Integral Yoga San Francisco

Scripture Study
2023-09-18 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Online & In-Person | $5, $10, $15 sliding scale | Sessions offered individually
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
A Study of Yoga and Eckhart Toll
In this three-part scripture study series, Ramananda will discuss the common themes and universal truths found in the teachings of Yoga and the writings of Eckhart Tolle, primarily his book, A New Earth. By contrast and comparison, we will clarify the meaning and implications of these profound teachings, and how to integrate them into our lives. Optional: bring a copy of the Yoga, Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad-Gita, and or A New Earth by Eckart Tolle.
Each session offered individually:

Monday, September 11, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign-up
Monday, September 18, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Monday, September 25, 2023, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign-up

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

Meditation: Technique and Preparation
2023-09-14 18:30 - 20:00
We apologize, this event has been cancelled.
Online & In-Person | $15
Join Diana for this exploration of meditation and how supporting practices like breathing, centering, setting intentions, prayer and use of sacred mantras can enrich and deepen your practice. Meditation can steady the mind and engage the heart.
Swami Satchidananda often spoke of learning to tune our internal radio to Divine wavelength and invite Peace into our awareness. It is our choice to connect with Peace and Light and share this Light with the world by simply opening up to it rather than retracting ourselves into tight corners of “me”. We can be free from the old prickly prison of same old thoughts. We are all interconnected and meditation allows us to join our collective consciousness and find relief from being lost in story or “me”.
This is an opportunity to ask questions about meditation practices.
Some meditation experience is welcome, there will be a short practice included.
Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, ERYT-500, YACEP, has been teaching 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

4-Day Yoga Retreat: Uncovering Our Natural Wisdom and Joy
2023-09-14 17:00 - 2023-09-17 12:30
In-person
$675 Single room
$575 Shared room (per person)
$575 Active IYI Teacher single room
$475 Active IYI Teacher shared room (per person)
Enroll
This in-person 4-day retreat will include various Yoga classes for all levels of practice, workshops, meditations, inspirational evening programs, healthy vegetarian meals and free time for walks, resting or reading. In this spacious silence, we can free ourselves from all the tension and turmoil in the mind and uncover the source of wisdom and joy that is our essential nature.
We are blessed once again to use the Commonweal Retreat Center in Bolinas, known for the natural beauty of the ocean side location which is located on sacred Native American grounds. The practices of Yoga in this beautiful natural setting offer an opportunity to cleanse body and mind and find rejuvenation.
Check-in is on Thursday at 5 pm, with dinner at 6 pm.
Check-out and departure is on Sunday at 12:30 pm after a meal.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco, and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI) which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
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.
Mirabai Warkulwiz planted her yoga and meditation roots in San Francisco at the Sivananda Center in 1998. Amazed at her healing of a back injury and many other positive life changes, she became yoga certified through 200-hour teacher training programs both at the Integral Yoga Institute in 2004, and at the Greenpath Ashtanga Studio in 2005. In July 2008 she completed another 170 hour Intermediate Teacher Training program in Asana and Pranayama through the Integral Yoga Institute in Virginia. She is attuned to Reiki Level 1, studies Aurvveda, is a dancer, and enjoys being in communion with nature. She invites all of her yoga students to transcend physical, emotional, and mental blocks to experience more spaciousness, comfort, happiness, clarity, and inner peace. As a Kirtan musician (Mirabai and Friends Kirtan Band) Mirabai leads Kirtan around the Bay Area, and enjoys implementing chanting, sound, and music into class.

