Kirtan with Ekachakra Prana and The Bhakti Band
2025-02-22 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
In-person | $15 In advance, use promo code BHAKTIBAND | $20 Day of
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Come immerse yourself in the transcendental vibrations of the maha-mantra! Drawing from the rich tradition of Gaudiya Vaisnavism (The Hare Krishnas!), a rockstar-turned-monk will take you on a spiritual journey through song. From meditative to ecstatic, both emotional and highly musical, your heart, voice and ears are in for a treat. According to the Vedic wisdom literatures, singing holy names of God together is the topmost process of self-realization in this age. So let’s get down to it!

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

Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
2025-02-23 15:30 - 17:30
In-person | $40 Early bird, use promo code SOUND, exp. 2/16 | $45 regular
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing are remedies for the challenges of our stressful times, and blends restorative yoga with guided breathwork and sound healing. Accompanied by the healing sounds of various instruments, you will be gently guided to relax into postures that allow for deep relaxation and restoration of the entire body including tight muscles, restricted fascia, overstimulated nervous systems, and an overactive or out of balanced mind, resetting and restoring a natural rhythm to your whole being. The practice creates a calm, supportive and nurturing environment in which you can relax and let go, allowing the innate wisdom of your body to naturally restore balance and well-being. Whether you just need to decompress from stress, recover from injury or if you’re dealing with chronic illness, this workshop will help your body, mind and spirit to relax, rejuvenate, and heal.
No prior yoga experience is necessary.
Please register in advance, space is limited. Thank you!

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

Maha Shivaratri
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:30
Online and In-person | FREE
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Please join us for the celebration of Maha Shivaratri, a major festival in Hinduism which marks the remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, bathing, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.
Snehan will lead us through some responsive chanting. We will contemplate Shiva, his attributes and forms as well as the austerities in yoga practice as they relate to the modern time yogis. The program will be concluded with brief service and extended chanting.
You are welcome to join the traditional fasting on this day. After finishing morning practices and bathing, take a vow (Sankalp संकल्प) to observe full day fast, pledging for self-determination throughout the fasting period and seeking blessings of Lord Shiva to finish the fast without any interference. Traditionally, before doing Shiva Puja or visiting temple in the evening, the devotees take a second bath on this day to cleanse themselves. Shiva Puja is done during night and the ardent devotees observe this celebration by staying awake all night. The fast is broken the next day after taking a bath.

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

New Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2025-02-27 20:00 - 20:45
In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join Snehan for in-person chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa with harmonium.
The Hanuman Chalisa is an ancient 40-line poem by Tulsidas extolling the many attributes and supernatural abilities of the Monkey God, Hanuman.
Sri Hanuman represents the ultimate devotee by his 100% commitment to his Dharmic path of serving Sri Ram, the Lord Itself.
Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa promises the removal of all pain and suffering. And Sri Hanuman is the Wish-fulfilling Deity…..ask for what you really want!
We will chant for 30 minutes or so and then sit in meditation for about 10 minutes more.

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

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-02-28 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-03-28 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.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday, next session is Friday, February 28, 2025.
In these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry, prose, short stories, memoir, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life, place, family, images, poetry of others, while using pranayama, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.
• Tools we will Practice
• The Art of Paying Attention
• Acceptance
• Play
• Writing from the Heart
Together we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.

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

Responding Together to a World in Chaos
2025-03-01 17:30 - 18:30
Online or in-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
This year has just begun and already it feels like we’re being pushed beyond our limits by the events in our country and our world. Our nervous systems are triggered and we find ourselves reacting to every media blip without a chance to mindfully reflect and respond. What tools do we have to navigate this turmoil when it feels like we have little to no control? How can we refer to ancient teachings to guide us from elevated stress and uncertainty to experience resilience by way of our inner-knowingness?
Whether we choose to look the other way or become a changemaker, our actions make a difference. Join Swami Ramananda and Marc Morozumi for a lively and grounding discussion to explore, consider and choose how we make our way through the endless chaos in our world.
Everyone is welcome to stay for tea and light snacks afterwards.
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
Marc Morozumi, E-RYT 500, CMT, Lead Yoga Teacher Trainer with Integral Yoga Institute, began practicing Ashtanga yoga in 2001 while a full-time modern dancer with Joe Goode Performance Group in SF, CA. Due to injury, Mukunda retired from his 12 year dance career in 2004 and entered the events industry from 2004-2016. A 2-month personal trip to India in 2007 paved the way for landing in Yogaville in 2009 for his first teacher training with Swami Divyananda and staff. One month after returning from graduation, Mukunda began teaching a Saturday morning class at the SF IYI which he maintained for over 10 years. Mukunda has co-led Integral Yoga retreats since 2011 and has staffed or co-led Basic Teacher Trainings since 2013. He has opened and managed small group yoga studios in SF since 2017 and in early 2020, he opened and then reformed a yoga center post COVID-19: Mukunda Yoga – Activation and Well-being Center in SOMA, SF, CA.

