Integral Yoga San Francisco

Scripture Study: Abiding by the True Self, part 3 of 3
2024-11-04 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Online | $5-15 sliding scale
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.
How does the Yoga Sutras guide us to discover our true selves? In a society bound by overarching institutions of bondage and destruction, the Yoga Sutras provide a map to the real purpose for this life. By honestly dissecting our reliance on oppressive systems, we can discover how we perpetuate them. Join Mia Velez in this 3-part series to delve into the Yoga Sutras and discover our path to liberation.
The Yoga Scripture 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. All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.
Each session offered individually:

Monday, October 21
Monday, October 28
Monday, November 4

Mia Velez, E-RYT 500, entered the Integral Yoga Sangha in 2016 through the kitchen by helping to cook Thursday community lunches and silent retreat meals. In 2018 she was 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 parallels 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 are integrated into her daily life as a mother, a preschool teacher, and an advocate for gender, race, and class equality through multiple non-profit groups.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-11-08 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
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.
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 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.

Kirtan with Astrud and Friends
2024-11-09 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code MANTRA, exp. 11/8 |$25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Astrud and her dear friends for an evening of Kirtan or mantra meditation.
We use mantra, sound and vibration to polish the mirror of the heart and dismantle the illusion of separation. Man means mind and tra means instrument. Mantras are instruments or tools used to redirect our mind to the Source, Peace and ultimately to the heart.
The collective consciousness is healing and fun. We use this time to celebrate being alive, send prayers to those in need and be in community.
We sing in the key of “WE”, join us!
No experience is necessary.

Astrud is a celebrated kirtan wallah and yoga teacher currently living in Los Angeles. She has been sharing the art and practice of kirtan for over two decades and has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe sharing her passion for Mantra Meditation and Bhakti Yoga. Astrud teaches teachers in training the essence of Bhakti and basic harmonium skills. She has been teaching asana infused with Bhakti since 2000.
“Astrud’s kirtans immerse the mind in a sea of sacred sound and melt open the heart” -Swami Ramananda.
You can find her album Hari Om and other singles on Spotify, and all other music platforms.

Yoga after 60 - Strength Building
2024-11-10 11:15 - 13:00
Online & In-person | $27 Early bird, use promo code 60, exp. 11/3
$35 Regular
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
In a very natural way and as the body changes with age, the approach to how and what we practice changes as well.
In this workshop, Diana Meltsner, certified yoga therapist will address the needs of the changing body to stay strong and mobile, to support the joints and strength needed for sustaining good balance.
How can we integrate necessary strengthening into our practice?
We will address:
• Safety tips for strength building without straining the muscles, connective tissue or joints.
• How to support joints and their decreased flexibility and stiffness due to a number of changes.
• The necessity for personalized alignment in poses and transitions.
• Why to give priority to developing and sustaining strength as we age.
• Balancing
• Strong connection to our body through body and breath awareness practices.
This workshop will include a gentle chair and a mat practice, presentation and sharing. You are welcome to bring a couple water bottles or light weights to use (not required).
This workshop will be recorded and shared with participants for later viewing.
CEUs 2 hours for Yoga Alliance offered to attending teachers upon request.

Diana 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 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. www.dianameltsner.com

Yoga Therapy Tools for Processing Sadness and Anger
2024-11-16 13:00 - 16:00
ONLINE only | $49 Early bird, use promo code TOOLS, exp. 11/9 | $58 regular
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.
Our feelings inform us of how we experience our lives, how we relate to others and ultimately, who we are. In turn, they influence our decision-making process determining how we behave. But what happens when a feeling ceases to be an informant and becomes a slave driver leading the way? Then we are ushered into dysfunction, trapped in an emotional hamster’s wheel.
Participants will learn:

General Information about Sadness and Anger
4 Simple Steps for processing feelings
Simple yoga exercises that address symptoms and help processing sadness and anger for personal growth
Helpful techniques, thoughtful insights, and useful tips for staying functional in life!

Antonio 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).