Tuesday Tea Time Series with Swami Ramananda
2023-09-12 11:15 - 11:45
Online & In-person | By donation $0, $5, $20, $54, $108
Please donate to the “Swami Ramananda’s Yogic Wisdom” GoFundMe page. Donations will help Swami Ramananda shift his focus from administrative tasks to writing and publishing his book Work, Love, Lunch & Laundry: Integrating Yoga Into Daily Life.
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Come and share a Cup of Tea (online or in-person) with Swami Ramananda, one of our most beloved IYI teachers!
This 30-minute tea time with Swamiji is an great opportunity take a break, join the discussion and explore how to integrate Yoga and meditation into your daily lives. Delve into how Yoga can be integrated into every action, every day to benefit our lives and the world. Discover how the timeless teachings of Yoga and meditation can help us transform the painful aspects of human experience into steps towards realizing our full potential.
Tuesdays, once a month. Save the dates:
September 12: Build a Foundation of Health, Resilience and Inner Steadiness
October 10: Healing the Disease of Busyness
November 14: How to Make Lasting Changes With Less Difficulty
December 12: The Saving Grace of Spiritual Community
January 16: Living with Your True Purpose at Heart
February 13: The Power of Love for Healing and Transformation
March 5: Resolving Inner Conflict and Painful Emotions
April 9: How Yoga Helps When the Going Gets Tough
May 7: The Secret to Authentic Joy
June 11: Surrender, Prayer and Grace
July 9: Can We Know God? How Yoga Enlightens
Join Us Live Streaming Online:
Each tea time session will be streamed live via Facebook and Zoom.
If you are unable to attend live, the video will live on our FB page for you to watch at your convenience.
Live Tuesday Tea Time Series with Swami Ramananda:
11:15 am PDT, 12:15 pm MDT, 1:15 pm CDT, 2:15 pm EDT
7:15 pm GMT, 8:15 pm CET, 11:45 pm IST
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco, and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He is a co-founder of the Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI) which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

A Study of Yoga & Eckart Tolle
2023-09-11 18:00 - 19:00
Online & In-Person | $5, $10, $15 sliding scale | Sessions offered individually
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
In this three-part scripture study series (sessions offered individually), Ramananda will discuss the common themes and universal truths found in the teachings of Yoga and the writings of Eckhart Tolle, primarily his book, A New Earth. By contrast and comparison, we will clarify the meaning and implications of these profound teachings and how to integrate them into our lives. Optional: Bring a copy of the Yoga, Sutras of Patanjali, the Bhagavad Gita, and or A New Earth by Eckart Tolle.
Each session offered individually:

Monday, September 11, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign up
Monday, September 18, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign-up
Monday, September 25, 2023, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Sign-up

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

Satsang: Awakening Our Hidden Strengths
2023-09-09 11:00 - 12:30
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
The teachings of Yoga help us understand that sometimes we must face great challenges in order to awaken to our full potential. Periods of suffering and struggle compel us to look deep within, let go of unhealthy attachments, and call forth our hidden strengths. Join Swamis Asokananda and Ramananda as they explore these spiritual truths and guide us in awakening the source of profound wisdom and joy that lies within us.
Satsang, 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 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 is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI) which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
Swami Asokananda, E-RYT 500, 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, having absorbed the wisdom of his Guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda.
While he enjoys sharing the practical wisdom of yogic philosophy (especially the great Indian scripture, the Bhagavad Gita), he also loves his practice of Hatha Yoga. He is one of Yogaville’s primary instructors for intermediate and advanced Hatha Yoga teacher trainings.
He presently serves as president at the Integral Yoga Institute in New York City. Before this position, he served as the President of Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville and Integral Yoga International.

Yoga Nidra–Sound Bath for Maui Strong
2023-09-08 17:00 - 18:15
100% of all donations collected upon registration will be directed to Maui Strong Fund.
IN-PERSON | By sliding scale donation: $27, $54, $108 Enroll/In-person

Let your act of self-healing support those in need; September 8th marks one month since the start of the fires on Maui. It has been a colossal tragedy on every level. The traumatic experiences for the residents is far from over. Spread Aloha and let your participation in this event of self-healing practices send our support across the ocean.

Space is limited, please sign up in advance.
To give more please donate directly to Maui Strong Fund and pass it on.
If you cannot attend or the event sells out please consider giving anyway. Thank you.