Sufi Devotional Music from North India and Pakistan
2025-03-08 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code SUFI | $25 Day of.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for exploration of traditional devotional music from the motherland of Yoga. Sukhawat Ali Khan is an eleventh generation Sufi vocalist from the Sham Chaurasi Gharana (family) of music.that has been performed in traditional North Indian/ Pakistani Classical Music for over six centuries. Trained at a young age by his legendary father- Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Sukhawat Ali has perfected the art of soulful sufi song. He considers music as a sacred experience that unites the performer with the listener. His universal themes of love, devotion, compassion and peace appeal to audiences around the world.
Sukhawat Ali will be joined by his band, Dua, a local collective of world musicians whose high energy rhythms move audiences to their feet.
Sukhawat Ali Khan’s Sufi Music samples can be found on our Youtube channel:

Sukhawat Ali Khan, (born 1960), son of Indian-Pakistani vocalist Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and nephew of Nazakat Ali is a classical singer of Sham Chaurasia gharana tradition founded in 16th century as well as a performer of North Indian and Pakistani classical music and related folk music. He began singing and playing at age seven and has performed around the world.”
Band Members:
Varun Pattabhiraman is an Indian percussionist based in San Francisco. Seamlessly navigating traditional Carnatic classical contexts and crossover genres, he enjoys orchestrating experimental hybrid setups that blend traditional Carnatic percussion with instruments like the Cajon, Roland Handsonic, and Drum Set. You can follow his musical journey on Instagram at @varunrpraman
Vivek Anand is a vocalist with a focus on emotional and spiritual meaning. Vivek is from a musical family in Bombay, and has studied and sung in the Bay Area with Sukhawat Ali Khan for sixteen years. Through this training he has acquired his emotional and spiritual focus, and a knowledge of ragas. His repertoire includes Hindustani classical, semi-classical, bhajans, Sufi songs and ghazals.
Saima Jamshed began playing dholak at age six, surprising everyone with her natural rhythm. Now a vocalist and percussionist in Dua band, a qawwali ensemble for Sukhawat Ali Khan, she brings joyful energy with dholak, darbuka, tambourine & shakers. Originally from Karachi and now in Berkeley, she studies classical singing and traditional qawwali with Sukhawat Ali Khan and Rita Sahai, blending deep tradition with instinctive musicality.
Craig Reiter – Like many modern American Renaissance men, Craig Reiter is a polymorphously talented individual with interests including Blackjack card counting, haruspicy, and Feline domestication. In addition, Craig has been seen channeling the voice of his Creator through whatever musical instrument crosses his path.
Irum Aftab is a vocalist (and clapper) hailing from Pakistan and now based in Berkeley. She is currently a student of Sukhawat Ali Khan. Her musical focus is on learning from his depth of knowledge about the underlying raags that form the basis of ghazal, folk, geet and qawwali music- that we all know and love across South Asia.
Daljeet Singh is the driving force behind our sound, bringing magic as a music director and guitarist. He has a knack for spinning up bands and fusing devotional, classical Indian, Sufi, old school Bollywood, and rock influences, he creates music that feels both soulful and electrifying.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-03-14 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.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday, next session is Friday, March 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.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: The Power of Purpose in Spiritual Practice
2025-03-16 11:00 - 12:00
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREEBook now/OnlineWe appreciate advance registration.
“The Power of Purpose in Spiritual Practice: Understanding Our ‘Why’ to Deepen Our Journey”
A Sunday talk exploring the profound impact of purpose on our spiritual journey. Let’s dive deep into Yoga Sutras 1.13, 1.14, and 1.15, examining how understanding your deeper motivations for spiritual growth can:
⋅ Illuminate your path: Discover the true meaning and direction of your practice.
⋅ Sustain your efforts: Overcome challenges and maintain consistency with unwavering purpose.
⋅ Deepen your connection: Experience a more meaningful and fulfilling spiritual journey.
You will be encouraged to reflect on why and how it can empower your own practice.
This Sunday talk might resonate with you if:
⋅ You’re curious about what truly drives your spiritual journey
⋅ You’re seeking ways to deepen and enrich your spiritual practice.
⋅ You’re open to exploring how a sense of purpose can transform your life.
⋅ You’re ready to explore the transformative power of purpose.
Let’s dive into those big questions that light you up inside – no heavy lifting required, just pure inspiration and “aha!” moments.
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.

