Satsang: Aparigraha and the Art of Decluttering
2024-07-06 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
$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 live in a culture whose motto is “more is better;” and we are encouraged to fulfill our spiritual needs with material things.
JP Andrews and Swami Ramananda will lead us in exploring how to gain mental clarity through mindful organizing strategies and removing visual clutter to align with our true nature.

Explore the Yoga practice of Aparigraha
Discuss intentional steps for transforming our physical space
Learn to let go with gratitude
Review guidelines for living in alignment with our true nature

A simple vegetarian meal will be offered following this 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.

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.
Jen “JP” Andrews graduated summer of 2022 from the Integral Yoga Basic Teacher Training and continued as a student of Raja Yoga teacher training & Meditation teacher training in 2023. She discovered Hatha Yoga about 20 years ago and committed to deepening her spiritual practices after discovering Integral Yoga Institute SF and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For the last 4 years she has been coaching clients to find their way to inner peace and joy by organizing and decluttering their space. This process allows her to apply yogic principles in her client sessions as a way to support and help clients reconnect to their True North.

In celebration of Swami Ramananda’s upcoming 71st birthday, we have created a Fundraiser-raffle! Tickets are available online now! Raffle entries are $10 each or 12 for $108. The raffle draw will be held on Saturday, August 3, 11:00am – 1:00pm at Swami Ramananda’s Birthday Brunch Potluck.
Raffle Tix

Please visit the Yogic Wisdom Campaign GoFundMe page to learn more and pledge your support today. No amount is too small to help us reach our goal. Thank you for your support.

Tuesday Tea Time Series
2024-07-09 11:15 - 11:45
“Can We Know God? How Yoga Enlightens”
Online & In-person | $1-108 sliding scale
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:
Live Streamed via Facebook and available to watch later, at your convenience.
Global times: 11:15 am 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

In celebration of Swami Ramananda’s upcoming 71st birthday, we have created a Fundraiser-raffle! Tickets are available online now! Raffle entries are $10 each or 12 for $108. The raffle draw will be held on Saturday, August 3, 11:00am – 1:00pm at Swami Ramananda’s Birthday Brunch Potluck.
Please visit the Yogic Wisdom Campaign GoFundMe page to learn more and pledge your support today. No amount is too small to help us reach our goal. Thank you for your support.
Raffle Tix

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.

Embodiment and Non-conceptual Awareness, 4-week meditation course
2024-07-09 17:00 - 19:00
We apologize, this event has been canceled
Online| 4 Tuesdays, July 9, 16, 23 & 30 from 5:00-7:00pm | This workshop will be recorded*
$140 Early bird use promo code MINDFULNESS, exp. 7/2
$160
The Development of Embodiment and Wisdom on the Yogic Path Through Mindfulness Meditation Practices.
Join Rich Panico in a four week course focused on the development of non-conceptual somatic wisdom (insight based in tranquility and a still mind) through mindfulness and insight practices. This course is based in Early Buddhist Meditation, (the Mahasatipatthana Sutta) with reference to The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Mindfulness involves practices that are broad and deep and whose gifts can be applied to healing, creativity, and shaping and guiding our life experiences.
This course is intentionally experiential, using guided meditations, yoga nidra, imagery, movement, poetry and readings. Brief Dharma talks are inevitable.
• learn to listen to the body and discover its voice
• explore the mind, body, heart connection
• find knowing without thoughts
“Great wisdom lives within the body but is not of it.”
“By whatever thing the world is bound, by that, the bond is unfastened.”
-Hevajara Tantra
Learn more by attending the FREE Intro to Embodiment and Non-conceptual Awareness with Rich Panico M.D | ONLINE | Tuesday, July 2 ⋅ 5:00 – 6:00pm
*Each session will be recorded, links to each recording will be sent to all registered participants via email. Recordings will be available for one month from the conclusion of the course.