In this workshop you receive a brief introduction to the origin and practice of Yoga Nidra. You will be guided through centering, pranayama and gentle movement. Finally we will relax into a guided Yoga Nidra practice accompanied by healing sound vibrations.
Yoga Nidra is a deeply relaxed state of awareness. The profound practice of Yoga Nidra accompanied by the healing sounds of various instruments provides an incredible opportunity to deeply rest, recalibrate the nervous system and supports our entire being: Yoga Nidra literally means “Yogic Sleep” and is a state of consciousness where the body appears to be asleep while the mind remains awake and aware. In this conscious state of deeply relaxed awareness the “witness” emerges and we experience the true Self. This state allows us to access our own self-healing process and connect with our higher truth, also known in ancient texts as Sankalpa. Yoga Nidra supports the body in doing what it is wired to do: rejuvenate, repair, and restore at a cellular and energetic level.
Sound vibrations are both heard and felt and have physiological effects on our being. Since our bodies are densely packed fields of energy, sound vibration can support us in recalibrating our own vibrational frequency. Stress hormones can depress every aspect of the immune system and sound bathing can break stress cycles in a safe, relaxing and noninvasive way. Sound bathing is a means to support overall health and wellbeing. With regular sound experiences one can lower heart rate and blood pressure, relax brain wave patterns, reduce respiratory rates and boost natural opiates in the physical body.
Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes. We will be lying down on our backs for approximately 40 minutes. If coming to the floor is not available to you props and folding chairs are available. No experience is necessary.

If you would like to support an individual who has been impacted by the fire through loss of home & livelihood by donating to a legitimate, personal Venmo account please contact: sevika@integralyogasf.org.

Heather Sevika Ford, C-IAYT, MFA Design, became a certified Yoga teacher in 2008 and a certified Yoga Therapist in 2017. Her classical yoga training and approach to teaching guides individuals towards experiencing the essence of Yoga; a contemplative, mindful practice intended to remove obstacles and restore peace. Accessibly and collaboratively she supports her clients towards optimal health and wellness through mindful movement and postures, subtle practices such as Yoga Nidra, Pranayama and meditation, as well as Reiki, sound vibration and aromatherapy. These practices are intended to strengthen the body, increase flexibility, optimize and soothe the immune and nervous systems. Her training and experience enables her to work safely and mindfully with a range of clients with a variety of conditions including addiction recovery, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, stroke, pre and post-op, arthritis, cancer, post-polio syndrome, PTS, asthma, emphysema, nerve damage, joint replacements, and those experiencing limited physical mobility. She offers individual Yoga Therapy and teaches classes and workshops for Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco, Stanford University and Alta Mira Recovery Center. Learn more at sevikayoga.com

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-09-08 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Monthly on the second Friday |Free follow-up on second Friday, September 22, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
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 at IYI 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 the storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.

Integrative Yoga Therapy and Support Group for Trauma, 8 sessions
2023-09-06 18:00 - 19:30
In-person | $425 or $385 early bird, exp. August 30
Meets weekly – 8 Wednesdays: SEP 6 – Oct 25
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.

Different emotional states affect the physical body and its systems differently. Trauma is not about the size or severity of what happens to you. Trauma is what occurs when you don’t feel safe, or feel too overwhelmed to feel emotional sensations due to an event that occurred. Through an Integrative Yoga Therapy program one learns how to slowly and safely feel these states and allow the trapped emotional memory (i.e. energy) to move its way through and out somatically, thus finding balance and equanimity again.
In this Integrative Yoga Therapy and Support Group for Trauma, you will learn an in-depth understanding of the effects of trauma on the brain, nervous system, and the body on all levels (physical, energetic, mental, and spiritual). You will be guided through holistic practices to help navigate what’s been trapped and stuck within your body and find freedom and release through yoga, somatic practices, breathwork, sound healing, and meditation and deep relaxation techniques to integrate and balance your mind, body, and spirit, leaving the group with the tools to feel empowered, strong, and capable in your life.
*space is limited to 10 participants.
*This is a confidential yoga therapy group. No prior yoga experience is needed.