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 Mr. David and Brianna Prajna Vieira
2025-03-22 19:00 - 21:00
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code KIRTAN | $25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Mr. David (David Estes) and Brianna Prajna Vieira and each bring together 20+ years of Hindu devotional chanting practice and experience with professional musicianship in a dynamic duo sharing a traditional style Bhakti Yoga kirtan practice in call and response chanting with the audience. Both lead, trading off on vocals, with Brianna Prajna on harmonium and David on Indian drum.

Mr. David (David Estes) is the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and band leader of the Ananda Rasa Kirtan band based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr David grew up in India and spent several years immersed in the practices of kirtan (call and response Bhakti Yoga devotional chanting), sanskrit text chanting, meditation and seva (service) as a full time Ashram resident. Ananda Rasa Kirtan is rooted in traditional Sanskrit chants and mantras sung to original Indian raga melodies and explores the ecstatic and mystical moods of Bhakti in call and response chanting with the audience. Mr David has supported and toured with kirtan singers Krisna Das, Jai Uttal, Prajna Brianna Vieira, Nina Rao and many more, offering drum, percussion and response vocals, both in the US and abroad. He also owns and runs his business Ragamala Harmoniums.
Prajna Brianna Vieira has taught yoga āsana, yogic philosophy, and bhakti yoga for over 20 years. A lifelong musician and dancer, she studies and performs kirtan (traditional Hindu chanting music), Odissi classical Indian dance, harikatha (storytelling) and ballet both locally and internationally. She is especially known for her work with kirtan artists Jai Uttal, Ben Leinbach, David Estes, and Mukti. She also teaches harmonium and voice, and is currently pursuing a BA in History.

Scripture Study: Raja Yoga - Keys to Sustainable Growth, 3-part
2025-03-24 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | 3-part series, each session offered individually
Free for active IYISF teachers
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
3 Mondays, from 6:00 – 7:00pm:
Part 1 – March 24
Part 2 – March 31
Part 3 – April 7
It can be fascinating to research and grasp the meaning of the Yoga Sutras, but unless we find ways to embody these principles in daily life, we only scratch the surface of the benefits held within the words. In this series, we will explore 4 specific methods to deepen our personal experience of selected sutras and take concrete steps toward sustainable personal growth. We will use a system of reminders, guided reflection, and group support to bring these principles into a lived experience.
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.

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.

Open House #2 for 200-Hour BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training 2025
2025-03-25 17:30 - 18:30
Online | 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 our live-online Open House to learn more about our third bi-annual scholarship-based 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). In an effort toward dismantling imbalance, IYISF is offering this Yoga Teacher Training in a two-module format: Module 1 with 100% BIPOC teacher trainers and participants and Module 2, for anyone who has taken Module 1 within the past 2 years or yoga teachers who want to certify as an Integral Yoga teacher.
The program’s lead trainers are Mia Velez and Rukmini Ando. The guest trainers in Module 1 are Marc Morozumi and Kamala Damaris Berrio, and in Module 2 Swami Ramananda and Arturo Peal.
Visit our website for more information about the 200-hour BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training.
Our curriculum is based on 40 years of Integral Yoga teacher training tradition coupled with harm-reductive and anti-racist practices. Students will learn skills to become knowledgeable yoga teachers for in-person and online classes.
At the 2 open houses:
⋅ Meet the members of this all-BIPOC teaching staff
⋅ Explore the importance of a program specifically designed to address systemic racism and lack of equity in the yoga community
⋅ Have all of your questions about the training answered
This high-quality training meets the Yoga Alliance standards.
Our 1st open house is being held on Tuesday,February 11, from 5:30–6:30 pm PT.
Book now/Open House #1
About our 2-part training:
Module 1, Yoga Immersion Program, provides a strong foundation for personal and spiritual development. Whether you want to teach others or take your own practice to a deeper level, this module will offer an authentic experience of living Yoga which includes well-rounded, in-depth yoga studies. Click to learn more
Module 2, Yoga Teaching Essentials, provides further understanding of Hatha Yoga and a thorough training in developing the skills necessary to become a confident, knowledgeable Integral Yoga instructor. This module has a newly expanded curriculum in anatomy, teaching methodology and professional development. Already certified teachers are welcome to join to refresh or deepen their teaching skills. Click to learn more.
Testimonials:
“This has been an amazing journey for me. It has helped me to be more accountable to myself and help me to hone my reflective skills even better.” – Jennifer
“Being in a space with everyone and getting to know everyone on a connected, deeper level, going through an intensive yoga training, and knowing that everyone is connected to you on some level is the most exciting part of the training.” – Rachel
“Feeling the benefits in my life, I’ve noticed my interpersonal relationships have been changing and even my relationship with myself. Those are influences in my life that I owe to this training.” – A.G.

