Integral Yoga San Francisco

Benefit Thanksgiving Yoga Class
2024-11-28 09:30 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
ONLINE & IN-PERSON | $15-$108 (class cards users ok)
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines. https://integralyogasf.org/attending-in-person
Join us for a morning yoga class on Thanksgiving. As we move through a yoga practice, we will focus on gratitude and on the profound effects that the cultivation of gratitude has in our lives.
All the proceeds from this Yoga class will support the Institute’s BIPOC scholarship program. We acknowledge that accessibility is one of the obstacles that perpetuate systemic racism, therefore, we utilize a sliding scale fee structure meeting students where they are financially for our upcoming 2-Module 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We recognize the lack of diverse representation in Yoga classes. In an effort toward dismantling this imbalance, IYI SF is offering this scholarship based Yoga Teacher Training.
Donate or invite others to donate via our Generosity page.
Donate

Andreína Maldonaldo (She/her) is a Venezuelan interdisciplinary performing artist and registered Integral Yoga practitioner based in Yelamu, Ohlone Territory, colonially known as San Francisco, California. She currently teaches beginner level Hatha yoga in Spanish, and in English by request. She guides her students through the powerful practice of Integral yoga by centering mindfulness, joy, and self-care. Join Andreina in this fun and intentional class that will leave you feeling renewed, empowered, and more connected to self and others.

Join after class for Thanksgiving Puja, Sharing & Potluck with Swami Ramananda. We will have time for personal sharing on the many blessings we have received. Enjoy a potluck meal afterward. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share (no meat, fish or eggs).
Thu. NOV 28 @ 11:15 am – 12:15 pm PST
Online​ & In-person | Free
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We will share a potluck meal afterward and enjoy each other’s company. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share (no meat, fish or eggs).

Vivek Anand in a Hindustani Vocal Concert: Jog aur Tyaag
2024-11-23 19:00 - 20:30
In-person |$20 In advance, use promo code VOCAL, exp. 11/22 |$25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Please join us for a South Asian Hindustani Classical Vocal Concert by our neighbor Vivek Anand, joined by Bay Area artists – Nikhil Pandya on Tabla and Ben Kunin on Sarod. This trio recently presented Vivek’s solo concert, Now My Boat – Ab Mori Naiyya, at Noe Valley Ministry. We are delighted to host them in sharing a brand new concert, composed just for Integral Yoga Institute, titled Union and Renunciation – Jog aur Tyaag, Songs exploring the Connection between Romantic Love and Transcendence. Many of you know that Jog or Yoga is a joining, a Union, whereas Tyaag is a letting go, a Renunciation. The songs will explore both themes in dialogue with each other, through romantic and reflective ragas and lyrics.
Come and experience musical forms such as khayal, tarana, bhajan and sufiyana bandish. Khayal gayaki or the art of singing khayal music consists of elaboration of the raga and lyrics through exploration and improvisation. Vivek is part of a Bay Area musical community in which this music is explored through fresh and alive interactions between exponents of musical traditions, which in turn are hundreds of years old. Please reserve your tickets now for this exciting concert, in an intimate setting within the Integral Yoga Institute.

Vivek Anand is a vocalist with a focus on emotional and spiritual meaning. He is also a poet, lyricist and life-long student, practitioner and champion of South Asian Classical/Hindustani Classical vocal traditions. Vivek has studied and sung with his guru, Rita Sahai (vocalist of the Seni Alāuddin Gharānā and Benāres Gharānā, and accomplished student of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan) for the last twenty-five years, and with his ustad, Sukhawat Ali Khan (vocalist of the Shām Chorasi Gharānā, and son of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan) for the last sixteen years. Through this training he has acquired his emotional and spiritual focus, a knowledge of rāgas, composition, lyric writing, elaboration, rhythm, and language. His extensive repertoire includes Hindustani classical, semi-classical, bhajans, Sufi songs, ghazals, and raga-based collaborations with jazz and world musicians.
Nikhil Pandya, tabla
Nikhil Pandya is a well-known virtuoso tabla player and figure within the Hindustani music community of the Bay Area, and has been inspiring audiences for over 25 years. Nikhil has a unique ability to relate and communicate with vocalists and other musicians on stage. Nikhil’s training under Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri has given him a strong foundation in the subject of tabla. He has had the privilege of performing with many senior musicians and vocalists, and has also collaborated with western musicians and other performers of non-classical Indian music, making him an extraordinarily versatile performer.
Ben Kunin, sarod
Ben is one of today’s most accomplished sarod players in the Bay Area. He learned his instrument and the tradition of North Indian classical music over more than 25 years of study under the legendary Maestro Ali Akbar Khan at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, CA. He also learned tabla from Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. In 2006, he began training with Pandit Chitresh Das and the Chandam School of Kathak Dance as an accompanist on the sarod. Ben performs frequently as a soloist and as well as accompanist.