Sunday Spiritual Talk: The Mystery of Death
2024-11-17 11:00 - 12:00
ONLINE | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
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.
We live in a culture that generally avoids thinking and speaking about death, even though it is inevitable and often arrives unexpectedly.
What fears and questions does death bring up in us? Zubin and Ramananda will share teachings from the Sufi and Yogic traditions and guide us in an open discussion about these issues that we all must consider at some point in our lives.
People of all faiths are welcome. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.

Sheikha Magdalena Zubin Goldman was first initiated into the Sufi Ruhaniat International by Murshid Wali Ali Meyer in 1973. She is a certified Leader in the Dances of Universal Peace, a timeless tradition of body prayer and sacred dance. She is ordained interfaith minister, a Cherag, offering the Service of Universal Peace sharing the beauty and wisdom of diverse religious traditions.
Swami 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.
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 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.

Yoga Therapy for Grief Relief; Spiritual Practice to Nourish the Self
2024-11-23 13:00 - 17:00
ONLINE & IN-PERSON | $54 Early bird, use promo code GRIEF, exp. 11/16 | $65 regular
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
The fact that grief is a normal reaction to loss doesn’t make it any easier to go through. Even though it is thought to be mostly emotional, grief also presents specific physical and spiritual symptoms. Yoga for Grief Relief is a somatic psychotherapeutic protocol using Yoga techniques to address the physical, mental and spiritual symptoms of grief towards the re-identification process that follows an important loss.
This combination of theoretical lecture and experiential work can help the heart of anyone who is grieving a loss or those working with them.
The 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

Antonio 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).

Vivek Anand in a Hindustani Vocal Concert: Jog aur Tyaag
2024-11-23 19:00 - 20:30
In-person |$20 In advance, use promo code VOCAL, exp. 11/22 |$25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Please join us for a South Asian Hindustani Classical Vocal Concert by our neighbor Vivek Anand, joined by Bay Area artists – Nikhil Pandya on Tabla and Ben Kunin on Sarod. This trio recently presented Vivek’s solo concert, Now My Boat – Ab Mori Naiyya, at Noe Valley Ministry. We are delighted to host them in sharing a brand new concert, composed just for Integral Yoga Institute, titled Union and Renunciation – Jog aur Tyaag, Songs exploring the Connection between Romantic Love and Transcendence. Many of you know that Jog or Yoga is a joining, a Union, whereas Tyaag is a letting go, a Renunciation. The songs will explore both themes in dialogue with each other, through romantic and reflective ragas and lyrics.
Come and experience musical forms such as khayal, tarana, bhajan and sufiyana bandish. Khayal gayaki or the art of singing khayal music consists of elaboration of the raga and lyrics through exploration and improvisation. Vivek is part of a Bay Area musical community in which this music is explored through fresh and alive interactions between exponents of musical traditions, which in turn are hundreds of years old. Please reserve your tickets now for this exciting concert, in an intimate setting within the Integral Yoga Institute.

Vivek Anand is a vocalist with a focus on emotional and spiritual meaning. He is also a poet, lyricist and life-long student, practitioner and champion of South Asian Classical/Hindustani Classical vocal traditions. Vivek has studied and sung with his guru, Rita Sahai (vocalist of the Seni Alāuddin Gharānā and Benāres Gharānā, and accomplished student of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan) for the last twenty-five years, and with his ustad, Sukhawat Ali Khan (vocalist of the Shām Chorasi Gharānā, and son of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan) for the last sixteen years. Through this training he has acquired his emotional and spiritual focus, a knowledge of rāgas, composition, lyric writing, elaboration, rhythm, and language. His extensive repertoire includes Hindustani classical, semi-classical, bhajans, Sufi songs, ghazals, and raga-based collaborations with jazz and world musicians.
Nikhil Pandya, tabla
Nikhil Pandya is a well-known virtuoso tabla player and figure within the Hindustani music community of the Bay Area, and has been inspiring audiences for over 25 years. Nikhil has a unique ability to relate and communicate with vocalists and other musicians on stage. Nikhil’s training under Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri has given him a strong foundation in the subject of tabla. He has had the privilege of performing with many senior musicians and vocalists, and has also collaborated with western musicians and other performers of non-classical Indian music, making him an extraordinarily versatile performer.
Ben Kunin, sarod
Ben is one of today’s most accomplished sarod players in the Bay Area. He learned his instrument and the tradition of North Indian classical music over more than 25 years of study under the legendary Maestro Ali Akbar Khan at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, CA. He also learned tabla from Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. In 2006, he began training with Pandit Chitresh Das and the Chandam School of Kathak Dance as an accompanist on the sarod. Ben performs frequently as a soloist and as well as accompanist.