Mia Velez, E-RYT 500, entered the Integral Yoga Sangha in 2016 through the kitchen by helping to cook Thursday community lunches and silent retreat meals. In 2018 she was certified as an Integral Yoga teacher to learn more of the IYI approach and be part of the lineage. Mia is a disciple of the Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu lineage and is highly influenced by her martial arts training. After completing her first 200-hour teacher training in 2008, she began to see undeniable parallels in Yoga and Kung Fu. When she began teaching Kung Fu in 2014, she incorporated Yoga insight and principles in her classes. Her goal in teaching is to connect with the students and to facilitate a safe space for exploration and self-inquiry. Yoga and Kung Fu are integrated into her daily life as a mother, a preschool teacher, and an advocate for gender, race, and class equality through multiple non-profit groups.
Nathalie Rukmini Ando is a Yoga teacher, trainer, and graphic designer, Brazilian of Japanese descent. She lived in Yogaville, VA, where she served as a Yoga teacher, program development director, leadership team member, online courses administrator, DE&I (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) Committee member, and Anti-Racism Task Force member. She has been practicing Yoga since 2004, teaching since 2010, and has been a Yoga teacher trainer since 2022. She is certified in Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Integral Yoga, Raja Yoga, Adaptive, Stress Management, Yoga of Recovery, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Basics of Ayurveda, and Neuroscience & Yoga. As a teacher, she’s known for her clear instruction and her classes include fun, level-appropriate challenges. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and is a fine artist specializing in oil-on-canvas. You can see her artwork at natiando.art.

Yoga for the Soul, Body, and Mind, 8-week course
2025-03-28 18:30 - 20:00
In-person
8 consecutive Fridays, 6:30-8:00 pm | Offered individually or as 8-session course
$20 each class (memberships and class passes ok)
$125 for all 8 as a course
Book all 8 sessionsPlease register in advance.
Book individual sessions (Fridays 6:30-8:00 pm):

MAR 28, Swami Ramananda Book this session
APR 4 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz Book this session
APR 11 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi Book this session
APR 18 Diana Meltsner Book this session
APR 25 Diana Meltsner Book this session
MAY 2 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz Book this session
MAY 9 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi Book this session
MAY 16 Swami Ramananda Book this session

Yoga for the soul is a practice that in 90 minute format evenly combines physical poses at a mixed level with extended guided meditation and spiritual awareness explorations through a group discussion on yogic topics. These practices promote physical wellness, elevate the mind, foster connection with the soul and inspire life.
Join senior IYI teachers Diana Meltsner, Swami Ramananda, Saraswati Melanie Takahashi, K. Muktidevi Demafeliz and Barbara Dickey for individual dates / classes by signing up the same way as for any other hatha yoga class using your memberships or with a $20 class payment or sign up for the whole 8-class course for $125.00.
Book all 8 sessions

Kirtan with Astrud and Friends
2025-03-28 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code MANTRA | $25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join Astrud and her dear friends for an evening of Kirtan or mantra meditation.
We use mantra, sound and vibration to polish the mirror of the heart and dismantle the illusion of separation. Man means mind and tra means instrument. Mantras are instruments or tools used to redirect our mind to the Source, Peace and ultimately to the heart.
The collective consciousness is healing and fun. We use this time to celebrate being alive, send prayers to those in need and be in community.
We sing in the key of “WE”, join us!
No experience is necessary.

