Integral Yoga San Francisco

Spiritual Study: Ahimsa (Nonviolence) and Satya (Truthfulness) — Moral and Ethical Precepts for Modern Times, 3 - part
2025-09-22 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
3 Mondays, SEP 15, 22 & 29 – Offered individually
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Free for active teachers
Book SEP 22Please register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Ahimsa (nonviolence) and Satya (truthfulness) are considered supreme among the moral and ethical principles of life. According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, “These great vows are universal, not limited by class, place, time, or circumstance” (Sutra 2.31). The instruction is clear, yet it can feel daunting in our complex and rapidly changing world.
In this study, we will seek inspiration and guidance from the Yoga Sutras and the exemplary lives of two great modern practitioners: Mahatma Gandhi in India and Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States.
The Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts, take time to reflect upon them, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path. All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.
3 Mondays offered individually:
9/15 Book now
9/22 Book now
9/29 Book now
To ensure a private space for all attendees, this will not be recorded.

Barbara Dickey is grateful to have been a member of the Integral Yoga Sangha since 1997. She completed the following teacher training programs at the San Francisco IYI: 200-hour Teacher Training 1998, Gentle Yoga Teacher Training 2003, Raja Yoga Teacher Training 2004, and Meditation Teacher Training 2025. She has always been enthusiastic about Scripture Study and is currently delving into meditation.

Navaratri - Celebration Honoring the Divine Mother - Durga Puja
2025-09-22 12:00 - 12:45
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Navaratri is a celebration of the Divine Mother in the form of the three Hindu goddesses: Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
Over the course of nine days, we’ll honor each of these goddesses, with the celebration culminating in a special service called Vijayadaśamī which offers a unique opportunity to bless your home and the tools you use in your work.

Navaratri – Durga Puja, Monday, SEP 22, 12:00 – 12:45 pm
Navaratri – Lakshmi Puja, Thursday, SEP 25, 12:00 – 12:45 pm
Navaratri – Saraswati Puja, Monday, SEP 29, 12:00 – 12:45 pm
Vijayadaśamī, Wednesday, OCT 1, 12:00 – 1:00pm

Please join us in honoring the Divine Mother.
This donation-based program will not be recorded.

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

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Integrating Meditative Attainments, Part 2
2025-09-21 11:00 - 12:00
Online
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
In meditation, we may touch moments of peace, stillness, or bliss—profound inner states that reveal our deeper nature. Yet translating these fleeting experiences into lasting qualities that guide us through daily life is an ongoing challenge.
In this gathering, Swami Ramananda will join Rich Panico in a follow-up discussion on how to cultivate enduring Dharmic traits through revisioning our sadhana. Together, we will reflect on the inner work that allows these sacred states to gradually become stable, living expressions of our practice—on and off the cushion.
You are invited to join Satsang: From State to Trait – Integrating Meditative Attainments into Daily Life, Part 1 with Rich Panico on Saturday, September 6, 5:30 – 6:30 pm. You are also welcome to attend independently.
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.

Rich Panico is an artist, yogi and physician known for his humor and clarity in teaching. He has practiced meditation and yoga since 1970 and began teaching mindfulness woven into pottery making classes in the late 70’s. Rich has taught mindfulness formally, in medical, academic and art-related settings for over 20 years. He was a pioneer in the use of mindfulness-based treatment in the adaptation to and treatment of chronic disease. Mindfulness occupied a central therapeutic role in his professional offering as a physician.
Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

Healing Your Life – An Ayurvedic and Yogic Journey, 2-day course
2025-09-20 09:00 - 16:30
Online & In-person | Saturday & Sunday SEP 20 & 21, both days run from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and from 1:30 – 4:30pm.
$195 Early bird, use promo code LIFE, exp. 9/6 | $225 Regular
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
This two-day program will immerse you in the knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga as Dr. Halpern supports you on your healing journey. During this program, you’ll explore how to activate your body’s innate ability to heal itself. It begins with an exploration of why we become sick on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels, and how our challenges can serve us to grow and evolve toward higher awareness. The program continues with an exploration of Ayurvedic principles as they apply to your personal healing.
You’ll examine your constitution, the nature of your imbalances, and how to use diet, lifestyle, colors, aromas, sound, and yoga to activate your full healing potential. There will be ample time for personal exploration, dialogue, and questions. This program is born from Dr. Halpern’s 40 years in the healing arts and his book Healing Your Life: Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda.
Read Dr. Halperns Recent blog post Healing Your Life
To ensure a private space for all attendees, this will not be recorded.

