Kirtan with Astrud and Friends
2026-08-09 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
In-person
$25 Day of | $20 In advance
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join Astrud and her dear friend Saheb on tabla for an evening of Kirtan, or mantra meditation.
We use mantra, sound and vibration to polish the mirror of the heart and dismantle the illusion of separation. Man means mind and tra means instrument. Mantras are instruments or tools used to redirect our mind to the Source, Peace and ultimately to the heart.
The collective consciousness is healing and fun. We use this time to celebrate being alive, send prayers to those in need and be in community.
We sing in the key of “WE”, join us!
No experience is necessary.

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

Spiritual Study: Mystical Poetry and Sacred Wisdom, Part 1 of 3
2026-08-10 18:00 - 19:00
ONLINE with Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP
3 Mondays, August 10, 17 & 24 • offered individually • Online | $5-20 sliding scale
Book Part 1 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 Part 2 – August 17
Book Part 3 – August 24

Mystics from many spiritual traditions have journeyed to the same depths of inner realization, discovering universal truths at the heart of existence. The poetic expression of these profound experiences can touch us deeply, bypassing the intellect and awakening moments of recognition, wonder, and inner stillness.
Join Swami Ramananda for three week sessions August 17, 24 & 31 exploring the resonance between mystical poetry and traditional sources of sacred wisdom, including the Yoga Sutras, the Tao Te Ching, and the teachings of the Buddha. Through reading, deep listening, reflection, and discussion, these sessions will invite us to uncover timeless wisdom that attunes the heart to the divine presence within and inspires a deeper way of living.
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. These sessions 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.

4-Day Yoga Retreat: Relax, Reflect and Rejuvenate
2026-08-13 17:00
IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda, Diana Meltsner & Astrud Castillo
This retreat is FULL – WAITLIST ONLY
Retreat begins on Thursday, August 13 at 5pm – Ends on Sunday, August 16 at 12:30pm
$795 Single room | $725 Early bird, exp. 7/23
$670 Shared room (price per person) | $600 Early bird, exp. 7/23
Active teacher discount 20%
Book now/Single Room
Book now/Double RoomWe appreciate advance registration.
At Commonweal Retreat Center, Bolinas, CA. This in-person 4-day retreat will include a variety of Yoga classes for all levels of practice, workshops, meditations, inspirational evening programs—including kirtan with Astrud—healthy vegetarian meals, and free time for walks, resting, or reading.
Each day will also include Yoga Nidra practices to support deep rest and nervous system renewal. We will practice silent, walking and guided meditations as well as an end-of-day personal reflection practice to integrate the day’s teachings and insights and help us move more deeply into awareness.
We will observe silence from Thursday night until Sunday morning. In this spacious quiet, we can strengthen our inner connection to peace, find clarity of thought, and cultivate compassionate connection with one another.
We are blessed once again to gather at the Commonweal Retreat Center in Bolinas, known for the natural beauty of its oceanside setting and its location on sacred Native American land. Practicing Yoga in this powerful natural environment offers an opportunity to cleanse the body and mind of the stimulants and toxins we ingest through the mouth, eyes, and ears, and to renew our personal commitment to live courageously in the light of awareness.

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.
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. www.dianameltsner.com
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.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2026-08-14 16:00 - 17:30
ONLINE with Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500
$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 – next session is 8/28
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.

Swami Satchidananda's Mahasamadhi
2026-08-19 12:00 - 12:45
ONLINE or IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP
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 special service in memory of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s passing, Mahasamadhi, a time to come together for blessings and to offer gratitude for guidance and love of our spiritual teacher and a founder of Integral Yoga. A puja (spiritual service) with participatory chanting will be performed. This service will include our noon meditation.

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.

Raja Yoga Teacher Training Open House
2026-08-19 17:30 - 18:30
ONLINE with Swami Ramananda and Kealoha Delux
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 Swami Ramananda and Kealoha Deluz in a free info session about the upcoming online 2-part Raja Yoga Teacher Training.
Part 1: September 30,- December 12, 2026 (no 11/28)
Part 2: February 27 – April 3, 2027
Wednesdays: 5:00 – 7:30 pm PT
Saturdays: 8:00 am–12:00 pm, 1:15–3:30 pm PT
Raja Yoga provides a practical approach to health and balance in all aspects of life: physical, mental, social and spiritual. It proposes a pathway to relieve suffering, which is the goal of all the great wisdom traditions, and the practical goal of Yoga teaching and therapy.
This is a natural next step in learning for those who completed 200-hour Yoga teacher training from any Yoga tradition and will give teachers practical tools on how to share these ancient teachings in these modern times.
Click here more information about the upcoming training
The attending participants will receive a discount for $100 reduced tuition if they apply and pay by the end of the week, August 23rd.

