Integral Yoga San Francisco

Kirtan with Acharya Mangalananda
2025-11-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
In-person
$25 Day of | $20 In advance, use promo code UNION
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
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 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.

Thanksgiving Benefit Yoga Class
2025-11-27 09:30 - 11:00
Online & In-person
$15-$108 (class card use 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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for a Thanksgiving Morning Yoga Class! As we move through our yoga practice, we will focus on gratitude and the profound effects that cultivating gratitude can have in our lives.
All proceeds from this class will support to sustain and grow our IYISF Community Outreach Program, which offers free or low-cost yoga and meditation held in culturally accessible locations to support domestic workers, day laborers, mothers-to-be, young adults with disabilities, and seniors in achieving better health through movement and mindfulness.
The program began to develop in 2022 with a free, six-week yoga series in Spanish for domestic workers, led by Integral Yoga teacher Andreína Maldonado. It was sponsored by IYISF, the San Francisco Day Labor Program, the Women’s Collective, and Dance Mission Theater.
In 2023, the program blossomed with support from grants and private donors. In 2024, it expanded to include Accessible Yoga classes for young adults with disabilities, in partnership with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
Now in 2025, the program continues to grow thanks to fundraising and grants from Livongo Health, Working Theory Foundation, Give Back Yoga Foundation, and Lululemon’s Here to Be Foundation, ​a​nd with community partners such as the Alliance for Social and Economic Justice Center, Community Well, Casa Doulas Center, San Francisco Women’s Building, and Access SFUSD. By 2026, it aims to offer postnatal yoga and chair yoga classes for seniors—all in Spanish.
By addressing barriers such as language, culture, cost, and transportation, the IYISF Community Outreach Program fosters inclusive, healing-centered spaces for underserved communities.
Donate or invite others to donate.
This donation-based program will not be recorded.

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 Swami Ramananda for Thanksgiving Puja, Sharing & Potluck
Thu. NOV 27 @ 11:15 am – 12:15 pm PST
ONLINE & IN-PERSON
Book now/OnlineBook now/In-Person

Thanksgiving Puja, Sharing & Potluck
2025-11-27 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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
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).
This donation-based program will not be recorded.

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 Andreína Maldonaldo for Thanksgiving Benefit Yoga Class
Thu. November 27 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am PST
ONLINE & IN-PERSON
Book now/OnlineBook now/In-Person

Spiritual Study: Resist or Surrender
2025-12-02 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.
How do we interact with our world, maintain our inner peace, and still be responsible citizens?
So many changes are happening so quickly—many of which raise questions. These shifts impact us financially, environmentally, and emotionally. What will their long-term effects be?
Do we resist or surrender?
How do we live in the world, yet not be of it?
What is the Yogic perspective?
Join us for a short talk and discussion. This session will not be recorded.

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.

Satsang: What Do We Do Now?
2025-12-06 17:30 - 18:30
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.
How’s everyone holding up out there? How are you managing while the world feels like it’s on fire? Many of us don’t like to think about it—but we all feel it. Something just isn’t right. And yet, we keep moving forward as if everything is fine.
This Satsang is a call to a community ready for activation and transformation, with guidance from a spiritual practice like Yoga. I’ve seen that when a true community comes together, the impossible becomes possible.
Let’s talk.
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. This session will not be recorded.

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.

The Shoulders Workshop
2025-12-07 11:00 - 13:00 | In-Person & ONLINE
Online & In-person
$35 | $27 Early bird, use promo code SHOULDERS, exp. 11/30
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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
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 and strengthening.
In this workshop you we will learn:
• how to build a supportive muscle strength
• anatomy of the shoulders
• 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.
Suitable for all levels.
This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all enrolled students.
Yoga Alliance CEUs (2 hours) are available to 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 over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. dianameltsner.com

Spiritual Study: Our First and Foremost Duty
2025-12-09 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.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Swami Satchidananda states that we have a “first and foremost duty.” He writes, “We should analyze all our motives and try to cultivate selfless thoughts.”
How do we see our thoughts clearly?
Why is this our foremost duty?
Join us for a short talk and discussion. This session will not be recorded.

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.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-12-12 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-01-09 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-01-23 16:00 - 18:30
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.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday | Ongoing
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.

Alchemy of Sound & Silence
2025-12-14 19:00 - 21:00
In-person
$30 In advance, use promo code ALCHEMY | $35 Day of
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
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.
Joy Within by Manose on youtube
Deva Premal, Miten, Manose and Friends “Twameva“: on youtube

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.