Rich Panico is an artist, yogi and physician known for his humor and clarity in teaching. He has practiced meditation and yoga since 1970 and began teaching mindfulness woven into pottery making classes in the late 70’s.
Rich has taught mindfulness formally, in medical, academic and art-related settings for over 20 years. He was a pioneer in the use of mindfulness-based treatment in the adaptation to and treatment of chronic disease. Mindfulness occupied a central therapeutic role in his professional offering as a physician.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-07-12 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Next session is Friday, July 26, click to enroll.
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.

The Power of Love for Healing and Spiritual Transformation
2024-07-13 16:30 - 18:30
Online or in-person at Mukunda Studios, SF | $2-$108 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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Fundraising Event | Spiritual Talk, Kirtan & Sacred Ceremony hosted by
Mukunda Studio, 1250 Folsom Street, SF.
Join Swami Ramananda and Mirabai Warkulwiz at the beautiful Mukunda Studio (1250 Folsom Street) for an in-depth exploration of the power of love and compassion to transform our lives and awaken us to the underlying spiritual consciousness we all share.
Swami Ramananda, director of the Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco, will discuss how we can tap into the heart to find meaning and inspiration, and Mirabai will lead us in call-and-response style chanting, opening the heart through devotion and surrender. We will end with a guided reflection and ritual to open ourselves to the profound spiritual presence within. Refreshments will be served afterwards to make time for informal conversation.
4:15-4:30 – Early welcome – decaf chai
4:30-5:15 – Spiritual talk with Ramananda
5:10-5:45 – Kirtan with Mirabai
5:45-6:10 – Sacred Ceremony (Honoring the Light)
6:10-6:30 – Refreshments
All proceeds will go to the The Yogic Wisdom Campaign which was created to support Swami Ramananda’s pursuit of writing, teaching and sharing his Yogic wisdom with a wider audience! In honor of Ramananda’s 70th year of life, the goal is to raise $70,000.
In celebration of Swami Ramananda’s upcoming 71st birthday, we have created a Fundraiser-raffle! Tickets are available online now! Raffle entries are $10 each or 12 for $108. The raffle draw will be held on Saturday, August 3, 11:00am – 1:00pm at Swami Ramananda’s Birthday Brunch Potluck. Please visit the Yogic Wisdom Campaign GoFundMe page to learn more and pledge your support today. No amount is too small to help us reach our goal. Thank you for your support.
Raffle Tix

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.
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.

Death Cafe
2024-07-14 15:00 - 16:30
In-person | $1-$15 or Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Leslie 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
Leslie has taken a deep dive into death and dying after losing a long-time student to uterine cancer. She has had a 30-year obsession with Savasana, which is the last pose done in a yoga class and is translated as “corpse” pose. She is very interested in the intersection of how yoga, breathwork and intentional savasana can help people become more comfortable with the inevitable end we all must face. Leslie Howard has taught yoga for the last 30 years and has recently completed 60 hours of End Of Life Training and is a hospice volunteer at Kaiser.

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

Scripture Study: Unveiling Your Inner Wisdom - Overcoming Mental Obstacles, 3-part
2024-07-15 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-07-22 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 Sessions offered individually:

Monday, July 15
Monday, July 22
Monday, July 29

Unveiling Your Inner Wisdom – Overcoming Mental Obstacles
Do you ever feel stuck in your own head? Our thoughts and anxieties can create roadblocks, preventing us from accessing our inner wisdom and living with greater clarity. This series, building on the teachings of Swami Ramanandaji in June, will address what gets in the way of present moment awareness and inner guidance. We will discuss the common roadblocks that keep us from experiencing true peace and fulfillment and go over tools to shift our thinking patterns and break free from negative cycles. Move beyond simply changing preferences and explore how to use these tools to fundamentally transform your thought processes, revealing your inner wisdom.
We will refer to The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, beginning with sutras 1.30, 2.3, and adding others as we go.
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.

