Scripture Study: Raja Yoga – Keys to Sustainable Growth, 3 of 3-part

Online | $5-15 sliding scale | 3-part series, each session offered individually
Free for active IYISF teachers

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

3 Mondays, from 6:00 – 7:00pm:

Part 1 – March 24
Part 2 – March 31
Part 3 – April 7

It can be fascinating to research and grasp the meaning of the Yoga Sutras, but unless we find ways to embody these principles in daily life, we only scratch the surface of the benefits held within the words. In this series, we will explore 4 specific methods to deepen our personal experience of selected sutras and take concrete steps toward sustainable personal growth. We will use a system of reminders, guided reflection, and group support to bring these principles into a lived experience.

The Yoga Scripture Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages, 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.


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.

Scripture Study: Raja Yoga – Keys to Sustainable Growth, 2 of 3-part

Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Part 2 of 3-part series, each session offered individually
Free for active IYISF teachers

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

3 Mondays, from 6:00 – 7:00pm:

Part 1 – March 24
Part 2 – March 31
Part 3 – April 7

It can be fascinating to research and grasp the meaning of the Yoga Sutras, but unless we find ways to embody these principles in daily life, we only scratch the surface of the benefits held within the words. In this series, we will explore 4 specific methods to deepen our personal experience of selected sutras and take concrete steps toward sustainable personal growth. We will use a system of reminders, guided reflection, and group support to bring these principles into a lived experience.
The Yoga Scripture Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages, 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.


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.

Scripture Study: The Wisdom and Beauty of the Upanishads, 3 of 3-part

Online | $5-15 sliding scale | Each session offered individually

3 consecutive Mondays ⋅ 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Monday, FEB 3
Monday, FEB 10
Monday, FEB 17

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

Sri Aurobindo said that the Upanishads are the supreme work of the Indian mind and are the highest expression of its genius. In its beautiful poetry and profound stories the Upanishads explore the great questions of the human condition: what is the nature of the true Self, how do we overcome suffering and find happiness, and what is the purpose of life? In these sessions we will explore the history of the Upanishads, examine some of the main Upanishads, and discuss these great questions.

The Yoga Scripture Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages, 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.


Gary Kissiah was introduced to Eastern philosophy in college when he discovered the writings of Alan Watts which led to studies in Zen and Zen-inspired poetry. Gary found yoga in 2000 and has a Certificate of Yoga Philosophy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He has studied yoga at Esalen Institute, Parmarth Niketan Ashram, and Satchidananda Ashram.

Gary published his first book entitled: “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali- Illuminations Through Image, Commentary and Design.” The book provides a new approach to studying and living the Yoga Sutras by using imagery, poetry and quotation to illuminate the heart of the Sutras. Gary Kissiah also has practiced corporate law for over 20 years. After Gary’s book on the Yoga Sutras was published, he began to get speaking invitations and teaches workshops on yoga philosophy, ethics and law for Yoga teacher training programs. Gary was on a Yoga Alliance Committee that drafted a new Code of Conduct and was on the Board of Directors of the Integral Yoga Institute-San Francisco.

Scripture Study: Abiding by the True Self, part 3 of 3

Online | $5-15 sliding scale

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

How does the Yoga Sutras guide us to discover our true selves? In a society bound by overarching institutions of bondage and destruction, the Yoga Sutras provide a map to the real purpose for this life. By honestly dissecting our reliance on oppressive systems, we can discover how we perpetuate them. Join Mia Velez in this 3-part series to delve into the Yoga Sutras and discover our path to liberation.
The Yoga Scripture Study series is an offering in which participants learn and discuss how the teachings of Yoga apply to our daily lives. We read passages, 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.

Each session offered individually:


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.

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