Integral Yoga San Francisco

TRE® (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises) Intro workshop
2023-08-20 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
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

Full Moon Chanting
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.

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.

Walking the Path Together, Community Meeting and Potluck
2023-07-08 11:00 - 12:30
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.
Please join us in person or online for this gathering. The pandemic has really highlighted to us the importance of community and the benefits of supporting one another. There will be time for spiritual practice, sharing and questions. We will address the Institute’s plans for the coming year and we can discuss current news from the wider Integral Yoga organization. We always welcome your feedback on how we can best serve you going forward.
After the meeting, we will share a potluck meal in the backyard garden. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share (no meat, fish or eggs). There will be tea and cookies for everyone to enjoy.

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.
Please visit our website to learn more about our dedicated Board of Directors.

Open Your Creative and Spiritual Voice
2023-07-01 19:00 - 21:00
We are sorry to announce that his event has been cancelled.
Please check back or sign up for our mailing list to know about upcoming events. Thank you.
In-person | $30, $40, $50
Manaar Azreik & Musician’s Friends
Prayer – Group Connection – Drum – Music Healing – Song Chanting
Enhance your voice and join in the community. In this gathering, we will:

Warm-up: Open to your breath and body connection
Improvisation: Free your inner voice and sound with ease
Sacred Chant: Enter the sacred heart with Sufi Song-Chanting

Manaar Azreik will be leading a circle of drumming, toning, and chanting prayers from the Sufi traditions. She is a certified sound healer from the California Institute of Integral Studies and led sound healing circles in Northern California for over 16 years.
No musical experience necessary.
Manaar Azreik
I express my gifts through a powerful transmission of synchronized magic with drumming, voice, and soul dancing as well as I work as a Waldorf teacher. Through my drumming, tuning, and chanting you enter a live field, which provides energetic clearing for YOU and the collective. You will deepen your experience with guided meditation, drumming, singing, movement, dance, community, and connection. This is an invitation to birth yourself in the present moment, in the middle of what you are doing right now!!!
I hold an energetic presence that reminds people how to choose a joyous alternative even in the moment of hardship. My latest invention is named Transformation by Fire, an organization that offers Healing and Recovery services in natural disaster areas.
Energetically I help you dust off the old, so you can have a clearer vision. I invite the seeker to explore energy awareness, inner vibrational movements, and sound to naturally birth what wants to be set free within yourself; helping you see in a new way, in a different way than you didn’t know existed for you.

Satsang: Guru Purnima
2023-07-01 12:00 - 13:00
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.
Guru Purnima is an annual celebration that offers us an opportunity to express gratitude for our spiritual teachers and recommit ourselves to the teachings they imparted. We will honor Sri Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral Yoga, his teacher Sri Swami Sivananda of our Saraswati lineage, as well as spiritual teachers of all spiritual traditions transmitting the teachings.
Everyone is invited to join in deepening the connection with that source of grace and guidance in whatever way we experience it.
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 is the Executive Director of Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, who has been practicing Yoga for over 40 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 trains Yoga teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

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.

How We Change, Why We Don’t – Yoga for Transformation, 2-part
2023-06-28 18:00 - 19:30
Online & In-Person | $35 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.

Even when we are clear about changes we want to make in our lives, we often find it difficult to break out of well-established habits or we fall back into them when times are tough. Our conscious intentions may conflict with the old feelings and beliefs that are still embedded in our subconscious mind.
Part I, June 14 now on June 28, 2023
We will explore how to look deeply with compassion to unearth the roots of unhealthy patterns, understand our hidden needs and fears, and begin to make comprehensive lifestyle changes without stress or backlash. Then the changes we wish to make can be broken down into steps, and can be taken free from past conditioning, allowing us to feel the vastness, depth, and sacred nature of the Spirit within and around us.
Part II, June 28 now July 5, 2023
We will follow-up on the reflections and intentions we set in part 1. Then we will explore a comprehensive approach to change using all the practices and teachings of Yoga to address the different levels of being. We will learn how Yoga practice gradually restructures the subconscious mind, freeing us to experience the natural contentment and joy that is our birthright.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Mia Velez and Rashmi Dianne Galliano, MS, I-IAYT, E-RYT500, RPYTnanda 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.