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

Satsang: Swami Sivananda, His Life and Teachings
2023-09-02 17:30 - 18:30
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
“Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise; Be good, Do good, Be kind, Be compassionate.” Sri Swami Sivananda. At this Satsang, we will share some of Swami Sivananda’s practical teachings that have uplifted thousands for nearly 100 years. To further honor Swami Sivananda’s legacy, Snehan will lead us through chanting of mantras. Sankirtan was Master Sivananda’s favorite practice and Maha Mantra is still chanted continuously at the Ashram he founded in India.
Swami Sivananda Saraswati (1887 – 1963) was a Hindu spiritual teacher and a proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. Sivananda was born in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu. He studied medicine and served in British Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism.
He was the founder of the Divine Life Society (1936), Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, Vedanta, and a variety of subjects. He established Sivananda Ashram, on the bank of the Ganges at Sivanandanagar, near Rishikesh. He was Swami Satchidanada’s beloved teacher’s Gurudev and you will find his photograph on many altars in Integral Yoga centers around the world.
“Do not love leisure. Waste not a minute. Be bold. Realize the Truth, here and now!”
A simple vegetarian meal will be offered after this in-person Satsang with a suggested donation of $5-10.
Satsang, 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 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.
Snehan Born, E-RYT 500, has four decades of experience with yoga and has been teaching since 2000. Snehan resides and teaches at Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco and teaches at Mission Blue Center in Brisbane. He has also led teacher trainings at Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, Virginia and The Integral Yoga Institute, NYC. 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 and “Life of a Yogi” from Sri Dharma Mittra. He has also studied with Sharon Gannon and David Life of Jivamukti Yoga in NYC. In 1997, and again in 2001, Snehan studied with Deepak Chopra in India and taught an Integral Yoga class to about 250 participants in Agra. Also in 2001 he received “Conscious Eating”, a live foods certification from Dr. Gabriel Cousens at the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Arizona.
Snehan has lived and traveled extensively within India over 9 trips and practiced with many teachers there. He has taught yoga all over the US as well as in India, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Europe.
Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP, has been teaching 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. dianameltsner.com

Full Moon Chanting
2023-08-30 20:00 - 20:30, 2023-08-01 20:00 - 20:30
Free | Online & In-Person
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
We gather once a month to chant the Gayatri Mantra, the great mantra of Light and Liberation, to maximize the spiritual benefits of the full moon.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”
– Rigveda 3.62.1011
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.

Awakening your Inner Rhythms – A Sound Healing Journey
2023-08-26 19:00 - 20:30
This event has been cancelled.
Please join Bettina for her next Sound Healing Journey – Saturday, December 16, 7:00 – 8:30 pm.
In-person | $30
Connect with your inner rhythm through a healing journey. Be guided by sounds to release old energies that no longer serve you. You will create space to embrace the new, ignite your creativity and clarity, and nourish your body, mind, and spirit.
Bettina Neumann will guide you through this journey with sound healing instruments and her voice. She invites you to access your inner wisdom and encourages your embodiment through movement, image-making, and creative writing. Explore your desires and wishes, and find medicine to lead you to your dreams.
What to bring:

Comfortable clothing. Dress in layers
Anything else that would comfort you
A journal

Please arrive early to settle in before we start. The door opens 15 minutes before
the start time. We will begin promptly.
Learn more about the power of sound and the nature of Bettina’s work in her recent blog article Sound Healing.
Bettina Neumann is a licensed Physical Therapist, a certified Integral Sound Healer, a practitioner of Health Rhythms, and a student in the Life/Art Process. She founded Aurras Transformation and Rising Sun Physical Therapy. Her life experience as a mother and cancer survivor lead her to her passion for expressive dance, movement, art, and ritual, which she calls her medicine. However, her healing journey and nature’s elements are her most consequential teacher. Thirty-five years as a physical therapist made her firmly believe the body can heal itself. Holistic, intuitive, evidence-based medicine and methods helped thousands of patients recover from cancer, lymphedema, chronic pain, and pelvic floor dysfunctions. She combines her experience, tools, and intuition to guide people through transformative journeys and open up the opportunity to lead a joy-filled life.

Incorporating the Chakras in Hatha Yoga
2023-08-26 11:00 - 13:00
Online & In-Person | $25
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Learn the key aspects of the seven chakra system. In this interactive course we investigate how energy centers affect our bodies and breath in a Hatha class. We make space for discussions and journaling so we can inquire together how imbalances may manifest in our thoughts and actions.
Mia Velez, E-RYT 500, entered Integral Yoga Institute in 2016 through the kitchen as a volunteer cook at their silent retreats, teacher trainings, and weekly community lunches. In 2018, she was certified as an Integral Yoga teacher to learn more about 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 saw undeniable parallels in Yoga and Kung Fu. She started teaching Kung Fu in 2014, incorporating Yoga insight and principles in her classes. Her goal in teaching is to facilitate a safer space for self-inquiry that hopefully leads to liberation. She shares her joy and knowledge of yoga as a co-trainer for the Basic Teacher Trainings at IYI, including the BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training; she teaches the healing properties of yoga to incarcerated men and provides stress management techniques to new parents. 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.