Benefit Thanksgiving Yoga Class
2024-11-28 09:30 - 11:00
ONLINE & IN-PERSON | $15-$108 (class cards users ok)
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines. https://integralyogasf.org/attending-in-person
Join us for a morning yoga class on Thanksgiving. As we move through a yoga practice, we will focus on gratitude and on the profound effects that the cultivation of gratitude has in our lives.
All the proceeds from this Yoga class will support the Institute’s BIPOC scholarship program. We acknowledge that accessibility is one of the obstacles that perpetuate systemic racism, therefore, we utilize a sliding scale fee structure meeting students where they are financially for our upcoming 2-Module 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We recognize the lack of diverse representation in Yoga classes. In an effort toward dismantling this imbalance, IYI SF is offering this scholarship based Yoga Teacher Training.
Donate or invite others to donate via our Generosity page.
Donate

Andreína Maldonaldo (She/her) is a Venezuelan interdisciplinary performing artist and registered Integral Yoga practitioner based in Yelamu, Ohlone Territory, colonially known as San Francisco, California. She currently teaches beginner level Hatha yoga in Spanish, and in English by request. She guides her students through the powerful practice of Integral yoga by centering mindfulness, joy, and self-care. Join Andreina in this fun and intentional class that will leave you feeling renewed, empowered, and more connected to self and others.

Join after class for Thanksgiving Puja, Sharing & Potluck with Swami Ramananda. We will have time for personal sharing on the many blessings we have received. Enjoy a potluck meal afterward. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share (no meat, fish or eggs).
Thu. NOV 28 @ 11:15 am – 12:15 pm PST
Online​ & In-person | Free
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We will share a potluck meal afterward and enjoy each other’s company. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share (no meat, fish or eggs).

Thanksgiving Puja, Sharing and Potluck
2024-11-28 11:15 - 12:15
Online​ & In-person | Free
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Swami Ramananda at the Institute or online as he performs a sacred ceremony to invoke the Spiritual Light and guide us in a reflection on the profound spiritual practice of gratitude. We will have time for personal sharing on the many blessings we have received. It’s our ability to be grateful for whatever we have that allows us to connect with the Joy and Divinity already within us.
We will share a potluck meal afterward and enjoy each other’s company. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share (no meat, fish or eggs).

Swami 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. 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 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.

Join us earlier for a Benefit Thanksgiving Yoga Class ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Andreína Maldonaldo
All proceeds will support the Institute’s BIPOC scholarship program.
Thu. NOV 28 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am PST
ONLINE & IN-PERSON | $15-$108 (class cards users ok)
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.

Scripture study: Living Divinity; Interweaving The Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita, Part 1 of 3-parts
2024-12-02 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale
Free for active IYISF teachers
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.
The Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras complement each other beautifully, providing a holistic approach to spiritual growth. While the Gita offers philosophical insights through storytelling, the Sutras present a systematic path to inner transformation. By studying them together, we gain greater insight into daily living and a richer understanding of yoga’s ultimate goal – union with the Divine Self.
Join Kalyani on an illuminating journey exploring how two of India’s most revered spiritual texts offer guidance for navigating life’s challenges and attaining inner peace. This series will delve into the intersecting wisdom of these timeless works, revealing practical tools for living.
The Yoga Scripture Study series is an offering for anyone to wants to learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages, take time for reflection, and share how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path.
All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions. Offered individually:

Monday, 12/2 • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up
Monday, 12/9⋅ • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up
Monday, 12/16 • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up

