Integral Yoga San Francisco

Contemporary Mysticism: ﻿Paths to Spiritual Awakening
2024-03-27 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
You are invited to explore: “Jewish Mysticism meets Integral Yoga,” a series of Interfaith Dialogues presented by Integral Yoga Ministry Interfaith.
FREE | starts live at 4:30 pm PT / 7:30 PM ET | Join via Zoom directly
Connect via Zoom
Is it really only a few that can have mystical experiences, to feel one with the World, with God, with All? All the faiths have a path to Mystical Awakening. Continue the journey with us as we explore the different faith’s paths to Self Realization.
This is the Third in a Series of Contemporary Mysticism Conversations. The first two, Christian Mysticism and African Mysticism, were very well received. We are now looking forward to having Rabbi David Ingber, Master of Kabbalah in NYC, converse with Integral Yoga Swami Ramananda. The two met many years ago in NY and soon after offered a Swami and the Rabbi talk. This conversation will surely go deep.

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.
Rabbi David A. Ingber is the Senior Director for Jewish Life and Senior Director of the Bronfman Center at 92NY. He serves as the founding rabbi of Romemu, the largest Renewal synagogue in the United States. Rabbi Ingber founded Romemu in NYC in 2006, following his ordination by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Founder of the Jewish Renewal movement. Over the past decade-plus, Romemu has grown into a weekly home for thousands of people, a growing membership of over 1,000 in its two physical locations (Manhattan and Brooklyn), and a growing online global membership. Rabbi Ingber also founded Romemu Yeshiva, the first fully egalitarian Yeshiva (immersive learning center), dedicated to mystical and meditative Jewish learning and practice. Raised Modern Orthodox in New York, Rabbi Ingber studied at Ramaz, Yeshiva University, Beit Midrash L’Torah, Yeshivat Chaim Berlin, and Yeshivat Chovovei Torah Rabbinical School. He also studied philosophy, psychology and religion at New York University. Rabbi Ingber’s distinct approach to Torah, rabbinical teaching, and ritualistic practice is informed by his own personal seeking and learning from a wide cross-section of sacred traditions and faiths. He is enlightened by Jewish mysticism and Hasidut, fusing these beliefs with those of other ancient philosophies and world views. Particular influences include 18th Century Kabbalist and Founder of Hasidut, Rabbi Yisrael Ba’al Shem Tov; the great 19th Century Ishbitzer Rebbe, R. Mordechai Leiner; and leading 20th Century thinkers from Kabbalist, Rav Abraham Isaac Kook to psychologist, Carl Jung. Rabbi Ingber was named by Newsweek as one of the top 50 most influential rabbis in the United States as well as by The Forward as one of the 50 most newsworthy and notable Jews in America. A major 21st Century Jewish thinker and educator, his rich perspective, open heart and mind, and full-bodied approach to Jewish learning has brought him to speak worldwide. He serves on the faculty for the Wexner Heritage Program, and the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and Israel, and was an AJWS Global Justice Fellow. Rabbi Ingber has lectured extensively on the topics of spirituality, theology, Jewish mysticism, prayer, and meditation. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Ariel and their three children.

Satsang: Easter
2024-03-30 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.
On this evening, we will contemplate the spiritual presence and resurrection of Jesus as Swami Vimalananda clarifies how the same truths are found in the teachings of Yoga. We will make time for discussion and personal sharing.
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 Vimalananda Ma, RYT-500, 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.

Scripture Study: Yoga In Action, 3-part
2024-04-01 18:00 - 19:00
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.
3 parts, offered individually:

Monday, March 25
Monday, April 1
Monday, April 8

In this series we will study Kriya Yoga (book 2, sutra 1) from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Patanjali’s first sutra in book 2 (The Portion on Practice), begins with “tapas,” and ignites the yoga journey with a potent image: both the heat of transformation and the light of self-discovery. It suggests that challenges, embraced wisely, become fuel for illuminating our true nature. We will continue with Svadhyaya and Ishwara Pranidhana. Questions and discussion are most welcome. We will be following and deepening the studies from the previous series, Yoga Sutras for Modern Times with Mia Velez. Any of the translations of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is helpful but not necessary to participate.
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.