Kirtan with Govind Das
2023-08-20 17:30 - 19:30
In-person | $27
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join Govind Das for the uplifting and heart opening practice of Kirtan. Kirtan is an ancient Bhakti Yoga practice using mantra and music as an expression of devotion and prayer. Govind Das is a Bhakti Yogi following the path of Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass, and Hanuman Bhakti. The literal translation of kirtan is “to praise.” Kirtan is described as a “jewel of a spiritual practice” because of its joyful, open-hearted, meditative, and communal feeling. Come sing, dance, and enjoy spiritual community. For the new people to kirtan/chanting, just bring yourself, no special clothes or yoga mat needed. “Chant and Be Happy!”
Govind Das is a California-based kirtan singer, yoga teacher and his/their spiritual names suggest -“servant of the divine”. He is the co-director/owners of Bhakti Yoga Shala in Santa Monica CA. Govind Das’s commitment to Bhakti yoga and the ideals of love, service, and devotion is the essence which is reflected and transmitted through his music and teachings. His intention is to share Kirtan in the spirit of celebrating life and developing a personal and intimate connection with Source. He leads evenings of kirtan, bhakti yoga workshops, presents at festivals and leads transformative retreats throughout the world. Govind Das and his wife Jacqueline live in the hills of Pacific Palisades, CA overlooking the Great Pacific Ocean with their son Malakai and daughter Ruby Jaya.

TRE® (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) Intro workshop
2023-08-20 10:00 - 12:00
Online | $55 or $50 early bird, exp. 8/13
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
TRE is a simple, gentle and profound technique that facilitates the lengthening and relaxation of the psoas muscle and the release of physical and emotional tension and stress. The TRE® exercises mildly tire the legs, triggering an involuntary shaking and trembling response, which begins in the legs and often spreads throughout the body. This natural response is the nervous system’s way of discharging long-held tension and unconscious body contraction, caused by everyday stress and traumatic life experiences, in order to restore the body to wholeness.
TRE® was developed by Dr. David Berceli, a bio-energetic therapist and social worker, who used it successfully worldwide working with soldiers, firefighters, police officers and survivors of war, natural disasters and other traumatic circumstances to help alleviate the many symptoms of post-traumatic stress. TRE® is taught in over 100 countries worldwide.
Reported benefits include:

Decreased anxiety
Release chronic tension
Discharged emotional and physical trauma
Increased energy and flexibility
Bettersleep and mood
Decreased aches, pains and symptoms of fibromyalgia and sciatica

This workshop is suitable for all ages and fitness levels as the exercises can be modified to accommodate any body’s need. Maria offers a FREE weekly online refresher class that workshop participants can attend.
CEU certificate available upon request from the teacher for psychotherapists and massage therapists.
Please read a downloadable pdf with important preparation instructions about your Online TRE® session. It will be sent to you with an enrollment confirmation email. This document contains information about how to set up your camera and mat and checklist of needed items.
For more information about TRE® please visit www.TREcalifornia.com
Maria Alfaro is a native Italian living in Santa Cruz, California. She has over 30 years of yoga experience and a background in Chinese martial arts and massage. As a senior TRE® Certification Trainer, she has taught thousands of people in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East since 2004. She assisted Dr. Berceli, TRE’s founder, in numerous trainings in the US, South Africa, Brazil and Japan and led hundreds of public workshops and over hundred certification trainings worldwide.
Maria is also the co-creator of Neurogenic Yoga™, the sister method of TRE.
Maria facilitates workshops and trainings globally. She creates a supportive environment that makes people feel safe as she leads her classes with compassion and a sense of humor.