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.
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.

Celebration of Life – Ish Cowan
2026-08-21 16:00 - 18:00
Date: Friday, August 21st
Time: 4:00 – 6:00 or 7:00 going with the flow Pacific Time
Where: Online Zoom Room (Zoom link below) no registration required
Who’s invited: Anyone who wishes to share their love and gratitude for Ish/Errol
Style: Sort of like a micro Jewish shiva ~ present ~ together ~ in silence or sharing as we will
Dear Sangha members and Family and Friends of Dr Errol “Ishwara” Cowan,
Please accept this invitation to join us in a Zoom Room where we will lovingly remember and celebrate our beloved friend Ish.
Zoom linkOnline | Free
During our gathering, as Ish was/is endlessly creative, caring, playful and productive, you might consider wearing colorful clothes and round tinted sunglasses, drink coffee, eat french fries, potato chips, pizza or soy yogurt, and if at all possible bring a kazoo. He loved kazoos. He was/is also a devotee of Sri Ganesh, especially dancing, so bringing anything elephant, Wisdom generating or playful is perfect. Punning is not allowed (just kidding … bring it on!).
Please feel free to bring a story, poem or something to share that would honor Ish and your connection to him, though we can’t guarantee we would have time for everyone to share. As you can imagine, it depends on who shows up.
We welcome people to come to the community Zoom room when they can and leave whenever they wish. Just coming and choosing to keep yourself off camera and muted is also okay.
Ish would love it that we have an open door policy here, welcoming everyone. Feel free to share this invitation.
If you can’t make the date, not to worry. This online event will be recorded.
We look forward to seeing you there as we remember and celebrate an extraordinary soul who lived to serve others in so many ways, and made our lives better for knowing and loving him.
With love and gratitude,
Madhu and Vijay
STILL THOUGH, WE SHOULD DANCE
A thousand times I have ascertained and
found it to be true:
The affairs of this world are really nothing
into nothing.
Still though, we should dance.
–Hafiz

Yoga Therapy for Grief Relief; Navigating Loss in Challenging Global Times
2026-08-22 13:30 - 17:30
ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Antonio Sausys, MA, IGT, CMT, C-IAYT
$74 | $65 Early bird, exp. 8/15
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.
In the face of personal and collective loss, grieving can often feel like an overwhelming journey. The workshop offers a space for you to reconnect with yourself, find peace, and transform your grief through the power of yoga.
In a world full of uncertainty, grounding techniques are crucial to maintaining balance. This workshop will focus on poses, breathing exercises, and meditations that help you connect deeply with yourself, offering a foundation of strength and stability amidst chaos. You’ll learn to cultivate resilience, tapping into your inner power as you face the complexities of grief and loss.
Whether you’re navigating personal loss or grappling with the global challenges that affect us all, this program offers a compassionate space for self-discovery, empowerment, and connection. Join a supportive community and together, let’s cultivate peace, clarity, and resilience.
This combination of theoretical lecture and experiential work can help the heart of anyone who is grieving a loss or those working with them.
The physical, mental, and spiritual release that doing the practice provides truly does help your body pain decrease, your mental fog lift, your engagement with life return, and eventually you begin to “ring the bells that still will ring.”~ Jessica Bell

Antonio Sausys MA, IGT, CMT, C-IAYT is a somatic psychologist and yoga therapist specializing in grief counseling and therapy. His studies in Somatic Psychology were guided by Hugo Bilsky, and his yoga training includes teachings from swamis of the Satyananda, Sivananda, and Satchidananda traditions, as well as renowned teachers such as Indra Devi, Ram Das, and Rama Jyoti Vernon. Antonio has continued his professional growth through training in Integrative Grief Therapy with Lyn Prashant, as well as Foot Reflexology, Swedish Therapeutic Massage, and Reiki.
Antonio presents his work both nationally and internationally at Schools and Universities and leads retreats at Ashrams, Retreat Centers and Yoga Studios., is a member of the World Yoga Council, the International Association of Yoga Therapists, a TV Host for YogiViews and the founder and Executive Director of ‘Yoga for Health’ the International Yoga Therapy Conference.
He is the author of Yoga for Grief Relief: Simple Practices for Transforming Your Grieving Mind and Body (New Harbinger) and a contributor for Yoga and Science in Pain Care – Treating the Person in Pain (Edited by Shelly Prosko and Neil Person – Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019) and New Techniques of Grief Therapy: Bereavement and Beyond by Robert Niemeyer (Routledge 2019).