World Meditation Day
2025-12-21 07:00 - 19:00
$5-$108 | sliding scale
Free for active teachers and presenters
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join our meditation teachers for a full day of meditation practices and workshops. You can drop in online at any time and join us.
Meditation is the practice of giving your mind a well-earned break from the constant distractions and demands of everyday life. It invites you to turn inward—a moment to reconnect with your authentic self and uncover the quiet, peaceful space that already lies within. Even just a few minutes of stillness can help sweep away mental noise, making room for greater openness and compassion.
The purpose isn’t to silence your thoughts, but to notice them with gentle awareness—allowing them to pass without becoming entangled. Through this practice, you can cultivate a connection with inner peace and learn to meet life’s challenges with steadiness and understanding.
Schedule:
7:00–8:00 am Why Meditate? What Works for You & How to Begin with T Prajna – Discussion of the benefits of meditation, how to develop a personal practice, common obstacles, and paths to success. Includes samples of different styles of meditation
8:00–8:30 am Guided Meditation with Rasmi – Exploration of the breath
8:30–9:00 am Guided Meditation with T Prajna – Discover the Universal Sound
9:00–10:00 am Affirmations, Chants, Prayers: Finding Authentic Voice in Meditation with Diana Meltsner – Explore mantras, prayers, and affirmations, and how we use them to approach the inner Mystery. Includes a talk, sharing, and practice
10:00–10:30 am Guided Meditation with Prashanti Patricia – Synchronized chanting of the ancient sound vibration of OM and the breath
10:30–11:00 am Guided Meditation with Prashanti Patricia – Practice of Self-inquiry to gently question the nature of “I” and cultivate deeper self-awareness
11:00 am–12:00 pm Sunday Spiritual Talk: Unveiling the Inner Light with Swami Ramananda – A reflective talk and discussion on how meditation can reveal inner light and guide us toward lasting peace when our spiritual vision is veiled by the darkness of ignorance.
12:00–1:30 pm Lunch Break
1:30–2:00 pm Guided Meditation with Wen – Thích Nhất Hạnh-inspired meditation on breath combined with affirmations
2:00–3:00 pm Guided Meditation & Workshop: Light and Peace for the World with Barbara Dickey – Enter into practices that awaken the inner Light and Peace—chanting ancient mantras like Om Shanti, visualizations and prayers—and let these healing vibrations ripple out into the world.
3:00–4:00 pm Keeping a Meditation Journal with Jen Meagher – Try several meditation techniques accompanied by journal prompts to help cultivate a meaningful, sustainable practice
4:00–5:00 pm Poetry as Meditation with Claire Schneeberger– Poems that reflect the meditative landscape, paired with contemplative practice
5:00–5:30 pm Yoga Nidra Meets Meditation with Diana Meltsner – A practice of relaxation, awareness building, and visualization based on the traditional Yoga Nidra method of Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Bihar School of Yoga)
5:30–6:00 pm Guided Meditation with Diana Meltsner – Body and breath-based practice with elements of traditional mindfulness and acceptance cultivation
6:00–7:00 pm The Gift of Silence and Rooting in Resilience: Building Inner Strength with Muktidevi Demafeliz – Extended Yoga Nidra, deep focus on pranayama, and journey into silence with meditation.​
This donation-based program will not be recorded.
Your contributions help provide low-cost and free access to the classical teachings of Yoga, including many free meditation offerings on our schedule. Thank you for your generosity.

