-filled life.

Satsang: Mystical Poetry Night
2023-05-06 17:30 - 18:30
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join us for an evening of shared poetry that reﬂects the voice of our soul. We will read and discuss that which awakens inspiration, delight and peace in the heart. All are welcome to have a poem or two to share or simply listen and enjoy.
Mystical 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.
A simple vegetarian meal will be offered after this in-person Satsang with a suggested donation of $5-10. Pre-registration is required for all in-person attendance.
Satsang 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.
People of all faiths are welcome.
Susan 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.
Diana Meltsner, E-RYT 500, YACEP, C-IAYT, has been teaching Yoga since 2001. Her focus is on healing aspects of Yoga ranging from stress reduction to injury recovery as well as personal and spiritual awakening. She is a certified Yoga Therapist and offers individual therapeutic sessions as well as group sessions. She offers classes and health education workshops for Kaiser Permanente. Diana is a lead trainer for 200-hour Yoga Teacher Trainings and a Meditation Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco, where she serves on the Board of Directors and also provides continuing education.
Diana has recently started writing poetry and a personal blog focused on meditation and understanding of the mind.
dianameltsner.com

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-05-12 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Friday, May 12, 2023 • 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm • Monthly on the second Friday
Free follow-up Friday, May 26 • 4:00 – 6:00 pm • Monthly on the fourth Friday
In 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.
Tools we will Practice:

The Art of Paying Attention
Acceptance
Play
Writing from the Heart

Together we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.
Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher at 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 the storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.

A Travel Guide Through Raja Yoga: Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
2023-05-13 10:00 - 11:30
Online | $20 or $25 – sliding scale
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
A Travel Guide Through Raja Yoga: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The teachings of Raja Yoga contained in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are gems of living wisdom; vibrant guides that can accompany you to higher levels of spiritual awareness.
You will discover hidden insight in even the most well known sutras and learn how to apply the Sutras’ small, simple steps that lead to Self-realization. Learn how each day can be transformed from a get-through-the-day mentality to a joyous journey of self-exploration.
This workshop is perfect for anyone familiar with the Sutras. Since the interest in Raja Yoga is steadily growing, this program will also be a perfect opportunity for advanced students to deepen their understanding and experience of the teachings.
There will be a balance of discussion and time for your questions. This program focuses on the practical application of these classic teachings and will use Guruji Rev. Jaganath Carrera’s book Inside the Yoga Sutras as a reference.
Sri Guruji Reverend Jaganath is the founder and spiritual head of Yoga Life Society and its first Yoga Life Center in Woodland Park, NJ. He is a direct disciple of world renowned Yoga master and leader in the ecumenical movement, Sri Swami Satchidananda, the founder and spiritual guide for the Integral Yoga Institutes and Satchidananda Ashrams worldwide. Guruji has taught at universities, prisons, Yoga centers, and interfaith programs both here and abroad. He was a principle instructor of both Hatha and Raja Yoga for the Integral Yoga Teacher Training Certification Programs for over twenty years and co-wrote the training manual used for that course. He established the Integral Yoga Ministry and developed the highly regarded Integral Yoga Meditation and Raja Yoga Teacher Training Certification programs.
He served for eight years as chief administrator of Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville and founded the Integral Yoga Institute of New Brunswick, NJ. He is also a spiritual advisor and visiting lecturer on Hinduism for the One Spirit Seminary in New York City.
He is the author of Inside the Yoga Sutras: A Sourcebook for the Study and Practice of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Awaken: Inside Yoga Meditation.