Sukhawat Ali Khan and Cali Qawwali in a Sufi and Kirtan Concert
2026-08-22 19:00 - 20:30
IN-PERSON with Sukhawat Ali Khan and Cali Qawwali
$25 Day of | $20 In advance
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Sukhawat Ali Khan leads Cali Qawwali, a soulful qawwali ensemble. Performances by Cali Qawwali bring you group singing and an instrumental sound, combining introspective prayer and joyful celebration. This music is performed both in unplugged and in electric abandon. Cali Qawwali’s unique spiritual music calls upon traditional Sufi and classical raag-based songs from Pakistan and India, new compositions, Bollywood, kirtan, ghazal and folk. The music is nourished by Sukhawat Ali’s immersion in the Shaam Chaurasi gharana, his musical family dating from the sixteenth century. Lyrics are in Urdu/Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic and Persian, sometimes combined effortlessly in one song. The audience is often invited to clap, sing and move with the band, creating a Cali Qawwali form of dhamaal, which is a song and dance seen at Sufi shrines. Instagram: @caliqawwali Soundcloud: Cali Qawwali
Sukhawat Ali Khan ji’s Sufi music samples:

Allah Hu
Ghulam Ali
Jogiya
Raste Juda Juda
Ghoom Charakhana
Heer
Door

Sukhawat Ali Khan, vocals and harmonium – Sukhawat Ali is a classical vocalist from the Sham Chaurasi Gharana, a tradition founded in the 16th century. He is the son of legendary Indian-Pakistani vocalist Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and nephew of Nazakat Ali Khan. In addition to being a master of Hindustani classical music, he is an accomplished performer of North Indian and Pakistani devotional and folk music and ghazals. He began singing and playing music at the age of seven with his father Salamat Ali Khan, and has performed extensively around the world. Based in Sacramento he teaches individual students in the San Francisco Bay Area and leads Cali Qawwali. Instagram: @alisukhawat
Band Members:
Vivek Anand, vocals – A vocalist deeply rooted in emotional and spiritual expression, Vivek hails from a musical family in Bombay and has studied with Sukhawat Ali Khan for sixteen years. His repertoire spans Hindustani classical, semi-classical, bhajans, Sufi songs, and ghazals. Vivek performs solo and in other ensemble concerts in the Bay Area with Rita Sahai, her Vasundhara Choir, and with Anhad Naad. Instagram: @vivek.anand.sf
Irum Aftab, vocals – A vocalist and passionate student of Sukhawat Ali Khan, Irum hails from Pakistan and now lives in Berkeley. Her musical focus is on understanding the raagas that form the foundation of ghazal, folk, geet, and qawwali music across South Asia. Instagram: @irum.out.west
Saima Jamshed, vocals and percussion – A multi-instrumental percussionist and vocalist, Saima began playing dholak at age six. Now a key member of the qawwali ensemble led by Sukhawat Ali Khan, she brings joyful energy to the stage through dholak, darbuka, tambourine, and shakers. Originally from Karachi and now based in Berkeley, she continues classical and qawwali training under Sukhawat Ali Khan and Rita Sahai. Instagram: @saimamilesaway
Varun Pattabhiraman, drum set and percussion – An Indian percussionist based in San Francisco, Varun seamlessly blends traditional Carnatic percussion with global rhythms. He explores hybrid setups that incorporate instruments like the cajón, Roland HandSonic, drum set and mridangam. Instagram: @varunrpraman
Craig Reiter, acoustic and electric bass guitar – Craig Reiter is a multi-talented creative spirit whose musical expression transcends form. Known for channeling the divine through any instrument he encounters, his eclectic interests include everything from card counting to feline domestication, all of which somehow feed into his musical persona.
Daljeet Singh, acoustic and electric guitar – Daljeet brings the magic as a music director and guitarist, fusing devotional, classical Indian, Sufi, old-school Bollywood, and rock influences into a sound that is both soulful and electrifying. A master at building bands and weaving traditions, he is the driving force behind the group’s unique sound. Instagram: @ka8mandude

New Beginnings Writing Group
2026-08-28 16:00 - 17:30
ONLINE with Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500
$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, following session is 8/28
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.