Meet the teachers:
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 over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. dianameltsner.com
Patricia Richardson is a San Francisco native who joined Navy Military Medicine in 1980, served on active duty for 20 years and as a Civil Servant for an additional 15 years. A search for natural complementary and alternative medicine treatments for a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in 2015, led to the practice of yoga. The practice was so transformative, (both physically and mentally) she felt compelled to bring the practice to others. Tricia completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Zenya Yoga in 2023 and teaches at the Beazley Senior Center, the YMCA and local Yoga Studios in Portsmouth, Virginia. A retreat to Yogaville in Buckingham, Virginia in 2023 opened her heart to the Integral Yoga community. Tricia completed IYISF Raja Yoga Teacher Training in October of 2024 with Swami Ramananda & Swami DIvyananda and received her spiritual name (Prajna) defined as wisdom & knowledge gained through intuitive insight. She completed IYISF Meditation Teacher Training with Swami Ramananda and Diana Meltsner in February 2025.
Jen Meagher, RYT-200, is a certified Integral Yoga teacher. She has completed Integral Yoga’s Hatha I (2000) and Meditation (2024) teacher trainings, Trauma-Informed Yoga training with Philadelphia-based Soul Haum Yoga, and Accessible Yoga (2025) and Chair Yoga (2025) teacher training with the Accessible Yoga School. Jen’s personal practice began at Integral Yoga in New York City 25 years ago. She teaches Integrated Chair/Mat Yoga classes there now and continues to study meditation and raja yoga with Integral Yoga teachers in New York City and San Francisco. Jen lives in Philadelphia with her spouse and two loving cats who practice their own mat and chair-based yoga.
Rasmi Lorrett is a Francisco native whose love for yoga began more than twenty years ago. Through consistent dedication to daily practice, she always found a sense of balance and harmony. In 2019, she completed her teacher training at IYI. It was during this transformative experience that she delved even deeper in her Hatha yoga practice and unlocked new levels of self awareness. Committed to lifelong learning, her purpose is to share the invaluable benefits of yoga with others, guided by the wisdom of Patanjali, ” If you can control the rising of the mind into ripples, you will experience Yoga”. She hopes to inspire and guide others in their own journey towards physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Patricia Heard, RYT-500, INHC, offers inclusive, breath-centered accessible yoga, meditation, integrative health and wellness classes for adults with mobility challenges. Rooted in ancient practice, she guides students to reconnect with breath, movement, and calm—reminding us that yoga is not about a pose—it’s about the possibility.
Wen Huang is a certified Integral Yoga and Meditation Instructor who guides students toward clarity, presence, and inner peace through mindful movement and breath. Trained at the Integral Yoga Institute and YogaWorks, she integrates Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga meditation, and holistic coaching to support the well-being of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. With warmth and grounded compassion, Wen helps students release stress and reconnect with their natural state of balance, joy, and inner strength. Born in Hunan, China, and based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she draws inspiration from teachers such as Swami Satchidananda, Eckhart Tolle, and Tony Robbins, and is devoted to guiding others toward balance, confidence, and the freedom to live from the wisdom of the heart.
Barbara Dickey is grateful to have been a member of the Integral Yoga Sangha since 1997. She completed the following teacher training programs at the San Francisco IYI: 200-hour Teacher Training 1998, Gentle Yoga Teacher Training 2003, Raja Yoga Teacher Training 2004, and Meditation Teacher Training 2025. She has always been enthusiastic about Scripture Study and is currently delving into meditation.
Muktidevi KK Demafeliz, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, is a passionate and dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher. Born and raised in San Francisco, Muktidevi has been embracing the practice of yoga for nearly two decades. Her journey into yoga began with the guidance of her mentor, Tony Garcia, through the SFO Airport’s Wellness Program in 2012. Tony encouraged her to pursue yoga teacher training, which she completed in the Integral Yoga® tradition. She holds certifications in Basic Hatha I, Intermediate Hatha II, Accessible Yoga (Gentle), and Mindful Resilience Training through the Veterans Yoga Project, enabling her to teach trauma-informed yoga. Recently, she graduated from Meditation Teacher Training. Her passion for continuous learning drives her to pursue further training, such as Yoga For First Responders, which aligns with her role as the Well-Being Champion for the San Francisco Police Department. Muktidevi mentors and supports teacher trainees and newly certified teachers, helping them grow and develop on their yogic path. Yoga has profoundly impacted and transformed her life, and she genuinely believes it is a saving grace for all. Despite living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for 27 years, Muktidevi continues to utilize the mindfulness practices to navigate through life’s challenges and adversities.
Claire Schneeberger is an educator leading workshops, classes, and healing circles related to meditation, mindfulness, compassion, and well-being. Claire facilitates a regular mindfulness meditation circle for WomenCARE, a center serving women with cancer in Central California, and holds 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.
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.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Unveiling the Inner Light
2025-12-21 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.
The Winter Solstice can be a potent reminder that when our spiritual vision is veiled by the darkness of ignorance, we are compelled to seek the inner light that can free us from the struggle to find happiness. Join Swami Ramananda for a reflective discussion on how meditation can unveil the spiritual light at the heart of being and illuminate a way to live with peace in our hearts.
This Sunday talk is part of World Meditation Day celebration: a day full of meditations & workshops!
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.
This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all enrolled students.

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.

Swami Satchidananda's Jayanthi
2025-12-22 12:00 - 13:00
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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for this special event honoring the birthday of our spiritual teacher, Sri Swami Satchidananda, led by our beloved Swamis, who studied under his guidance for many years. 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 Puja (spiritual service) with chanting and meditation in gratitude for the blessings of his teachings and guidance.
This donation-based program will not be recorded.

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.

Christmas Carols Satsang
2025-12-24 16:00 - 17:30
Online or in-person
$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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
We will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with Christmas Carols and a discussion of the deep meaning he shared through his words and example. Our program will include a worship service, inspiring and joyful singing, and end with sharing cookies and other traditional refreshments. You are welcome to bring food, cookies or drinks to share.
This donation-based program will not be recorded.

Mirabai Warkulwiz planted her yoga and meditation roots in San Francisco at the Sivananda Center in 1998. Amazed at her healing of a back injury and many other positive life changes, she became yoga certified through 200-hour teacher training programs both at the Integral Yoga Institute in 2004, and at the Greenpath Ashtanga Studio in 2005. In July 2008 she completed another 170 hour Intermediate Teacher Training program in Asana and Pranayama through the Integral Yoga Institute in Virginia. She is attuned to Reiki Level 1, studies Aryuveda, is a dancer, and enjoys being in communion with nature. She invites all of her yoga students to transcend physical, emotional, and mental blocks to experience more spaciousness, comfort, happiness, clarity, and inner peace. As a Kirtan musician (Mirabai and Friends Kirtan Band) Mirabai leads Kirtan around the Bay Area, and enjoys implementing chanting, sound, and music into class.
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.

New Year's Eve Kirtan with Astrud and Friends
2025-12-31 17:00 - 19:00
In-person | $25 Day of | $20 In advance, use promo code ASTRUD
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
As we enter a new year, let us come together with Astrud and her dear friends to uplift our spirits, open our hearts, and nourish our souls with divine energies invoked through kirtan and mantra meditation.
Mantras are sacred tools that help redirect the mind toward the heart, toward Peace, and ultimately, toward the natural Source of Spirit within.
Join us for an evening of chanting, mystical poetry, and moments of stillness as we immerse ourselves in the spiritual presence that we awaken together.