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

Breath: Mysterious and Therapeutic
2025-03-30 10:00 - 12:00
Online & In-person | $32 Early bird, use promo code BREATH, exp. 3/23 | $39 Regular
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
The Breath can be used in multiple therapeutic applications to promote healing on a physical, emotional and mental level. It is something our body does continuously on its own. It can be challenging to really take a good look at one’s own breathing.
Breath has a potential to open doors to a greater awareness, a path to our spiritual awakening. Many traditions use the breath as a vehicle for transformation, healing, and looking beyond ordinary perception of day-to-day life.
In this workshop we will explore the breath gently and from different perspectives. You will learn:
• Getting to know your breath with mindfulness practices
• The basics of physiological and energetic aspects of the breath
• An introduction to pranayama, yogic breath control, its benefits and techniques
• Assessing your nervous system (NS) with breath awareness, activating vagus nerve
• Discovering patterns of holding
• Basics of self-healing with the breath
• Scriptural references as well as western medical research
We will explore the breath in asana, yoga nidra, pranayama and meditation practices. Lecture and discussion will be included. We will tailor our explorations to your interests.
This workshop will be recorded and shared with participants for later viewing.
CEUs 2 hours for Yoga Alliance offered to attending teachers upon request.

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

4 Day Yoga Retreat: Cultivating Joy and Resilience in Uncertain Times
2025-04-03 17:00 - 2025-04-06 12:30
Sold out
In person at Commonweal Retreat Center, Bolinas, CA – Thursday, APR 3, 5:00 pm – Sunday, APR 6, 12:30pm
Single room: $725 Early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 3/3 | $795 Regular
Shared room $600 (per person) Early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 3/3 | $670 Regular
Book now/In-PersonAdvance registration required, space is limited.
Join Astrud Castillo, Swami Ramananda, and Kamala Itzel Hayward for this in-person, silent retreat focused on cultivating joy and resilience in the face of life’s uncertainties. Through the practice of meditation, Yoga, and sacred silence, we will explore how to meet all of life with presence, openness, and courage. Experience the transformative power of joy and resilience, and the stillness of silence.
Set amidst the ocean-side beauty of the sacred ancestral lands of the Coastal Miwok people in Bolinas. The natural surroundings provide a restorative and healing backdrop for our practice.
This retreat includes:
• Yoga classes accessible to all levels of ability and experience
• Guided meditations
• Inspirational evening programs
• Nourishing vegetarian meals
• Free time for walking, resting, or connecting with nature
The entire retreat will be held in silence, offering the rare opportunity to spend an extended period turning inward, accessing the quiet wisdom within.
Space is limited — We hope you join us to experience the transformative power of joy, resilience, and the stillness of silence.
Click to view Retreat cancellation policy.

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.
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.
Kamala Itzel Hayward was a lawyer for over a decade before becoming a Yoga teacher and Yoga therapist specializing in trauma, addiction, and wellness. She is passionate about bringing Yoga and other healing modalities to adults facing chronic stress caused by living under oppression, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ableism, and more. She is founder of the Integral Yoga Institute’s Scholarship-Based Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, People of Color. For the last 12 years, she has been sharing Yoga with individuals facing housing insecurity and related challenges, including systemic barriers; structural oppression; social dislocation; physical, emotional, and mental health challenges; substance abuse; and addiction. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Trauma Prevention and Recovery Certificate Program at the City College of San Francisco.

Yoga for the Soul, Body, and Mind
2025-04-04 18:30 - 20:00
In-person
$20 each class | memberships and class passes OK
Consecutive Fridays, 6:30-8:00 pm | Offered individually
Book/In-Person/APR 4Please register in advance.
Book individual sessions (Fridays 6:30-8:00 pm):

MAR 28, Swami Ramananda Book this session this session has passed
APR 4 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz Book this session
APR 11 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi Book this session
APR 18 Diana Meltsner Book this session
APR 25 Diana Meltsner Book this session
MAY 2 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz Book this session
MAY 9 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi Book this session
MAY 16 Swami Ramananda Book this session

Yoga for the soul is a practice that in 90 minute format evenly combines physical poses at a mixed level with extended guided meditation and spiritual awareness explorations through a group discussion on yogic topics. These practices promote physical wellness, elevate the mind, foster connection with the soul and inspire life.
Join senior IYI teachers Diana Meltsner, Swami Ramananda, Saraswati Melanie Takahashi, K. Muktidevi Demafeliz and Barbara Dickey for individual dates / classes by signing up the same way as for any other hatha yoga class using your memberships or with a $20 class payment.