Kirtan with Mirabai
2023-06-24 19:00 - 20:30
This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled soon. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Please check our website for updates or sign up for our newsletter for upcoming events and announcements. Thank you.
In-Person | $15, $20
Join Mirabai for our in-person kirtan offering, a call-and-response style chanting. Kirtan is part of the path of Bhakti Yoga — the path of opening the heart through devotion and surrender. It is the music of the heart, and is sung freely from the heart. Using these practices, breathing and chanting helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Kirtan is a spiritual gathering treasure that nourishes our soul, heart and spirit.
No experience is necessary to participate, pre-registration required.
Mirabai Warkulwiz planted her yoga and meditation roots in San Francisco at the Sivananda Center in 1998. Amazed at her healing of a back injury and many other positive life changes, she became yoga certified through 200-hour teacher training programs both at the Integral Yoga Institute in 2004, and at the Greenpath Ashtanga Studio in 2005. In July 2008 she completed another 170 hour Intermediate Teacher Training program in Asana and Pranayama through the Integral Yoga Institute in Virginia. She is attuned to Reiki Level 1, studies Aryuveda, is a dancer, and enjoys being in communion with nature. She invites all of her yoga students to transcend physical, emotional, and mental blocks to experience more spaciousness, comfort, happiness, clarity, and inner peace. As a Kirtan musician (Mirabai and Friends Kirtan Band) Mirabai leads Kirtan around the Bay Area, and enjoys implementing chanting, sound, and music into class. mirabaiandfriends.com

Living Your Essential Nature: The Integration of Meditation into Daily Life, 1-Day Meditation and iRest Yoga Nidra Workshop
2023-06-24 10:00 - 16:30
Online & In-Person | $90 or $75 early bird exp. 6/17/2023
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. https://integralyogasf.org/attending-in-person
This daylong retreat will guide you through a simple yet elegant nondual approach to meditation as both a practice and a way of living life. It is designed to help you experience how all movements of your body, mind, and daily life can be pointers that continually reveal your underlying Essential Nature as dynamically ever-present, beautiful, still, and the essence of indestructible happiness, peace, and well-being, which often goes unrealized because of its simplicity. Living your Essential Nature enables you to experience yourself and everything as interconnected, not-separate, and always whole.
During this daylong retreat we will engage periods of meditation, BodySensing and BreathSensing Yoga, iRest Yoga Nidra, and periods of self-inquiry into the freedom to be who we truly are. This is an opportunity to nourish coming home to your deepest Essence and authentic aliveness where you can open the door to the unexpected—to delight, wonder, astonishment, and awe. The day celebrates meditation not as an achievement, but as your ever-present Essence in which you can experience your true home in the Mystery we call life.
We have 1 hour for lunch – please bring your food (only vegetarian food in the ashram, no eggs or meat). We will share this time together. Hot water for tea and selection of teas will be available. We do not provide a way to heat up or refrigerate your food, the kitchen will be closed.
Schedule:
10:30 – 12:00 pm
1:00 – 2:00 pm lunch break
1:00 – 4:00 pm

Richard C. Miller, PhD is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar, and spiritual teacher who has devoted his life to integrating western psychology and neuroscience with the ancient nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism,and Buddhism. Richard is the founder of iRest Institute, co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, and founding past president of the Institute for Spirituality
and Psychology.
Author of iRest Meditation: Restorative Practices for Health, Healing and Well Being, Yoga Nidra, The iRest Meditative Practice for Deep Relaxation and Healing, and The iRest Program for Healing PTSD, Richard serves as a research consultant studying the nondual somatic-based meditation protocol he’s developed–iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation–researching its efficacy on health, healing, and well-being with diverse populations that include veterans, women rescued from human trafficking, youth, the homeless, and the incarcerated with issues such as sleep, PTSD, pain and chemical dependency, as well as research on iRest’s efficacy for enhancing resiliency and well-being. Grounded in 35+ research studies, the US Army Surgeon General and the Defense Centers of Excellence have recognized iRest as a Complimentary Program for healing chronic pain and PTSD and restoring resiliency and well-being. Richard leads international trainings and meditation retreats on the integration of enlightened living into daily life. www.iRest.org.