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.

Spiritual Study: The Three Limbs of Yoga: The Alchemical Power of Adversity part 1 of 3
2026-01-12 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | free for active 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.
3 Mondays: January 12, 19, & 26 | Offered individually
The study and practice of Kriya Yoga offer a simple and practical path that helps us cultivate resilience and reduce suffering. In fact, Patanjali designed this practice for householders like us, while the eight-limbed path was intended for highly realized beings. We will study Yoga Sutras 2.1–2.9 to explore how a three-part process can help us respond skillfully to the stresses and conflicts of modern life. We will also consider how we can not only thrive but transform when adverse events push us beyond our edge.
The Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts, take time to reflect upon them, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path.
All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.
3 Mondays, January 12, 19, and 26, 2026 – 5:30-6:30 pm PT
These sessions will not be recorded.
Book Monday, JAN 19th
Book Monday, JAN 26th

Gary was introduced to Eastern philosophy in college when he discovered the writings of Alan Watts which led to studies in Zen and Zen-inspired poetry. Gary found yoga in 2000 and has a Certificate of Yoga Philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has studied yoga at Esalen Institute, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and Satchidananda Ashram. Gary published his first book entitled: “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali- Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design.” The book provides a new approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras by using imagery, poetry and quotation to illuminate the heart of the Sutras. Gary Kissiah also has practiced corporate law for over 20 years. After Gary’s book on the Yoga Sutras was published, he began to get speaking invitations and teaches workshops on yoga philosophy, ethics and law for Yoga teacher training programs. Gary was on a Yoga Alliance Committee that drafted a new Code of Conduct and was on the Board of Directors of the Integral Yoga Institute-San Francisco. garykissiah.com

Satsang: Inspiration for the Spiritual Journey
2026-01-17 11:30 - 12:30
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.
Join us for this heartfelt and inspiring session, where two senior and widely respected Integral Yoga swamis, Swamis Ramananda and Asokananda, will reflect on the teachings and practices that have sustained them over the years. They will also share what continues to inspire and renew their dedication to the path today.
The spiritual journey is filled with challenges, and progress can often feel slow or uncertain. Along the way, we benefit deeply from the support of fellow travelers, those who have walked this path before us, who generously share their experience, and who care enough to walk beside us.
Please bring your heartfelt questions. At least half of the session will be dedicated to Q&A. All are welcome. This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all enrolled students upon request.

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.
Swami Asokananda, a monk since 1973, is one of Integral Yoga’s foremost teachers, known for his warmth, intelligence, and good humor. His teaching comes out of his own practice and experience, since he has absorbed the wisdom of his guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda, since the age of 19. While he enjoys sharing the practical wisdom of the Yogic philosophy (especially that of the great Indian scripture the Bhagavad Gita), he also loves his practice of Hatha Yoga and is one of our primary instructors for Intermediate and Advanced Hatha Yoga Teacher Training. In the past, he has served as the president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville® and Integral Yoga® International; he is currently the President of the New York Integral Yoga Institute.

Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
2026-01-18 15:30 - 17:30
$40 Early bird, use promo code SOUND, exp. Jan. 11th. | $45 regular
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
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!

PJ Church is an RYT-500 and certified yoga therapist who has been a practitioner of yoga, mindfulness and related modalities for decades. Over the last 12 years, he has taught an array of studio classes, workshops and teacher trainings. Modalities that PJ teaches and practices include Hatha, Raja, Restorative, Vinyasa, Yin, as well as sound healing. When not teaching, he enjoys books, tea, travel, music, and being a grandparent.
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.

Spiritual Study: The Three Limbs of Yoga: The Alchemical Power of Adversity part 2 of 3
2026-01-19 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | free for active 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.
3 Mondays: January 12, 19, & 26 | Offered individually
The study and practice of Kriya Yoga offer a simple and practical path that helps us cultivate resilience and reduce suffering. In fact, Patanjali designed this practice for householders like us, while the eight-limbed path was intended for highly realized beings. We will study Yoga Sutras 2.1–2.9 to explore how a three-part process can help us respond skillfully to the stresses and conflicts of modern life. We will also consider how we can not only thrive but transform when adverse events push us beyond our edge.
The Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts, take time to reflect upon them, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path.
All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.
3 Mondays, January 12, 19, and 26, 2026 – 5:30-6:30 pm PT
These sessions will not be recorded.
Book Monday, JAN 12th
Book Monday, JAN 26th

Gary was introduced to Eastern philosophy in college when he discovered the writings of Alan Watts which led to studies in Zen and Zen-inspired poetry. Gary found yoga in 2000 and has a Certificate of Yoga Philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has studied yoga at Esalen Institute, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and Satchidananda Ashram. Gary published his first book entitled: “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali- Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design.” The book provides a new approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras by using imagery, poetry and quotation to illuminate the heart of the Sutras. Gary Kissiah also has practiced corporate law for over 20 years. After Gary’s book on the Yoga Sutras was published, he began to get speaking invitations and teaches workshops on yoga philosophy, ethics and law for Yoga teacher training programs. Gary was on a Yoga Alliance Committee that drafted a new Code of Conduct and was on the Board of Directors of the Integral Yoga Institute-San Francisco. garykissiah.com