Death Cafe
2026-08-30 15:00 - 16:30
In-person with Avi Rose, MSW
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
$1-$15 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE

Join Avi for a Death Cafe at Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco. At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cookies, drink tea and discuss death.
What is a Death Cafe?
It is a group discussion about death with the topics determined by attendees, with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. The objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’.

Death Cafes are always offered:

On a not-for-profit basis, donation based
In an accessible, respectful and confidential space
With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action.

You can learn more about Death Cafe at deathcafe.com

Avi Rose, MSW is currently honored to serve as an end-of-life doula. He has been involved with LGBT causes for decades. He managed the pioneering AIDS program at S.F.-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services in the 1980s, has served as the executive director of a national HIV information and advocacy organization, and has worked extensively to bring LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues to the attention of faith communities. He served as Executive Director of Jewish Family and Community Services East Bay for 15 years, retiring in 2021. And he has continued his dedication to Jewish spiritual practice as a spiritual director at Kehilla Community Synagogu

Satsang: Inspiration for the Spiritual Journey
2026-09-05 11:00 - 12:30
ONLINE with Swami Ramananda & Swami Asokananda
$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.
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.

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.

Swami Sivananda Jayanthi Puja
2026-09-08 00:00 - 13:00
ONLINE and IN-PERSON with Dharani Diana Diaz, MA, RYT500
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 honor the birth of Sri Swami Sivananda by performing a puja, a sacred ceremony to invoke and honor his spiritual presence and to receive his blessings and guidance. This service will include our noon meditation.
“Life is a pilgrimage. The wise man does not rest by the roadside inns. He marches direct to the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, his ultimate destination.”
Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887 – 1963) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. Sivananda was born in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu. He studied medicine and served in British Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism.
He was the founder of the Divine Life Society (1936), Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, Vedanta, and a variety of subjects. He established Sivananda Ashram, on the bank of the Ganges at Sivanandanagar, near Rishikesh. He was Swami Satchidanada’s beloved teacher’s Gurudev and you will find his photograph on many altars in Integral Yoga centers around the world.

Screenshot
Diana “Dharani” Díaz, MA, RYT 500 is a writer and Yoga teacher certified in Yoga for Stress Management, Accessible Yoga, Yoga for Cancer and Chronic Illness, and Holistic Sound Resonance, among others. Diana is passionate about sharing both yoga and writing with marginalized communities. She teaches yoga online for Sister Mentors and currently serves as vice president of Voices of Our Nation’s Arts (VONA), an organization that nurtures writers of color. She particularly enjoys the practice of Yoga Nidra, which aligns with her beliefs in the healing power of words and the nature of the true Self being peace.

The Hidden Presence of Grace
2026-09-08 15:30 - 17:30
ONLINE with Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500
$30 | $25 early bird, exp. 9/1/2026
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.
Many of us have, at one time or another, felt a benevolent presence quietly supporting and caring for us—even if we cannot fully understand it with the mind. This presence may reveal itself through subtle synchronicities that guide us toward wise choices, through unexpected help in times of difficulty, or through mysterious turns of fate that spare us from great mistakes.
In this workshop, Swami Ramananda will lead us through a series of experiential practices to help us open our hearts and align our will with the ever-present flow of grace. Together, we will explore how to recognize and trust this hidden presence that continually moves through our lives.
All are welcome.
This program is held in-person at our sister Institute in New York and is also offered live via Zoom.

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a highly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, with over 45 years of dedicated practice. A certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of Yoga Alliance, Ramananda is known for his compassionate presence, deep wisdom, and ability to translate the timeless teachings of Yoga into accessible tools for everyday life. He offers practical methods for transforming life’s challenges into pathways toward inner freedom and realizing one’s full potential. Ramananda leads teacher training programs at all levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—in San Francisco, and presents workshops and retreats throughout the U.S., Europe, and South America. He co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda and has trained numerous Yoga teachers to serve in hospitals, corporations, and other professional settings. In addition, he has taught mind-body wellness programs across a range of communities. A co-founder of the Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), Ramananda brings together individuals committed to social justice, environmental healing, and spiritual activism. His warmth, insight, and gentle humor have inspired and uplifted countless students on the path of Yoga.