Yoga Therapy for Grief Relief; Spiritual Practice to Nourish the Self
2024-11-23 13:00 - 17:00
ONLINE & IN-PERSON | $54 Early bird, use promo code GRIEF, exp. 11/16 | $65 regular
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
The fact that grief is a normal reaction to loss doesn’t make it any easier to go through. Even though it is thought to be mostly emotional, grief also presents specific physical and spiritual symptoms. Yoga for Grief Relief is a somatic psychotherapeutic protocol using Yoga techniques to address the physical, mental and spiritual symptoms of grief towards the re-identification process that follows an important loss.
This combination of theoretical lecture and experiential work can help the heart of anyone who is grieving a loss or those working with them.
The physical, mental, and spiritual release that doing the practice provides truly does help your body pain decrease, your mental fog lift, your engagement with life return, and eventually you begin to “ring the bells that still will ring.”~ Jessica Bell

Antonio Sausys MA, IGT, CMT, C-IAYT is a somatic psychologist and yoga therapist specializing in grief counseling and therapy.He studied with Hugo Bilsky and Yoga masters and teachers such as Indra Devi, Ram Dass, Swami Shankaradevananda, Swami Ekananda, Babashi Singh and Swami Mairtreyananda. He has continued his professional development with training in Integrative Grief Therapy with Lyn Prashant, Foot Reflexology, Swedish Therapeutic Massage and Reiki.
Antonio presents his work both nationally and internationally at Schools and Universities and leads retreats at Ashrams, Retreat Centers and Yoga Studios., is a member of the World Yoga Council, the International Association of Yoga Therapists, a TV Host for YogiViews and the founder and Executive Director of ‘Yoga for Health’ the International Yoga Therapy Conference.
He is the author of ‘Yoga for Grief Relief: Simple Practices for Transforming Your Grieving Mind and Body’ (New Harbinger) and a contributor for Yoga and Science in Pain Care – Treating the Person in Pain (Edited by Shelly Prosko and Neil Person – Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019) and New Techniques of Grief Therapy: Bereavement and Beyond by Robert Niemeyer (Routledge 2019).

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-11-22 16:00 - 17:30
Cancelled
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.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: The Mystery of Death
2024-11-17 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.
We live in a culture that generally avoids thinking and speaking about death, even though it is inevitable and often arrives unexpectedly.
What fears and questions does death bring up in us? Zubin and Ramananda will share teachings from the Sufi and Yogic traditions and guide us in an open discussion about these issues that we all must consider at some point in our lives.
People of all faiths are welcome. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.

Sheikha Magdalena Zubin Goldman was first initiated into the Sufi Ruhaniat International by Murshid Wali Ali Meyer in 1973. She is a certified Leader in the Dances of Universal Peace, a timeless tradition of body prayer and sacred dance. She is ordained interfaith minister, a Cherag, offering the Service of Universal Peace sharing the beauty and wisdom of diverse religious traditions.
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.