From Reactivity to Resilience: A Yoga-Based Journey Through the Nervous System
2026-01-24 11:15 - 14:15
Online & in-person
$49 Early bird, use promo code NS, exp. 1/17 | $59
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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join Claudia Bartsch, C-IAYT, for an immersive exploration into the science and felt-sense of the nervous system. This 3-hour workshop blends the insights of Polyvagal Theory with the embodied wisdom of yoga, breath, and mindful movement to help you understand, sense, and regulate your own physiological state.
Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explores how the nervous system constantly shifts between states of safety, connection, and protection—and how these shifts shape your emotions, behaviors, and relationships. By learning to recognize and work skillfully with these states, you can restore balance, resilience, and ease.
The workshop begins with a lecture and discussion to demystify how the nervous system influences emotional and mental states, as well as patterns of connection. From there, Claudia will guide you through experiential practices designed to help you:
• Recognize your own nervous system states
• Increase body awareness and interoception (the ability to feel internal sensations)
• Use movement, breath, and mindful attention to regulate and balance your system
• Begin to rewire habitual stress responses toward greater calm, resilience, and presence
• Integrate these practices into daily life for a healthier, more centered nervous system
This is more than a lecture—it’s a visceral experience of your body’s innate capacity for balance and self-regulation.
No prior yoga experience is required. All levels are welcome. This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all enrolled students.

Originally from Germany, Claudia has been studying and teaching yoga for over 25 years. With more than 2,000 hours of formal training, she brings a strong foundation in the classical traditions of yoga together with innovative, therapeutic approaches.
Certified as a Yoga Therapist in 2016, she is deeply dedicated to facilitating holistic healing. In her work, she specializes in supporting individuals navigating mental, emotional, or physical challenges by adapting yoga practices to meet their unique conditions and needs.
In addition, she is a Certified Stress Management Educator, empowering individuals to cultivate resilience and inner calm through mindful, evidence-informed practices. She also holds certifications as a Shiatsu and Reiki Practitioner, modalities that complement the integrative, body-centered approach she brings to her work.
To further deepen her understanding of cognitive and mental health, she became a Brain Longevity Specialist through the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation in 2022.
Her approach weaves together ancient wisdom and modern science to support balance, healing, and authentic well-being.

Open House for 2-part 200-Hour Basic Teacher Training
2026-01-24 14:00 - 15:00
Free | ONLINE
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.
Come join us at one of our upcoming free open houses on January 24th or February 16th to learn more about our 200-hour Basic Yoga Teacher Training, now offered in a two-module format.
Module 1: Yoga Immersion Program 3/9 – 5/11 (no class 5/9)
This foundational module provides a strong base for personal and spiritual development. It offers well-rounded, in-depth yoga studies and an authentic experience of living Yoga—whether or not you plan to teach. Students may choose to register for this module on its own.
Module 2: Yoga Teaching Essentials 8/22 – 11/16 (no class 9/5, 9/7)
Designed for graduates of Module 1 and teachers from other schools, this module offers comprehensive training to build confidence, deepen Hatha Yoga knowledge, strengthen teaching skills, and gain certification to teach Integral Yoga worldwide. Comment end
At the open house, you’ll meet the trainers and learn more about the curriculum. There will be time for questions.
Our program trainers include Swami Ramananda, Raama Das, Raisa Punkki, and Kalyani Cohen Barr. Swami Ramananda will present the Raja Yoga study of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and lead various workshops, including professional development for teachers.
Special Offer:
Sign up for one or both modules at the event and receive a discounted rate!
If you can’t join us on Saturday, January 24, we hope to see you at our second open house on Monday, February 16, from 5:30–6:30 PM.
Learn more about or apply for 200-hour Teacher Training in two module format.

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.
Raisa Divyajyothi Punkki, RYT-500, was introduced to Yoga while studying at the University of Arts, Finland in 1988. Studying with various schools of yoga and after years of practicing and wandering on the quest of deeper knowledge, she found her spiritual home at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco in 2019. Raisa has been certified to teach Hatha Yoga from the Beginning to Advanced levels, Raja Yoga and Stress Management. She is teaching in person and online Hatha classes at the IYI San Francisco. Raisa has over 30 years of experience in teaching movement. She holds an MA in Dance and is a Certified Pilates Teacher with two decades of teaching experience with various age groups and populations. Raisa is also a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, SEP®. She guides the private movement and Somatic Experiencing® sessions in her studio located by the Union Square in downtown San Francisco. She wishes to share the beauty of Integral Hatha Yoga’s healing, centering and strengthening power with others in their journey. This sharing of wisdom of Yoga happens with kindness, compassion and passion.
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 which she brings into her classes. Kalyani has attended numerous workshops and trainings over the years, including Pranayama with Margabandhu Marturano and Richard Miller of iRest, Meditation, Mantra, Mudras, Dharma, Yoga Therapy in Cancer and Chronic Illness (YCAT), Yoga for the Special Child (IYINY), The Bhagavad Gita with Rev. Jaganath Carrera (for certification), and Anusara Yoga. She is now certified in Raja Yoga (IYISF-2022), 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. Kalyani now holds the position of Teacher Coordinator at IYISF. “Yoga is a sacred path to inner peace, radiant health, and deep joy. It has touched and transformed me on every level and my greatest joy is sharing this gift with others.” Join Kalyani to reconnect with your breath, find your balance, and experience greater energy, vitality, and well-being.