Carlee Cohen Barr (Kalyani) 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.

Open House #2 for 2-part 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training
2024-04-02 17:30 - 18:30
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.
Join Diana Meltsner, Mia Velez and Swami Ramananda online to learn more about our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program that we are offering in a new 2-part format.
The first module, Yoga Immersion Program, provides a strong foundation for personal and spiritual development. It will offer well-rounded, in-depth yoga studies and an authentic experience of living Yoga whether you aim to become a teacher or not. Students can choose to register for this module alone if they are not interested in becoming teachers.
The module 2, Yoga Teaching Essentials, provides further understanding of Hatha Yoga and a thorough training in developing the skills necessary to become a confident, knowledgeable Yoga instructor. This module has a newly expanded curriculum in anatomy, teaching methodology and professional development. ertified teachers are welcome to join to refresh or deepen the teaching skills.
Meet the trainers and learn more about the curriculum. There will be time to ask any questions you may have. Receive a discounted rate when you sign up for one or both modules at the event!
The program’s trainers are Swami Ramananda, Diana Meltsner and Mia Velez.
Visit 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training to learn more about the program or to apply to Module 1, Module 2 or both.

Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, ERYT-500, YACEP, has been teaching variety of classes and workshops since 2001 and since 2017 offers yoga therapy sessions privately and at Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic in San Francisco. She has worked in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator and is teaching mindfulness and meditation to the medical staff. Her focus is on the healing aspects of yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the teachings of Yoga, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find healing and the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager and serves on the board of directors at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. She is a yoga teacher trainer for the 200-hour and Meditation Teacher trainings. www.dianameltsner.com
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.
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.

4-Day Yoga Retreat: Silence, Nature and Deep Practice
2024-04-04 17:00 - 2024-04-07 12:30
In-person | April 4 – 7, 2024
Single room $695 early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 3/14 | $735 regular price
Shared room $595 per person early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 3/14 | $635 regular price
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Quiet the mind, rest the body and nourish the soul by going deep within to touch the source of contentment and peace at the heart of being.
Join Marc Morozumi, Mirabai Warkulwiz and Swami Ramananda at this in-person 4-day retreat. It will include various Yoga classes for all levels of practice, workshops, meditations, inspirational evening programs, healthy vegetarian meals and free time for walks, resting or reading.
We will practice periods of silence including Friday morning and the whole day Saturday. In this spacious silence, we can strengthen our inner connection to peace and renew our personal commitment to live courageously in the light of awareness.
We are blessed once again to use the Commonweal Retreat Center in Bolinas, known for the natural beauty of the ocean side location which is located on sacred Native American grounds. The practices of Yoga in this beautiful natural setting offer an opportunity to cleanse the body and mind of stimulants and toxins that we ingest through the mouth, eyes, and ears and find rejuvenation.
Retreat at Commonweal Retreat Center begins Thursday at 5pm and ends Sunday at 12:30pm.
SAVE THE DATE: Our Fall Retreat will be in late August. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens.

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.
Marc Morozumi, E-RYT 500, CMT, Lead Yoga Teacher Trainer with Integral Yoga Institute, began practicing Ashtanga yoga in 2001 while a full-time modern dancer with Joe Goode Performance Group in SF, CA. Due to injury, Mukunda retired from his 12 year dance career in 2004 and entered the events industry from 2004-2016. A 2-month personal trip to India in 2007 paved the way for landing in Yogaville in 2009 for his first teacher training with Swami Divyananda and staff. One month after returning from graduation, Mukunda began teaching a Saturday morning class at the SF IYI which he maintained for over 10 years. Mukunda has co-led Integral Yoga retreats since 2011 and has staffed or co-led Basic Teacher Trainings since 2013. He has opened and managed small group yoga studios in SF since 2017 and in early 2020, he opened and then reformed a yoga center post COVID-19: Mukunda Yoga – Activation and Well-being Center in SOMA, SF, CA.