Yoga Therapy Tools for Processing Sadness and Anger
2024-11-16 13:00 - 16:00
ONLINE only | $49 Early bird, use promo code TOOLS, exp. 11/9 | $58 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.
Our feelings inform us of how we experience our lives, how we relate to others and ultimately, who we are. In turn, they influence our decision-making process determining how we behave. But what happens when a feeling ceases to be an informant and becomes a slave driver leading the way? Then we are ushered into dysfunction, trapped in an emotional hamster’s wheel.
Participants will learn:

General Information about Sadness and Anger
4 Simple Steps for processing feelings
Simple yoga exercises that address symptoms and help processing sadness and anger for personal growth
Helpful techniques, thoughtful insights, and useful tips for staying functional in life!

Antonio Sausys, MA, IGT, CMT, C-IAYT is a somatic psychologist and yoga therapist specializing in grief counseling and therapy.He studied with Hugo Bilsky and Yoga masters and teachers such as Indra Devi, Ram Dass, Swami Shankaradevananda, Swami Ekananda, Babashi Singh and Swami Mairtreyananda. He has continued his professional development with training in Integrative Grief Therapy with Lyn Prashant, Foot Reflexology, Swedish Therapeutic Massage and Reiki.
Antonio presents his work both nationally and internationally at Schools and Universities and leads retreats at Ashrams, Retreat Centers and Yoga Studios., is a member of the World Yoga Council, the International Association of Yoga Therapists, a TV Host for YogiViews and the founder and Executive Director of ‘Yoga for Health’ the International Yoga Therapy Conference.
He is the author of ‘Yoga for Grief Relief: Simple Practices for Transforming Your Grieving Mind and Body’ (New Harbinger) and a contributor for Yoga and Science in Pain Care – Treating the Person in Pain (Edited by Shelly Prosko and Neil Person – Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019) and New Techniques of Grief Therapy: Bereavement and Beyond by Robert Niemeyer (Routledge 2019).

Full Moon Chanting
2024-11-15 20:00 - 20:30
This event has been cancelled.
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.

Yoga after 60 - Strength Building
2024-11-10 11:15 - 13:00
Online & In-person | $27 Early bird, use promo code 60, exp. 11/3
$35 Regular
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
In a very natural way and as the body changes with age, the approach to how and what we practice changes as well.
In this workshop, Diana Meltsner, certified yoga therapist will address the needs of the changing body to stay strong and mobile, to support the joints and strength needed for sustaining good balance.
How can we integrate necessary strengthening into our practice?
We will address:
• Safety tips for strength building without straining the muscles, connective tissue or joints.
• How to support joints and their decreased flexibility and stiffness due to a number of changes.
• The necessity for personalized alignment in poses and transitions.
• Why to give priority to developing and sustaining strength as we age.
• Balancing
• Strong connection to our body through body and breath awareness practices.
This workshop will include a gentle chair and a mat practice, presentation and sharing. You are welcome to bring a couple water bottles or light weights to use (not required).
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 worked in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator and is teaching mindfulness and meditation to the medical staff. Her focus is on the healing aspects of yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the teachings of Yoga, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find healing and the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager and serves on the board of directors at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. She is a yoga teacher trainer for the 200-hour and Meditation Teacher trainings. www.dianameltsner.com

Kirtan with Astrud and Friends
2024-11-09 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code MANTRA, exp. 11/8 |$25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
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.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-11-08 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.

Scripture Study: Abiding by the True Self, part 3 of 3
2024-11-04 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.
How does the Yoga Sutras guide us to discover our true selves? In a society bound by overarching institutions of bondage and destruction, the Yoga Sutras provide a map to the real purpose for this life. By honestly dissecting our reliance on oppressive systems, we can discover how we perpetuate them. Join Mia Velez in this 3-part series to delve into the Yoga Sutras and discover our path to liberation.
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.
Each session offered individually:

Monday, October 21
Monday, October 28
Monday, November 4

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.

