Integral Yoga San Francisco

Scripture Study: The Wisdom and Beauty of the Upanishads, 3-part
2025-02-03 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
3 consecutive Mondays ⋅ 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Each session offered individually
Monday, FEB 3
Monday, FEB 10
Monday, FEB 17
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.
Sri Aurobindo said that the Upanishads are the supreme work of the Indian mind and are the highest expression of its genius. In its beautiful poetry and profound stories the Upanishads explore the great questions of the human condition: what is the nature of the true Self, how do we overcome suffering and find happiness, and what is the purpose of life? In these sessions we will explore the history of the Upanishads, examine some of the main Upanishads, and discuss these great questions.
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.

Gary Kissiah was introduced to Eastern philosophy in college when he discovered the writings of Alan Watts which led to studies in Zen and Zen-inspired poetry. Gary found yoga in 2000 and has a Certificate of Yoga Philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has studied yoga at Esalen Institute, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and Satchidananda Ashram.
Gary published his first book entitled: “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali- Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design.” The book provides a new approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras by using imagery, poetry and quotation to illuminate the heart of the Sutras. Gary Kissiah also has practiced corporate law for over 20 years. After Gary’s book on the Yoga Sutras was published, he began to get speaking invitations and teaches workshops on yoga philosophy, ethics and law for Yoga teacher training programs. Gary was on a Yoga Alliance Committee that drafted a new Code of Conduct and was on the Board of Directors of the Integral Yoga Institute-San Francisco.

Scripture Study: Raja Yoga - Keys to Sustainable Growth, 2 of 3-part
2025-02-08 08:00 - 17:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Part 2 of 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.

Ancient Yogic Food Wisdom, Modern Science: Cultivate Mindfulness Eating to Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul
2025-02-08 11:00 - 13:00
Workshop 2 of 2-part workshop series, offered individually | Online & in-person
$27 Early bird, use promo code NOURISH, exp. 2/1/25 | $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.
Ancient Yogic Food Wisdom, Modern Science 2-workshop series:
Come and discover the ancient principles of Anna Yoga, the yoga of food–plus food wisdom from other ancient traditions and state-of-the-art science–to unlock transformative and innovative pathways to optimal eating for ‘all of you’; physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. You can register for one or both workshops.
Workshop #2 of 2: Cultivate Mindfulness Eating to Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul. With a daily Sadhana practice, we are reshaping our inner being; replacing old patterns and thoughts with new ones. So, too, with The Whole Person Integrative Eating® (WPIE) Guided Mindfulness Meal Meditation, which creates a harmonious balance between physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being. Each time you eat. Come experience the health-enhancing benefits of mindfulness eating with The Whole Person Integrative Eating® (WPIE) Guided Mindfulness Meal Meditation. One meal at a time.
After the workshop you will receive Deborah’s downloadable audio, “The WPIE Guided Mindfulness Meal Meditation” to nourish ‘all of you’ each time you eat.
Workshop #1 of 2: Ancient Yogic Food Wisdom, Modern Science: The Dietary Lifestyle to Transform Weight and Well-Being on Sat. JAN 11, 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm PST. This workshop explores the influence of prana-infused food and feelings on weight. Sign up

Deborah Kesten, MPH, is a nutrition researcher and award-winning author, specializing in the multidimensional power of food to heal. Her research career began as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish ‘s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease, which is an Integral Yoga-based lifestyle program inspired by IYI founder Swami Satchidananda. She also specializes in the health-and-healing benefits of ancient food wisdom from cultural traditions (such as Yogic Nutrition), world religions (Hinduism, etc.), and Eastern healing systems (such as India’s Ayurvedic Medicine), and in preventing and reversing overweight, heart disease, and other diet-linked chronic conditions.
Deborah’s science-backed Whole Person Integrative Eating® program–which is a distillation of ancient food wisdom and modern nutritional science–is about the power of food to heal ‘all of you’: physically (Biological Nutrition), emotionally (Psychological Nutrition), spiritually (Spiritual Nutrition), and socially (Social Nutrition); ergo, ‘Whole Person’ Integrative Eating. Deborah is married to IYI certified yoga teacher and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, PhD, co-founder of Whole Person Integrative Eating®. To learn more, visit IntegrativeEating..

Community Kirtan
2025-02-08 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/In-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Snehan Born for an ‘open mic’ community Kirtan. We will share and take turns in leading call and response chanting. All are welcome to participate in leading or join in with your voice for responding only. No music experience is necessary.
Kirtan is the Yoga practice of chanting Sanskrit mantras, sacred sound formulas that create a peaceful and uplifting vibration. Singing these holy mantras together calms the thinking mind, illuminates the heart and awakens the spiritual consciousness within. Kirtan is a form of Bhakti Yoga, singing the names of the Divine and a calling out of the soul for support, protection and guidance.

