Satsang: Facing Adversity
ONLINE & IN-PERSON with Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500 & Muktidevi Kristine Demafeliz, E-RYT 200, RYT 500
$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.
At different moments in life, we all encounter experiences that feel overwhelming or traumatic. In those times, we may feel lost, discouraged, or unsure how to move forward—especially when facing disability, chronic illness, anxiety, or grief.
In this Satsang, SF IYI teachers, Muktidevi and Ramananda, will share how the teachings and practices of Yoga have supported them in meeting adversity with courage and care. Together, we will explore the importance of self-compassion, inner steadiness, and discernment, and how these qualities help us make wise choices even in difficult circumstances.
With guidance and shared reflection, we can begin to see that life’s challenges—however painful—can become opportunities to deepen our connection to the unchanging source of strength and peace within.
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.
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.
Muktidevi Kristine Demafeliz, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, is a passionate and dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher. Born and raised in San Francisco, Muktidevi has been embracing the practice of yoga for nearly two decades. Her journey into yoga began with the guidance of her mentor, Tony Garcia, through the SFO Airport’s Wellness Program in 2012. Tony encouraged her to pursue yoga teacher training, which she completed in the Integral Yoga® tradition. She holds certifications in Basic Hatha I, Intermediate Hatha II, Accessible Yoga (Gentle), and Mindful Resilience Training through the Veterans Yoga Project, enabling her to teach trauma-informed yoga. Recently, she graduated from Meditation Teacher Training. Her passion for continuous learning drives her to pursue further training, such as Yoga For First Responders, which aligns with her role as the Wellness Program Coordinator for the San Francisco Police Department. Muktidevi mentors and supports teacher trainees and newly certified teachers, helping them grow and develop on their yogic path. Yoga has profoundly impacted and transformed her life, and she genuinely believes it is a saving grace for all. Despite living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for 28 years, Muktidevi continues to utilize the mindfulness practices to navigate through life’s challenges and adversities.