Kirtan: The Mantra Magic
2026-01-24 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Immerse yourself in the soulful practice of Kirtan, a profound musical meditation and communal chanting experience harmoniously centered on sacred mantras. We welcome everyone who is seeking a spiritual and uplifting environment. Absolutely no prior chanting experience is necessary. All are wholeheartedly invited to partake in this event.

Arathi’s connection with sacred sounds began in her formative years, rooted in Carnatic music training and a decade-long immersion in Sanskrit. Having sung hymns and songs throughout her life, she is thrilled to delve into the vibrant joy and shared experience of kirtan with you. In her professional life, Arathi partners with some of the world’s best musicians, filmmakers, and creatives to cocreate AI tools that empower their artistic endeavors.

Spiritual Study: The Three Limbs of Yoga: The Alchemical Power of Adversity part 3 of 3
2026-01-26 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | free for active 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.
3 Mondays: January 12, 19, & 26 | Offered individually
The study and practice of Kriya Yoga offer a simple and practical path that helps us cultivate resilience and reduce suffering. In fact, Patanjali designed this practice for householders like us, while the eight-limbed path was intended for highly realized beings. We will study Yoga Sutras 2.1–2.9 to explore how a three-part process can help us respond skillfully to the stresses and conflicts of modern life. We will also consider how we can not only thrive but transform when adverse events push us beyond our edge.
The Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts, take time to reflect upon them, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path.
All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.
3 Mondays, January 12, 19, and 26, 2026 – 5:30-6:30 pm PT
These sessions will not be recorded.
Book Monday, JAN 12th
Book Monday, JAN 19th

Gary was introduced to Eastern philosophy in college when he discovered the writings of Alan Watts which led to studies in Zen and Zen-inspired poetry. Gary found yoga in 2000 and has a Certificate of Yoga Philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has studied yoga at Esalen Institute, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and Satchidananda Ashram. Gary published his first book entitled: “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali- Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design.” The book provides a new approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras by using imagery, poetry and quotation to illuminate the heart of the Sutras. Gary Kissiah also has practiced corporate law for over 20 years. After Gary’s book on the Yoga Sutras was published, he began to get speaking invitations and teaches workshops on yoga philosophy, ethics and law for Yoga teacher training programs. Gary was on a Yoga Alliance Committee that drafted a new Code of Conduct and was on the Board of Directors of the Integral Yoga Institute-San Francisco. garykissiah.com

Cultivating Presence; Eastern and Western Pathways to Inner Freedom, 1 of 3-parts
2026-01-29 18:00 - 19:30
Online, 3 Thursdays – offered individually JAN 29, FEB 5 & FEB 12.
Book individual session(s) for $25 each.
Book all 3 sessions | $65 regular | Early bird discount $57, use promo code FREEDOM exp. 1/22.
Book now session #1/Online
Book all 3 session/Online
Please register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Across time and cultures, wisdom traditions have pointed to the same realization: much of human suffering arises from identification with thought. The Yoga Sutras state that “Yoga is experienced in that mind which has ceased to identify itself with its vacillating waves of perception” (1:2 – M. Stiles translation), pointing to the way mental activity distorts reality and creates a false sense of disconnection. Modern teachers such as Eckhart Tolle echo this understanding, highlighting how attachment to thought forms gives rise to the illusion of a separate self. Likewise, contemporary psychology and emotional intelligence research show that our interpretations—and our awareness of them—deeply shape how we feel, relate, and respond to life.
In this three-part experiential workshop series, Dylan Burditt, a licensed psychotherapist and yoga teacher, and Diana Meltsner, a certified yoga therapist and meditation trainer, invite you to explore the nature of thought through both Eastern and Western lenses, integrating mindfulness and self-awareness, psychotherapeutic theories and modalities, and emotional intelligence. Through teaching, guided meditation, discussion, and reflection, we will explore theories of thinking alongside how to witness and navigate the mind rather than be ruled by it. Participants will discover practical tools to recognize thought-driven emotional patterns, respond with greater clarity and compassion, and experience the freedom that arises when awareness is no longer trapped in the trance of thought.
Individual Session Overviews:
1. Jan 29 The Nature of Thought and the Roots of Suffering — How mental activity shapes perception, emotion, and pain.
2. Feb 5 Witnessing the Mind — Awareness practices from yoga, mindfulness, and modern psychology.
3. Feb 12 Living Beyond the Trance — Integrating presence and emotional intelligence into daily life
You have the option to sign up for them individually or for all 3.
Ideal for: Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the mind and emotions, mindfulness practitioners, yoga students and teachers, therapists, coaches, and those interested in bridging spirituality, psychology, and emotional well-being.
Sessions will be recorded and available to all enrolled students for two weeks.