Kirtan with Michael Hathaway
2023-05-13 19:00 - 20:30
$15 | In-person
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Michael will lead us in chanting traditional Sanskrit mantras set to his original music, weaving an enchanting soundscape of hypnotic harmonics, joyful celebration, and fierce intensity. His unique melodies (often channeled in dreams) reveal a blend of musical influences, including jazz, soul, folk, psychedelic rock, church hymns, Western classical, and Indian classical – creating an innovative fusion that honors the tradition while expressing a deeply personal offering. He sings with sweet, celestial, heart-felt yearning and shares his practice as medicine with others by creating an uplifting communal experience of ecstatic group prayer.
Michael Hathaway discovered his musicality and voice through the practice of devotional chanting. He was introduced to daily chanting at the Sivananda ashram in the Bahamas in the late 90s, and quickly became immersed in the Bhakti scene – taking every opportunity to sit with his teachers Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, Bhagavan Das, Shyamdas, and others.
He can be found leading kirtan at yoga studios, festivals & conscious gatherings and singing with his harmonium for yoga classes in the Los Angeles area. His two albums, remixes, and music videos are available on streaming platforms. He’s also a Jivamukti yoga teacher, Reiki practitioner, a 3rd-degree black belt in Seido Karate, and a regular practitioner of 5 Rhythms/ecstatic dance.
He humbly bows at the feet of Maharaj-ji Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass, and all of his Teachers and wishes to honor them by singing the holy names.
Learn more about Michael at michaelhathawaykirtan.com

Knees Need Good Yoga
2023-05-14 13:00 - 15:00
Online & In-person
$40 or $35 early bird exp. 5/1/23
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Yoga Therapy Clinic presents:
Most people with knee issues can benefit from more understanding of the causes and learn to target their yoga to strengthen the supporting muscles. You can increase stability and maintain essential mobility with this understanding and application of the correct techniques.
We will explore fundamental stretches and strengthening postures for the knees in this workshop and receive a short written practice to do at home to continue this work.
Keep on walking and doing all the things you love to do by cultivating happy knees.
Attendees can receive two hours of CE training which meet Yoga Alliance or IAYT standards upon request from the presenter.
Dawn​ ​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.
Dawn​ ​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.
Dawn Summers was initially drawn to yoga in 1983 for inspiration and support during a major personal transition. She also wanted to improve certain spinal imbalances with the practice of yoga. She discovered yoga provided a source of comfort and stability, as well as improving her back and producing an overall feeling of well-being.
She deepened her commitment to the practice of yoga and became a teacher in 1985 through Swami Satchidananda’s Integral Yoga. Continuing her dedication, Dawn became certified again in 1992, successfully completing a two year teachers training program by Gary Kraftsow in the Viniyoga tradition of Krishnamacharya and his son, T.K.V. Desikachar. In 2001, she was the first to be certified at the most advanced level through American Viniyoga Institute – as a Yoga Therapist. She continues to study with her teacher, Gary Kraftsow (author of Yoga for Wellness, and Yoga for Transformation); and assists him with teacher’s training programs.
In 1994, she also journeyed to Madras, India and received additional training at the Viniyoga school under supervision of T.K.V. Desikachar. From her study and application of yoga philosophy, she has developed an understanding of the yogic process towards greater mental clarity and equanimity.
Ms. Summers has taught in a variety of studio and corporate settings, and has assisted in the training of yoga and aerobics teachers. She has worked therapeutically with people with a variety of different conditions, including pelvic pain, post-surgery recovery, back pain and sciatica, hypertension, prostate cancer, panic disorder, depression, arthritis, and many other conditions. She is also certified by the Arthritis Association to teach the exercise classes for people with arthritis (P.A.C.E. program).
Dawn is certified by Yoga Alliance as a 500-hour Certified Yoga Teacher and also as a Continuing Education provider for C.E. credits for Yoga Teachers. She is also certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists as a Certified Yoga Therapist.