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.

Kirtan with Astrud
2024-04-06 19:00 - 20:30
$25 Day of | $20 In advance, use promo code MANTRA, exp. 4/5
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Please join us for call and response chanting and meditation. No music experience is necessary.
As a group we are inspired by the sacred sounds and love to sing in the key of “WE”. We share what is known as KIRTAN, a call and response of sacred sounds and mantras. It is the relationship to these mantras that illuminates our heart and awakens our consciousness. It is not important that you can sing or that you understand the words. KIRTAN is an experience. It is a practice to release you out of the thinking mind and drop you gently into the heart. MAN means ‘mind ‘and TRA means ‘instrument’. So it is through these sacred sounds we are able to conduct the instrument of the mind.
Together we create this sacred union with healing intentions for the whole of the world

Astrud Castillo has been teaching yoga since 2001 and sharing Kirtan internationally for the last 10 years.She trained in NYC at Laughing Lotus, currently known as Body and soul Yoga collective and is a senior teacher and teacher trainer. She has studied the basics of yoga therapeutics and Vedic chanting with T.K.V. Desikachar in India. Her teaching has been inspired by her mentor and friend Mark Whitwell over the last 20 years. Astrud’s classes are warm, welcoming and all inclusive. Her love and relationship to Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion, is always illuminated in her teaching. There is always chanting in Astrud’s classes, awareness around the breath and mindful movement. Astrud leads annual pilgrimages to India, teaches Bhakti yoga with teachers in training and currently lives at the IYI in SF. Her slow flow class weaves together poses in a creative and mindful way using the breath as the bridge to deepen and explore the balance between effort and surrender and focus the mind.

Scripture Study: Yoga In Action, 3-part
2024-04-08 18:00 - 19:00
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.
3 Parts offered individually:

Monday, March 25
Monday, April 1
Monday, April 8

In this series we will study Kriya Yoga (book 2, sutra 1) from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Patanjali’s first sutra in book 2 (The Portion on Practice), begins with “tapas,” and ignites the yoga journey with a potent image: both the heat of transformation and the light of self-discovery. It suggests that challenges, embraced wisely, become fuel for illuminating our true nature. We will continue with Svadhyaya and Ishwara Pranidhana. Questions and discussion are most welcome. We will be following and deepening the studies from the previous series, Yoga Sutras for Modern Times with Mia Velez. Any of the translations of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is helpful but not necessary to participate.
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.
Online | $5-15 sliding scale

Carlee Cohen Barr (Kalyani) 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 Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2024-04-08 20:00 - 20:30
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.

Tuesday Tea Time Series
2024-04-09 11:15 - 11:45
How Yoga Helps When the Going Gets Tough
Online & In-person | $1-108 sliding scale
Please consider donating to the “Swami Ramananda Yogic Wisdom” GoFundMe page in support of Swami Ramananda’s shift from administrative tasks to writing and publishing a book describing how to integrate the teachings of Yoga into everyday life.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance, a Zoom link will be provided via email 1 hour prior to the session. You can also join Zoom directly from your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.

Share a cup of tea with Swami Ramananda, one of our most beloved IYI teachers. Swami-ji will be hosting monthly 30-minute “tea break” discussions exploring how to integrate Yoga and meditation in our daily lives. In-person students can join us right after the 9:30 am Yoga class!
Join in community and explore how Yoga can be integrated into every action, every day to benefit our lives and the world. Discover how the timeless teachings of Yoga and meditation can help us transform the painful aspects of human experience into steps towards realizing our full potential.
Tuesdays • Monthly • Save the dates:
May 7: The Secret to Authentic Joy
June 11: Surrender, Prayer and Grace
July 9: Can We Know God? How Yoga Enlightens
Live Streamed via Facebook and available to watch later, at your convenience.
Global times: 11:15 PT, 12:15 pm MDT, 1:15 pm CDT, 2:15 pm EDT
7:15 pm GMT, 8:15 pm CET, 11:45 pm IST

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.