From Enemy to Ally: An Embodied Approach to Anxiety
2026-09-09 17:00 - 19:30
Live online via Zoom with Antonio Sausys, MA, IGT, CMT, C-IAYT
September 9, 16, 23 & 30
Early Bird: $297 (until August 12) | Regular: $347
This is an affiliate program, please register directly via link below. You will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the sessions.
Register here
From Enemy to Ally is a 4-week experiential series integrating psychology and embodied yogic practice for working with anxiety in daily life.
Rather than approaching anxiety as something to eliminate, the series explores it as a meaningful signal that can be understood, regulated, and worked with through awareness, self-regulation, and experiential practice.
A Different Relationship with Anxiety
Many people experience anxiety not only during moments of crisis, but as a subtle and persistent undercurrent in daily life.
Health concerns, financial pressures, caregiving responsibilities, changing roles, and uncertainty about the future can quietly shape how we think, feel, and respond.
While understanding anxiety can be helpful, insight alone is often not enough. The relationship we have with anxiety is also embodied and shaped through experience over time.
From Enemy to Ally offers a space to move from understanding into practice.
What We’ll Explore
We explore how anxiety appears in both body and mind—through sensation, thought patterns, emotional responses, and automatic reactions.
Together, we explore:

Anxiety as a meaningful signal rather than an enemy
Physical and mental manifestations of anxiety
Patterns of reactivity and automatic response
Uncertainty, control, and internal narratives
Reconnecting with the heart and the emotional landscape beneath anxiety
Listening to what feelings may be asking rather than resisting them
Awareness, discernment, and effective action

Core shift:
From reacting to anxiety → relating to it as meaningful information
What You’ll Experience
Each session integrates psychological insight with embodied practice.
Sessions include:

Breath and regulation practices
Embodied awareness exercises
Reflective inquiry and guided exploration
Psychological frameworks for understanding anxiety\nGroup discussion and shared learning
Practical tools for daily life integration

Between sessions, participants are invited to apply practices in daily life and bring real examples into the group process.
To support continuity:

Brief weekly tracking of anxiety patterns
Reflection on practice application
Each week combines learning, experience, and reflection.

What Becomes Possible
This series does not aim to eliminate anxiety, but to support a different relationship with it.
Through practice, participants often notice:

Greater awareness of anxiety patterns
Increased ability to pause before reacting
More confidence during uncertainty and activation
Stronger connection to inner resources and discernment
Greater steadiness in daily life
Rather than trying to get rid of anxiety, the work supports meeting it with clarity, choice, and agency.

Who This Series Is For
This series is for individuals experiencing anxiety in daily life who are interested in working with it more directly.
It may be especially relevant for:

Health professionals, therapists, and caregivers
Yoga teachers and yoga therapists
People navigating stress, uncertainty, or transition
Anyone seeking a more workable relationship with anxiety

No prior experience is required.
Attendance to all sessions is expected, as each builds on the previous one.
No recordings are provided. Missed Sessions: A private 1:1 make-up session may be scheduled if needed.

Antonio Sausys MA, IGT, CMT, C-IAYT is a somatic psychologist and yoga therapist specializing in grief counseling and therapy. His studies in Somatic Psychology were guided by Hugo Bilsky, and his yoga training includes teachings from swamis of the Satyananda, Sivananda, and Satchidananda traditions, as well as renowned teachers such as Indra Devi, Ram Das, and Rama Jyoti Vernon. Antonio has continued his professional growth through training in Integrative Grief Therapy with Lyn Prashant, as well as Foot Reflexology, Swedish Therapeutic Massage, and Reiki. Antonio presents his work both nationally and internationally at Schools and Universities and leads retreats at Ashrams, Retreat Centers and Yoga Studios., is a member of the World Yoga Council, the International Association of Yoga Therapists, a TV Host for YogiViews and the founder and Executive Director of ‘Yoga for Health’ the International Yoga Therapy Conference. He is the author of ‘Yoga for Grief Relief: Simple Practices for Transforming Your Grieving Mind and Body’ (New Harbinger) and a contributor for Yoga and Science in Pain Care – Treating the Person in Pain (Edited by Shelly Prosko and Neil Person – Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019) and New Techniques of Grief Therapy: Bereavement and Beyond by Robert Niemeyer (Routledge 2019).