Satsang: Taking Refuge from the Storms of Life
2023-05-20 11:00 - 12:00
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines. https://integralyogasf.org/attending-in-person
As hard as we may try to manage our lives with care and skill, we all inevitably encounter times when life is especially challenging, overwhelming, or unbearable. Our normal coping skills may not be enough and when we are anxious, grieving or under pressure, we may make poor choices that make things worse.
In this Satsang, Asokananda and Ramananda will present the distilled wisdom of all the Yoga teachings as practical principles that lead to skillful action and wise choices. We will explore how to take refuge in the unchanging source of wisdom within us and how each of us can learn to access that presence in a unique way.
Satsang, 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 spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
Swami Ramananda is the Executive Director 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 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. 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 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 is a co-founder of 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.
Swami Asokananda, E-RYT 500, 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, having absorbed the wisdom of his Guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda.
While he enjoys sharing the practical wisdom of yogic philosophy (especially the great Indian scripture, the Bhagavad Gita), he also loves his practice of Hatha Yoga. He is one of Yogaville’s primary instructors for intermediate and advanced Hatha Yoga teacher trainings.
He presently serves as president at the Integral Yoga Institute in New York City. Before this position, he served as the President of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville and Integral Yoga International.

Kirtan with Nina Rao
2023-05-20 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Chanting cleans the mirror of my heart to develop the clarity to slowly (but surely I’m told) find the Love and along the way, try to step out of my own reactionary behavior and see and be with all as it is. Maybe it will take at least another 108 lifetimes, but all I know is I have this moment – now.
Nina Rao learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she was nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. For many years Nina has been Krishna Das’ business manager and assistant, often touring with him playing cymbals and singing. In 2007, she recorded the track ‘Nina Chalisa’ on Krishna Das’ CD “Flow of Grace ” and in January 2013, she released her debut album, “Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts”. Nina regularly leads kirtan, chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, and sings for yoga classes in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY and beyond.
ninaraochant.com

Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
2023-05-21 15:30 - 17:30
In-person | $45 ($40 early bird exp. May 14)
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Therapeutic 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.
No prior yoga experience is necessary.
Save the date! Our next session is on Sunday, July 30 from 3:30-5:30pm.
Rachel Jennine Goudey, Psy.D., C-IAYT, is a Certified Yoga Therapist, Educator and Doctor of Psychology. 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
Heather Sevika Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500, MFA Design, became a certified Yoga teacher in 2008 and a certified Yoga Therapist in 2017.
Her classical yoga training and approach to teaching guides individuals towards experiencing the essence of Yoga; a contemplative, mindful practice intended to remove obstacles and restore peace. Accessibly and collaboratively she supports her clients towards optimal health and wellness through mindful movement and postures, subtle practices such as Yoga Nidra, Pranayama and meditation, as well as Reiki, sound vibration and aromatherapy. These practices are intended to strengthen the body, increase flexibility, optimize and soothe the immune and nervous systems. Her training and experience enables her to work safely and mindfully with a range of clients with a variety of conditions including addiction recovery, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, stroke, pre and post-op, arthritis, cancer, peripheral neuropathy, post-polio syndrome, PTS, asthma, emphysema, nerve damage, obesity, joint replacements, and those experiencing limited physical mobility. sevikayoga.com

Stories as a Source of Wisdom
2023-05-24 18:30 - 20:00
Online & In-person | $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Spiritual teachings can sometimes seem too abstract and hard to understand but can be fun to learn from stories. Ramananda will illustrate some of the most useful teachings of Yoga philosophy with real life stories and stories passed to us through his yogic lineage. Stories make it easy to understand teachings and their practical applications like coping with stress and obsessive thinking, aligning our will with a higher Will, and the meaning and practice of surrender.
Join us for a relaxing evening of storytelling to learn how these practical teachings can transform our lives and bring ever more peace to our hearts. There will be tea and cookies offered.
Swami Ramananda, CIAYT, RYT-500, is the Executive Director 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 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. 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.