Kalyani Carlee Cohen Barr first found herself at the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) in 2001 and began teaching Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and meditation in 2005 after receiving her certification with Swami Ramananda at IYI Bacalar, Mexico. The name Kalyani is a spiritual name given to Carlee by Swami Ramananda which signifies a state of auspiciousness, recognizing blessings, and bliss. Kalyani has attended numerous workshops and trainings over the years, including Pranayama, meditation, Mantra, Mudras, Dharma, nutrition, Yoga Therapy for Cancer and Chronic Illness (YCAT), Yoga for the Special Child (IYINY), and Anusara Yoga. She is now certified in Raja Yoga (IYISF), weaving the yoga sutras into her teachings. Kalyani has led classes and small group sessions for musicians of all ages at Interplay Jazz Camp in Vermont, has co-lead a retreat in Northern India, has led “Yoga Day” classes for 150 students, and has appeared on Canadian public television. She co-founded Simply Yoga in South Florida. “Yoga has many facets that contribute to a peaceful, happy, healthy life. Yoga has transformed my life on many levels, and my favorite thing is sharing this gift with others.” Join Kalyani to find your breath and balance, and enjoy the benefits of increased energy, health, and overall well-being.

Meditation: Sure Ways for Success
2024-12-07 10:00 - 12:00
ONLINE | $25
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.
Join Rev. Jaganath, as he explores some compelling reasons for practicing meditation and sure ways for success with what he calls the Essential Triad: Intention, Attention and Nonjudgmental Attitude.
Rev. Jaganath writes in his book Awaken: Inside Yoga Meditation,
“Meditation speaks eloquently of the inborn impulse to find deep and lasting fulfillment. We look for something that can bring our anxieties, restlessness, questions, and insecurities to a satisfying resolution. When we’ve exhausted name, fame, possessions and attainments in our search for happiness, we turn to the only place we may not have looked – within.”
For Beginners and Experienced Meditators alike.

Reverend Jaganath Carrera has been teaching all facets of Yoga theory and practice at universities, prisons, Yoga centers, and interfaith programs since 1974. He established the Integral Yoga and Yoga Life Ministries, and co-developed the highly regarded Integral Yoga Meditation and Raja Yoga Teacher Training Certification programs. He is the founder and spiritual head of the Yoga Life Society www.yogalifecenter.org and has authored highly regarded books. • Awaken: Inside Yoga Meditation • Inside the Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study and Practice • Inside Patanjali’s Words: Explore the Heart of Yoga

Kirtan
2024-12-07 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code NADA | $25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Joanna Manqueros and Gurdeep Singh Hira will present an evening of Bhakti Yoga and Sufi Kirtan. The call and response tradition allows us to open our hearts together. In Nada Yoga, we practice with sound, using the ancient art of kirtan. Join us for a night of music for the soul, in the traditional style of harmonium and tabla. The evening brings Sufi music into this tradition, and the music can be quite rhythmic.
Youtube

Joanna Manqueros plays harmonium and sings with the kirtan ensemble Rasa Lila. Joanna hosts Music of the World on KPFA. She has studied with Rita Sahai, Jaipur Uttal and currently with Sukhawat Ali Khan. Joanna teaches Yoga for Trauma recovery and feels Kirtan is a powerful way to heal, connecting the voice with others.
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Gurdeep Singh Hira is known in the Bay Area as the tabla player with the best beats. Gurdeep performs in the great traditions of devotional music, Kirtans, Sikh, Sufi, Jain and classical. Gurdeep has the beats.

Breath: Mysterious and Therapeutic
2024-12-08 10:00 - 12:00
Online & In-person | $32 Early bird, use promo code BREATH, exp. 12/1 | $39 regular
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines. https://integralyogasf.org/attending-in-person
The Breath can be used in multiple therapeutic applications to promote healing on a physical, emotional and mental level. It is something our body does continuously on its own. It can be challenging to really take a good look at one’s own breathing.
Breath has a potential to open doors to a greater awareness, a path to our spiritual awakening. Many traditions use the breath as a vehicle for transformation, healing, and looking beyond ordinary perception of day-to-day life.
In this workshop we will explore the breath gently and from different perspectives. You will learn:

getting to know your breath with mindfulness practices
the basics of physiological and energetic aspects of the breath
an introduction to pranayama, yogic breath control, its benefits and basic techniques
assessing your nervous system (NS) with breath awareness
assessing your nervous system (NS) with breath awareness
activating vagus nerve and regulating your NS
basics of self-healing with the breath
scriptural references as well as western medical research

We will explore the breath in asana, yoga nidra, pranayama and meditation practices. Lecture and discussion will be included. We will tailor our explorations to your interests.
This workshop will be recorded and shared with participants for later viewing.
CEUs 2 hours for Yoga Alliance offered to attending teachers upon request.