Prana Yoga
2024-04-11 18:30 - 20:00
Online & in-person | 2 Thursdays, April 11 & 18
$40 Early bird, use promo code PRANA, exp. 4/4/24.
$50 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 science of Hatha Yoga was primarily designed for the purpose of leading us into deeper, more subtle levels of our being.
In this two part workshop, we will explore the flow of prana (subtle energy) as we move through the Yoga practices. This subtle approach releases tension, enhances strength and brings a calm focus to the mind. Each time we practice this way, we can go a little deeper, enabling us to cultivate the awareness and stillness needed to experience the Spiritual presence at the heart of our being.
Yoga Teachers – receive 3 hours of CEUs for Yoga Alliance 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.

Pelvic Floor Yoga to Alleviate Incontinence: An Evidence Based Practice
2024-04-13 12:30 - 16:00
Online & in-person
$75 | $60 Early bird, use promo code PELVIS, exp. 3/31
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.
About one in four people in the US struggle with urinary incontinence. It is not just a medical problem; it can affect us emotionally and socially, as it often makes us afraid to engage in activities that would make us veer too far away from a bathroom.
The pelvic floor muscles play an important role as part of the body’s core system, contributing to core stabilization during movement. Yoga offers numerous techniques to strengthen and balance the pelvic floor. Proper strengthening and stabilizing of the pelvic floor help to create the correct foundation for each movement in the body. This is the true meaning of “core work.” In this course, study with yoga therapist and pelvic floor expert Leslie Howard as she shares the evidence-based yoga practices for pelvic floor health used in studies on the benefits of yoga for pelvic floor health with a specific focus on incontinence. In a study designed by Leslie for University of California, San Francisco, women who participated in the yoga program in the study experienced an overall 70 percent improvement – or reduction – in the frequency of their urine leakage compared to the baseline!
Whether you experience this condition or are just plain curious about how to create greater tone and balance of the pelvic floor, this course contains a wealth of helpful and practical information.
This workshop qualifies for continuing education credits with Yoga Alliance. Certificate given upon request by the instructor.

Leslie Howard is an Oakland-based yoga teacher, specializing in all things pelvic. She leads workshops and trainings nationally and has written a book about caring for the female pelvis, Pelvic Liberation. In 2022, after losing a long time student, she took a deep dive into the subject of death. She has 60 hours of Death Doula training, runs a regular Death Café (a place to come and talk about death) and is volunteering in hospice for Kaiser Oakland. Her teaching is informed by over 3500 hours of yoga study with senior Iyengar yoga teachers. She considers Ramanand Patel her most important influence and mentor. She has designed two very successful studies for UCSF on how to use yoga to alleviate incontinence and pelvic pain. To learn more about Leslie or for some online education opportunities visit: www.lesliehowardyoga.com

Passover Seder
2024-04-20 16:30 - 18:00
$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 Jackie Barshak and Swami Ramananda and celebrate your own path to liberation at the Institute’s Passover Seder, exploring the Passover story from a yogic perspective. Participate in the timeless ritual of storytelling, recreating and reimagining the Jewish peoples’ exodus, drawing on its powerful themes of resistance and liberation. Honor the yogic teachings as they apply to Passover and your own traditions. Reflect on legacies of liberation and redemption. Joyfully leave behind your own struggles as we collectively move to the promised land of self-realization.

Jackie Barshak, CYT-500, began her meditation and yoga practice in 1972. She completed her basic yoga teacher training at Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) in 2012 following a three year stay in Pondicherry, India. Jackie has completed advanced teacher trainings at IYI in Accessible Yoga, Yoga for Children, Therapeutic Yoga and Raja Yoga. She has participated in world peace projects in Israel and Palestine.
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 Ekachakra Prana and The Bhakti Band
2024-04-20 19:00 - 20:30
In-person
$15 In advance, use promo code BHAKTIBAND, exp. 4/19
$20 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Come immerse yourself in the transcendental vibrations of the maha-mantra! Drawing from the rich tradition of Gaudiya Vaisnavism (The Hare Krishnas!), a rockstar-turned-monk will take you on a spiritual journey through song. From meditative to ecstatic, both emotional and highly musical, your heart, voice and ears are in for a treat. According to the Vedic wisdom literatures, singing holy names of God together is the topmost process of self-realization in this age. So let’s get down to it!