Satsang: Authenticity, a Path to Self-Realization
2025-04-05 17:30 - 18:30
Online & In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
In our culture authenticity is a quality more often marketed than manifested. Digital temptations and consumerism undermine our agency and “response-ability” and it becomes increasingly more difficult to be in touch with ourselves and with what truly matters to us.
Authenticity arises when we stop betraying ourselves, when we show ourselves open and honest in a wholesome way. Living authentically gives us meaning and purpose, increases our self-esteem, supports our personal and communal health but also takes a whole lot of courage and determination.
The teachings of yoga offer us a very sophisticated map on how to return to authenticity. Come and join yoga therapist Claudia Bartsch to explore how.
This is an introduction to her upcoming in-depth ‘Authenticity, Path to Self-Realization’ 3-part course. Save the date: 3 Saturday mornings 4/19, 4/26 & 5/3, 11:15-12:45pm.
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.

Claudia Bartsch, PRYT
Originally from Germany, Claudia studied and taught yoga for over 25 years. With more than 2000 hours of formal training in yoga she has a strong foundation in the classical approach to yoga and in innovative therapeutic methods. She is deeply dedicated to facilitating holistic healing and certified as a yoga therapist in 2016. In this role, she specializes in supporting individuals navigating mental or physical challenges by tailoring yoga practices to their unique conditions and needs. Additionally she was certified as a Stress Management Educator to empower individuals to cultivate resilience and inner peace through mindful practices. She is a Shiatsu and Reiki Practitioner, modalities that complement the holistic approach to well-being fostered through yoga. In 2022 she was certified as a Brain Longevity Specialist by the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation to deepen her understanding of cognitive and mental health Please visit her website for more information: claudiabartsch.com

Spring Into Action: A BIPOC scholarship fundraiser
2025-04-06 12:00 - 19:00
This half-day BIPOC wellness retreat is a fundraiser for IYISF BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship Fund, providing affordable Yoga training for BIPOC folx.
In-person – $80-120 sliding scale | We appreciate advance registration.
Presented by
in collaboration with Management Leadership for Tomorrow
Book now/In-Person
As the natural world awakens for Spring, we are reminded of the vitality that comes after a period of dormancy. If you are experiencing distress from current times, join us and realize your potential. Connect to the power of rest, vision, and movement in community with Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC) folx.
Why BIPOC only? Creating BIPOC spaces isn’t an attempt to exclude our White brothers and sisters. Space is limited (30), so we want to ensure space for those who have been historically / systemically left out. BIPOC folx, this event is for you! Come, and let the healing vibes ripple out to your surroundings – creating a ripple of change.
What’s included:
• Yoga
• Vision session with group reflections
• Sound baths
• Drum circle
• Snacks, dinner, tea & mock-tails
IYI San Francisco recognizes the structural and institutional racism in Yoga and wellness communities, and acknowledges the lack of diverse representation in our Yoga classes. We believe that by encouraging a diverse range of teaching voices, safe spaces can be created where all students can feel represented and welcomed. Please join these ongoing efforts by your attendance or by donation.

Mia Velez, E-RYT 500, entered the Integral Yoga Sangha in 2016 through the kitchen by helping to cook Thursday community lunches and silent retreat meals. In 2018 she was certified as an Integral Yoga teacher to learn more of the IYI approach and be part of the lineage. Mia is a disciple of the Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu lineage and is highly influenced by her martial arts training. After completing her first 200-hour teacher training in 2008, she began to see undeniable parallels in Yoga and Kung Fu. When she began teaching Kung Fu in 2014, she incorporated Yoga insight and principles in her classes. Her goal in teaching is to connect with the students and to facilitate a safe space for exploration and self-inquiry. Yoga and Kung Fu are integrated into her daily life as a mother, a preschool teacher, and an advocate for gender, race, and class equality through multiple non-profit groups.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
Celeste Fa’ai’uaso has over a decade of professional experience, including leadership coaching, strategy consulting, social impact, and big tech. She earned her MBA at UC Berkeley and her BS from MIT. Celeste has designed and facilitated leadership and DEI programs at UC Berkeley, Google, and Waymo.

Dominique dela Cola (Bio coming soon)

April Leung is an herbalist and wellness enthusiast with over a decade in the health space. Born and raised in San Francisco, she earned her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from San Francisco State University. With a passion for empowering everyday people to live healthier, more vibrant lives, April blends herbal wisdom with practical nutrition to make wellness accessible and fun. She’s committed to helping others feel their best—naturally—and has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

Scripture Study: Raja Yoga - Keys to Sustainable Growth, 3 of 3-part
2025-04-07 18:00 - 19:00

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-04-11 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.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday, next session is Friday, 4/25
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.