Diana 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 been working 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 at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. She is a yoga teacher trainer for the 200-hour and Meditation Teacher trainings. www.dianameltsner.com

Scripture study: Living Divinity; Interweaving The Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita, part 2 of 3-parts
2024-12-09 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale
Free for active IYISF teachers
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.
The Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras complement each other beautifully, providing a holistic approach to spiritual growth. While the Gita offers philosophical insights through storytelling, the Sutras present a systematic path to inner transformation. By studying them together, we gain greater insight into daily living and a richer understanding of yoga’s ultimate goal – union with the Divine Self.
Join Kalyani on an illuminating journey exploring how two of India’s most revered spiritual texts offer guidance for navigating life’s challenges and attaining inner peace. This series will delve into the intersecting wisdom of these timeless works, revealing practical tools for living.
The Yoga Scripture Study series is an offering for participants to learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages, take time for reflection, and share how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path.
All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.

Monday, 12/2 • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up
Monday, 12/9⋅ • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up
Monday, 12/16 • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up

Kalyani Carlee Cohen Barr first found herself at the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) in 2001 and began teaching Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and meditation in 2005 after receiving her certification with Swami Ramananda at IYI Bacalar, Mexico. The name Kalyani is a spiritual name given to Carlee by Swami Ramananda which signifies a state of auspiciousness, recognizing blessings, and bliss. Kalyani has attended numerous workshops and trainings over the years, including Pranayama, meditation, Mantra, Mudras, Dharma, nutrition, Yoga Therapy for Cancer and Chronic Illness (YCAT), Yoga for the Special Child (IYINY), and Anusara Yoga. She is now certified in Raja Yoga (IYISF), weaving the yoga sutras into her teachings. Kalyani has led classes and small group sessions for musicians of all ages at Interplay Jazz Camp in Vermont, has co-lead a retreat in Northern India, has led “Yoga Day” classes for 150 students, and has appeared on Canadian public television. She co-founded Simply Yoga in South Florida. “Yoga has many facets that contribute to a peaceful, happy, healthy life. Yoga has transformed my life on many levels, and my favorite thing is sharing this gift with others.” Join Kalyani to find your breath and balance, and enjoy the benefits of increased energy, health, and overall well-being.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-12-13 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday, offered individually.
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.
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.
This ongoing workshop meets twice a month, on 2nd and 4th Fridays – offered individually.(There will not be a workshop Dec 27th. Next upcoming dates: Friday, January 10 and 24, 2025).

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 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.

Community Kirtan
2024-12-14 19:00 - 20:00
In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Snehan Born for an ‘open mic’ community Kirtan. We will share and take turns in leading call and response chanting. All are welcome to participate in leading or join in with your voice for responding only. No music experience is necessary.
Kirtan is the Yoga practice of chanting Sanskrit mantras, sacred sound formulas that create a peaceful and uplifting vibration. Singing these holy mantras together calms the thinking mind, illuminates the heart and awakens the spiritual consciousness within. Kirtan is a form of Bhakti Yoga, singing the names of the Divine and a calling out of the soul for support, protection and guidance.

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.

Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
2024-12-15 13:30 - 15:30
In-person | $37 Early bird, use promo code SOUND, exp. 12/8 | $45 regular
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 breathwork 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.
Please register in advance, space is limited. Thank you!

Dedicated to holistic well-being and spiritual exploration, Shalom Mayberg is a yoga instructor, energy healer, and sound healing practitioner. Through the practice of yoga, he guides individuals on a mindful journey through movement, breath, and self-awareness harmonizing the body, mind, and soul. Shalom has also been working in the healing arts for over 13 years and uses modalities such as Reiki, Energy Medicine, and Intuition to facilitate holistic healing. In addition, the medicine of sound is prominent in his practice and is used to create transformative experiences for people of all backgrounds. Shalom recently graduated from the Academy of Intuition Medicine and offers 1:1 work, training in Reiki and sound healing, and group events. To learn more, visit shalom360.com.
Rachel is an IAYT 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.

