Following the Call to Remember

by Kamala Itzel Hayward

Yoga teaches us that the journey inward and the journey outward are not separate. Just one moment of turning our attention to the breath, the body, and the presence alive in this moment can evoke a feeling of deep belonging — not just to ourselves, but to all of life.

Our practice also reminds us that healing and liberation are not only personal experiences, but collective ones. Our peace, our freedom, and our joy are inextricably tied to everything else — woven through family, community, ancestry, and the Earth.

Deepening your Yoga practice is a way to live in remembrance of this wholeness. Whether through mindful movement, breathwork, reflection, connecting with ancestral roots, or being in relationship with the land, Yoga guides us again and again toward an embodied understanding that no part of life is outside the Divine.

Sometimes, that remembering calls us deeper into our own neighborhoods, communities, and homes. And sometimes, it calls us across the world — to places that reflect something sacred back to us, revealing what we didn’t even know we were longing for. Ghana is one of those places. For those who arrive with openness and humility, it offers a profound sense of connection, transformation, and remembrance.

On Saturday, June 14, we invite you to a special gathering:

Returning to Remember: An Invitation to Ghana — a free event being held both in person and online. Kamala Itzel Hayward will guide a short, gentle Yoga practice centered on breath, movement, and reflection — practices to support reconnection with ourselves and begin opening the inner pathways that support ancestral healing. Eunice Busby, founder of West2West Travel, will share the inspiration behind the Rest and Remember Yoga and cultural retreat Eunice and Itzel are co-hosting in Ghana this September — a journey rooted in remembrance, community, and deep healing.

Whether you’re considering attending the September retreat or are simply curious to learn more, all are warmly welcome. In-person attendees will receive a small gift brought back from Ghana by Eunice with love. (Please pre-register so Eunice knows how many gifts to bring.)

This gathering is not just an introduction — it’s an offering in itself, rooted in the same spirit of reverence, remembrance, and community that anchors the Rest and Remember retreat. We hope this gathering offers a moment of reconnection — to yourself, your ancestors, and the possibilities of healing in community.

👉🏾 Click here to register.

👉🏾 Click here to learn more about the September retreat.

2025-06-12T13:25:43-07:00June 12th, 2025|Tags: , , , , |

Gentle Yoga

Online & In-person | $10-30 sliding scale –Class passes & memberships are accepted.

Please register in advance; a Zoom link will be emailed 1 hour before the session, or join Zoom directly via your Momence dashboard.

We appreciate advance registration.

This class is suitable for beginners, seniors, and individuals with injuries, disabilities, or illnesses – or anyone seeking a gentler experience. It consists of warm-ups both in a chair and standing, followed by modified traditional vinyasa with the chair for support. The class concludes with relaxation, breathing, and meditation, promoting holistic benefits for overall well-being.
Everyone is welcome to attend, either in-person or online. A sturdy chair and a blanket will be used during the practice.

Afternoon of Yoga at IYISF in celebration of International Day of Yoga & Summer Solstice.

Pacific times | online & in-person:

2:00-3:30 pm – Enlighten Up: How to Enjoy the Spiritual Path with Swamis Asokananda & Ramananda
3:45-4:45 pm – Freeing Your Yoga Practice – mixed level with Raisa Punkki
3:45-4:45 pm – Gentle Yoga class with Kayko Watanabe
5:00-6:00 pm – Light Immersion with Subtle Practices with Diana Meltsner

All levels of practice are welcome. All programs are available for individual sign up online or in-person at a sliding scale pricing.

All proceeds will help us sustain our mission:
“The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco, founded by Sri Swami Satchidananda, is a non-profit, interfaith organization dedicated to serving the community through living and sharing the classical teachings of Yoga, making the teachings accessible, and cultivating peace and harmony among all people.”


Kayko Watanabe, C-IAYT, has been a part of the Integral Yoga Institute (IYI) community for more than two decades. She completed Basic Teacher Training at IYI and obtained her RYT 200 certification in the spring of 2019, followed by RYT500 in 2021. Kayko is dedicated to giving back to the community of San Francisco and beyond by teaching yoga as a form of Karma yoga practice, which is a selfless service. She strives to create a safe and nurturing environment for her students while also making sure they have fun. She strongly believes in the concept of “yoga for all” and is passionate about providing accessible yoga to people with age-related ailments, limited mobility, and chronic illnesses. She is a certified yoga therapist and has received training in anatomy & physiology, psychology & mental health, as well as Yoga for Arthritis® founded by Dr. Steffany Moonaz, and Yoga Therapy in Cancer & Chronic Illness (YCat) spearheaded by Jnani Chapman of the Commonweal Cancer Help Program. When not teaching at IYI, Kayko leads therapeutic yoga classes for local senior centers and community-based public health services while working privately with small groups and individuals. She also offers Hatha classes in the Japanese language, introducing Integral Yoga to the Japanese community in the Bay Area. You can learn more about Kayko’s offerings at kaykowatanabe.com

2025-05-21T10:27:33-07:00April 7th, 2025|Tags: , , , |
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