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

Integrative Yoga Therapy and Support Group for Trauma, 6 sessions
2024-07-15 18:00 - 20:00
In-person | Six Mondays: July 15, 22, 29 & August 5, 19, 26 (no class 8/12) • 6:00 – 8:00 pm
$385 Early bird use promo code TRAUMA, exp. 6/24
$425 regular
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Trauma is what occurs when you don’t feel safe, or feel too overwhelmed, to feel emotions in the body. Emotions are energy in the form of sensation. Different emotional states affect the physical body and its systems differently. Through an Integrative Yoga Therapy program one learns how to slowly and safely feel these states/emotions and allow the trapped emotional memory (i.e. trauma) to move its way through and out, experiencing a sense of freedom and ease in the body and thus in the mind as well.
In this upcoming Integrative Yoga Therapy and Support Group for Trauma, you will be guided through holistic practices to help navigate what’s been stuck within your body and find freedom and release through the practices of Qigong, Yin and Restorative Yoga, Somatic Meditation, Sound Healing, Chanting, Breathwork, Guided Self-massage and Acupressure.
In this series you will learn:
*the somatics of emotion – how emotions show up in the body and how to work with them.
*somatic meditation – how to mindfully and compassionately name and be with the sensations in your body as they arise.
*how trauma affects your brain, body, and nervous system and how to find balance across these systems.
Space is limited to 10 participants.
This is a confidential yoga therapy group. No prior yoga experience is needed.

Rachel is an IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist, Educator and Doctor of Psychology. Specializing in trauma work and embodied practices for nervous system integration, Rachel helps clients increase their capacity for joy and love in life through somatic movement, breath work, sound healing, self-reflection, and cultivating healthy life choices. Rachel brings years of mental health experience working with at-risk and underserved populations, integrating Eastern and Western practices to help clients move past symptom relief into true healing. She has brought holistic yoga programs and professional trainings on yoga for mental health into community mental health centers, hospitals and schools. Rachel’s aim is to guide individuals into states of peace and trust in their life’s story through the mind and body, create community, and bring the teachings and practices of yoga into various settings around the world. Rachel’s classes meet each student where they are at while still challenging them to reach new heights of self-realization, acceptance, and strength and flexibility, both on and off of the mat. She will push you to challenge yourself while also guiding you to listen to your body and intuition, teaching from a place of authenticity, passion and playfulness. To learn more about Rachel and her work visit racheljenninewellnessandyoga.com

Full Moon Chanting
2024-07-20 20:00 - 20:30
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We gather once a month to chant the Gayatri Mantra, the great mantra of Light and Liberation, to maximize the spiritual benefits of the full moon.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”
– Rigveda 3.62.10[11]

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.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Celebrating Guru Poornima
2024-07-21 11:00 - 12:30
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 Swami Ramananda and representatives of many faiths Mercy Mungwadzi, Amanda Vigil, Surya Dick, Gautam Mulchandani and Zubin Goldman in a celebration of Guru Poornima. This annual Hindu holy day offers us an opportunity to show our appreciation and love for our spiritual teachers on the full moon in July.
We will honor the guiding principles found in these faiths: Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sufism and African Faiths as well as celebrate guidance and teachings of our founder, Sri Swami Satchidananda and his teacher Swami Sivananda of Saraswati lineage.
By acknowledging each tradition as an equally valid path to the same Spiritual Presence within, we can learn to see the unity behind all the diversity so that we can live together in peace.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
2024-07-21 15:30 - 17:30
CANCELLED. We apologize for the inconvenience.
In-person | $40 Early bird, use promo code SOUND, exp. 7/14 | $45 regular
Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing are remedies for the challenges of our stressful times, and blends restorative yoga with guided breathwork and sound healing. Accompanied by the healing sounds of various instruments, you will be gently guided to relax into postures that allow for deep relaxation and restoration of the entire body including tight muscles, restricted fascia, overstimulated nervous systems, and an overactive or out of balanced mind, resetting and restoring a natural rhythm to your whole being. The practice creates a calm, supportive and nurturing environment in which you can relax and let go, allowing the innate wisdom of your body to naturally restore balance and well-being. Whether you just need to decompress from stress, recover from injury or if you’re dealing with chronic illness, this workshop will help your body, mind and spirit to relax, rejuvenate, and heal.
No prior yoga experience is necessary.
Please register in advance, space is limited. Thank you!

