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.

Open House #2 for 200-Hour BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training 2025

Online | Free

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

Join our live-online Open House to learn more about our third bi-annual scholarship-based 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). In an effort toward dismantling imbalance, IYISF is offering this Yoga Teacher Training in a two-module format: Module 1 with 100% BIPOC teacher trainers and participants and Module 2, for anyone who has taken Module 1 within the past 2 years or yoga teachers who want to certify as an Integral Yoga teacher.

The program’s lead trainers are Mia Velez and Rukmini Ando. The guest trainers in Module 1 are Marc Morozumi and Kamala Damaris Berrio, and in Module 2 Swami Ramananda and Arturo Peal.

Visit our website for more information about the 200-hour BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training.

Our curriculum is based on 40 years of Integral Yoga teacher training tradition coupled with harm-reductive and anti-racist practices. Students will learn skills to become knowledgeable yoga teachers for in-person and online classes.

At the 2 open houses:
⋅ Meet the members of this all-BIPOC teaching staff
⋅ Explore the importance of a program specifically designed to address systemic racism and lack of equity in the yoga community
⋅ Have all of your questions about the training answered

This high-quality training meets the Yoga Alliance standards.

Our 1st open house is being held on Tuesday,February 11, from 5:30–6:30 pm PT.

About our 2-part training:
Module 1, Yoga Immersion Program, provides a strong foundation for personal and spiritual development. Whether you want to teach others or take your own practice to a deeper level, this module will offer an authentic experience of living Yoga which includes well-rounded, in-depth yoga studies. Click to learn more

Module 2, Yoga Teaching Essentials, provides further understanding of Hatha Yoga and a thorough training in developing the skills necessary to become a confident, knowledgeable Integral Yoga instructor. This module has a newly expanded curriculum in anatomy, teaching methodology and professional development. Already certified teachers are welcome to join to refresh or deepen their teaching skills. Click to learn more.

Testimonials:

This has been an amazing journey for me. It has helped me to be more accountable to myself and help me to hone my reflective skills even better.” – Jennifer

“Being in a space with everyone and getting to know everyone on a connected, deeper level, going through an intensive yoga training, and knowing that everyone is connected to you on some level is the most exciting part of the training.” – Rachel

“Feeling the benefits in my life, I’ve noticed my interpersonal relationships have been changing and even my relationship with myself. Those are influences in my life that I owe to this training.” – A.G.


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.

Nathalie Rukmini Ando is a Yoga teacher, trainer, and graphic designer, Brazilian of Japanese descent. She lived in Yogaville, VA, where she served as a Yoga teacher, program development director, leadership team member, online courses administrator, DE&I (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) Committee member, and Anti-Racism Task Force member. She has been practicing Yoga since 2004, teaching since 2010, and has been a Yoga teacher trainer since 2022. She is certified in Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Integral Yoga, Raja Yoga, Adaptive, Stress Management, Yoga of Recovery, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Basics of Ayurveda, and Neuroscience & Yoga. As a teacher, she’s known for her clear instruction and her classes include fun, level-appropriate challenges. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and is a fine artist specializing in oil-on-canvas. You can see her artwork at natiando.art.

Open House for 200-Hour BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training 2025

Online | Free

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

Join our live-online Open House to learn more about our third bi-annual scholarship-based 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). In an effort toward dismantling imbalance, IYISF is offering this Yoga Teacher Training in a two-module format: Module 1 with 100% BIPOC teacher trainers and participants and Module 2, for anyone who has taken Module 1 within the past 2 years or yoga teachers who want to certify as an Integral Yoga teacher.

The program’s lead trainers are Mia Velez and Rukmini Ando. The guest trainers in Module 1 are Marc Morozumi and Kamala Damaris Berrio, and in Module 2 Swami Ramananda and Arturo Peal.

Visit our website for more information about the 200-hour BIPOC Yoga Teacher Training.

Our curriculum is based on 40 years of Integral Yoga teacher training tradition coupled with harm-reductive and anti-racist practices. Students will learn skills to become knowledgeable yoga teachers for in-person and online classes.

At the 2 open houses:
⋅ Meet the members of this all-BIPOC teaching staff
⋅ Explore the importance of a program specifically designed to address systemic racism and lack of equity in the yoga community
⋅ Have all of your questions about the training answered

This high-quality training meets the Yoga Alliance standards.

We also offer a 2nd Open House on Tuesday, March 25, from 5:30–6:30 pm PT.

About our 2-part training:
Module 1, Yoga Immersion Program, provides a strong foundation for personal and spiritual development. Whether you want to teach others or take your own practice to a deeper level, this module will offer an authentic experience of living Yoga which includes well-rounded, in-depth yoga studies. Click to learn more

Module 2, Yoga Teaching Essentials, provides further understanding of Hatha Yoga and a thorough training in developing the skills necessary to become a confident, knowledgeable Integral Yoga instructor. This module has a newly expanded curriculum in anatomy, teaching methodology and professional development. Already certified teachers are welcome to join to refresh or deepen their teaching skills. Click to learn more.

Testimonials:

This has been an amazing journey for me. It has helped me to be more accountable to myself and help me to hone my reflective skills even better.” – Jennifer

“Being in a space with everyone and getting to know everyone on a connected, deeper level, going through an intensive yoga training, and knowing that everyone is connected to you on some level is the most exciting part of the training.” – Rachel

“Feeling the benefits in my life, I’ve noticed my interpersonal relationships have been changing and even my relationship with myself. Those are influences in my life that I owe to this training.” – A.G.


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.

Nathalie Rukmini Ando is a Yoga teacher, trainer, and graphic designer, Brazilian of Japanese descent. She lived in Yogaville, VA, where she served as a Yoga teacher, program development director, leadership team member, online courses administrator, DE&I (Diversity Equity and Inclusion) Committee member, and Anti-Racism Task Force member. She has been practicing Yoga since 2004, teaching since 2010, and has been a Yoga teacher trainer since 2022. She is certified in Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Integral Yoga, Raja Yoga, Adaptive, Stress Management, Yoga of Recovery, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Basics of Ayurveda, and Neuroscience & Yoga. As a teacher, she’s known for her clear instruction and her classes include fun, level-appropriate challenges. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and is a fine artist specializing in oil-on-canvas. You can see her artwork at natiando.art.

Sunday Spiritual Talk: Radically Unselfish

$5-$20 | Enroll for free, use promo code FREE.

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

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observed that, “The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land; confusion all around,” then immediately following, he also said, “that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” Those words continue to be relevant today. Dr. King himself was beaten, stabbed and even jailed almost 30 times. Still, he continued on this path because he believed he could make a difference. Imagine if the rest of us took up even a fraction of that kind of commitment. Using the guidance of the Yoga Sutras, let’s come together for an hour long discussion to figure out what meaningful and sustainable action looks like today and bring the light of truth to overcome ignorance.

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.


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.

2024-12-16T18:35:48-08:00December 11th, 2024|Tags: , , , , , |
Go to Top