Ekachakra Prana was a touring musician and yoga teacher searching for God when he met Indradyumna Swami, who invited him to travel the world in his Kirtan band. Over the next several years he wrote books about his experiences living in bhakti yoga ashrams and traveling to Kirtan festivals around the world. He recently settled in Silicon Valley at the request of his spiritual teacher, Vaisesika Dasa.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Inspiration for the Spiritual Journey
2024-04-21 11:00 - 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 Swamis Ramananda and Asokananda for inspiration and encouragement on our spiritual journey. In this online workshop, they will share the teachings and practices that have most impacted their lives and guided them towards spiritual equilibrium.
The spiritual path is beset with challenges and pitfalls and progress is slow. Almost all of us will greatly benefit from having friends who have traveled this road, who can share their experience, and care enough to want to support us. These two senior and respected Integral Yoga swamis will discuss what has sustained them for many years and what is inspiring to them at this time.
Half of the session will be dedicated to Q&A. Please bring your heartfelt questions. All 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.
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.

Full Moon Chanting & Sri Hanuman's Appearance Day
2024-04-23 20:00 - 20:30
Online & 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-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.
It is very auspicious that the April full moon coincides with Sri Hanuman’s Jayanthi (birth day). Therefore we will include chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa with chanting the Gayatri for a rich devotional experience.
The Hanuman Chalisa is an ancient 40 line poem by Tulsidas extolling the many attributes and supernatural abilities of the Monkey God, Hanuman.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”
– Rigveda 3.62.10[11]

Snehan Born, E-RYT 500, has over four decades of experience with yoga. He resides at the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco, where he teaches yoga classes and is a lead teacher trainer. Snehan is certified in all levels of Integral Yoga Hatha and has received additional certifications in Pranayama, Meditation, Raja Yoga and Stress Management from Integral Yoga. Chanting mantras and playing the harmonium are part of his regular practice and classes. Snehan has lived and traveled extensively within India and practiced with many teachers there. He has taught yoga all over the US as well as in India, Nepal, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Europe.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-04-26 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 Sliding scale | Meets second & fourth Friday of each month.
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 (IYI) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, aging, bone health, anxiety, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.

Scripture study: Unlocking Inner Peace with 8 Limbs of Yoga, 3-part
2024-04-29 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-05-06 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-05-13 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.
Each session offered individually:

Monday, April 29, 6:00-7:00 pm
Monday, May 6, 6:00-7:00 pm
Monday, May 13, 6:00-7:00 pm

This three-part series peels back the layers of the Eight Limbs presented in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, revealing their practical relevance in our modern lives. From cultivating ethical principles like non-violence and truthfulness (Yamas) to mastering the art of breath control (Pranayama) and diving into meditative absorption (Dhyana), you’ll discover tools to navigate everyday challenges and fuel your spiritual growth.
Each week, we’ll delve into three key sutras, allowing their wisdom to permeate your understanding. Remember, your unique perspective shapes your interpretation, making this a personalized journey of self-discovery. We’ll learn from each other’s insights as we collectively explore new facets of ourselves and cultivate inner peace.
Whether you’re a yoga newbie or a seasoned practitioner, this series unveils the transformative power hidden within the Yoga Sutras. Kealoha will be using Deborah Adele’s “Yamas and Niyama” book as a reference point. No prior knowledge or having your own book is required, just an open mind and a willingness to embark on a journey of inner exploration. All are welcome.
Read Kealoha’s recent blog post Exploring the Yoga Sutras: A Journey to Inner Wisdom

Kealoha Deluz has been a holistic health practitioner for 30 years, holds a Master of Divinity, Ph.D. in Holistic Studies, and is currently working towards a degree in transpersonal counseling. He has been an Integral Yoga Teacher since 2006 and is a Raja Yoga trainer, advanced level Hatha Yoga, meditation and stress management instructor. Kealoha is a licensed massage therapist, skin care practitioner, and holistic life coach. Kealoha Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii, and currently lives and works in San Francisco, California.