Rachel Jennine Goudey, Psy.D., is an IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist, Educator and Doctor of Psychology. Specializing in trauma work and embodied practices for nervous system integration, Rachel helps clients increase their capacity for joy and love in life through somatic movement, breath work, sound healing, self-reflection, and cultivating healthy life choices. Rachel brings years of mental health experience working with at-risk and underserved populations, integrating Eastern and Western practices to help clients move past symptom relief into true healing. She has brought holistic yoga programs and professional trainings on yoga for mental health into community mental health centers, hospitals and schools. Rachel’s aim is to guide individuals into states of peace and trust in their life’s story through the mind and body, create community, and bring the teachings and practices of yoga into various settings around the world. Rachel’s classes meet each student where they are at while still challenging them to reach new heights of self-realization, acceptance, and strength and flexibility, both on and off of the mat. She will push you to challenge yourself while also guiding you to listen to your body and intuition, teaching from a place of authenticity, passion and playfulness. To learn more about Rachel and her work visit racheljenninewellnessandyoga.com
Dedicated to holistic well-being and spiritual exploration, Shalom Mayberg is a yoga instructor, energy healer, and sound healing practitioner. Through the practice of yoga, he guides individuals on a mindful journey through movement, breath, and self-awareness harmonizing the body, mind, and soul. Shalom has also been working in the healing arts for over 13 years and uses modalities such as Reiki, Energy Medicine, and Intuition to facilitate holistic healing. In addition, the medicine of sound is prominent in his practice and is used to create transformative experiences for people of all backgrounds. Shalom recently graduated from the Academy of Intuition Medicine and offers 1:1 work, training in Reiki and sound healing, and group events. To learn more, visit shalom360.com.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-07-26 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
In these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry, prose, short stories, memoir, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life, place, family, images, poetry of others, while using pranayama, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.
Tools we will Practice
The Art of Paying Attention
Acceptance
Play
Writing from the Heart
Together we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.

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

Community Kirtan
2024-07-27 19:00 - 20:00
In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Snehan Born for an ‘open mic’ community kirtan. We will share and take turns in leading call and response chanting. You are welcome to participate in leading or join in with your voice for responding only. No music experience is necessary.
Kirtan is the Yoga practice of chanting Sanskrit mantras, sacred sound formulas that create a peaceful and uplifting vibration. Singing these holy mantras together calms the thinking mind, illuminates the heart and awakens the spiritual consciousness within. Kirtan is a form of Bhakti Yoga, singing the names of the Divine and a calling out of the soul for support, protection and guidance.

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

Scripture Study: Unveiling Your Inner Wisdom - Overcoming Mental Obstacles, 3-part
2024-07-29 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale
Book 7/29 OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Three Sessions offered individually:

Monday, July 15
Monday, July 22
Monday, July 29

Unveiling Your Inner Wisdom – Overcoming Mental Obstacles
Do you ever feel stuck in your own head? Our thoughts and anxieties can create roadblocks, preventing us from accessing our inner wisdom and living with greater clarity. This series, building on the teachings of Swami Ramanandaji in June, will address what gets in the way of present moment awareness and inner guidance. We will discuss the common roadblocks that keep us from experiencing true peace and fulfillment and go over tools to shift our thinking patterns and break free from negative cycles. Move beyond simply changing preferences and explore how to use these tools to fundamentally transform your thought processes, revealing your inner wisdom.
We will refer to The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, beginning with sutras 1.30, 2.3, and adding others as we go.
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.