Sound Healing and Breathwork
2026-09-12 19:00 - 20:15
IN-PERSON with Purvi Shah, RYT500
$25 Day of | $20 In advance
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for a relaxing and recalibrating 75-minute sound healing and breathwork session. Experience the soothing effects of sound and chanting as a tool for nervous system regulation, deep rest, and energetic realignment. You will be guided through movement and breathwork accompanied by the healing frequencies of Tibetan singing bowls and Crystal bowls.
This relaxing and rejuvenating session is designed to help you release stress, restore balance, and elevate your well-being through the healing power of sound.
What to Expect:

A soothing blend of singing bowls, movement, breathing, chanting, and gentle vibrations to calm the mind and body.
Guided yoga nidra relaxation to help you settle into a state of deep peace and stillness.
A restorative experience that supports stress relief, clarity, and emotional balance.

How to Prepare:

Wear cozy clothing, bring layers, socks and perhaps a neck roll to be comfortable. Mats and blankets and other props are provided. Your body temperature will drop as you move from a sympathetic state into a rest and digest, parasympathetic state.

Simply lie back, breathe, and let the vibrations wash over you. No experience is needed—just an open heart and a willingness to receive. Join me for this soul-nourishing journey and embrace the harmony within.
Sound Healing Goals:

To support emotional regulation through somatic practices and mindfulness.
To help participants reconnect to their bodies, creativity, and inner wisdom.
To offer tangible tools for ongoing self-care and healing beyond the session.
To provide a compassionate space for individuals to process grief without judgment or pressure.

Purvi Shah is the founder of PlayRx.life, a wellness platform dedicated to enhancing adult well-being through play, creativity, and somatic healing. She is a certified yoga teacher and sound healing practitioner, integrating breathwork, movement, and sound into her workshops to support emotional resilience and holistic health. With over 15 years of leadership as the former CEO of the Kids & Art Foundation, Purvi brought arts-based healing to children and families impacted by cancer. In 2024, she transitioned to focus more deeply on adult well-being and grief support through integrative mind-body practices.

Spiritual Study: Communion Beyond Words: Dharana, Samyama, and Animals 1 of 3 parts
2026-09-14 18:00 - 19:00
ONLINE with Kealoha DeLuz Ph.D.
3 Mondays, September 14, 21, & 28 • Sessions are offered individually
$5-20 sliding scale | Please register in advance: a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/Online 9/14
Book now/Online 9/21
Book now/Online 9/28
The Scripture Study series is an online offering where we learn, discuss, and discover how Yoga’s timeless teachings apply directly to our daily lives.
In this special three-part series, Kealoha invites us to explore dharana (focused concentration) and samyama (deep meditative absorption) as direct paths to communion with the animal kingdom. Drawing on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali alongside his own lived experience, Kealoha shares his journey of living and working closely with six cats, each of whom, he has come to believe, arrived in his life for reasons that go far beyond coincidence.
Among them is Sarala, who shares the exact birthday with a dear friend of Kealoha’s who passed away seventeen years earlier. There is a profound connection that raises questions about whether some arrivals are actually returns. Then there is Boo, who came from the hardships of the streets. Eight years later, Boo carries himself with the unhurried steadiness Patanjali describes as abhyasa (sustained practice) and vairagya (non-attachment). When Boo went missing for three weeks, it was the search for him that ultimately led Kealoha to Stevie and Thomas, two cats who had found each other while both struggling with health problems, and who, in turn, found their way to a shared home. In a beautiful twist of grace, Boo’s absence was the exact doorway through which two more souls found refuge.
Through these intimate stories, we will read key passages from the Yoga Sutras, take time for personal reflection, and share how these teachings and the animals in our lives can deeply support us on the spiritual path.
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. These sessions will not be recorded.

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.