Energetic Refreshment for Summer
2024-05-04 12:00 - 13:30
Online | $20-35 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.
Come and honor May Day or Beltane, the gentle start of summer, with this session of energy work performed through guided meditation. We will attune ourselves to our energetic aspect, the Pranamaya Kosha, connect to the Earth in grounding, then invite energy to flow inward for renewal, inspiration, healing, and outward in clarification and release. From this state of connection we will offer loving support for all of life. A gentle and powerful session of engagement with the subtle body.

Kristie Dahlia Home has been devoted to the sharing of spiritual arts since 1995. With training in Instinctive Meditation, Yoga, Thai Massage, Reiki, Intuitive Healing, and Chi Nei Tsang. Dahlia has served as a Yoga Therapist at the UCSF School of Nursing, Dr. Dean Ornish’s Preventive Medicine Research Institute, and at UCSF’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, where her work included both public classes and medical research. She has taught Reiki for CPMC’s Institute for Health and Healing and Thai Massage at Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Her students say that they appreciate her warmth, precision, contagious love of life, and keen attention to the unique needs of each individual. She has recently returned to life on land after five years at sea and looks forward to sharing practice with the IYI sangha once again. For more information, visit beloved.org

Satsang: Poetry Reading
2024-05-04 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-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join us for an evening of shared poetry. We will read and discuss that which awakens inspiration, delight and peace in the heart. All are welcome to bring a poem or two to share or simply listen and enjoy.
Poetry offers powerful expressions of the human experience, a dynamic meeting of the mind with Grace and creativity that crosses the lines of time or conceptual views.
A simple vegetarian meal will be offered after in-person Satsang with a suggested in-person donation of $5-10.
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher Training at Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) since 2012. She specializes in gentle yoga and yoga therapy working with people with disabilities, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, aging, bone health, anxiety, depression and asthma. Her focus is to help students to meet their bodies where they are by introducing and incorporating Therapeutic Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, pranayama and meditation. Susan has been a writer of poetry, short stories and plays most of her adult life and has been repeatedly featured in storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.
Diana Meltsner, 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 wiwww.dianameltsner.comth 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

Crystal Bowl Sound Bath & Vedic Mantras
2024-05-04 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $35 early bird, use promo code BATH exp. 4/27 | $40 regular
Book now/In-Person
Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Using crystal bowls, drum, and voice, Shalom gets the whole room vibrating and harmonizing. The sound waves travel deep into your body delivering an impressive and fascinating range of benefits including powerful physical healing, creative mental stimulation, and profound waves of emotional release. The experience as a whole is relaxing, stimulating, experimental, and explorative.
Traditional Vedic chants combined with the sound of instruments are so supportive and therapeutic to the modern yogi. We will be sitting down as we chant and laying down during the sound bath. Wearing comfortable clothing is recommended.
If you haven’t tried sound healing before, you’ll have to do so firsthand to see what it’s all about. If you have, you’ll be impressed with the depth and care of Shalom’s offering. At the end of the sound bath, we’ll take a minute to come together and reflect as a group.

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 www.shalom360.com.

New Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2024-05-07 20:00 - 20:45
$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 Beginnings Writing Group
2024-05-10 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 Sliding scale | Meets second & fourth Friday of each month.
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.
Next session is Friday, May 24th
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 Rob & Melissa
2024-05-11 19:00 - 20:30
In-person
$20 In advance, use promo code CHANT, exp. 5/10
$25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Kirtan, call and response chanting, is considered to be the heartbeat of Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion. Rob and Melissa’s kirtan is a fresh take on an ancient practice, where heart-filled songs blend Sanskrit chants with modern, accessible melodies and lush harmonies. Join Rob and Melissa for a joy-filled celebration of the divine!
Testimonials:
“Kirtan with Rob and Melissa is still flowing and vibrating in and around me! Call it Reiki, call it transmission, call it God, call it whatever-you-like. I have been Touched.”
-Christina Lovejoy, Owner of Morning Light Yoga, Coeur d’Alene, ID
” ….beautiful, soothing and joyful medicine.”
-Marian Wilson