Dr. Marc Halpern is the founder of the California College of Ayurveda, the oldest College for the study of Ayurvedic Medicine outside of India, the Co-Founder of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. An Ayurvedic Doctor, Doctor of Chiropractic and a Sivananda Yoga Teacher, he is a leader in the development of Ayurveda in the West. His efforts toward building the profession in the United States have earned him awards in both the United States and India. Dr. Halpern has been featured in film and television and his YouTube videos have more than 1 million views. Dr. Halpern has written five textbooks plus the popular book, Healing Your Life; Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda. His newest textbook released in 2023 is Classical Yoga Therapy. Dr. Halpern is also the creator of the #1 best-selling meditation recording the United States: Yoga Nidra and Self-Healing. ayurvedacollege.com

Awakening Shakti, Part 2 of 2-Parts
2025-09-18 18:00 - 19:30
Online and In-person | Part 1 & 2 offered individually (Sep 11 & 18)
$20 each | Free for active teachers
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
In this two-part workshop, we will explore Yoga practices that awaken Shakti—the vital, cosmic force that energizes both body and mind. Our primary focus will be on Pranayama, the yogic science of breath, as a means to clear energetic blockages and restore the natural flow of this dynamic life force. When awakened, Shakti supports healing, builds resilience, and strengthens mental focus.
Part One introduces foundational breathing techniques, practiced gently and safely to soothe the nervous system and uplift the mind.
Part Two deepens the experience with more advanced techniques, including bandhas (energy locks) and breath retention, to amplify the benefits and cultivate the inner clarity needed to awaken higher states of awareness.
We invite you to sign up for both or just one of the workshops.
This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all enrolled students. Yoga Alliance CEUs available upon request.
Part 1 – Thursday, September 11, 6:00 – 7:30pm | Online and In-person

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

Spiritual Study: Ahimsa (Nonviolence) and Satya (Truthfulness) — Moral and Ethical Precepts for Modern Times, 3 - part
2025-09-15 18:00 - 19:00
3 Mondays, July 14, 21, 28 now SEP 15, 22 & 29- Offered individually
Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Free for active teachers
Book SEP 15Please register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Ahimsa (nonviolence) and Satya (truthfulness) are considered supreme among the moral and ethical principles of life. According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, “These great vows are universal, not limited by class, place, time, or circumstance” (Sutra 2.31). The instruction is clear, yet it can feel daunting in our complex and rapidly changing world.
In this study, we will seek inspiration and guidance from the Yoga Sutras and the exemplary lives of two great modern practitioners: Mahatma Gandhi in India and Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States.
The Yoga Spiritual Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages from scriptures of Yoga and other ancient and contemporary spiritual texts, take time to reflect upon them, and share with each other how these words and practices support us on the spiritual path. All are welcome to join any one or all of the sessions.
3 Mondays offered individually:
9/15 Book now
9/22 Book now
9/29 Book now
To ensure a private space for all attendees, this will not be recorded.

Barbara Dickey is grateful to have been a member of the Integral Yoga Sangha since 1997. She completed the following teacher training programs at the San Francisco IYI: 200-hour Teacher Training 1998, Gentle Yoga Teacher Training 2003, Raja Yoga Teacher Training 2004, and Meditation Teacher Training 2025. She has always been enthusiastic about Scripture Study and is currently delving into meditation.

Meditation in the Park
2025-09-14 11:00 - 12:00
FREE | In-person @ Dolores Park
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Please join us for a peaceful outdoor meditation session in Dolores Park, suitable for all levels – even first-timers.
We’ll begin with some inspiration and guidance, practice both walking and seated meditation, and end with a little time for sharing the experience. We’ll meet just a block from the Institute, on the 20th Street side of the park, just above the children’s playground.
What to bring:

Comfortable clothes
Blanket or mat and something to comfortably sit on
Water
Sunscreen, hat, or sunglasses

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
Diana Meltsner, C-IAYT, ERYT-500, YACEP, has been teaching a variety of classes and workshops since 2001 and since 2017 offers yoga therapy sessions privately and at Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic in San Francisco. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. www.dianameltsner.com