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

Swami Ramananda’s Birthday Raffle and Brunch Potluck
2024-08-03 11:00 - 13:00
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 as we gather for some fun, offer gratitude for all the contributions to the Yogic Wisdom Campaign and celebrate Swami Ramananda’s 71st birthday.
This final fundraising event will be preceded by the sale of raffle tickets – $10 per ticket – available now online, and available in-person at our front-desk reception starting July 1st.
RAFFLE TIX
Raffle prizes include*:

3-day personal retreat stay at Integral Yoga Institute,
Sailing in the Bay for 2 with Swami Ramananda
Unlimited class passes
Gift basket full of “Yoga Goodies”

*Alternative prizes are available for participating Sangha from out of town.
At this event Swami Ramananda will offer a brief talk, we will draw the winning raffle tickets, play Yoga Jeopardy, and have a potluck brunch. Please bring a vegan dish to share with others in our backyard garden. You can enjoy a Yoga class beforehand led by Swami Ramananda 9:30 am – 10:45 am Book, online/in-person.
In lieu of birthday gifts please donate to the Swami Ramananda Yogic Wisdom Gofundme.
Swami Ramanada is a beloved teacher in the Integral Yoga Institute. As a monk, he has chosen a path to dedicate his life in selfless service to others by teaching Yoga & meditation classes worldwide.
We are raising funds to help Swami Ramananda share his yogic wisdom to a broader community to make the world a better place. Your financial support will allow Swami Ramananda to shift his focus from performing day-to-day administrative work to inspirational tasks such as:

Writing a book on how to integrate Yoga and meditation in everyday life
Leading advanced teacher trainings to prepare a new generation of yoga teachers
Supporting emerging yoga communities in underserved communities around the world

We ask for any donation you can give large or small. Let’s help Swami Ramananda share the timeless teaching of Yoga and meditation with more people, so that we can live healthier, meaningful and peaceful lives.

Mother Goddess Yoga Workshop: TriDevi and The Cycles of Nature
2024-08-04 13:00 - 16:00
Cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Online and In-person
$60 Early bird, use promo code GODDESS, exp. 7/28.
$70 regular price
A journey of honoring and redefining the feminine in yoga.
The presence of the Sacred Feminine has been a leading force in all of the old traditions. Her symbols, artifacts, marks, contributions and work have been found in every single ancient culture.
In this workshop Nubia, will teach you a yoga sadhana that is filled with our Mother Goddess imagery, sacred symbology, and potency.
The curated practices for this afternoon are a combination of asana, pranayama, visualization, incantation, mantra, mudra and more…..weaved together in a macramé of potent traditional practices with artistic and innovative techniques based on Nubia’s decades of study and practice of Yoga and Odissi, a classical India dance.
What you will learn & receive:

The Trilogy of the TriDevi and The Cycles of Nature.
The Philosophical foundations taught here are based on honoring the Divine Mother as the guru and as the main Source of Life: Bhakti to the Divine Mother and Shaktism.
The Hatha Yoga poses and technologies taught in this module are an invitation to awaken the qualities of devotion, nourishment and empowerment.

All are welcome.

Nubia Teixeira, E-RYT 500, YACEP, a Brazilian-born yogini, has devoted herself to teaching many different aspects of yoga and dance for the past 32 years. Perceiving yoga as a healing art, Nubia’s refinement and devotion to this ancient practice is reflected in her unique teaching, centered around heartfelt compassion and inspiration. Drawing from the universe of symbols, myths, deities, mudras, and sacred geometry she teaches embodied Bhakti (devotional yoga). Known for her fierce heart, uplifting humor, and keen intuition, her classes are rooted in her extensive knowledge gained from years of devotional study and practice in yoga and dance. She helps students connect with their deeper selves, fully inhabit their bodies, and live with deep awareness. Also a Reiki instructor and practitioner, Nubia leads workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings locally, nationally, and across the world. nubiateixeira.com

New Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2024-08-04 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.

Scripture Study: Yamas & Niyamas of Yoga Sutras, 1 of 3-part
2024-08-05 18:00 - 19:00
Online| $5-15 sliding scale
3 Mondays, August 5, 12 & 19 offered individually
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
The yamas and niyamas are yoga’s ethical guidelines laid out in the first two limbs of Patanjali’s eightfold path. They’re like a map written to guide you on your life’s journey and help to purify and calm the mind. Simply put, the yamas are things not to do, or restraints, while the niyamas are things to do, or observances. These virtues can expand our relationship with ourselves, our communities & our planet.
Each week, we’ll delve into these 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.
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.