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

Scripture Study: The Wisdom and Beauty of the Upanishads, 2 of 3-part
2025-02-10 18:00 - 19:00
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Each session offered individually
3 consecutive Mondays ⋅ 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Monday, FEB 3
Monday, FEB 10
Monday, FEB 17
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.
Sri Aurobindo said that the Upanishads are the supreme work of the Indian mind and are the highest expression of its genius. In its beautiful poetry and profound stories the Upanishads explore the great questions of the human condition: what is the nature of the true Self, how do we overcome suffering and find happiness, and what is the purpose of life? In these sessions we will explore the history of the Upanishads, examine some of the main Upanishads, and discuss these great questions.
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.

Gary Kissiah was introduced to Eastern philosophy in college when he discovered the writings of Alan Watts which led to studies in Zen and Zen-inspired poetry. Gary found yoga in 2000 and has a Certificate of Yoga Philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has studied yoga at Esalen Institute, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and Satchidananda Ashram.
Gary published his first book entitled: “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali- Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design.” The book provides a new approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras by using imagery, poetry and quotation to illuminate the heart of the Sutras. Gary Kissiah also has practiced corporate law for over 20 years. After Gary’s book on the Yoga Sutras was published, he began to get speaking invitations and teaches workshops on yoga philosophy, ethics and law for Yoga teacher training programs. Gary was on a Yoga Alliance Committee that drafted a new Code of Conduct and was on the Board of Directors of the Integral Yoga Institute-San Francisco.

Open House for 200-Hour BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training 2025
2025-02-11 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.
We also offer a 2nd Open House on Tuesday, March 25, from 5:30–6:30 pm PT.
Book now/Open House #2
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.

Full Moon Chanting
2025-02-12 20:00 - 20:30
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
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.

Deepening Your Yoga Practice, On and Off the Mat, 3-part course
2025-02-13 18:00 - 19:30
Online & In-person | 3 consecutive Thursdays 13, 20 & 27
$70 | $56 Early bird, use promo code YOGA, exp. 2/6
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-PersonPlease review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Many people struggle to find time for a regular Yoga practice and even when they do, they may not derive the profound benefits that it can offer. Likewise, the teachings and principles of Yoga can be hard to remember and implement when our lives are stressful, and the messages of our culture contradict them at every return. Join Swami Ramananda for this three week course in which we will explore together how to experience maximum benefits from even a short daily Yoga practice on the mat, and how the teachings of Yoga can be integrated into our daily activities.
Session 1 – 2/13: The focus will be on how to correctly approach and refine the practice of Yoga asana and relaxation, and how to lay a foundation for sustainable, spiritual growth. A couple of short asana routines for morning and evening practice will be introduced.
Session 2 – 2/20: The focus will be on the practice of pranayama and how the teachings of Yoga can be integrated into all of our daily activities. We will review specific breathing techniques and their benefits, as well as how and when to practice them, both on and off the mat.
Session 3 – 2/27: The focus will be on deriving maximum benefit from meditation practice by learning what techniques work best for you. We will also explore how each person can customize their personal path to align with their natural inclinations.

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
2025-02-14 16:00 - 17:30
This event has been canceled
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
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.

Therapeutic Core Strengthening
2025-02-16 09:30 - 11:30
Online & In-person | $27 Early bird, use promo code CORE, exp. 2/9 | $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.
Join Diana Meltsner, a certified yoga therapist in learning to understand the importance of core strength as support for balance, lower back and more. Lecture, practice and discussion will be included. We will tailor our explorations to your interests.
We will look at the anatomy just briefly and then in movement we will recognize and feel the different parts of the core and how they can engage in movement together with the rest of the body. This regained awareness can be applied to gentle yoga asana, advanced asana practice as well as body movement off the mat. We will explore what happens when we use or don’t use the core, and how to teach the body to start using these muscles again and how much to do to regain or sustain strength.
In a gentle way, we will practice a series of strengthening practices for your core and address their challenges. It will be done in a chair, standing and on the floor. All levels of practice are welcome.
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

Sunday Spiritual Talk: The Essence
2025-02-16 11:00 - 12:00
Cancelled, we apologize for any inconvenience.
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
Sri Swami Satchidananda stated, “Keep the essence clear and clean and everything else responds to that.”
Looking to the new year, it gives us an opportunity to ask, what is the essence of our lives? What is the essence of what we want from life and how do we get there and maintain it?
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.

Swami Vimalananda Ma, RYT500, is an Integral Yoga sannyasi – monk. She has been involved with Integral Yoga since 1971 and Director of the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute from 1992-2011. She specializes in teaching yoga philosophy and spiritual counseling.

Scripture Study: The Wisdom and Beauty of the Upanishads, 3 of 3-part
2025-02-17 18:00 - 19:00

Kirtan with Ekachakra Prana and The Bhakti Band
2025-02-22 19:00 - 20:30
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.