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 over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. dianameltsner.com
Dylan Burditt has his RYT-500 from the Integral Yoga Institute, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and currently resides in and serves the community of Mammoth Lakes, CA through yoga teachings and working professionally as a psychotherapist. In his personal life, he enjoys spending time with his partner and dog, being in nature, buzzing through cities, cooking and eating delicious plant-based food, traveling, experiencing music, being quiet, and connecting to body, mind, soul, and higher power. You can learn more about him and his offerings at dylanburditt.com.

Renewing Our Vision: Community Meeting and Potluck
2026-01-31 11:30 - 13:30
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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for a joyful Community Gathering!
Let us come together supporting each other in renewing our vision for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being in the year ahead. We’ll share stories of how the teachers of Integral Yoga continue to touch lives in our community and take time to honor their dedicated and loving service.
Swami Ramananda will also reflect on the Institute’s challenges from the past year and share our collective hopes and plans for the year to come. Your insights on how the Institute can best serve our community are warmly welcomed.
After the meeting we will share a potluck meal. 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.
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.

Cultivating Presence; Eastern and Western Pathways to Inner Freedom, 2 of 3-part
2026-02-05 18:00 - 19:30
Online, 3 Thursdays offered individually JAN 29, FEB 5 & FEB 12.
Book individual session(s) for $25 each.
Book all 3 sessions | $65 regular | Early bird discount $57, use promo code FREEDOM exp. 1/22.
Book now session #2/OnlineWe appreciate advance registration.
Book all 3 sessions/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Across time and cultures, wisdom traditions have pointed to the same realization: much of human suffering arises from identification with thought. The Yoga Sutras state that “Yoga is experienced in that mind which has ceased to identify itself with its vacillating waves of perception” (1:2 – M. Stiles translation), pointing to the way mental activity distorts reality and creates a false sense of disconnection. Modern teachers such as Eckhart Tolle echo this understanding, highlighting how attachment to thought forms gives rise to the illusion of a separate self. Likewise, contemporary psychology and emotional intelligence research show that our interpretations—and our awareness of them—deeply shape how we feel, relate, and respond to life.
In this three-part experiential workshop series, Dylan Burditt, a licensed psychotherapist and yoga teacher, and Diana Meltsner, a certified yoga therapist and meditation trainer, invite you to explore the nature of thought through both Eastern and Western lenses, integrating mindfulness and self-awareness, psychotherapeutic theories and modalities, and emotional intelligence. Through teaching, guided meditation, discussion, and reflection, we will explore theories of thinking alongside how to witness and navigate the mind rather than be ruled by it. Participants will discover practical tools to recognize thought-driven emotional patterns, respond with greater clarity and compassion, and experience the freedom that arises when awareness is no longer trapped in the trance of thought.
Individual Session Overviews:
1. Jan 29 The Nature of Thought and the Roots of Suffering — How mental activity shapes perception, emotion, and pain.
2. Feb 5 Witnessing the Mind — Awareness practices from yoga, mindfulness, and modern psychology.
3. Feb 12 Living Beyond the Trance — Integrating presence and emotional intelligence into daily life
You have the option to sign up for them individually or for all 3.
Ideal for: Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the mind and emotions, mindfulness practitioners, yoga students and teachers, therapists, coaches, and those interested in bridging spirituality, psychology, and emotional well-being.
Sessions will be recorded and available to all enrolled students for two weeks.

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 over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. dianameltsner.com
Dylan Burditt has his RYT-500 from the Integral Yoga Institute, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and currently resides in and serves the community of Mammoth Lakes, CA through yoga teachings and working professionally as a psychotherapist. In his personal life, he enjoys spending time with his partner and dog, being in nature, buzzing through cities, cooking and eating delicious plant-based food, traveling, experiencing music, being quiet, and connecting to body, mind, soul, and higher power. You can learn more about him and his offerings at dylanburditt.com.

Unlock Hip Mobility and Ease: Yoga for Hips and Hamstrings
2026-02-07 11:00 - 13:00
Online
$35 | $27 Early bird, use promo code HIP, exp. 1/31/26
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 a 2-hour Hatha Yoga workshop designed to improve hip mobility and flexibility in the hip joints. Through a series of targeted yoga poses and exercises, you’ll learn how to safely and mindfully deepen your range of motion, release tension, and strengthen hip flexors.
This practice is especially beneficial for individuals experiencing stiffness, as it can lead to improved posture, spinal stability, and overall well-being.
Perfect for yoga practitioners seeking to deepen their practice, particularly in forward bends and seated poses.
By connecting with your body and exploring new possibilities, you’ll discover greater ease and strength in your Hatha Yoga practice and daily life.
All levels are welcome. This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all
enrolled students.

Nathalie Rukmini Ando, E-RYT 500, YACEP, is a Yoga teacher, trainer, and graphic designer, Brazilian of Japanese descent. She lived in Yogaville, VA, where she served as a Yoga teacher, program development director, leadership team member, online courses administrator, DE&I (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) Committee member, and Anti-Racism Task Force member. She has been practicing Yoga since 2004, teaching since 2010, and has been a Yoga teacher trainer since 2022. She is certified in Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Integral Yoga, Raja Yoga, Adaptive, Stress Management, Yoga of Recovery, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Basics of Ayurveda, and Neuroscience & Yoga. As a teacher, she’s known for her clear instruction and her classes include fun, level-appropriate challenges. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and is a fine artist specializing in oil-on-canvas, watercolor, and botanical illustrations. You can see her artwork at natiando.art.