Annual Virtual Memorial Service
2024-11-03 10:00 - 12:00
Presented by the Integral Yoga Ministry
ONLINE | Free | Donations welcomed
Register with Integral Yoga Ministry by clicking the button belowBook now/Online Register to receive Zoom link.
Welcome once again to our Annual Integral Yoga Virtual Memorial Service. We know that the loss of a loved one is difficult and can’t be easily adjusted to no matter how long ago they passed. We also have seen first hand how that pain can be made easier with emotional and spiritual support. We want to provide you with that support.
When we lose a family member, a friend, and even an animal family member, we want to honor them in a way that shows love and recognition of how they have given meaning and joy to our lives. Likewise, all the great spiritual traditions teach us different ways of honoring loved ones as they pass on.
In order to commemorate our family and friends, as well as recognize that Truth is One, Paths are Many, we hope you can join us in our virtual Integral Yoga Memorial Service to invoke divine blessings upon the departed souls and to bring us all comfort and peace.
The service will highlight:

Our Faith Representatives will share their insights and prayers
An Integral Yoga Arathi (Waving of Light as a Blessing for All)
A slide show of loved ones and their qualities to warm us with sweet memories and inspiration
A beautiful candlelight ceremony to send prayers to our loved ones as they continue their soul’s journey.

Please join us online for this virtual service
PLEASE NOTE: If you wish us to include your loved one in the memorial slide show, please send us their picture, full name, date of birth and of passing, and two to three positive qualities for which they will be remembered. Email this information to iyministryboard@gmail.com no later than Monday, October 21.
Also please bring a candle for the candle lighting part of the service.
MEET OUR INTERFAITH LEADERS

Satsang: Saints of India
2024-11-02 17:30 - 18:30
$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.
Swami Divyananda spent eleven years in India, the sacred home of Yoga. In this unique workshop, she will share stories and teachings from the Indian saints of this last century, with importance given to those who were an influence on Sri Swami Satchidanandaji.
Part biography, part memoir, and part travelogue, this is for armchair travelers and spiritual seekers of all traditions.
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.

Swami 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.

Yoga for Healthy Bones
2024-11-02 15:00 - 17:00
$25 Early bird use promo code BONES, exp. 10/26 | $30 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.
About half of Americans over age 50 are at the risk of breaking a bone and should be concerned about bone health according to the Bone Health Foundation. Dr. Loren Fishman’s longitudinal studies over the past two decades demonstrated an increase in bone mineral density and improved bone quality with regular practice of 12 Yoga poses in people of all ages including those with osteoporosis, osteopenia, or without any of these conditions. Apart from bone health, yoga asanas offer several other benefits such as improved balance, posture, range of motion and coordination, greatly reducing the risk of fractures.
This workshop will cover basics of the bone building process and nutritional needs, followed instructions for doing the 12 poses recommended by Dr. Fishman. These 12 poses will be integrated into a basic Integral Yoga class format of poses, relaxation, breathing, and meditation. Instructions for doing the 12 poses will be offered at basic and intermediate/advanced levels with guidance for adapting the poses to your level. Resources/ links to information on bone health and practicing the 12 poses on your own will be provided. Previous experience with yoga poses is not necessary. If you have medical conditions including fractures, hip, or knee replacement, please consult with your doctor before doing yoga poses.
This class will be offered online. Please make sure you have access to a wall, chair, strap, block, yoga mat and a thick towel/blanket.

Saroja Subrahmanyan, E-RYT 500, has studied and practiced yoga for several decades. Her early yoga studies were in India followed by extensive teacher training in the Integral Yoga tradition since 1994 (Basic, Intermediate, Stress Management, Accessible Yoga Teacher Training, Laughing Yoga, Raja Yoga, Meditation). She also received training in other areas such as Therapeutic yoga, Laughter Yoga in the Madan Kataria style, Ayurveda, Reiki, iRest® Level 1 and a 20- hour teacher training course on Yoga vs. Osteoporosis offered by Dr. Loren Fishman in February 2024. She has taught yoga and stress management courses in a variety of settings and for varied audiences (colleges, gyms, offices, ashram, yoga studios and private classes) in the US, Singapore & India. For the past two decades, she has taught a popular yoga philosophy and practice course at Saint Mary’s College of California, where is also a tenured professor in the business school. She loves how yoga practices offer guidance for physical, mental, and spiritual health and can be practiced by anyone.

2024-10-30 08:00 - 17:00
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.