Summer Solstice Meditation
2023-06-21 19:00 - 20:00
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.
Please join us for an extended evening meditation this evening as we celebrate the 9th annual International Day of Yoga and Summer Solstice. The United Nations proclaimed June 21st as International Day* of Yoga in order to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
Meditation or “dhyana” is part of yoga. Like the physical practice of yoga, meditation also forms a profound connection with the universe by doing mental practices which bring you to a higher state of consciousness.The Summer Solstice is a reminder to honor our connection to the natural world and changes in life. It is a time to celebrate inner power and brightness. This meditation will include

breathing
chanting
guided meditation instruction with the focus on connecting to our Earth and the Inner Light
sitting in silence
Arati, a sacred ritual in which Light is offered to the Divine and we then receive the blessings of the Light.

All levels of meditation practice are welcome. Online practitioners are encouraged to have a candle available for this ritual.
*International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

Celebrate International Day of Yoga with us!
ALL Day • June 21st • Open House
ALL classes, workshops & events are by donation!
Your support enables us to serve and share the teachings of Yoga with diverse communities. Thank you!
Schedule:
7:30 – 8:30 am Hatha Mixed Level ONLINE with Mia Velez
9:30 – 10:30 am Therapeutic Chair Yoga ONLINE with Diana Meltsner
9:30 – 11:00 am Community Class IN-PERSON with Laura Perlin
11:15 am – 12:00 pm Chanting Mantras ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Snehan Born
12:00 – 12:45 pm Guided Noon Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
12:45 pm Community Lunch IN-PERSON (24-hour advanced sign-up required)
5:00 – 5:25 pm – Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Raama Das
5:30 – 7:00 pm BIPOC Community Class ONLINE with IYI BIPOC teachers
5:45 – 6:45 pm Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
6:30 – 8:00 pm Community Class IN-PERSON with JoAnn Bonifacio
7:00 – 8:00 pm Summer Solstice Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Diana Meltsner

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

Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice
2023-06-21 17:45 - 18:45
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.
Please join us for this special class as we celebrate the 9th annual International Day of Yoga. The United Nations proclaimed June 21st as International Day* of Yoga in order to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
Swami Ramananda will speak about the classical teachings of Yoga, Yogic philosophy and then incorporate these teachings into a meditative Yoga practice. All levels of practice are welcome.
*International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

Celebrate International Day of Yoga with us!
ALL Day • June 21st • Open House
ALL classes, workshops & events are by donation!
Your support enables us to serve and share the teachings of Yoga with diverse communities. Thank you!
Schedule:
7:30 – 8:30 am Hatha Mixed Level ONLINE with Mia Velez
9:30 – 10:30 am Therapeutic Chair Yoga ONLINE with Diana Meltsner
9:30 – 11:00 am Community Class IN-PERSON with Laura Perlin
11:15 am – 12:00 pm Chanting Mantras ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Snehan Born
12:00 – 12:45 pm Guided Noon Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
12:45 pm Community Lunch IN-PERSON (24-hour advanced sign-up required)
5:00 – 5:25 pm – Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Raama Das
5:30 – 7:00 pm BIPOC Community Class ONLINE with IYI BIPOC teachers
5:45 – 6:45 pm Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
6:30 – 8:00 pm Community Class IN-PERSON with JoAnn Bonifacio
7:00 – 8:00 pm Summer Solstice Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Diana Meltsner

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, Mia Velez and Rashmi Dianne Galliano, MS, I-IAYT, E-RYT500, RPYTnanda 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.

Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa
2023-06-21 17:00 - 17:30
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 Raama for a classical Yogic practice of Yoga Nidra incorporating Sankalpa at the occasion of celebrating the 9th annual International Day of Yoga. The United Nations proclaimed June 21st as International Day* of Yoga in order to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
In Yoga Nidra, deep relaxation creates an opportunity for the body to restore and the mind to rest, releasing energy to flow more freely. While staying aware and awake, the mind receives clarity and perceives a deep sense of peace that is beyond our everyday mental ruminations and neurosis.
It is in this state of open awareness when we can apply Sankalpa (संकल्प) practice. We can use sankalpa as a way to set an intention, to connect with your heart’s deepest desire and to simply bring healing and other positive effects into our lives. A sincere Sankalpa, practiced regularly, is sure to bring positive results.
*International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

Celebrate International Day of Yoga with us!
ALL Day • June 21st • Open House
ALL classes, workshops & events are by donation!
Your support enables us to serve and share the teachings of Yoga with diverse communities. Thank you!
Schedule:
7:30 – 8:30 am Hatha Mixed Level ONLINE with Mia Velez
9:30 – 10:30 am Therapeutic Chair Yoga ONLINE with Diana Meltsner
9:30 – 11:00 am Community Class IN-PERSON with Laura Perlin
11:15 am – 12:00 pm Chanting Mantras ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Snehan Born
12:00 – 12:45 pm Guided Noon Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
12:45 pm Community Lunch IN-PERSON (24-hour advanced sign-up required)
5:00 – 5:25 pm – Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Raama Das
5:30 – 7:00 pm BIPOC Community Class ONLINE with IYI BIPOC teachers
5:45 – 6:45 pm Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
6:30 – 8:00 pm Community Class IN-PERSON with JoAnn Bonifacio
7:00 – 8:00 pm Summer Solstice Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Diana Meltsner

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.

Chanting Mantras
2023-06-21 11:15 - 12:00
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.
Please join us for an extended chanting of mantras as we celebrate the 9th annual International Day of Yoga. The United Nations proclaimed June 21st as International Day* of Yoga in order to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
Snehan will share mantras and play the harmonium which are part of his regular practice.
But what exactly is a mantra? Mantra is an instrument of the mind—a powerful sound or vibration. The word mantra can be broken down into two parts: “man,” which means mind, and “tra,” which means transport or vehicle. Mantras, when spoken or chanted, direct the healing power of Prana (life force energy) and, in traditional Vedic practices, can be used to energize and access spiritual states of consciousness. Mantras as a spiritual practice generate a powerful effect when done on a regular basis for several months.
*International days are occasions to educate the general public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity.

Celebrate International Day of Yoga with us!
ALL Day • June 21st • Open House
ALL classes, workshops & events are by donation!
Your support enables us to serve and share the teachings of Yoga with diverse communities. Thank you!
Schedule:
7:30 – 8:30 am Hatha Mixed Level ONLINE with Mia Velez
9:30 – 10:30 am Therapeutic Chair Yoga ONLINE with Diana Meltsner
9:30 – 11:00 am Community Class IN-PERSON with Laura Perlin
11:15 am – 12:00 pm Chanting Mantras ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Snehan Born
12:00 – 12:45 pm Guided Noon Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
12:45 pm Community Lunch IN-PERSON (24-hour advanced sign-up required)
5:00 – 5:25 pm – Deep Restoration with Yoga Nidra and Sankalpa ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Raama Das
5:30 – 7:00 pm BIPOC Community Class ONLINE with IYI BIPOC teachers
5:45 – 6:45 pm Embodied Wisdom: Yoga Teachings and Practice ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda
6:30 – 8:00 pm Community Class IN-PERSON with JoAnn Bonifacio
7:00 – 8:00 pm Summer Solstice Meditation ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Diana Meltsner