Kirtan with Joanna Manqueros, John Kadyk and Ramana Erickson
2025-09-13 19:00 - 20:30
In-person
$25 Day of | $20 In advance, use promo code NADA
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Joanna Manqueros on vocals and harmonium. Joanna facilitates kirtan as a medicinal experience, invoking uplifting concepts, reaching to a higher power and the beauty of being surrounded by voices. Joanna also hosts Music of the World on KPFA. John Kadyk brings bass clarinet; plays with a sublime addition to the trio. Ramana Erickson learned tabla playing in ashrams as a teen. He brings extensive experience, and has played for Krishna Das, and Nina Rao. Bring your voice and join in the fun.

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-09-12 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday | Ongoing
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.
Upcoming sessions:
Nest session is Friday, September 26 Book now

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

Awakening Shakti, Part 1 of 2-Parts
2025-09-11 18:00 - 19:30
Online and In-person | Part 1 & 2 offered individually (Sep 11 & 18)
$20 each | Free for active teachers
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
In this two-part workshop, we will explore Yoga practices that awaken Shakti—the vital, cosmic force that energizes both body and mind. Our primary focus will be on Pranayama, the yogic science of breath, as a means to clear energetic blockages and restore the natural flow of this dynamic life force. When awakened, Shakti supports healing, builds resilience, and strengthens mental focus.
Part One introduces foundational breathing techniques, practiced gently and safely to soothe the nervous system and uplift the mind.
Part Two deepens the experience with more advanced techniques, including bandhas (energy locks) and breath retention, to amplify the benefits and cultivate the inner clarity needed to awaken higher states of awareness.
We invite you to sign up for both or just one of the workshops.
This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all enrolled students. Yoga Alliance CEUs available upon request.
Part 2 – Thursday, September 18, 6:00 – 7:30pm | Online and In-person

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

Monthly Hatha Clinic
2025-09-08 17:00 - 18:30
$20
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
The Hatha Clinic offers a thoughtful approach to personal practice and alignment, with a focus on anatomy to support safe and accessible movement. This mixed-level class includes time for questions, exploration, and learning personalized approaches to yoga postures, transitions, and flow. We’ll approach asana as a somatic practice—an opportunity to attune to the body’s sensations and signals, and explore yoga as a whole-system experience.

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

Swami Sivananda Jayanthi Puja
2025-09-08 12:00 - 13:00
Online and In-person | FREE
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
We will honor the birth of Sri Swami Sivananda by performing a puja, a sacred ceremony to invoke and honor his spiritual presence and to receive his blessings and guidance. This service will include our noon meditation.
“Life is a pilgrimage. The wise man does not rest by the roadside inns. He marches direct to the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, his ultimate destination.”
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.

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

Satsang: From State to Trait – Integrating Meditative Attainments into Daily Life, Part 1
2025-09-06 17:30 - 18:30
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
In meditation, we may touch moments of peace, stillness, or bliss—profound inner states that reveal our deeper nature. Yet translating these fleeting experiences into lasting qualities that guide us through daily life is an ongoing challenge.
In this gathering, Rich Panico will lead a meditative exploration and discussion on how to cultivate enduring Dharmic traits through our sadhana. Together, we will reflect on the inner work that allows these sacred states to gradually become stable, living expressions of our practice—on and off the cushion.
On Sunday, September 21st, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Swami Ramananda will join Rich Panico for a follow-up discussion, Sunday Spiritual Talk: Integrating Meditative Attainments, Part 2. You are welcome to attend both events or just one.
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.

Rich Panico is an artist, yogi and physician known for his humor and clarity in teaching. He has practiced meditation and yoga since 1970 and began teaching mindfulness woven into pottery making classes in the late 70’s. Rich has taught mindfulness formally, in medical, academic and art-related settings for over 20 years. He was a pioneer in the use of mindfulness-based treatment in the adaptation to and treatment of chronic disease. Mindfulness occupied a central therapeutic role in his professional offering as a physician.

Yoga for Strong Bones
2025-09-06 15:30 - 17:00
$16
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
This monthly Hatha Clinic focuses on personal practice and alignment with regards to anatomy making the practice of yoga postures, flow and transitions accessible and safe.
This class meets monthly on the last Saturday. It will include mixed level practice with time for questions and learning personalized ways to approach asana. Yoga Clinic approaches asana practice as a somatic practice, where sensations and signals from the whole human system are explored.