Full Moon Chanting
2024-12-15 20:00 - 20:30
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease 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]

Scripture study: Living Divinity; Interweaving The Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita, part 3 of 3-parts
2024-12-16 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale
Free for active IYISF teachers
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.
The Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras complement each other beautifully, providing a holistic approach to spiritual growth. While the Gita offers philosophical insights through storytelling, the Sutras present a systematic path to inner transformation. By studying them together, we gain greater insight into daily living and a richer understanding of yoga’s ultimate goal – union with the Divine Self.
Join Kalyani on an illuminating journey exploring how two of India’s most revered spiritual texts offer guidance for navigating life’s challenges and attaining inner peace. This series will delve into the intersecting wisdom of these timeless works, revealing practical tools for living.
The Yoga Scripture Study series is an offering for participants to learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages, take time for reflection, and share how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path.
All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.

Monday, 12/2 • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up
Monday, 12/9⋅ • 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up
Monday, 12/16 • ⋅6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up

Kalyani Carlee Cohen Barr first found herself at the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) in 2001 and began teaching Hatha Yoga, Pranayama and meditation in 2005 after receiving her certification with Swami Ramananda at IYI Bacalar, Mexico. The name Kalyani is a spiritual name given to Carlee by Swami Ramananda which signifies a state of auspiciousness, recognizing blessings, and bliss. Kalyani has attended numerous workshops and trainings over the years, including Pranayama, meditation, Mantra, Mudras, Dharma, nutrition, Yoga Therapy for Cancer and Chronic Illness (YCAT), Yoga for the Special Child (IYINY), and Anusara Yoga. She is now certified in Raja Yoga (IYISF), weaving the yoga sutras into her teachings. Kalyani has led classes and small group sessions for musicians of all ages at Interplay Jazz Camp in Vermont, has co-lead a retreat in Northern India, has led “Yoga Day” classes for 150 students, and has appeared on Canadian public television. She co-founded Simply Yoga in South Florida. “Yoga has many facets that contribute to a peaceful, happy, healthy life. Yoga has transformed my life on many levels, and my favorite thing is sharing this gift with others.” Join Kalyani to find your breath and balance, and enjoy the benefits of increased energy, health, and overall well-being.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Swami Satchidananda's Jayanthi
2024-12-22 11:00 - 12:00
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
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.
Join us for this special event honoring the birthday of our spiritual teacher, Sri Swami Satchidananda. There will be a short talk on his life and teachings, and an opportunity to share how his teachings have touched our lives. We will also offer a brief Puja (spiritual service) with chanting and meditation in gratitude for the blessings of his teachings and guidance.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Swami 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.
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 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.

Kirtan with Prajna Brianna Vieira
2024-12-28 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $25 Day of | $20 In advance, use promo code PRAJNA
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Kirtan is the Yoga practice of chanting Sanskrit mantras, sacred sound formulas that create a peaceful and uplifting vibration. Singing these holy mantras together calms the thinking mind, illuminates the heart and awakens the spiritual consciousness within. Kirtan is a form of Bhakti Yoga, singing the names of the Divine and a calling out of the soul for support, protection and guidance.
No music experience is necessary. Watch on Youtube

Prajna Brianna Vieira is known for her work with the Mukti Kirtan Ensemble, Jai Uttal and other artists. She has dedicated her life to studying, practicing, and sharing traditional yoga practices and Bhakti arts. https://www.youtube.com/user/prajnavieira

New Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2024-12-30 20:00 - 20:45
In-Person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Snehan for in-person chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa with harmonium.
The Hanuman Chalisa is an ancient 40-line poem by Tulsidas extolling the many attributes and supernatural abilities of the Monkey God, Hanuman.
Sri Hanuman represents the ultimate devotee by his 100% commitment to his Dharmic path of serving Sri Ram, the Lord Itself.
Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa promises the removal of all pain and suffering. And Sri Hanuman is the Wish-fulfilling Deity…..ask for what you really want!
We will chant for 30 minutes or so and then sit in meditation for about 10 minutes more.