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 Moon Hanuman Chalisa
2023-06-17 19:00 - 19:45
This event has been cancelled. Sorry for any inconvenience.
In-person | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15
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: Yogic Healing - Exploring the Wounds Caused by Those We Love
2023-06-17 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.
It is not easy when the ones we love and trust, hurt us, intentionally or unintentionally. Let’s discuss how to apply yogic teachings to the wounds created by those we revere and hold dear. This talk will allow us to tap into a profound healing regarding our ancestral lineages whether it be family, human, and spiritual. There is always a way to integrate and transform an experience into an authentic vibration of love.
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.
Saeeda Hafiz is a yoga teacher, author, and wellness expert with certifications from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, the Natural Gourmet Institute. She is also a graduate of Temple University. As a holistic health educator with the San Francisco Unified School District, she focuses on sharing her knowledge of physical and mental wellness with diverse groups. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has appeared on various podcasts, radio, and television programs and has been featured in several national and regional publications. Her public speaking engagements have educated the public in yoga, holistic nutrition, and healthy living from coast to coast. saeedahafiz.com

Make Your Own Probiotics! The Art of Making Sauerkraut
2023-06-10 11:00 - 12:30
We apologize, this event has been cancelled, and will be reschedule in the near future. Please check out schedule for all upcoming events. Thank you. Om Shanti.

Online & In-Person | $15, $20
Not only does sauerkraut provide probiotics and vitamin K2, it also helps improve digestion and strengthens the immune system. In this one-hour workshop, we will show you how easy it is to make sauerkraut in the comfort of your own kitchen. We’ll begin with a little demo, while you follow and participate in your own process. After the workshop, you’ll have at home a jar of sauerkraut to ferment.
What to have ready:

An empty 1-quart wide-mouth mason jar (shown in picture)
Apron
Cutting board
Knife
Large mixing bowl
A pair of latex gloves (if you don’t want to touch the sauerkraut with your bare hands)
One cabbage
A handle of dill
3″ ginger

BIO: Pearl Bindu Chaozon Bauer
My name is Pearl Bindu Bauer, and I’ve been practicing yoga and meditation for almost 20 years. The literal meaning of yoga is “union” and what I love about yoga is how it helps me find alignment in my body/mind/spirit and physical/emotional connections. While meditating helps me stay calm, the asana practice on the mat helps me come into my body – so the balance between the two is key for my daily practice. In my classes, I often incorporate intentional practice – for example, I do a series on the Yamas and a series on the Niyamas so we meditate on principles of yoga while practicing mantras and asanas on the mat. I am also trained in yoga therapy which finds ways of how the practice of yoga can help with the understanding of common illnesses and conditions so people who are undergoing physical and emotional trauma can live a more easeful existence. While stretching and strengthening the physical body are a big part of the yoga practice, we also focus on deep relaxation, breathwork and meditation as practices that are equally important to our well being.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2023-06-09 16:00 - 18:00
Online | By donation $0, $5, $10, $15 | Monthly on the second Friday
Enroll/Online Please register in advance, a Zoom link and passcode will be provided via confirmation email.
Free follow-up session on Friday, June 23, 4:00 – 6:00 pm (Zoom link be send with the original confirmation email upon registration). Monthly on the fourth Friday

In these times of great change we will explore a path toward meeting ourselves where we are to give voice to all that matters! As we live with interruptions and chaos, we can deepen into the roots of our creativity, encouraging the river of expression to flow. Beginners and seasoned writers are welcome, as we explore various forms of writing: poetry, prose, short stories, memoir, among others. Through writing exercises using everyday life, place, family, images, poetry of others, while using pranayama, meditation and the guidance of the Sutras we will build a body of work. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace.
Tools we will Practice:

The Art of Paying Attention
Acceptance
Play
Writing from the Heart

Together we will combine self-care with our writing and discover what a writing practice means to us and how it may take shape.

Susan Ford, C-IAYT, RYT-500, began teaching in 2011 and has been an assistant trainer for the Basic Yoga Teacher 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.