Scripture Study: Abiding by the True Self, part 2 of 3
2024-10-28 18:00 - 19:00

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Responding to a World in Crisis
2024-10-27 11:00 - 12:30
ONLINE | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Many of us are deeply concerned about events in our countries and on our planet and are searching for ways to maintain peace in our hearts and stand up for our values. As we hear about ongoing natural disasters and the climate crisis, senseless violence, rampant injustice and the refugee crisis, we may react with anger, anxiety or feel hopeless. How can we respond meaningfully, instead of tuning it all out or being passively complicit? What does ‘living a spiritual life’ mean in times like ours? Together we will reflect on how to empower ourselves, both as individuals and communities. We will review how a spiritual practice attunes our hearts and minds to the spiritual consciousness we share, and how we are called to manifest that consciousness in response to the world around us.
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 Asokananda, a monk since 1973, is one of Integral Yoga’s foremost teachers, known for his warmth, intelligence, and good humor. His teaching comes out of his own practice and experience, since he has absorbed the wisdom of his guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda, since the age of 19. While he enjoys sharing the practical wisdom of the Yogic philosophy (especially that of the great Indian scripture the Bhagavad Gita), he also loves his practice of Hatha Yoga and is one of our primary instructors for Intermediate and Advanced Hatha Yoga Teacher Training. In the past, he has served as the president of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville® and Integral Yoga® International; he is currently the President of the New York Integral Yoga Institute.
Swami 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.

Preventing Cognitive Decline through Small Lifestyle Changes
2024-10-26 11:00 - 13:00
Online or In-person | $27 Early bird LIFE exp. 10/12 | $35 regular
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Cognitive decline and the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s is often accepted as a natural progress of aging. Many of us fear that it might affect us or our loved ones. Currently there are no effective drugs that can stop or prevent cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease, yet most mainstream research and medical treatments are currently drug based.
In this workshop you will learn about research and science-backed lifestyle approaches that have been proven to prevent cognitive decline. It is now clear that we have the power through skillful choices to maintain our cognitive health into old age. You will learn how to modify your lifestyle in easy and practical ways to immensely reduce your risk of cognitive decline. The workshop will offer you lots of information but also teach you a meditation technique that has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to maintain brain health into old age.
This workshop will be recorded and shared with participants for later viewing.

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.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2024-10-25 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
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.

Meditation: Study and sharing of this timeless practice
2024-10-24 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 Swami Ramananda and Diana Meltsner for an hour of exploration of meditation. This is an opportunity to ask these two teacher trainers questions about meditation practices. A brief practice and a talk will be shared. Some meditation experience is welcome.
All attending will receive a discount promo code for an upcoming Meditation Teacher Training
Tue, Thu & Sat, November 14 – DEC 19, 2024 & JAN 7 – FEB 4, 2025

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

Scripture Study: Abiding by the True Self, part 1 of 3
2024-10-21 18:00 - 19:00

Return to the Hearth 2-part event: Cooking Class and Community Film Screening, “Ragko”
2024-10-20 16:00 - 20:00
This event has been cancelled
In-person, please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
PART 1 & 2 – $100 – Cooking & Film Screening (4:00-8:00 pm)
PART 2 – $25 – Film Screening ONLY (6:00-8:00 pm)
Part 1 | 4:00 – 6:00pm – Cooking Class
Join Mapuche Leader, Lonko Juanita Milllal in the IYI kitchen. Learn how to make traditional Mapuche snacks: Sopapilla, Pebre & Té del Campo (beverage).
Part 2 | 6:00 – 8:00pm – Film Screening & Community Discussion
This 40-minute film documents the Native Mapuche people: their ancestors, explaining their society, their worldview, and their spirituality. Their story is about standing defiant against colonization, industrialization, and capitalism. Community discussion with Film Maker Javier Tavolari. This screening is offered individually – $25.
In solidarity with the Native Mapuche political prisoners in Chile.
The Hearth, central to a home, provides warmth, light, food and protection. It symbolizes the home. Living in an industrialized, colonized, modern society, it is easy to forget what is central to human connection and vitality. We forget that also central to our existence is the health of Mother Earth, our home. We offer this experience to return to what’s essential with a cooking class with Lonko Juanita Millal and a film screening and community talk back of “Ragko” with Director, Javier Tavolari. Our goal is to awaken our ancestral spirit – the one who lived with great reverence to Mother Earth (Spanish/English translation will be available).