Rob and Melissa are kirtan singers and yoga teachers devoted to sharing their love of kirtan and Bhakti Yoga wherever they go. The husband and wife duo is based in Seattle, but music and yoga keep them on the move, leading kirtans, workshops, and retreats all over the world. They have shared their music at numerous yoga festivals in the US, including Bhakti Fest, Shakti Fest, Prana Fest, Samsara Fest, and the Northwest Yoga Feast.
Their music has been described as “heart-opening bliss,” “joyful medicine,” and “love and devotion materialized!” Whether you’re new to kirtan or a life long devotee, Rob and Melissa create a fun, accessible and sacred space…the perfect setting for a joy-filled celebration of the divine!
Find out more at www.robandmelissa.com

The Last Savasana: Yoga, Breathwork & Inquiry to Help Prepare You for the Final Exit
2024-05-18 13:30 - 17:00
Online & in-person
$62 Early bird, use promo code LAST, exp. 5/11.
$72 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.
Join Leslie and Richard for a deep dive into Savasana with a twist. Most of us spend our days trying to extend our lives, i.e. looking both ways before crossing a street, putting our seatbelt on and checking expiration dates on our food. Nonetheless, nothing we do, not even yoga, can help us escape life’s inevitable end. Yoga can help prepare us to face our fear of the inevitable, maybe even embrace it so that we come to appreciate the preciousness of each day we are alive.

Find a renewed appreciation for the beauty of our time on the planet
Increase personal agency around end of life decisions
Delve deep on what really matters to you
Realize a new perspective on a very old pose and how it can help you
be more comfortable with the inevitable

Yoga is meant to bring us more awareness and gives us tools to manage the challenges of being human. This workshop is designed to manage the anxiety we all have around dying and to be more comfortable with these types of conversations.
There will be a short lecture on the history, practice, symbolic message of this often misunderstood pose. Then we will do a series of short practices with a savasana. Each practice will begin with a thought provoking question around your own death, like what are some of your regrets in life, or what do you want your legacy to be, who am I. After each practice, you will be given time to journal about each question. We’ll conclude with a group discussion and of course a final (FOR THIS WORKSHOP) savasana.
Leslie and Richard have been talking about the power of savasana for a long time. They got the idea to do a whole book about it and to include some of the teaching of yoga around accepting death. This workshop is a result of many hours of conversation and we hope to pull it all together for a book before we die!
Hear what others are saying:
“The workshop on Savasana with Leslieji and Richardji was a beautiful, poetic experience, the pose as a metaphor, a rehearsal for the final act in one’s life explored ever so lovingly and thoughtfully. I loved everything about it : the way ‘doing’ and ‘being’—asanas, breathing and Mudras—are all woven together with various versions of Savaasna serving as knots, creating a dynamic and at the same time a contemplative space for the body and mind. Leslie’s every prompt for the journal gently filled in the practical aspects. At the end, I left the mat with an awareness that I hope to carry with me to the end, an understanding released in a deep sigh that silently says, ‘all done.’ Thank you so much, dear Leslie and Richard, for designing such a beautiful workshop that captures the philosophical heart of yoga in the one asana to live and die for.“
– Sarada, class participant
“I took Leslie Howard’s and Richard Rosen’s “The Last Savasana” workshop in February 2024. I had experienced a lot of loss in the last months of 2023 so this was a great way to look at my own “end”.The prompts we were given were fairly simple. But in the asana and/or breathing practices that followed, during which time we were instructed to think about the prompts, life became a little more complicated. This led into a period to “journal” about the prompts and our responses to them.It was a safe place to explore end of life issues….regrets, guilt, shame; how one might envision their last days; and finally one’s LegacyLeslie and Richard a great facilitators and this was an afternoon of introspection well spent. Can recommend this workshop with high praise and gratitude.“
–Sandra S. class participant