Jen “JP” Andrews graduated summer of 2022 from the Integral Yoga Basic Teacher Training and continued as a student of Raja Yoga teacher training & Meditation teacher training in 2023. She discovered Hatha Yoga about 20 years ago and committed to deepening her spiritual practices after discovering Integral Yoga Institute SF and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For the last 4 years she has been coaching clients to find their way to inner peace and joy by organizing and decluttering their space. This process allows her to apply yogic principles in her client sessions as a way to support and help clients reconnect to their True North.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-08-09 16:00 - 17:30
Cancelled
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Next session is Friday, August 23, click to enroll.
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.

Satsang: Poetry Night
2024-08-10 17:30 - 18:30
Cancellled
Online or In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.

Join us for an evening of shared poetry that reﬂects the voice of our souls. 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.
Mystical Poetry and Sacred Songs are powerful expressions of the human experience, a dynamic meeting of the mind with the Grace of the Divine that crosses the lines of time and specific religious views.
A simple vegetarian meal will be offered after this in-person Satsang with a suggested donation of $5-10. Pre-registration is required for all in-person attendance.
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Scripture Study: Yamas & Niyamas of Yoga Sutras, 2 of 3-part
2024-08-12 18:00 - 19:00
Online | 3 Mondays, August 5, 12 & 19 | $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 Mondays, August 5, 12 & 19 offered individually
The yamas and niyamas are yoga’s ethical guidelines laid out in the first two limbs of Patanjali’s eightfold path. They’re like a map written to guide you on your life’s journey and help to purify and calm the mind. Simply put, the yamas are things not to do, or restraints, while the niyamas are things to do, or observances. These virtues can expand our relationship with ourselves, our communities & our planet.
Each week, we’ll delve into these 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.
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.

Jen “JP” Andrews graduated summer of 2022 from the Integral Yoga Basic Teacher Training and continued as a student of Raja Yoga teacher training & Meditation teacher training in 2023. She discovered Hatha Yoga about 20 years ago and committed to deepening her spiritual practices after discovering Integral Yoga Institute SF and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. For the last 4 years she has been coaching clients to find their way to inner peace and joy by organizing and decluttering their space. This process allows her to apply yogic principles in her client sessions as a way to support and help clients reconnect to their True North.

Kirtan and Guided Meditation
2024-08-15 18:00 - 19:30
$15-25 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.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Swami Yatidharmananda for Kirtan, call and response chanting of sacred mantras and Guided Meditation with intention to Heal, Meditate, Transform and Grow.
This is a wonderful opportunity to practice with Swami Yatidharmananda who is a globally recognized Yogi from India and is the founder of Swami Chidananda Sevashram. It is a monastery for the modern world where people of all ages and backgrounds can live on the principles and practices of Ayurveda for the body, Yoga for the mind and Vedanta for the soul. He has dedicated his life to Yoga teachings passed from his Gurudev Swami Chidananda of Saraswati lineage, a the direct disciple of Sri Swami Sivananda.

Swami Yatidharmananda is a globally recognised Yogi from India and is the founder of Sri Swami Chidananda Sevashram. The Sevashram is a Socio-Spiritual Organization dedicated to the life and teachings of Gurudev Swami Chidanandaji.
He conducts workshops on Relaxation and Meditation, Sings Kirtans and loves to share inspiring stories of his life transformative journey. He has also developed unique and impactful programs that heal, empower and transform you to tackle challenges in day to day lives.
He dedicated himself to the service of his Guru Swami Chidananda Saraswati and was blessed to be with him 24X7 for many years. He had the rare opportunity and blessing to observe one of the greatest saints that left an indelible imprint on his life. In the year 2000, he received Sannyasa Diksha. Having received so much unconditionally, urges him to share this anecdotal wisdom with one and all.
In July 2015, he set out on his own and founded Swami Chidananda Sevashram with the blessings of Gurudev Swami Chidananda ji of Sivananda Ashram. It is a monastery for the modern world where people of all ages and backgrounds can live on the principles and practices of Ayurveda for the body, Yoga for the mind and Vedanta for the soul. It also brings together revered teachers from around the world for sharing knowledge and wisdom on various wellness based activities.
Since 2016 he has traveled extensively each year to US and Europe for conducting workshops on Relaxation & meditation and conducted Kirtans.
Since September 2020 Swami Yatidharmananda is serving as the General Secretary of Swami Sivanand Seva Samiti, and living in the company of Swami Premanandaji and Swami Atmanandaji, the direct disciples of Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj at the Sivananda Ashram, Ganeshpur, Uttarkashi, Himalayas, India. sivanandsevasamiti.org