Yoga for the Soul, Body, and Mind
2025-04-11 18:30 - 20:00
In-person
$20 each class | Memberships and class passes OK
Consecutive Fridays, 6:30-8:00 pm | Offered individually
Book/In-Person/APR 11Please register in advance.
Book individual sessions (Fridays 6:30-8:00 pm):

MAR 28, Swami Ramananda Book this session this session has passed
APR 4 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz
APR 11 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi Book this session
APR 18 Diana Meltsner Book this session
APR 25 Diana Meltsner Book this session
MAY 2 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz Book this session
MAY 9 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi Book this session
MAY 16 Swami Ramananda Book this session

Yoga for the soul is a practice that in 90 minute format evenly combines physical poses at a mixed level with extended guided meditation and spiritual awareness explorations through a group discussion on yogic topics. These practices promote physical wellness, elevate the mind, foster connection with the soul and inspire life.
Join senior IYI teachers Diana Meltsner, Swami Ramananda, Saraswati Melanie Takahashi, K. Muktidevi Demafeliz and Barbara Dickey for individual dates / classes by signing up the same way as for any other hatha yoga class using your memberships or with a $20 class payment.

Passover Seder
2025-04-12 16:30 - 18:00
This event has been cancelled.
In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
Join Jackie Barshak and Swami Ramananda and celebrate your own path to liberation at the Institute’s Passover Seder, exploring the Passover story from a yogic perspective. Participate in the timeless ritual of storytelling, recreating and reimagining the Jewish peoples’ exodus, drawing on its powerful themes of resistance and liberation. Honor the yogic teachings as they apply to Passover and your own traditions. Reflect on legacies of liberation and redemption. Joyfully leave behind your own struggles as we collectively move to the promised land of self-realization.

Jackie Barshak, CYT-500, began her meditation and yoga practice in 1972. She completed her basic yoga teacher training at IYI in 2012 following a three year stay in Pondicherry, India. Jackie has completed advanced teacher trainings at IYI in accessible yoga, yoga for children, therapeutic yoga and raja yoga. She has participated in world peace projects in Israel and Palestine.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

Kirtan with Joanna Manqueros John Kadyk and Ramana Erickson
2025-04-12 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code NADA | $25 Day of
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.

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.

Toward a Healthier Spine
2025-04-13 11:15 - 13:15
Online & in-person | $35 | $27 Early bird, use promo code SPINE, exp. 4/6
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 ‘Toward a Healthier Spine’ workshop, we will combine teachings from Integral Hatha Yoga, Pilates, strength training, and Somatic Experiencing® mindfulness practices.
We will first do a brief exploration into anatomy of the spine and core, followed by practicing movements that add strength and stability to these areas. We aim to find the support for various movements that we do in everyday life with our spine. After creating a support system for the spine we will proceed to explore Asanas, physical Yoga postures, including back bends, forward bends and twists. There will be plenty of opportunities during the workshop for questions. This workshop provides simple tools to help attendees safely support the healthy function of the spine in their movement practices and daily life.
No previous experience in these practices needed.

Raisa Divyajyothi Punkki, RYT-500, was introduced to Yoga while studying at the University of Arts, Finland in 1988. Studying with various schools of yoga and after years of practicing and wandering on the quest of deeper knowledge, she found her spiritual home at Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco in 2019. Raisa has been certified to teach Hatha Yoga from the Beginning to Advanced levels, Raja Yoga and Stress Management. She is teaching in person and online Hatha classes at the IYI San Francisco. Raisa has over 30 years of experience in teaching movement. She holds an MA in Dance and is a Certified Pilates Teacher with two decades of teaching experience with various age groups and populations. Raisa is also a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, SEP®. She guides the private movement and Somatic Experiencing® sessions in her studio located by the Union Square in downtown San Francisco. She wishes to share the beauty of Integral Hatha Yoga’s healing, centering and strengthening power with others in their journey. This sharing of wisdom of Yoga happens with kindness, compassion and passion.