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

Yoga Therapy Tools to Manage and Regulate Sadness
2025-09-06 13:00 - 16:00
Online only
$49 Early bird, use promo code TOOLS, exp. 8/30
$58 Regular
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
“Embrace the signal of sadness without losing yourself in the struggle.”
Sadness is a passive, dysphoric emotion that drains energy, disarms us, and inhibits action. However, on a deeper level, it serves as a signal—either to ourselves or to others—that we need support or comfort. It also prompts healing: only when we allow ourselves to feel sadness for our actions can we genuinely begin to repair the situation or restore the relationships affected.
Yoga Therapy Tools to Manage and Regulate Sadness offers practical, body-centered techniques to help you meet this emotion with compassion and awareness. Through guided self inquiry, breathwork, mindful movement, and grounding practices, you’ll learn to work with sadness—not suppress it—creating space for healing, emotional regulation, and resilience. This guide supports your journey back to balance, helping you reconnect with your inner resources in a safe, embodied way.

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).

Open House: Intermediate Hatha 2 class and discussion
2025-09-04 17:30 - 19:00
Online & In-person | Free
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for 1 hour classical Hatha 2 – intermediate level – Integral Yoga class with 30 minutes Q&A afterwards. This class will contain a sample of practices studied in the Intermediate YogaTeacher Training (ITT).
We invite you to attend to learn more about our ONLINE ITT program. You’ll have the opportunity to meet the trainers, explore the curriculum, and ask any questions you may have.
The ITT is a highly interactive training in which we will explore and experience the profound benefits of advanced Yoga practices. Please note that this program does not include instruction in basic teaching methodology.
Our 2025 Intermediate Teacher Training team includes lead trainers Swami Ramananda, Snehan Born, and Letícia Padmasri, with guest trainer Swami Asokananda and senior staff member Raisa Punkki.
We welcome all 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified teachers from other schools. Completion of this program qualifies you to teach at any Integral Yoga center worldwide.
For over forty years, we have led teacher trainings here in San Francisco. Our experienced faculty use time-tested methods to ensure a high-quality and supportive learning environment. This program is designed to prepare you to teach both in person and online, with dedicated staff providing personalized online coaching throughout the training.
👉 Visit our website for more information:
https://online.integralyogasf.org/courses/intermediate-yoga-teacher-training-2025-online

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

Yoga Therapy Tools for Managing and Regulating Anxiety
2025-09-03 17:30 - 20:00
Online | 4 Wednesdays, September 3, 10, 17, 24 | 5:30 – 7:00pm
$280.00
Book via Antonio’s websiteYou will receive a confirmation email with a URL.
Can you relate to the following?

Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope with an upcoming situation or event.
Struggling with concentration, racing or intrusive thoughts that won’t go away.
Finding it difficult to focus or think clearly, fixating on worries in the moment.
Experiencing heightened nervousness, restlessness, or tension.
Sensing an impending sense of danger, panic, or impending doom.
Noticeably increased heart rate or palpitations.
Rapid, shallow breathing (hyperventilation).
Excessive sweating without clear physical cause.
Uncontrollable trembling or shaking.
Feeling physically weak, fatigued, or drained.
You are not alone…

Anxiety is a complex and often misunderstood emotion. When mild, it can serve as a helpful motivator, keeping us alert and ready for whatever challenges lie ahead. It enhances our ability to anticipate problems and take preventative measures, improving both personal and collective safety.
However, when anxiety becomes excessive, it can overwhelm our ability to cope, leading to distressing physical and mental symptoms, and hindering our daily lives. Increased symptoms such as—lack of concentration, racing thoughts, and physical signs like palpitations and sweating—are all signs that anxiety has crossed a threshold into something more disruptive.
Our emotions shape how we experience life, how we connect with others, and ultimately, who we are. They guide our decision-making, influencing how we behave and navigate the many roles we play. But what happens when an emotion shifts from being a guide to becoming a controlling force? We become trapped in dysfunction, like a hamster endlessly running on a wheel.
In times such as the current ones when making important decisions is crucial, it’s essential to cultivate the resources that help us trust in our resilience.
Are you ready to manage and regulate your anxiety and better deal
with the challenges life is presenting?
Learn more