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 Year's Eve Program
2024-12-31 20:00 - 22:00
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join us for this special evening:
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Meditation and Prayers for World Peace
The beginning of a New Year is a potent time to pause from our daily pursuits, reflect on our personal goals and send out heartfelt prayers for the spiritual upliftment of all beings. Swami Vimalananda will offer a message of inspiration and lead us in chanting mantras dedicated to world peace followed by meditation. The stillness of meditation allows us to enter the New Year charged with a natural sense of Oneness
9:00 pm – 10:00 pm Guided Reflection and Inspiration
Swami Ramananda will offer a guided reflection to inspire our spiritual journey and share some of his favorite stories and poems to nourish the soul.

Swami 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.
Swami 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.
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 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.

Satsang: Setting an Intention for a New Year
2025-01-04 17:30 - 18:30
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code 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.
If we don’t have some clear sense of what we really want to do with this life, we may be distracted by the many devices and messages that constantly call for our attention, and lose focus on what we truly value. Inspired by sources of universal wisdom, we will explore and identify for ourselves the overall purpose we hold for this lifetime, and the way we want to carry ourselves through each day. Having such an intention in our hearts breathes spiritual meaning into our lives, frees us from being captive to the consumer-oriented messages of our culture, and guides our way to a fulfilling life.
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, 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.

Alchemy of Sound & Silence with Manose
2025-01-04 19:00 - 21:00
In-person | $30 In advance, use promo code ALCHEMY | $35 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Manose, a world renowned musician for a night of chanting and flute music, an enchanting sound bath which creates a bridge between the East and the West. This form of devotional music is uplifting and helps connect man’s mind, body and spirit. It takes the spirit to higher realms of consciousness.
Watch Deva Premal , Miten, Manose & Friends “Twameva”

Manose, Nepal’s first Grammy nominated multi instrumentalist & composer, has been touring for more than two decades. Spreading the power of healing music, he has won millions of hearts all over the world. His interest in flute was ignited at the age of 8 when he heard the mesmerizing flute tune coming through his window. Soon, his music lessons started after being initiated by a shenai player Madan Dev Bhatta, a disciple of Ustad Bismillah Khan. He learned classical raga music that still influences his work with devotional touches from both Hinduism and Buddhism. His offering of 111 days of free daily meditations on his social media became a lifeline for many during the COVID pandemic.

21 - day Meditation Challenge
2025-01-06 07:15 - 08:00
ONLINE | Monday, JAN 6 – Sunday, JAN 26 2025
Daily 7:15 – 8:00am
$74 Early bird use promo code CHALLENGE, exp. 1/1/25 | $108 regular | Financial aid available
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.
Join meditation teachers Swami Ramananda, Claire Schneeberger, and Diana Meltsner for 3 weeks of daily morning meditations, Monday, January 6 – Sunday, January 26, 2025.
Develop, deepen or jumpstart your meditation practice with a 21-day meditation challenge. Meditation reduces stress, brings Self-knowledge and more. It becomes a mini-retreat where we connect with the inner calm, feeling whole and the contentment of simply being. Meditation cultivates positive states of mind that can lead to compassionate actions in our daily lives.
We will practice Integral Yoga-style pranayama and meditation. There will be guidance in the beginning and we will progressively reduce the instructions and increase time for individual practice.
Each session will include a topic relating to meditation, such as Why People Meditate; The Technique and Objects for Meditation; What to do with distracting thoughts; Affirmations, Chants & Prayers; Breathing Practices, Obstacles, Insights & Wisdom; and traditional texts that speak on meditation.. We will create a space for sharing and questions at the end of each week. Keeping a weekly sadhana chart to track the practice is optional.
Each session will be recorded and shared with all enrolled.CUEs for Yoga Alliance are available upon request.
Financial aid available, please contact diana@integralyogasf.org.

Swami 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.
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 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.
Claire Schneeberger
I am an educator leading workshops, classes, and healing circles related to meditation, mindfulness, compassion, and well-being. I facilitate a regular mindfulness meditation circle for WomenCARE, a center serving women with cancer in Central California, and have teaching certifications in meditation from the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute and in applied compassion from Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism (CCARE). I am passionate about building communities and connections focused on compassion, empowerment, and well-being.
Diana 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 been working 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 at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. She is a yoga teacher trainer for the 200-hour and Meditation Teacher trainings. www.dianameltsner.com

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-01-10 16:00 - 17:30
$1-15 sliding scale
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.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday, next session is January 24th, 2025
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 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.