If you cannot join us, please consider making a donation to support Lonko Juanita’s Political Asylum Process. Donations are now being accepted via Zelle: Juana Sandoval, juanamillal@gmail.com.
Learn more

Lonko Juanita Millal has dedicated her life to uplift Mapuche culture, protect the land, waters and the people, creating solidarity among marginalized communities and bringing awareness of the Mapuche peoples’ present day fight against colonization, displacement, incarceration and violent repression.

Javier Tavolari is a Chilean Artivist. Dedicated to the Mapuche cause, he finds in San Francisco the people and the spaces to make KIÑE, their first episode. This process is crucial due to the intricacy of speaking about the Mapuche struggle in Chile, a country that calls them terrorists.

Music and Poetry of South Asian Mystics: an Exploration of Sufi Songs
2024-10-19 19:00 - 20:30
In-person
$20 In advance, use promo code SUFI, exp. 6/21 | $25 Day of
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Anhad Naad Collective presents:
Music and Poetry of South Asian Mystics: an exploration of Sufi songs.
We are sharing our own experience with Sufism through singing, music and poetry. Audience is encouraged to sing along with us,we will provide lyrics sheets with English translations.
Historically, in South Asia, Sufism played a huge role in inter-faith syncretism and Sufi shrines (dargahs) have been pivotal to communal harmony.
Abdullah Saeed -poetry reading • Amod Dandawate-Tabla • Ashutosh Vyas-poetry reading and vocal • Divya Vyas- vocal • Irum M-vocal • Jun Qb Moda Jazz-keyboard • Vivek Anand-vocal.

YCat Yoga: Supporting People with Cancer
2024-10-18 19:00 - 21:00
In-person & online | $18-45 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.
Yoga practices that are accessible and safe are much-needed for people with cancer whether it be in a Yoga studio or medical setting. This evening workshop offers both education and practices that are based on the teachings of YCat: Yoga Therapy in Cancer and Chronic Illness. The approach is based on meeting people where they are, adapting concepts rather than scripting asanas for a particular diagnosis and creating an accessible Yoga practice for use across the cancer continuum. This workshop is appropriate for people with cancer and/or chronic illness, healthcare professionals, Yoga teachers and Yoga Therapists. YCat Director Sandra Susheela Gilbert and other YCat teachers will be leading this workshop.

Sandra Susheela Gilbert, BA, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500 is the director and senior mentor for YCat: Yoga Therapy in Cancer and Chronic Illness. She is a highly recognized Integral Yoga teacher holding advanced training certificates in Stress Management, Integrative and Mind/body therapies and Patient Navigation. For the last 20 years, Sandra has taught Yoga and Yoga therapy in medical settings and at retreats and trainings including the Omega Institute, the Center for Mind Body Medicine and Chai Lifeline. In addition, she was one of the first trained Urban Zen integrative therapists in practice in NYC for their 2008 initiative and research. Sandra currently works at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, TN. Her work at Vanderbilt has been in creating and teaching Yoga protocols for people with breast cancer, children with cancer and their caregivers and as a Research Coordinator in various research projects. In 2022, Sandra collaborated and presented with Yoga_Y_Cancer and Yoga Sin Fronteras in Barcelona, Spain. Sandra is appreciated for her patience, presence and dedication to the whole person, who is going through the experience of cancer and cancer treatment. She says, “Wherever you are, Yoga is there for you.”