Yoga Nidra Meets Meditation
2025-08-26 18:00 - 19:30
Donation event
Online & In-person | Sliding scale $10-108
This workshop will be recorded for later viewing and shared for 2 weeks with all enrolled students.
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join Swami Yatidharmananda for a transformative workshop, Yoga Nidra Meets Meditation, to heal, meditate, grow, and awaken.
This powerful classical Yoga practice will include guided techniques for complete physical, mental, and emotional relaxation—a deep state best achieved by turning inward, away from external distractions.
Through each session of Yoga Nidra, you will begin to release old Samskaras—deep-seated habits and tendencies—allowing space for renewal and transformation. During the practice, you will set a Sankalpa (a personal resolve), planting seeds of meaningful change. This state, hovering between wakefulness and dreaming, is one of the most potent for reshaping your inner world and fostering lasting personal growth.
The modern teaching of Yoga Nidra was pioneered by Paramahamsa Swami Satyananda Saraswati and further developed by Paramahamsa Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati.
All generous donations will support the activities of Sivanand Ashram in Uttarkashi, India.
Learn more: https://sivanandsevasamiti.org/

Swami Yatidharmananda is a globally recognised Yogi from India and is the founder of Swami Chidananda Sevashram. The Sevashram is a Socio-Spiritual Organization dedicated to the life and teachings of Gurudev Swami Chidanandaji. He conducts workshops on Relaxation and Meditation, Sings Kirtans and loves to share inspiring stories of his life transformative journey. He has also developed unique and impactful programs that heal, empower and transform you to tackle challenges in day to day lives. He dedicated himself to the service of his Guru Swami Chidananda Saraswati and was blessed to be with him 24X7 for many years. He had the rare opportunity and blessing to observe one of the greatest saints that left an indelible imprint on his life. In the year 2000, he received Sannyasa Diksha. Having received so much unconditionally, urges him to share this anecdotal wisdom with one and all. In July 2015, he set out on his own and founded Swami Chidananda Sevashram with the blessings of Gurudev Swami Chidananda ji of Sivananda Ashram. It is a monastery for the modern world where people of all ages and backgrounds can live on the principles and practices of Ayurveda for the body, Yoga for the mind and Vedanta for the soul. It also brings together revered teachers from around the world for sharing knowledge and wisdom on various wellness based activities. Since 2016 he has traveled extensively each year to US and Europe for conducting workshops on Relaxation & meditation and conducted Kirtans. Since September 2020 Swami Yatidharmananda is serving as the General Secretary of Swami Sivanand Seva Samiti, and living in the company of Swami Premanandaji and Swami Atmanandaji, the direct disciples of Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj at the Sivananda Ashram, Ganeshpur, Uttarkashi, Himalayas, India. sivanandsevasamiti.org

Kirtan with Astrud and Friends
2025-08-23 19:00 - 20:30
In-person
$25 Day of | $20 In advance, use promo code MANTRA
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join Astrud and her dear friends for an evening of Kirtan or mantra meditation.
We use mantra, sound and vibration to polish the mirror of the heart and dismantle the illusion of separation. Man means mind and tra means instrument. Mantras are instruments or tools used to redirect our mind to the Source, Peace and ultimately to the heart.
The collective consciousness is healing and fun. We use this time to celebrate being alive, send prayers to those in need and be in community.
We sing in the key of “WE”, join us!
No experience is necessary.

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

YCat Yoga Therapy in Cancer & Chronic Illness
2025-08-23 14:00 - 2025-08-25 17:00
This training has been cancelled.
NEW! Hybrid YCat Level One Training
VIRTUAL & IN PERSON
Virtual Dates: Saturdays & Sundays – 9am- 2pm CST
AUG 23-24, SEP 13-14, SEP 20-21, OCT 4-5, OCT 11-12, OCT 17-18, OCT 24-25, 2025
In Person Dates: AUG 7-10, 2025 at Integral Yoga San Francisco, CA

100 HR Certification Tuition: $1650
Registration and Deposit by July 20. Full tuition is due by August 1.
Room and Board for San Francisco is Self pay
20% discount for Integral Yoga teachers, enrollees in IYI Yoga Therapy Program and Accessible Yoga Ambassadors