Leslie Howard is an Oakland-based yoga teacher, specializing in all things pelvic. She leads workshops and trainings nationally and has written a book about caring for the female pelvis, Pelvic Liberation. In 2022, after losing a long time student, she took a deep dive into the subject of death. She has 60 hours of Death Doula training, runs a regular Death Café (a place to come and talk about death) and is volunteering in hospice for Kaiser Oakland. Her teaching is informed by over 3500 hours of yoga study with senior Iyengar yoga teachers. She considers Ramanand Patel her most important influence and mentor. She has designed two very successful studies for UCSF on how to use yoga to alleviate incontinence and pelvic pain. To learn more about Leslie or for some online education opportunities visit: www.lesliehowardyoga.com
Richard Rosen, E-RYT500, began his practice of yoga in 1980 at the Yoga Room, in Berkeley, CA. Two years later he began a two-year teacher training course at the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco, from which he graduated in 1983. In 1987, with his good friend Rodney Yee, he opened the Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, CA, which operated until 2012. Richard has written numerous articles and reviews for national yoga magazines, and is also the author of five books, four of them published by Shambhala: The Yoga of Breath (2002), Pranayama: Beyond the Fundamentals (2006), Original Yoga (2012), a book on traditional yoga practice based on the seventeenth century Gheranda Samhita (Gheranda’s Compilation), and Yoga FAQ: Almost Everything You Need to Know about Yoga–from Asanas to Yamas (2017). His fifth book for Shambhala, Yoga by the Numbers, is due out in the Spring of 2022. Richard lives in a 115-year-old bungalow in beautiful Berkeley, CA.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Let's Talk About Karma
2024-05-19 11:30 - 12:30
$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.
Defined as the sum of one’s actions and their consequences, Karma is a popular and interesting concept. Is it a myth or real? What is the difference between Karma and Karma Yoga? How is karma related to Samskaras? And how does understanding Karma help us navigate our lives better? Please join me in this interactive session where we investigate, explore and talk about Karma.
“Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” – Edwin Hubbell
People of all faiths are welcome.

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.

Cultivating 4 Keys to Peace, 7-day Meditation & Raja Yoga course
2024-05-20 07:15 - 08:00
7 consecutive days: MAY 20-26, 7:15-8:00 am
$40 Early bird, use promo code KEYS, exp. 5/13/24 | $50 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.
Join Diana Meltsner a meditation teacher and teacher trainer online for 7 morning meditations and brief talks. They will focus on 4 keys from Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book 1 Sutra 33; friendliness, compassion, delight and tranquility. These keys cultivated with meditation in the mind lead to developing attitudes towards oneself, others and our daily life experience. We can acquire the ability to stay present regardless of what is happening within us and around us. When cultivated, this helpful and practical mindfulness skill allows the mind to remain undisturbed and become a useful tool and a friend to us.
With these practices Yoga and Buddhism meet. In Buddhism they are known as the Brahma Viharas, The Four Immeasurables, the practices of the heart. One learns to dwell (vihara) in these four forms of love as said by God Brahma. In the Buddhist texts and in Upanishads, these mental attitudes are considered to create protection and are associated with strength.
Meditation, talk, discussion and sharing will be included. Keeping a daily journal is recommended but not required.
All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants for later viewing.
CEUs 5 hours for Yoga Alliance offered 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 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

Full Moon Chanting
2024-05-23 20:00 - 20:30
Online & 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. You can also 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]

Snehan Born, E-RYT 500, has over four decades of experience with yoga. He resides at the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco, where he teaches yoga classes and is a lead teacher trainer. Snehan is certified in all levels of Integral Yoga Hatha and has received additional certifications in Pranayama, Meditation, Raja Yoga and Stress Management from Integral Yoga. Chanting mantras and playing the harmonium are part of his regular practice and classes. Snehan has lived and traveled extensively within India and practiced with many teachers there. He has taught yoga all over the US as well as in India, Nepal, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Europe.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-05-24 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 Sliding scale | Meets second & fourth Friday of each month.
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.