MC Yogi – The Yoga of Love
2024-08-17 18:00 - 20:00
$35 Early bird, use promo code MCYOGI, exp. 8/10 | $45 regular
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
An evening with MC Yogi will include mellow music, chanting, poetry, conscious movement and Dharma talk.
“Love grows and expands when we sing and dance together.” -MC Yogi

Combining infectious beats with poetic and spiritually uplifting lyrics, MC YOGI’s music spans many genres including hip hop, electronic, and dance. His memoir, Spiritual Graffiti, tells his story of how yoga and music helped him transform from a juvenile delinquent to an internationally celebrated recording artist, author, and yoga teacher.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Sri Swami Satchidananda's Mahasamadhi
2024-08-18 11:00 - 12:00
Online | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Join us for a special gathering in memory of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s passing, Mahasamadhi. We will come together and contemplate the benefits and changes in our lives that we have experienced by living the teachings that our teacher and founder of Integral Yoga has shared with us.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Swami Divyananda Ma, E-RYT 500, has had a wealth of experience teaching Integral Yoga around the world since 1973. She has taught at corporations, universities, the Commonwealth Cancer Center, and for the Dr. Dean Ornish Reversing Heart Disease programs. She has also served as one of Integral Yoga’s Basic Hatha teacher trainers. Swami Divyananda Ma took monastic vows in 1975 from the great saint and yogi, Sri Swami Satchidananda. Over the years she has served as the director of the Integral Yoga Institutes in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and as Ashram Manager at Yogaville. She also served for ten years as the director of the Integral Yoga Institute in Coimbatore, India; this immersion into the South Indian culture has given depth to her understanding and practice of Yoga. Now an itinerant monk, Swami Divyananda is constantly “on the road.” She leads the annual Sacred India Tours to sacred sites in India in addition to international Yoga retreats and trainings. Learn more at sacredindiatours.org.

Scripture Study: Yamas & Niyamas of Yoga Sutras, 3 of 3-part
2024-08-19 18:00 - 19:00

Full Moon Chanting
2024-08-19 20:00 - 20:30
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We gather once a month to chant the Gayatri Mantra, the great mantra of Light and Liberation, to maximize the spiritual benefits of the full moon.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”

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.

4 Day Yoga Retreat: Restoring our Natural Center of Balance and Peace
2024-08-22 17:00 - 2024-08-25 12:30
In person | Commonweal Retreat Center, Bolinas CA
Single room | WAIT LIST– $695 Early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 8/1 | $735 regular – SOLD OUT
Shared room | WAIT LIST – $595 (per person) Early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 8/1 | $635 regular (per person)
Call Raama Das at 415-857-2552 to check for availability.
Book now/In-Person
Thursday August 22, 5pm – Sunday August 25, 12:30pm
Our August retreat will focus on restoring the natural sense of balance and peace that dwells in the heart of our being as our truest nature. Through meditative practices, rest and reflection, we will calm the mind, come fully into the present, and strengthen our connection to the unchanging spiritual presence within.
Join Claudia Bartsch, Astrud Castillo 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.

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.
Claudia Bartsch, E-500CYT, C-IAYT, has been teaching yoga for 17 years. With over 1,500 hours of training she offers an in-depth understanding of yogic practices and techniques and how to apply them for healing, integration and transformation. In 2011 she bridged her interest in Western psychology and the yogic path and became a certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist. Additionally, Claudia is a certified Stress Management Educator, a trained Reiki and Shiatsu Practitioner. In her work she offers a unique blend of the various branches of yoga, hands-on body and energy work empowering her clients to move towards greater resilience, well-being and health. Please visit her website for more information: claudiabartsch.com
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.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-08-23 16:00 - 17:30
This session has been cancelled.
Next session is Fri. September 13 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm PDT and is open for enrollment.
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
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.