YCat: Yoga Therapy in Cancer and Chronic Illness began as a workshop and later developed into a three level training program with the option of a 100 hr certificate of attendance or a 300 hour YCat certification. YCat is open to Yoga teachers who have completed their 200-hour training and have one year of Yoga teaching experience as well as health care professionals.* The program was created by the late Jnani Chapman who said, “I created YCat Yoga Therapy programs in 1997 after seeing the many challenges that cancer patients face during treatments, hospitalizations and recovery at home. By introducing appropriately adapted Yoga therapy like YCat, people can reduce the severity of distressing side effects from cancer and treatment. We consistently hear, “I feel so much better.” YCat teachers are trained to understand underlying concepts and physiological rationales of Yoga and cancer in order to meet their students where they are and individualize their sessions and classes safely and authentically.
Disclaimer: YCat is not a Yoga therapy school however, the program has been providing elements of Yoga therapy in its instruction since it began and prior to Yoga therapy being a certified discipline through IAYT. Certified Yoga teachers and certified Yoga therapists can benefit from this specialized training for continuing education in evidence informed practices for Yoga in oncology and chronic illness.
*Pre-requisites:
200hr Yoga teacher training
1 year of teaching experience Completion of Pre Program Assignments

Any Licensed Health Professional(LHP) is welcome to attend all YCat levels.
LHPs will receive a certificate of attendance.
To receive certification of training, LHPs need to complete a 200-hour Yoga teacher training.

Sandra Susheela Gilbert, BA, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500 has been the director of YCat since December 2017 and has spent the last fourteen years as Senior Faculty of YCat and facilitating YCat programs alongside YCat founder, Jnani Chapman. She is a highly recognized Integral Yoga teacher holding advanced training certificates in Stress Management, Integrative and Mind/Body therapies, CancerGuides and Patient Navigation. She has taught for Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation at Beth Israel/Mt. Sinai Medical Center in NYC and taught the YCat curriculum for the Mt. Sinai Breast Health Resource Center and in the Ruttenberg Oncology infusion center. Sandra Susheela has also taught at retreats and training’s for the Omega Institute, for the Center for Mind Body Medicine and for Chai Lifeline. In addition, she was one of the first Urban Zen integrative therapists in practice in NYC for their 2008 initiative and research. Sandra currently teaches in Yoga research and as a research assistant at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, TN. Sandra is appreciated for her patience, presence and dedication in service to those who are going through the experience of cancer and cancer treatment as well as the YCat teachers she trains and mentors. She shares her service through the lens of Yoga and says, “Wherever you are, Yoga is there for you.”

New Beginnings Writing Group
2025-08-22 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-08-08 16:00 - 17:30
Online | $1-15 sliding scale
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Meets twice a month on 2nd and 4th Friday | Ongoing
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.
Upcoming sessions:
Friday, August 8 Book now
Friday, August 22 Book now

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

Integral Yoga Reunion: Celebrating our Unity
2025-08-21 08:00 - 2025-08-25 17:00
In-Person at Yogaville, VA.
Sign up Via Yogaville.org
Exploring Our Interconnected Journey
Join us at Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, for a joyful gathering of hearts and minds as we come together to celebrate our shared journey in Integral Yoga.
This reunion is an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, forge new bonds, and deepen our understanding of the unity that weaves us all together. Through shared practices, discussions, and joyful interactions, we will explore the threads that connect us in love and acceptance.
Let’s gather in the spirit of togetherness to celebrate our collective journey and the divine essence that unites us all.
This Program Offers:

Daily group sadhana schedule
Workshops on yogic lifestyle and philosophy led by senior Integral Yoga practitioners
Intergenerational Dialogue: Bridging experiences across different yoga generations
Evening Community Gatherings including kirtan and inspirational talks
Collective Meditation: Group meditation at the LOTUS shrine
Guided hikes across the beautiful ashram landscape
Delicious, vegetarian meals for a enhanced immune system