Satsang: Songs, Stories and Poetry
2024-10-15 18:30 - 19:30
IN-PERSON | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join us for a fun and uplifting evening of original song, stories and poetry with Integral Yoga sangha member, Siva Fiske. Siva is a musician, author, artist, filmmaker, and Interfaith Minister that has performed and lectured widely across the US and abroad. stephenfiskemusic.com

Stephen is a musician, author, poet, artist, filmmaker, and Interfaith Minister. He has performed and lectured widely across the US and abroad. A long-time peace and environmental activist, Stephen is the author of “The Art of Peace” (New Paradigm Books) and is finishing his second book, “The Call to Social Integrity and Wholeness” subtitled “to Interfaith, Earth Stewardship, and Democracy.” An award-winning songwriter, Stephen has produced twelve albums of his original music and has had songs of his covered by such well-known artists as Luther Vandross and Jose Feliciano. Stephen is also founder and Executive Producer of the Jerusalem Prayer Project (JPP), a non-profit multi-media production company based in Los Angeles, currently producing a feature documentary filmed primarily in Israel/Palestine, “Warriors of the Heart”, due for release next year, after six years in production. Stephen is a husband, father of three, and grandfather of four, living with his wife, Nikki, in Yogaville, Buckingham, Virginia.

Cultivating Compassion and Forgiveness, 7-day Meditation & Raja Yoga
2024-10-14 07:15 - 08:00
7 mornings, Monday – Sunday, October 14 – 20, 7:15 – 8:00am
$55 | $45 Early bird, use promo code MEDITATE, exp. 10/7/24
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 meditation teachers Diana Meltsner, Swami Ramananda and Eric Gustafson online for 7 morning meditations and brief talks focused on Karuna, compassion.
Compassion, mercy and forgiveness, when cultivated with meditation, support us in developing a positive attitude towards ourselves, others and our daily life experience. When cultivated with practical mindfulness skills, the mind remains undisturbed and clear when facing challenges of sorrow and suffering which allows us to be of service during difficult situations.
This is a path of connection to the heart, where Yoga and Buddhism meet, aligning our personal will with concern for the well-being of other people. Karuna is known in Buddhism as one of the Brahma Viharas, The Four Immeasurables, and is mentioned in Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as one of the keys to maintain mental tranquility.
Meditation, talk, discussion and sharing will be included. Keeping a daily journal is recommended but not required.
All sessions will be recorded and shared with participants for later viewing.
CEUs 4 hours for Yoga Alliance offered to teachers upon request.

Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, ERYT-500, YACEP, has been teaching a variety of classes and workshops since 2001 and since 2017 offers yoga therapy sessions privately and at Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic in San Francisco. She has worked in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator and is teaching mindfulness and meditation to the medical staff. Her focus is on the healing aspects of yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the teachings of Yoga, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find healing and the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager and serves on the board of directors at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. She is a yoga teacher trainer for the 200-hour and Meditation Teacher trainings. www.dianameltsner.com
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.
Eric Gustafson embarked on a yoga journey more than 25 years ago. It became a foundation from which his life thrives and he serves. Many years of solid practice on and off the mat allows him to draw from experience and share yoga teachings with others as a teacher and a mentor to new teachers. Spiritual study, meditation and loving kindness are at the core of his daily practice. It is the source of inspiration for him and others and a bit of silliness is never far behind.

Yoga Nidra – Sound Bath Fundraiser
2024-10-13 15:00 - 16:30
$35-150 sliding scale donation
100% of the proceeds will be sent directly to American Red Cross to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Our bodies are densely packed fields of energy. The day-to-day challenges of life, no matter how large or small, create stress hormones in the body that can depress the immune system. The practice of Yoga Nidra supports the body in doing what it is wired to do; rejuvenate, repair, and restore the body on both a cellular and energetic level. Yoga Nidra is also a practice of exploring, setting and activating your own, personal, Sankulpa or intention. The practice of bathing in sound can break the stress-cycle in a safe, relaxing and non-invasive way.
This workshop will guide you through the practice of centering, pranayama/breathing practice, and gentle movement before coming to a comfortable supported position and experiencing a guided 40-50 minutes, Yoga Nidra and sound bath. Live, sound-healing instruments in combination with Yoga Nidra creates the ideal conditions to recalibrate your own vibrational frequency, reboot the nervous system, and support you to tap into the self-healing capacity.
Some of the benefits of Yoga Nidra and sound bath include lowered heart rate and blood pressure, relaxed brain wave patterns, reduced respiratory rates, a boost of natural opiates in the physical body and improved sleep. Experience these profound practices for rebooting your nervous system, realizing optimal health and expanded consciousness.
When we take care of ourselves, we foster the capacity to take care of others. By supporting yourself you are supporting those in desperate need of our help. Thank you! Om Shanti.
Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. We will be lying down on our backs for approximately 40-50 minutes. Props provided. If coming to the floor is not available to you a folding chair will be provided.
NOTE: We are aware that this event is starting around the same time that the Blue Angels fly over the City of San Francisco. This year the flight paths and altitude is not as low and invasive as past years. It does not last long and should not impact our ability to practice. It will surly add to our practice of cultivating the “witness”. We hope to see you there. Thank you.
No experience is necessary.

