Satsang: Healing the Dis-ease of Busy-ness

Online or in-person | $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 dashboard.

We appreciate advance registration.

It has become the norm to fill our lives with so much activity that we hardly recognize how driven we are, how stressful our lives have become, and how this busy-ness affects us. In today’s culture, our sense of self-esteem is often so closely associated with what we accomplish that we sacrifice our well-being in order to look successful.

In this Satsang, we will review practical tools for slowing down, relieving stress, and being present to what we are doing. We will discuss and initiate long-term strategies to set and maintain priorities in our lives, to make decisions that reflect what we truly value, and to respond skillfully to life’s challenges, maintaining our equilibrium.

Everyone is welcome to share a simple vegetarian meal and tea afterwards. Recommended donation $5-10.

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.

2025-01-20T14:44:42-08:00January 20th, 2025|Tags: , , , |

4 Day Yoga Retreat: Cultivating Joy and Resilience in Uncertain Times

In person at Commonweal Retreat Center, Bolinas, CA – Thursday, APR 3, 5:00 pm – Sunday, APR 6, 12:30pm

Single room: $725 Early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 3/3 | $795 Regular
Shared room $600 (per person) Early bird, use promo code RETREAT, exp. 3/3 | $670 Regular

We appreciate advance registration.

Join Astrud Castillo, Swami Ramananda, and Kamala Itzel Hayward for an in-person 4-day silent retreat focused on cultivating joy and resilience in the face of life’s uncertainties. Through meditative practices, yoga, and sacred silence, we will explore how to meet all of life with presence, openness, and courage.

Set amidst the ocean-side beauty of the sacred ancestral lands of the Coastal Miwok people in Bolinas. The natural surroundings provide a restorative and healing backdrop for our practice.

This retreat includes:

• Yoga classes accessible to all levels of ability and experience
• Guided meditations
• Inspirational evening programs
• Nourishing vegetarian meals
• Free time for walking, resting, or connecting with nature

The entire retreat will be held in silence, offering the rare opportunity to spend an extended period turning inward, accessing the quiet wisdom within.

Space is limited — We hope you join us to experience the transformative power of joy, resilience, and the stillness of silence.


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.

Astrud is a celebrated kirtan wallah and yoga teacher currently living in Los Angeles. She has been sharing the art and practice of kirtan for over two decades and has toured throughout the U.S. and Europe sharing her passion for Mantra Meditation and Bhakti Yoga. Astrud teaches teachers in training the essence of Bhakti and basic harmonium skills. She has been teaching asana infused with Bhakti since 2000. “Astrud’s kirtans immerse the mind in a sea of sacred sound and melt open the heart” -Swami Ramananda. You can find her album Hari Om and other singles on Spotify, and all other music platforms.

Kamala Itzel Hayward was a lawyer for over a decade before becoming a Yoga teacher and Yoga therapist specializing in trauma, addiction, and wellness. She is passionate about bringing Yoga and other healing modalities to adults facing chronic stress caused by living under oppression, such as racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ableism, and more. She is founder of the Integral Yoga Institute’s Scholarship-Based Yoga Teacher Training for Black, Indigenous, People of Color. For the last 12 years, she has been sharing Yoga with individuals facing housing insecurity and related challenges, including systemic barriers; structural oppression; social dislocation; physical, emotional, and mental health challenges; substance abuse; and addiction. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Trauma Prevention and Recovery Certificate Program at the City College of San Francisco.

Maha Shivaratri

Online and In-person | FREE

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.

Please join us for the celebration of Maha Shivaratri, a major festival in Hinduism which marks the remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, bathing, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.

Snehan will lead us through some responsive chanting. We will contemplate Shiva, his attributes and forms as well as the austerities in yoga practice as they relate to the modern time yogis. The program will be concluded with brief service and extended chanting.

You are welcome to join the traditional fasting on this day. After finishing morning practices and bathing, take a vow (Sankalp संकल्प) to observe full day fast, pledging for self-determination throughout the fasting period and seeking blessings of Lord Shiva to finish the fast without any interference. Traditionally, before doing Shiva Puja or visiting temple in the evening, the devotees take a second bath on this day to cleanse themselves. Shiva Puja is done during night and the ardent devotees observe this celebration by staying awake all night. The fast is broken the next day after taking a bath.


Snehan Born, E-RYT 500, has over four decades of experience with yoga. He resides at the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco, where he teaches yoga classes and is a lead teacher trainer. Snehan is certified in all levels of Integral Yoga Hatha and has received additional certifications in Pranayama, Meditation, Raja Yoga and Stress Management from Integral Yoga. Chanting mantras and playing the harmonium are part of his regular practice and classes. Snehan has lived and traveled extensively within India and practiced with many teachers there. He has taught yoga all over the US as well as in India, Nepal, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Japan and Europe.

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.

2024-12-24T21:14:21-08:00December 24th, 2024|Tags: , , , |

Deepening Your Yoga Practice, On and Off the Mat, 3-part course

Online & In-person | $70 | $56 Early bird, use promo code YOGA, exp. 2/6

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

Please review our In-person Safety Guidelines.

Many people struggle to find time for a regular Yoga practice and even when they do, they may not derive the profound benefits that it can offer. Likewise, the teachings and principles of Yoga can be hard to remember and implement when our lives are stressful, and the messages of our culture contradict them at every return. Join Swami Ramananda for this three week course in which we will explore together how to experience maximum benefits from even a short daily Yoga practice on the mat, and how the teachings of Yoga can be integrated into our daily activities.

Session 1 – 2/13: The focus will be on how to correctly approach and refine the practice of Yoga asana and relaxation, and how to lay a foundation for sustainable, spiritual growth. A couple of short asana routines for morning and evening practice will be introduced.

Session 2 – 2/20: The focus will be on the practice of pranayama and how the teachings of Yoga can be integrated into all of our daily activities. We will review specific breathing techniques and their benefits, as well as how and when to practice them, both on and off the mat.

Session 3 – 2/27: The focus will be on deriving maximum benefit from meditation practice by learning what techniques work best for you. We will also explore how each person can customize their personal path to align with their natural inclinations.


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.

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