Satsang: Kumbh Mela and the Quest for Immortality
2026-02-07 17:30 - 18:30
Online and In-person
$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-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join Swami Ghanshyam Puri’s as he shares his journey from an Integral Yoga Institute teacher to a renunciate reflects a deep transformation shaped by the Kumbh Mela and its enduring quest for immortality. Drawn from the structured, service-based path of IYI into the austere world of the Nāga sannyāsins, he encountered the living traditions that interpret amṛtatva—inner immortality—as the fruit of discipline, devotion, and renunciation. His initiation into the Juna Akhara marks both a turning point and a commitment to an ancient lineage that continues to express its power and purpose at the vast, mythic gathering of the Kumbh Mela.
Everyone is welcome to stay for tea and light snacks afterwards.
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 Ghanshyam Puri is a Bhakta who has practiced yoga for over twenty five years and is certified to teach all levels of Hatha Yoga and Stress Management. He is a former attorney who became an Integral Yoga Teacher in 2010. He has taught in the United States, Mexico, Spain, and India. “Yoga can point the path to the Divine”, he sustains. His devotion to the Guru, Swami Satchidananda, led him to India to experience the teachings of Gurudev directly. Puri resided temporarily at the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, India, where he studied at the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy. The following years, Swamiji went on extensive pilgrimages throughout all India, Nepal, and other countries. In 2017 he completed the Maha Yatra or great trip to the Twelve Temples of Lord Shiva known as Jyotirlingas. Subsequently, he took Vel Kavadi for purification purposes in 2018. The following year he attended Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj and took Shahi Snan (holy bath for purification) with the order of Naga Babas of Juna Akhara. Puri took Diksha or initiation and became a member of Juna Akhara in February 2019 at Kumbh Mela, a path leading him to Juna Akhara Sannayas. Swamiji is an Ayurvedic Life-Style Consultant, leads yoga retreats in Mexico, teaches classes online, and since 2011 has been leading community classes in San Francisco.

Cultivating Presence; Eastern and Western Pathways to Inner Freedom, 3 of 3-part
2026-02-12 18:00 - 19:30
Online, 3 Thursdays offered individually JAN 29, FEB 5 & FEB 12.
Book individual session(s) for $25 each.
Book all 3 sessions | $65 regular | Early bird discount $57, use promo code FREEDOM exp. 1/22.
Book now session #1/OnlineWe appreciate advance registration.
Book all 3 session/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Across time and cultures, wisdom traditions have pointed to the same realization: much of human suffering arises from identification with thought. The Yoga Sutras state that “Yoga is experienced in that mind which has ceased to identify itself with its vacillating waves of perception” (1:2 – M. Stiles translation), pointing to the way mental activity distorts reality and creates a false sense of disconnection. Modern teachers such as Eckhart Tolle echo this understanding, highlighting how attachment to thought forms gives rise to the illusion of a separate self. Likewise, contemporary psychology and emotional intelligence research show that our interpretations—and our awareness of them—deeply shape how we feel, relate, and respond to life.
In this three-part experiential workshop series, Dylan Burditt, a licensed psychotherapist and yoga teacher, and Diana Meltsner, a certified yoga therapist and meditation trainer, invite you to explore the nature of thought through both Eastern and Western lenses, integrating mindfulness and self-awareness, psychotherapeutic theories and modalities, and emotional intelligence. Through teaching, guided meditation, discussion, and reflection, we will explore theories of thinking alongside how to witness and navigate the mind rather than be ruled by it. Participants will discover practical tools to recognize thought-driven emotional patterns, respond with greater clarity and compassion, and experience the freedom that arises when awareness is no longer trapped in the trance of thought.
Individual Session Overviews:
1. Jan 29 The Nature of Thought and the Roots of Suffering — How mental activity shapes perception, emotion, and pain.
2. Feb 5 Witnessing the Mind — Awareness practices from yoga, mindfulness, and modern psychology.
3. Feb 12 Living Beyond the Trance — Integrating presence and emotional intelligence into daily life
You have the option to sign up for them individually or for all 3.
Ideal for: Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the mind and emotions, mindfulness practitioners, yoga students and teachers, therapists, coaches, and those interested in bridging spirituality, psychology, and emotional well-being.
Sessions will be recorded and available to all enrolled students for two weeks.

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 over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. dianameltsner.com
Dylan Burditt has his RYT-500 from the Integral Yoga Institute, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and currently resides in and serves the community of Mammoth Lakes, CA through yoga teachings and working professionally as a psychotherapist. In his personal life, he enjoys spending time with his partner and dog, being in nature, buzzing through cities, cooking and eating delicious plant-based food, traveling, experiencing music, being quiet, and connecting to body, mind, soul, and higher power. You can learn more about him and his offerings at dylanburditt.com.