Heather Sevika Ford
Becoming a certified Yoga teacher in 2008 and subsequently obtaining certification as a Yoga Therapist in 2017, my journey has been deeply rooted in classical yoga teachings. My approach to teaching is accessible and personal, designed to guide individuals toward experiencing the essence of Yoga–a contemplative, mindful practice intended to eliminate obstacles and foster inner peace. I work collaboratively with my clients to support and empowering them to explore and embrace the transformative power of Yoga. Sessions include mindful movement and postures to build strength and increase flexibility, subtle practices such as Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, and meditation and often integrate complementary techniques such as Reiki, sound healing, and aromatherapy. These practices support optimal health, resilience and “reset” the nervous system. I currently teach and lead workshops at IYISF, Stanford University and Alta Mira Recovery Center. Learn more at sevikayoga.com

Satsang - Vijayadaśamī: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother
2024-10-12 17:30 - 18:30
Online or in-person
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonPlease 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.
Navaratri is the celebration of the Divine Mother in the form of the three Hindu Goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
We’ll celebrate the three Goddesses over the 9 days, Navaratri culminating with a special service called Vijayadaśamī. This is a special opportunity to bless your house and all the tools you use in your work. Please join us for this special celebration.
All Navaratri & Vijay Dasami celebrations:
Navaratri – Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother – Durga Puja with Swami Ramananda
Thursday, October 3 | 12:00 – 1:00pm
Navaratri Kirtan with Michael Hathaway and Friends
Sat. October 5 | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Navaratri: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother – Lakshmi Puja with Swami Ramananda
Monday, October 7 | 12:00 – 1:00pm
Navaratri: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother – Kirtan and Saraswati Puja with Swami Ramananda and Snehan Born
Thursday, October 10 | 12:00 – 1:00pm
Satsang – Vijayadaśamī: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother with Swami Ramananda
Saturday, October 12 | 5:30 – 6:30pm

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 Beginnings Writing Group
2024-10-11 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Next session is Friday, 10/25 Book now
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.

Navaratri: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother - Kirtan and Saraswati Puja
2024-10-10 12:00 - 13:00
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-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.

Navaratri is the celebration of the Divine Mother in the form of the three Hindu Goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
We’ll celebrate the three Goddesses over the 9 days, Navaratri culminating with a special service called Vijayadaśamī. This is a special opportunity to bless your house and all the tools you use in your work. Please join us for this special celebration.
All Navaratri & Vijay Dasami celebrations:
Navaratri – Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother – Durga Puja with Swami Ramananda
Thursday, October 3 | 12:00 – 1:00pm
Navaratri Kirtan with Michael Hathaway and Friends
Sat. October 5 | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm PDT
Navaratri: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother – Lakshmi Puja with Swami Ramananda
Monday, October 7 | 12:00 – 1:00pm
Navaratri: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother – Kirtan and Saraswati Puja with Swami Ramananda and Snehan Born
Thursday, October 10 | 12:00 – 1:00pm
Satsang – Vijayadaśamī: Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother with Swami Ramananda
Saturday, October 12 | 5:30 – 6:30pm

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.
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.