Yoga for the Soul, Body and Mind
2025-04-18 18:30 - 20:00
In-person
$20 each class | memberships and class passes OK
Consecutive Fridays, 6:30-8:00 pm | Offered individually
Book/In-Person/APR 18Please register in advance.
Book individual sessions (Fridays 6:30-8:00 pm):

MAR 28, Swami Ramananda Book this session this session has passed
APR 4 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz
APR 11 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi
APR 18 Diana Meltsner Book this session
APR 25 Diana Meltsner Book this session
MAY 2 Diana Meltsner & K. Muktidevi Demafeliz Book this session
MAY 9 Barbara Dickey & Saraswati Melanie Takahashi Book this session
MAY 16 Swami Ramananda Book this session

Yoga for the soul is a practice that in 90 minute format evenly combines physical poses at a mixed level with extended guided meditation and spiritual awareness explorations through a group discussion on yogic topics. These practices promote physical wellness, elevate the mind, foster connection with the soul and inspire life.
Join senior IYI teachers Diana Meltsner, Swami Ramananda, Saraswati Melanie Takahashi, K. Muktidevi Demafeliz and Barbara Dickey for individual dates / classes by signing up the same way as for any other hatha yoga class using your memberships or with a $20 class payment.

Authenticity, Path to Self-Realization, 3-part course
2025-04-19 11:15 - 12:45
This event has been cancelled.
Online | 3-Saturdays, April 19, 26 & May 3 | $75 Early bird, use promo code PATH, exp. 4/12
$85 Regular
20% off for IYISF active teachers
Nowadays authenticity is more often marketed than manifested. As a result many of us experience a vague feeling that something is misaligned or missing in our lives. What does it mean to truly live authentically in a world full of distractions, expectations, and pressures to conform? What makes being authentic so challenging even though everyone seems to yearn for it? And why does authenticity matter so much in our personal lives but also for the world at large?
“Authenticity is not a destination, it is the journey of unraveling the layers of conditioning to reveal the essence of your being.” ~ Margaret Atwood.
Join Claudia Bartsch, a certified yoga therapist, in exploring the answers to these questions and to learn why the path towards authenticity could be the most important, the most challenging and the most fulfilling journey of your life.
The exploration will draw insights from Yoga Philosophy and Practices, from Western Psychology and Behavioral Science. Each workshop will offer a mixture of lecture and discussion but also some somatic exploration of how being authentic feels in the body.
The focus of the individual workshops will be:

April 19 – defining authenticity, what it means to fully embody the person we are meant to be. We will explore its benefits for our own physical, mental, emotional well-being, and for the health of our relationships and communities.
April 26 – why it is so challenging to live authentically, why the fear of other people’s opinion and our own self-doubt hold us back so often and how to overcome these hindrances.
May 3 – how to cultivate increasingly more authenticity, how we can stop betraying ourselves and which tools and techniques can support us on the way.

This workshop(s) will be recorded and shared with participants for later viewing.
All are welcome, no prior experience with Yoga is necessary.

Claudia Bartsch, PRYT
Originally from Germany, Claudia studied and taught yoga for over 25 years. With more than 2000 hours of formal training in yoga she has a strong foundation in the classical approach to yoga and in innovative therapeutic methods. She is deeply dedicated to facilitating holistic healing and certified as a yoga therapist in 2016. In this role, she specializes in supporting individuals navigating mental or physical challenges by tailoring yoga practices to their unique conditions and needs. Additionally she was certified as a Stress Management Educator to empower individuals to cultivate resilience and inner peace through mindful practices. She is a Shiatsu and Reiki Practitioner, modalities that complement the holistic approach to well-being fostered through yoga. In 2022 she was certified as a Brain Longevity Specialist by the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation to deepen her understanding of cognitive and mental health Please visit her website for more information: claudiabartsch.com

Scripture Study: Nirodha: The Journey and the Destination, 1 of 3-part
2025-04-21 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Free for active IYISF teachers
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Each session offered individually. Mondays 6:00 – 7:00 pm:

April 21
April 28
May 5

In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, nirodha appears right at the beginning, defining yoga as the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind-stuff (Sutra 1.2). This state of nirodha is a profound stillness, a remembering of our true essence as part of a greater energy. While it’s the goal of yoga, nirodha is also the pathway to achieve this stillness. Throughout the Yoga Sutras, each section (Pada) explores how nirodha serves as the means to attain this state of mental calmness.
Join Kalyani for a discussion on this foundational practice. Nirodha is more than just a concept; it’s a way of life. It’s about freeing the mind from ingrained habits and patterns, some of which may be unhelpful or even unconscious. This process of “going down” within ourselves—like a seed burrowing into the earth—allows us to “sprout up” with renewed awareness. By understanding our own minds, nirodha tunes us into our true inner nature.
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.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-04-25 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.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday.
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.