What to Expect:
At our Integral Yoga Reunion, you can anticipate a journey of spiritual connection and personal transformation. Our gathering will offer a nurturing, inclusive environment where practitioners of all levels can explore deep meditation, yoga practices, and meaningful community interactions. Expect to engage in heartfelt sharing circles, transformative workshops, and collective sadhana that celebrate our interconnectedness. You’ll experience a blend of introspective practices and joyful community celebrations, designed to honor individual paths while recognizing our shared spiritual path of Integral Yoga. Whether you’re seeking personal growth, healing, or simply a space of unconditional acceptance, this reunion promises to be a transformative experience that weaves together individual threads into a beautiful, collective tapestry of consciousness, love, and understanding.
All Are Welcome:
This Integral Yoga Reunion is a heartfelt gathering that embraces practitioners of all levels and backgrounds, celebrating the diversity of our spiritual community. Whether you are a seasoned Integral Yoga practitioner or a curious newcomer, everyone is welcome to join our event. We believe that every individual, regardless of their yoga experience, has a unique thread to weave into our collective tapestry. Your journey, your experience, and your presence are valued. Come as you are, with an open heart and a willingness to explore, grow, and connect with fellow Integral Yogis from diverse paths and backgrounds.
View Tentative Schedule
Sign Up via Yogaville website
Financial Aid and Equity Discounts are available

Sri Swami Satchidananda's Mahasamadhi Puja
2025-08-19 12:00 - 12:45
Free | Online or in-person
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for a special service in memory of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s passing, Mahasamadhi, a time to come together for blessings and to offer gratitude for guidance and love of our spiritual teacher and a founder of Integral Yoga. A puja (spiritual service) with participatory chanting will be performed. This service will include our noon meditation.

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.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Self-Realization as a Daily Practice
2025-08-17 11:00 - 12:00
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
We often think of self-realization as the goal of Yoga, but what does that truly mean to us? It can remain a vague and distant concept, seemingly disconnected from our daily lives. Join Ramananda for a discussion on how we can free ourselves from the illusion of separation and how our everyday thoughts and actions can become meaningful steps toward realizing our true nature.
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
Swami Yatidharmananda is a globally recognised Yogi from India and is the founder of Swami Chidananda Sevashram. The Sevashram is a Socio-Spiritual Organization dedicated to the life and teachings of Gurudev Swami Chidanandaji. He conducts workshops on Relaxation and Meditation, Sings Kirtans and loves to share inspiring stories of his life transformative journey. He has also developed unique and impactful programs that heal, empower and transform you to tackle challenges in day to day lives. He dedicated himself to the service of his Guru Swami Chidananda Saraswati and was blessed to be with him 24X7 for many years. He had the rare opportunity and blessing to observe one of the greatest saints that left an indelible imprint on his life. In the year 2000, he received Sannyasa Diksha. Having received so much unconditionally, urges him to share this anecdotal wisdom with one and all. In July 2015, he set out on his own and founded Swami Chidananda Sevashram with the blessings of Gurudev Swami Chidananda ji of Sivananda Ashram. It is a monastery for the modern world where people of all ages and backgrounds can live on the principles and practices of Ayurveda for the body, Yoga for the mind and Vedanta for the soul. It also brings together revered teachers from around the world for sharing knowledge and wisdom on various wellness based activities. Since 2016 he has traveled extensively each year to US and Europe for conducting workshops on Relaxation & meditation and conducted Kirtans. Since September 2020 Swami Yatidharmananda is serving as the General Secretary of Swami Sivanand Seva Samiti, and living in the company of Swami Premanandaji and Swami Atmanandaji, the direct disciples of Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj at the Sivananda Ashram, Ganeshpur, Uttarkashi, Himalayas, India. https://sivanandsevasamiti.org/about/swami-yatidharmananda

Kirtan with Mirabai
2025-08-09 19:00 - 20:30
In-person | $20 In advance, use promo code MIRABAI | $25 Day of
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Kirtan, a call-and-response style chanting, 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 is recommended.

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.

Satsang: Poetry Reading
2025-08-02 17:30 - 18:30
Online
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
Join us for an evening of shared poetry that reﬂects the voice of our souls. We will read and discuss that which awakens inspiration, delight and peace in the heart. All are welcome to bring 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.
Everyone is welcome to stay for tea and light snacks afterwards.
Satsang is a special time for us to come together as a community. In Sanskrit, Sat means truth and Sangha means community. Satsang offers an opportunity to come together to share spiritual teachings. The philosophy of Integral Yoga is explored often through an informal discussion. Although our spiritual paths may diverge, the act of sharing spiritual teachings with others is inspiring and creates a solid foundation for continued practice.
People of all faiths are welcome.