Satsang: Sri Swami Satchidananda's Mahasamadhi
2023-08-19 12:00 - 13:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
The Mahasamadhi program is to commemorate the date on which Swami Satchidananda left his body 21 years ago. On this date we gather annually to reflect on his life, his teachings, and his service; and to celebrate all the transformations we experienced as we walk the path of Integral Yoga.
The program will start with a puja, to invoke Swamiji’s presence and honor his life.
Satsang, 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 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 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.

New Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2023-08-16 19:00 - 19:45
In-person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines. https://integralyogasf.org/attending-in-person
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.

Kirtan
2023-08-12 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Acharya Mangalananda has learned by deep immersion the traditional spiritual music of India. His kirtan is couched in the mystical ragas of India and is full of the lively ecstatic joy of the Divine Names.
Mangalananda has toured extensively throughout India, Europe and the USA, presenting kirtan concerts, yoga classes and workshop retreats. He is an Acharya (an appointed Spiritual Teacher) of Ma Anandamayi Ashram in Omkareshwar / Indore in the lineage of Sri Anandamayi Ma.
Chanting mantras and prayers are elements of the Bhakti Yoga path which leads to union with the Divine Consciousness. Chanting calms the nerves, purifies the emotions, heals the body and opens the heart. It elevates and concentrates the mind, preparing one for silent mantra repetition, meditation and communion with the Divine. Chanting done with a devotional attitude lifts the emotions toward selfless, divine love.

Swami Ramananda’s 70th Birthday - Brunch Potluck
2023-08-12 11:00 - 13:00
Free | In-person
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join us for a special Birthday Brunch Potluck. Bring a vegan dish to share with others in the Backyard Garden! Ramananda will lead us in a special Hatha Yoga class – 9:30 – 10:45 am before his celebration.
In lieu of gifts, we ask that you donate to Ramananda’s GoFundMe page to help raise funds to support him in shifting his focus from daily administrative tasks to sharing Yogic wisdom to a broader community.
Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/swami-ramananda-yogic-wisdom
As a monk, Swami Ramananda has dedicated his life in selfless service to others. For nearly 50 years, he has served in so many ways worldwide, including teaching yoga and meditation classes, leading advanced teacher training programs, workshops and retreats, and offering spiritual guidance. He has held many roles through the years, serving as president of IYI New York for more than a decade before serving as president and executive director of IYI San Francisco since 2011.
We welcome your donations, any amount you can give large or small. Let’s help Swami Ramananda share the timeless teachings of Yoga and meditation with more people, so that everyone can live healthier, more meaningful and peaceful lives.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-08-11 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Friday, August 11 (monthly on the second Friday)
Free follow-up Friday, August 25, 4:00 – 6:00 pm (monthly on the fourth Friday). Zoom link for this follow-up session can be found within your original registration conformation email.
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
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 at IYI 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 the storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.

Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Practice to Awaken, 2-part
2023-08-09 17:30 - 19:00
Online & In-Person | $45 for both
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
There is a significant benefit to understanding our Yoga practice in the context of its original intention—stilling the mind to experience the spiritual consciousness that is our essential nature. Otherwise, our approach to practicing Yoga will be determined by our unconscious beliefs and habitual thought patterns, which are strongly influenced by the prevailing messages of our culture and become a primary source of suffering.
Come prepared to practice asana, pranayama and meditation.
In part 1 of this workshop on August 9th, we will tune into the natural intelligence of the body and practice moving free of our conditioning by guiding our attention in various ways to cultivate a neutral, non-reactive awareness, and an open heart.
In part 2 of this workshop on August 16th, we will explore the pathways for the flow of prana (subtle energy) and how that awareness supports us to bring the body, breath and mind into harmony and awaken us to the spiritual consciousness at the core of being.
Over time, a regular practice of this kind will gradually restructure even the subconscious mind so that we are no longer compelled by old beliefs and fears, and approach life with a sense of deep belonging, inner contentment and wonder.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life, and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco, and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He is a co-founder of The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI) which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

Satsang: Mystical Poetry Night
2023-08-05 17:30 - 18:30
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Join us for an evening of shared poetry that reﬂects the voice of our soul. We will read and discuss that which awakens inspiration, delight and peace in the heart. All are welcome to have a poem or two to share or simply listen and enjoy. Mystical poetry and sacred songs are powerful expressions of the human experience, a dynamic meeting of the mind with the Grace of the Divine that crosses the lines of time and specific religious views.
Tea and cookies will be offered after this in-person Satsang. Pre-registration is required for all in-person attendance.
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.
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 (IYI) 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 the IYI.
Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, RYT-500,has been teaching 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.
dianameltsner.com

Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
2023-07-30 15:30 - 17:30
In-person | $45 or $40 early bird exp. 7/23
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing are remedies for the challenges of our stressful times, and blends restorative yoga with guided breath-work 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!
Save the date for our next session on Sunday, September 24th, 3:30 – 5:30pm | Open for enrollment!
Rachel Jennine Goudey, Psy.D., C-IAYT, is a 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
Heather Sevika Ford, C-IAYT, MFA Design, became a certified Yoga teacher in 2008 and a certified Yoga Therapist in 2017.
Her classical yoga training and approach to teaching guides individuals towards experiencing the essence of Yoga; a contemplative, mindful practice intended to remove obstacles and restore peace. Accessibly and collaboratively she supports her clients towards optimal health and wellness through mindful movement and postures, subtle practices such as Yoga Nidra, Pranayama and meditation, as well as Reiki, sound vibration and aromatherapy. These practices are intended to strengthen the body, increase flexibility, optimize and soothe the immune and nervous systems. Her training and experience enables her to work safely and mindfully with a range of clients with a variety of conditions including addiction recovery, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, stroke, pre and post-op, arthritis, cancer, peripheral neuropathy, post-polio syndrome, PTS, asthma, emphysema, nerve damage, obesity, joint replacements, and those experiencing limited physical mobility. sevikayoga.com

Yoga to Manage and Regulate Your Anxiety
2023-07-22 13:30 - 16:30
Online & In-Person | $65 or $54 early bird exp. 7/2
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Anxiety is the fear of being incapable or unable to face an impending circumstance or event. It is a normal emotion that as an informant, enhances preparedness, diminishes risk and promotes safety. But when it leads with excessive nervousness, apprehension, and worry, it becomes a mental disorder. If mild, it might be vague and unsettling, while if severe, it may seriously affect day-to-day living. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. Symptoms include those of stress – such as palpitations and sweating – out of proportion to the impact of the event, inability to set aside the worry, and generalized restlessness amongst others.
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).

Sufi Devotional Music from North India and Pakistan
2023-07-19 18:30 - 20:00
In-person | $25 or $20 early bird 7/12
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Anhad Naad Collective presents an exploration of traditional devotional music from the motherland of Yoga in this 2-part musical offering:

Hindu chants and devotional music with Lekshmi Satheesh Nair & Jun on Wednesday, July 12 ⋅ 6:30-8:30pm
Sufi devotional music from North India and Pakistan with Sukhawat Ali Khan on Wednesday, July 19 ⋅ 6:30-8:00pm

We will explore Sufi devotional music from North India and Pakistan lead by Sukhawat Ali Khan, an Eleventh Generation Singer of the Sham Chaurasi Gharana of hindustani music in Pakistan.
In the first hour we will focus on listening and experiencing the effect of raag in singing of sufi poetry by Sukhawat Ali Khan. We will also discuss the importance of poetry and music in Hindustani spiritual culture. Me and a drummer will provide accompaniment. Sukhawat ji will explain the basic characteristics and phrasing of simple raags used in qawwali music.
After a short break, we will ask for audience participation as background vocalists to sing 2 popular qawwali songs lead by Sukhawat Ali Khan. We will provide the lyrics sheet with English translation.
Sukhawat Ali Khan ji’s sufi music samples:

Ghulam Ali
Raste Juda Juda

Skhawat Ali Khan will be accompanied by his student Divya Vyas as a hindustani back up singer and Jun Ishimuro, back up musician. Jun is a musician and music producer under Qb Moda Jazz Soundcloud, former member of Astrud Castillo Cosmic Caravan and a student of Hindustani music.
Bio:
Skhawat Ali Khan, (born 1950), son of Indian-Pakistani vocalist Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and nephew of Nazkat Ali Khan 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.

New Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2023-07-17 19:00 - 19:45
In-person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines. https://integralyogasf.org/attending-in-person
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.