Ancient Yogic Food Wisdom, Modern Science: The Dietary Lifestyle to Transform Weight and Well-Being
2025-01-11 11:00 - 13:00
Workshop #1 of a 2-workshop series | offered individually | Online & in-person
$27 Early bird, use promo code FOOD, exp. 1/4/25 | $35
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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join us to discover the ancient principles of Anna Yoga, the yoga of food–plus food wisdom from other ancient traditions and state-of-the-art science–to unlock transformative and innovative pathways to optimal eating for ‘all of you’; physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. You can register for one or both workshops.
Workshop #1 of 2-part series is The Dietary Lifestyle to Transform Weight and Well-Being.
Come and discover the ancient/new, science-backed what to eat–and as important–how to eat guidelines that increase prana and influence weight.
What do you get when you unearth ancient yogic food wisdom (Anna Yoga) and merge it with state-of-the-art science? Answer: The transformative, scientifically sound Whole Person Integrative Eating® dietary lifestyle, which nourishes ‘all of you’ each time you eat–physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.
After registration, you will receive Deborah’s science-backed, automated “What’s Your Overeating Style? Self-Assessment Quiz” to discover the root reasons you may overeat.
Workshop #2 of 2: Ancient Yogic Food Wisdom, Modern Science: Cultivate Mindfulness Eating to Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul, Saturday, FEB 8 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. In this workshop you will experience The Whole Person Integrative Eating ® (WPIE) Guided Mindfulness Meal Meditation, so you can enhance physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being each time you eat. One meal at a time. Sign up

Deborah Kesten, MPH, is a nutrition researcher and award-winning author, specializing in the multidimensional power of food to heal. Her research career began as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish ‘s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease, which is an Integral Yoga-based lifestyle program inspired by IYI founder Swami Satchidananda. She also specializes in the health-and-healing benefits of ancient food wisdom from cultural traditions (such as Yogic Nutrition), world religions (Hinduism, etc.), and Eastern healing systems (such as India’s Ayurvedic Medicine), and in preventing and reversing overweight, heart disease, and other diet-linked chronic conditions.
Deborah’s science-backed Whole Person Integrative Eating® program–which is a distillation of ancient food wisdom and modern nutritional science–is about the power of food to heal ‘all of you’: physically (Biological Nutrition), emotionally (Psychological Nutrition), spiritually (Spiritual Nutrition), and socially (Social Nutrition); ergo, ‘Whole Person’ Integrative Eating. Deborah is married to IYI certified yoga teacher and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, PhD, co-founder of Whole Person Integrative Eating®. To learn more, visit IntegrativeEating.

Kirtan with Acharya Mangalananda
2025-01-11 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $25 Day of | $20 In advance, use promo code UNION
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
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.

Acharya Mangalananda began his spiritual life in 1972 under the guidance of Swami Satchidananda, a direct disciple of Swami Sivananda. After an inner experience with Anandamayi Ma, the great woman Saint mentioned in Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi”, with Sw. Satchidananda’s permission, he went to India to find her. He travelled with her in India during 1973 and ’74, receiving mantra Initiation from her. He has been since living within her Lineage with some of her great disciples in ashrams in the US and India. In 2001, he was sent back to India by Ma’s main Swami, Sw. Bhaskarananda to help start a school in one of her ashrams. He lived in Central India for twelve years, teaching in this school and also traveling within India extensively.
From 2007 to 2013, the Ashram sent him yearly to Europe and the US to present kirtan concerts and classes. In 2013, he returned to the US and lives in the San Francisco area, where he presents programs and hosts an online worldwide Matri Satsang group. He is an appointed Acharya (Lineage Teacher) of Ma Sharanam Ashram in India. He is the author of the book “A Goddess Among Us” which has been translated and published into five different languages. He is on the Board of Directors of the Shri Anandamayi Ma Ashram and Temple in Massachusetts and is a guest speaker and musician at Satchidananda Ashram/Yogaville, as well as at Sivananda Yoga Farm and Sivananda Bahama