Kirtan with Rasa Lila
2026-09-19 19:00 - 20:30
IN PERSON Joanna Manqueros, John Kadyk and Ramana Erickson: Rasa Lila
$25 Day of | $20 In advance
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Joanna Manqueros on vocals and harmonium. Joanna facilitates kirtan as a medicinal experience, invoking uplifting concepts, reaching to a higher power and the beauty of being surrounded by voices. Joanna also hosts Music of the World on KPFA. John Kadyk brings bass clarinet; plays with a sublime addition to the trio. Ramana Erickson learned tabla playing in ashrams as a teen. He brings extensive experience, and has played for Krishna Das, and Nina Rao. Bring your voice and join in the fun.
Bio:
Joanna Manqueros plays harmonium and sings with the kirtan ensemble Rasa Lila. Joanna hosts Music of the World on KPFA. She has studied with Rita Sahai, Jaipur Uttal and currently with Sukhawat Ali Khan. Joanna teaches Yoga for Trauma recovery and feels Kirtan is a powerful way to heal, connecting the voice with others.

Joanna Manqueros plays harmonium and sings with the kirtan ensemble Rasa Lila. Joanna hosts Music of the World on KPFA. She has studied with Rita Sahai, Jai Uttal and currently with Sukhawat Ali Khan. Joanna teaches Yoga for Trauma recovery and feels Kirtan is a powerful way to heal, connecting the voice with others.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: What This Moment Asks of Us: A Fall Equinox Satsang
2026-09-20 11:00 - 12:00
ONLINE with Kamala Itzel Hayward, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP
$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 Fall Equinox marks a point in the Earth’s cycle when day and night are nearly equal in length—a moment of transition as conditions in nature begin to shift. In this Satsang, we’ll use the equinox as an opportunity to examine how we respond to shifts unfolding in our world and in our own lives. Grounded in the wisdom of Yoga and compassionate communication, the gathering will include shared reflection, contemplative inquiry, and guided practice. Together, we’ll explore how yogic principles of nonviolence and truthfulness, along with the cultivation of a calm, steady mind, support us in responding to harm, conflict, and upheaval with integrity.
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.

Kamala Itzel Hayward was an economic justice and public policy lawyer for over a decade before shifting her focus to wellness, mindfulness, and healing. The liberatory, embodied, trauma-informed lens she developed across both paths now shapes everything she does.
Itzel specializes in bringing Yoga and mindfulness to communities directly impacted by systemic oppression. She is the founder of the Integral Yoga Institute’s Scholarship-Based Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. She’s also an Adjunct Professor at UC Law SF, where she teaches her students to facilitate equitable group processes through mindful presence, power-consciousness, and empathic engagement.
Find Itzel on Insight Timer for a library of guided meditations, monthly live events, and her growing community rooted in liberation and collective well-being: insighttimer.com/attunedliving

Spiritual Study: Communion Beyond Words: Dharana, Samyama, and Animals part 2 of 3
2026-09-21 18:00 - 19:00

Spiritual Study: Communion Beyond Words: Dharana, Samyama, and Animals part 3 of 3
2026-09-28 18:00 - 19:00

Soul-Nourishing Kirtan: A Night of Inner Peace, Healing, and Community Connection
2026-10-10 19:00 - 20:30
IN-PERSON with Jordan Loder
$25 Day of | $20 In advance
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Jordan Loder is a touring bhakti artist who has devoted his life to spreading the joy of inner peace through the power of music.
After nearly a decade on the road supporting beloved artists Snatam Kaur, Deva Premal & Miten, Ajeet, Simrit, & Adam Bauer, he now carries that living tradition forward.
His unique kirtan is known for its tender, authentic, and introspective quality, igniting an experience of profound healing and a genuine sense of community connection. Although we dig all the way down to the bottom of our hearts, we never take ourselves too seriously, and the entire event unfolds with an effortless lightness of being, and a childlike spirit of wonder.
He travels with professional sound, ambient lighting, and projected lyrics so every voice in the room can join in. Upcoming dates include the US, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico City, Europe, and Sivananda Ashram in the Bahamas.
“A true Bhakti yogi — his kirtan transmits unconditional love & devotion and delivers us to an ecstatic experience of the Great Universal Spirit.”
— GuruGanesha, Founder, Spirit Voyage Music
Don’t miss this special opportunity to open your heart and reconnect — through music and community.
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Jordan Loder is an international kirtan artist and devotional musician known for his raw vulnerability and heartfelt presence. Deeply influenced by the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, his music blends traditional bhakti call-and-response chanting with contemporary elements. He creates inclusive, transformative spaces centered around ancient mantras of forgiveness, gratitude, and compassion. Loder tours globally and has collaborated with prominent sacred music figures, including Deva Premal & Miten, Snatam Kaur, and Ajeet.
JordanLoder.com