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, ERYT-500, YACEP, has been teaching a variety of classes and workshops since 2001 and since 2017 offers yoga therapy sessions privately and at Integral Yoga Therapy Clinic in San Francisco. She has over 15 years of experience in leading and co-teaching Yoga and Meditation teacher trainings. She has been working in the clinical setting for Kaiser Permanente since 2005 as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and health educator. Diana’s focus is on the healing aspects of Yoga on the mind as well as the body by applying the physical postures, practices of breath-control, mindfulness and meditation. Diana helps her clients to find the ability to move through life with increased ease, stress resilience, and intuition. Diana Meltsner works as a programs manager at Integral Yoga Institute, an urban ashram in San Francisco. dianameltsner.com

Celebrating Community; Karma Yoga
2025-08-02 11:00 - 14:00
Free
Book now/In-PersonWe appreciate advance registration.
Join us for a few hours of fun, food, and meaningful connection as we explore how to transform our work into spiritual practice. We’ll begin with a brief talk and discussion on the practice of Karma Yoga, led by Swami Ramananda. This will be followed by an opportunity to support our beautiful building through mindful service—cleaning the Institute’s classrooms, hallways, and outdoor areas with awareness and joy.
We’ll conclude our time together with an extended deep relaxation and a nourishing meal. During the meal, we will honor the dedicated Karma Yogis who have generously supported the Institute over the past few years.
“Work done in the right attitude becomes consecrated; becomes a sacred act. A life consecrated in doing selfless acts will become a divine life.” – Swami Sivananda

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
Kia Meaux. I have been a dedicated student of yoga since 1989 beginning with my first teacher, Richard Freeman in Boulder, CO. I began teaching my alignment-based vinyasa flow classes in 1998 here in San Francisco and then eventually opened my own yoga studio, Kaya Yoga in 2006. Due to Covid I closed my yoga studio in 2022 and currently only teach yoga online. My interest has moved more towards meditation and the practice of deeply contemplating “What Am I? I am currently a Resident of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco where I have the great fortune to manage the daily organization of the house.
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.

Open House: Intermediate Teacher Training
2025-07-31 18:00 - 19:00
ONLINE | Free
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
We invite you to attend this information session to learn more about our ONLINE Intermediate Yoga Teacher Training (ITT) program. You’ll have the opportunity to meet the trainers, explore the curriculum, and ask any questions you may have.
The ITT is a highly interactive training in which we will explore and experience the profound benefits of advanced Yoga practices. Please note that this program does not include instruction in basic teaching methodology.
Our 2025 Intermediate Teacher Training team includes lead trainers Swami Ramananda, Snehan Born, and Letícia Padmasri, with guest trainer Swami Asokananda and senior staff member Raisa Punkki.
We welcome all 200-hour Yoga Alliance-certified teachers from other schools. Completion of this program qualifies you to teach at any Integral Yoga center worldwide.
For over forty years, we have led teacher trainings here in San Francisco. Our experienced faculty use time-tested methods to ensure a high-quality and supportive learning environment. This program is designed to prepare you to teach both in person and online, with dedicated staff providing personalized online coaching throughout the training.
For more details about the Training or to apply please visit: Intermediate Yoga Teacher Training

Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.
He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.
Snehan Born, E-RYT 500, has over four decades of experience with yoga. He resides at the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco, where he teaches yoga classes and is a lead teacher trainer. Snehan is certified in all levels of Integral Yoga Hatha and has received additional certifications in Pranayama, Meditation, Raja Yoga and Stress Management from Integral Yoga. Chanting mantras and playing the harmonium are part of his regular practice and classes. Snehan has lived and traveled extensively within India and practiced with many teachers there. He has taught yoga all over the US as well as in India, Nepal, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Europe.

TRE® – Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises
2025-07-27 10:00 - 12:00
Book now/OnlinePlease register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.
$50 Early bird, use promo code TRE, exp. 7/20
$55 Regular
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 75 countries worldwide.
Originally developed for sufferers of trauma, over the past few decades, TRE is becoming an increasingly popular way to also deal with the stressors of everyday life.
Reported benefits include:

decrease anxiety
release chronic tension
discharge emotional and physical trauma
increase energy and flexibility
improve sleep and mood
decrease of 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 weekly online refresher class that workshop participants can attend by donation.
CEU certificate available upon request from the teacher for psychotherapists and massage therapists.

Maria 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, since 2004, she has taught thousands of people in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 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