Balance Your Hormones - A Yoga and Ayurveda Workshop
2024-08-24 13:00 - 17:00
Postponed. Please sign up for our newsletter for updates
$65 Early bird, use promo code BALANCE, exp. 8/17 | Regular $75
Join Ausra Duverge and Ausra Shtarka for a transformative journey into the ancient wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda as we explore the powerful tools to balance and harmonize your hormones naturally. This workshop is designed to empower participants with practical knowledge and tailored practices to support hormonal balance, enhance well-being, and foster a deeper connection between mind, body, and spirit.
Workshop Highlights
Understanding Hormones:

Explore the basics of hormonal health and the key hormones influencing your well-being.
Gain insights into common imbalances and their impact on physical and mental health.

Ayurveda for Hormonal Balance:

Learn about nourishing foods, herbs, and lifestyle practices to support hormonal equilibrium.

Yoga for Hormonal Balance:

Experience a specially crafted yoga sequence designed to stimulate and soothe the endocrine system.
Explore asanas (poses), pranayama (breath work), and meditation techniques for hormonal health.

Mind-Body Connection:

Delve into the connection between stress, emotions, and hormonal balance. Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to alleviate stress and promote hormonal harmony.

Personalized Wellness Plan:

Receive guidance on creating a personalized wellness plan based on your unique constitution and lifestyle.
Learn how to integrate Ayurvedic practices and yoga into your daily routine for sustained hormonal health.

Who Should Attend:

Individuals looking to enhance hormonal balance naturally.
Yoga practitioners of all levels.
Anyone interested in incorporating Ayurvedic principles for holistic well-being.

Ausra Duverge, C-IAYT, ERYT-500, YACEP, AHC, started teaching yoga in 2015. After the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Dubai, UAE, she has continued to expand her knowledge in Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy. In 2017 she completed an Ayurvedic Health Counselor program at Kerala Ayurveda Academy in Fremont, California. Ausra is a Certified Yoga Therapist from the Stress Management Center (SMC) of Marin in Larkspur, CA, and a training provider with Yoga Alliance. Ausra uses Yoga techniques and practices: movement, breathing, relaxation, meditation, yoga philosophy, and Ayurvedic nutrition and lifestyle recommendations to help safely manage existing health conditions, reduce symptoms, restore balance and vitality. Her approach to yoga is to use the practice to explore the body/mind connection and to bring awareness to everyday life. She is committed to exploring and meeting the individual needs of her students and clients, making yoga friendly and accessible to everyone. Ausra currently teaches Ayurveda basics at Yoga Therapist Training at the SMC of Marin and offers chair yoga classes for San Francisco Seniors. She also offers private yoga and Ayurveda sessions and works with a variety of health issues: hormonal imbalances – infertility and perimenopause, anxiety and depression, spinal injuries and misalignments. For more information, please visit her website at ayatherapy.me.
Ausra Shtarka, C-IAYT, Egoscue Postural Therapist, Cacao Ceremony Facilitator, Reiki Master. Ausra has been studying and practicing healing arts for more than 20 years. She has lead yoga, silent meditation retreats and workshops in California, Mexico and Lithuania. Ausra’s most influential teachers include Stephanie Snyder, Rusty Wells, Lama Tsultrim Allione, Frank Ostaseski, Max Strom, Robin Gueth, Kaya Mindlin. Ausra is known for an eclectic flair that weaves elements from many styles and traditions into her classes.
She currently offers in-person and virtual private classes. Her specialties include stress management, meditation, hormone yoga, customized yoga therapy sequences for neck and back pain. When Ausra is not teaching, she enjoys traveling, arts, swimming in open water and being in nature.
“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness, will we discover the infinite
power of our light.” ~Brene Brown
