Spring Into Action: A BIPOC scholarship fundraiser
This half-day BIPOC wellness retreat is a fundraiser for IYISF BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training Scholarship Fund, providing affordable Yoga training for BIPOC folx.
Presented by
in collaboration with 
Management Leadership for Tomorrow
In-person – $80-120 sliding scale | We appreciate advance registration.
As the natural world awakens for Spring, we are reminded of the vitality that comes after a period of dormancy. If you are experiencing distress from current times, join us and realize your potential. Connect to the power of rest, vision, and movement in community with Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC) folx.
Why BIPOC only? Creating BIPOC spaces isn’t an attempt to exclude our White brothers and sisters. Space is limited (30), so we want to ensure space for those who have been historically / systemically left out. BIPOC folx, this event is for you! Come, and let the healing vibes ripple out to your surroundings – creating a ripple of change.
What’s included:
• Yoga
• Vision session with group reflections
• Sound baths
• Drum circle
• Snacks, dinner, tea & mock-tails
IYI San Francisco recognizes the structural and institutional racism in Yoga and wellness communities, and acknowledges the lack of diverse representation in our Yoga classes. We believe that by encouraging a diverse range of teaching voices, safe spaces can be created where all students can feel represented and welcomed. Please join these ongoing efforts by your attendance or by donation.
Mia Velez, E-RYT 500, entered the Integral Yoga Sangha in 2016 through the kitchen by helping to cook Thursday community lunches and silent retreat meals. In 2018 she was certified as an Integral Yoga teacher to learn more of the IYI approach and be part of the lineage. Mia is a disciple of the Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu lineage and is highly influenced by her martial arts training. After completing her first 200-hour teacher training in 2008, she began to see undeniable parallels in Yoga and Kung Fu. When she began teaching Kung Fu in 2014, she incorporated Yoga insight and principles in her classes. Her goal in teaching is to connect with the students and to facilitate a safe space for exploration and self-inquiry. Yoga and Kung Fu are integrated into her daily life as a mother, a preschool teacher, and an advocate for gender, race, and class equality through multiple non-profit groups.
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.
Celeste Fa’ai’uaso has over a decade of professional experience, including leadership coaching, strategy consulting, social impact, and big tech. She earned her MBA at UC Berkeley and her BS from MIT. Celeste has designed and facilitated leadership and DEI programs at UC Berkeley, Google, and Waymo.
Dominique dela Cola (Bio coming soon)
April Leung is an herbalist and wellness enthusiast with over a decade in the health space. Born and raised in San Francisco, she earned her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from San Francisco State University. With a passion for empowering everyday people to live healthier, more vibrant lives, April blends herbal wisdom with practical nutrition to make wellness accessible and fun. She’s committed to helping others feel their best—naturally—and has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