Satsang: Dances of Universal Peace & Walking Meditations
2023-05-27 17:30 - 18:30
In-person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
The Dances of Universal Peace and Walking Concentrations are spiritual practice in motion.
Drawing on the sacred phrases, scripture, and poetry of the many spiritual traditions of the earth, the Dances blend chant, music and evocative movement into a living experience of unity, peace and integration. This taste of our true nature – as Universal Peace – opens to the possibility of a deep spiritual revolution within the person.
The Elemental Walks support the practice of the Planetary Walks or Astrological Yoga. “Through the Walks, the individual practitioner is able to progress through all stages of development by use of breath, heart attunement and concentration.”
Zubin will share how these 3 practices: The Dance, the Element Walks and an introduction to Astrological Yoga, as given by Murshid Sam Lewis to Murshid Wali Ali Meyer, her Sufi initiator and Master teacher who was the Master teacher of these walks and dances for the last 50 years. It was his baraka ( بركة a “blessing”) that brought so many to put their feet where he put his.
“It is by following Wali Ali around, holding his hand in the dances and following in the wake of his energy during Walking Meditations that I “caught” the practices.” ~ Zubin
A simple vegetarian meal will be offered after this in-person Satsang with a suggested donation of $5-10.
Satsang 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.
People of all faiths are welcome.
Magdalena Zubin Goldman was initiated into Western Universalist Sufism via Sufi Ruhaniat International in 1974, ordained a Minister in the Universal Worship in 1993, initiated as a Sheika in 1995, and certified as a leader of the Dances of Universal Peace in 2002. She has resided at the Khankah on two occasions, from 1995-1998 and from 2010 to the present.

Full Moon Chanting
2023-06-03 20:00 - 20:30
Online & In-Person | Free
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We gather once a month to chant the Gayatri Mantra, the great mantra of Light and Liberation, to maximize the spiritual benefits of the full moon.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”
– Rigveda 3.62.1011
David “Dayalan” Clark, HHP, CMT, though originally from Kansas, is a long-time Californian, having resided in San Diego for 22 years before relocating to San Francisco in January 2012. David is a certified Yoga Instructor of “Deep Yoga”, a hatha-style yoga featuring asana, pranayama & meditation. He studied under Bhava Ram and Laura Plumb at DYSHA, The Deep Yoga School of Healing Arts in San Diego. David is also a certified Integral Yoga Instructor, having completed the Basic TT, Meditation TT and Therapeutic Yoga TT. He currently teaches Mixed-level hatha yoga at the Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco where he is a resident, and also serves as Head of Reception. “Dayalan” means compassion, and was received through IYISF in 2013.
David attended IPSB, The International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego, attaining the HHP, Holistic Health Practitioner certification, with a specialization in Traditional Thai Massage. He is also a CMT, CA certified Massage Therapist. His business, 4d Bliss, is located in the beautiful Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, and offers a focus of Traditional Thai Massage, Deep Tissue & Swedish Massage, as well as Yoga Therapy. David offers yoga, meditation and traditional thai massage in retreat settings at different locales throughout California.
www.4dbliss.com

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-06-09 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15 | Monthly on the second Friday
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Free follow-up session on Friday, June 23, 4:00 – 6:00 pm (Zoom link be send with the original confirmation email upon registration). Monthly on the fourth Friday

In 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.
Tools we will Practice:

The Art of Paying Attention
Acceptance
Play
Writing from the Heart

Together we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.

Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher at 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 the storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.

Satsang: Yogic Healing - Exploring the Wounds Caused by Those We Love
2023-06-17 17:30 - 18:30
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
It is not easy when the ones we love and trust, hurt us, intentionally or unintentionally. Let’s discuss how to apply yogic teachings to the wounds created by those we revere and hold dear. This talk will allow us to tap into a profound healing regarding our ancestral lineages whether it be family, human, and spiritual. There is always a way to integrate and transform an experience into an authentic vibration of love.
A simple vegetarian meal will be offered after this in-person Satsang with a suggested donation of $5-10.
Satsang, 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 spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.
Saeeda Hafiz is a yoga teacher, author, and wellness expert with certifications from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, the Natural Gourmet Institute. She is also a graduate of Temple University. As a holistic health educator with the San Francisco Unified School District, she focuses on sharing her knowledge of physical and mental wellness with diverse groups. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has appeared on various podcasts, radio, and television programs and has been featured in several national and regional publications. Her public speaking engagements have educated the public in yoga, holistic nutrition, and healthy living from coast to coast. saeedahafiz.com

Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa
2023-06-21 17:00 - 17:30
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Raama for a classical Yogic practice of Yoga Nidra incorporating Sankalpa at the occasion of celebrating the 9th annual International Day of Yoga. The United Nations proclaimed June 21st as International Day* of Yoga in order to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
In Yoga Nidra, deep relaxation creates an opportunity for the body to restore and the mind to rest, releasing energy to flow more freely. While staying aware and awake, the mind receives clarity and perceives a deep sense of peace that is beyond our everyday mental ruminations and neurosis.
It is in this state of open awareness when we can apply Sankalpa (संकल्प) practice. We can use sankalpa as a way to set an intention, to connect with your heart’s deepest desire and to simply bring healing and other positive effects into our lives. A sincere Sankalpa, practiced regularly, is sure to bring positive results.
*International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

Celebrate International Day of Yoga with us!
ALL Day • June 21st • Open House
ALL classes, workshops & events are by donation!
Your support enables us to serve and share the teachings of Yoga with diverse communities. Thank you!
Schedule:
7:30 – 8:30 am Hatha Mixed Level ONLINE with Mia Velez
9:30 – 10:30 am Therapeutic Chair Yoga ONLINE with Diana Meltsner
9:30 – 11:00 am Community Class IN-PERSON with Laura Perlin
11:15 am – 12:00 pm Chanting Mantras ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Snehan Born
12:00 – 12:45 pm Guided Noon Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
12:45 pm Community Lunch IN-PERSON (24-hour advanced sign-up required)
5:00 – 5:25 pm – Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Raama Das
5:30 – 7:00 pm BIPOC Community Class ONLINE with IYI BIPOC teachers
5:45 – 6:45 pm Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
6:30 – 8:00 pm Community Class IN-PERSON with JoAnn Bonifacio
7:00 – 8:00 pm Summer Solstice Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Diana Meltsner

Raama 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.

Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice
2023-06-21 17:45 - 18:45
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Please join us for this special class as we celebrate the 9th annual International Day of Yoga. The United Nations proclaimed June 21st as International Day* of Yoga in order to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
Swami Ramananda will speak about the classical teachings of Yoga, Yogic philosophy and then incorporate these teachings into a meditative Yoga practice. All levels of practice are welcome.
*International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

Celebrate International Day of Yoga with us!
ALL Day • June 21st • Open House
ALL classes, workshops & events are by donation!
Your support enables us to serve and share the teachings of Yoga with diverse communities. Thank you!
Schedule:
7:30 – 8:30 am Hatha Mixed Level ONLINE with Mia Velez
9:30 – 10:30 am Therapeutic Chair Yoga ONLINE with Diana Meltsner
9:30 – 11:00 am Community Class IN-PERSON with Laura Perlin
11:15 am – 12:00 pm Chanting Mantras ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Snehan Born
12:00 – 12:45 pm Guided Noon Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
12:45 pm Community Lunch IN-PERSON (24-hour advanced sign-up required)
5:00 – 5:25 pm – Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Raama Das
5:30 – 7:00 pm BIPOC Community Class ONLINE with IYI BIPOC teachers
5:45 – 6:45 pm Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
6:30 – 8:00 pm Community Class IN-PERSON with JoAnn Bonifacio
7:00 – 8:00 pm Summer Solstice Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Diana Meltsner

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Mia Velez and Rashmi Dianne Galliano, MS, I-IAYT, E-RYT500, RPYTnanda 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.
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 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 is a co-founder of 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.