Satsang: How Yoga Heals
2023-07-15 17:30 - 18:30
Online & In-Person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Enroll/In-person Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.
Many people are familiar with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the various branches of Yoga–yet do not recognize the integrated system of wellness outlined within this text and inherent in Integral Yoga. Within lies the power to heal body and heart; overcome illness and unhappiness, and reach a place of vibrant health, strength and peace.
Yoga is a transformative experience– integrating the mind- body- spirit. The results are subtle yet deep, proven to reduce stress and improve health. Whether you are experiencing the effects of trauma, stress, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, injury, or disease–or you are maintaining a balanced state of wellness–we all can benefit by gaining a deeper understanding of how Yoga affects our physiology and learning practical applications of the tools Yoga provides for healing.
In this Satsang Raama will share how Yoga heals and explore ancient practices blended with modern science and take home evidence-based, practical strategies to enhance your own healing.
Satsang, 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 spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
Raama Das, C-IAYT, is a former director of the Integral Yoga® Teachers Association and has been instructing Integral Yoga since 2009. He is a lead trainer for the Integral Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training at Yogaville and co-presenter for the 200 and 500-hour Yoga Alliance programs at Heal Me Institute in Fredericksburg. Raama recently received certification as a Yoga Therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), having studied Yoga programs for specific health conditions, including, anxiety, depression, cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and addiction. He is also certified as a teacher of Intermediate Hatha, Raja Yoga, Meditation, Stress Management, Yin Yoga, and Yoga for our Elders.
Raama has studied and served extensively at the Integral Yoga Academy at Yogaville and managed the Integral Yoga Therapy Program. In addition, he has participated in many months of deep Tantric and classical Yoga sadhana (practice) at the Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School in Sweden under the direction of Swami Janakananda. He currently serves as Institute Manager at the Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-07-14 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15 | Monthly on the second Friday
Free follow-up Friday, July 28, 2023, 4:00 – 6:00 pm (Monthly on the fourth Friday)
Enroll/In-person Please 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 at IYI 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 the storytelling events in Northern California. She has led writer groups, tutored many in writing, and regularly hosts poetry reading Satsangs at the IYI.

Hindu Chants and Devotional Music
2023-07-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Integral Yoga SF, 770 Dolores St, San Francisco, CA, 94110, United States
We apologize but this event has been cancelled.
In-Person | $25 or $20 early bird 7/5/23
Anhad Naad Collective presents:

Hindu Chants and Devotional Music with Lekshmi Satheesh Nair & Jun on Wednesday, July 12 ⋅ 6:30-8:30pm
Sufi Devotional Music from North India and Pakistan with Sukhawat Ali Khan on Wednesday, July 19 ⋅ 6:30-8:00pm

Join us for exploration of traditional devotional music from the motherland of Yoga in this 2-part musical offering. In the first hour – we will start with listening and experiencing the emotional effects with basic explanation of the elements of selected raags. Jun will provide accompaniment with a keyboard. Participants will also begin learning the easy to learn raags with its phrasing.
After a short break, we will focus on participants in singing the chants in easy raags ( in 2 basic raags) with Lekshmi leading. – we will provide a mantra sheet with an English translation.
Videos:
Lekshmi chanting ram bolo
Lekshmi and Jun collaboration on Gayatri Mantra
Lekshmi website
Lekshmi will be accompanied by Jun Ishimuro. Jun is a musician and music producer under Qb Moda Jazz Soundcloud, former member of Astrud Castillo Cosmic Caravan and a student of Hindustani music.
Bio:
Lekshmi Satheesh Nair learned music from Guru Smt. Mahalakshmi Ramachandran and Guru Smt. Geeta Kalyanaraman, from the Tanjore Kalyanaraman lineage in Vadodara, Gujarat. Her singing style constantly evolves and she doesn’t follow one school of training in particular. She believes in using the best variations and ideas in a raga that can make a rendition not just technically brilliant but also engaging and soulful. Her music and style define her personality and devotion to the art form. She received her & National Award”, and was awarded the First prize for Carnatic Classical Vocal Music at the National Youth Festival, organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India in Jamshedpur in the year 2004. She was the youngest musician in the lot to receive this prestigious award.
