Kirtan: The Mantra Magic
Saturday July 11
7pm - 8pm
IN-PERSON with Dr. Arathi Sethumadhavan
Immerse yourself in the soulful practice of Kirtan, a profound musical meditation and communal chanting experience harmoniously centered on sacred mantras. We welcome everyone who is seeking a spiritual and uplifting environment. Absolutely no prior chanting experience is necessary. All are wholeheartedly invited to partake in this ‘by donation’ event.
About: Arathi‘s connection with sacred sounds began in her formative years, rooted in Carnatic music training and a decade-long immersion in Sanskrit. Having sung hymns and songs throughout her life, she is thrilled to delve into the vibrant joy and shared experience of kirtan with you. In her professional life, Arathi partners with some of the world’s best musicians, filmmakers, and creatives to cocreate AI tools that empower their artistic endeavors.
We appreciate advance registration.
Integral Yoga Institute San Francisco
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A non-profit organization dedicated to serving the community through living and sharing the classica
Connect with a vibrant community dedicated to the classical teachings of Yoga.
Satsang: The Maturation of Spiritual Practice: Moving from State to Trait
Saturday July 11
11:30am - 12:30pm
Online
with Rich Panico, MD and Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500
Join Rich Panico and Swami Ramananda for an inspiring exploration of how spiritual practice can truly mature and bear fruit in our lives. Together, we will reflect on how to deepen our efforts, sustain inner vigilance, and cultivate a way of living that supports genuine awakening. Through this process, the moments of peace and clarity we experience in practice can gradually ripen into steady, enduring qualities—transforming not just what we feel in meditation, but how we live each day.
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.
Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing
Sunday July 19
3:30pm - 5:30pm
In-Person
• with Rachel Jennine Goudey, Psy.D., C-IAYT and PJ Church, RYT-500
Therapeutic Yoga and Sound Healing are remedies for the challenges of our stressful times, and blends restorative yoga with guided breathwork and sound healing. Accompanied by the healing sounds of various instruments, you will be gently guided to relax into postures that allow for deep relaxation and restoration of the entire body including tight muscles, restricted fascia, overstimulated nervous systems, and an overactive or out of balanced mind, resetting and restoring a natural rhythm to your whole being. The practice creates a calm, supportive and nurturing environment in which you can relax and let go, allowing the innate wisdom of your body to naturally restore balance and well-being. Whether you just need to decompress from stress, recover from injury or if you’re dealing with chronic illness, this workshop will help your body, mind and spirit to relax, rejuvenate, and heal.
No prior yoga experience is necessary. All props are provided.
Please register in advance, space is limited. Thank you!
integralyogasf.org
770 Dolores Street
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Introduction to Yin: The History, Philosophy & Function, Part 1 of 3
3 Tuesdays, July 14, 21 & 28, offered individually
6:00pm - 7:15pm PDT
ONLINE
with Tricia Prajna Richardson, E-RYT-200, RYT-500, YACEP
Step into the rich and subtle world of Yin Yoga with Tricia Prajna Richardson, a certified Yin Yoga and Integral Yoga teacher. This three-part series offers a thoughtful and experiential exploration of Yin—blending history, philosophy, and embodied practice.
Each 75-minute session weaves together engaging presentation, meaningful discussion, and guided Yin practice. Come prepared with your mat, blocks, bolsters, and blankets, and allow yourself to settle into a deeper, more receptive way of practicing.
Session Overview:
July 14 – Discover the roots of Yin Yoga, from ancient traditions to its modern evolution, and explore the anatomy of Yin along with the meeting points of Indian and Chinese energy systems.
July 21 – Dive into the foundations of Daoism and Chinese medicine, including the five elements, organ systems, and the flow of energy through the meridians.
July 28 – Explore how to skillfully integrate Yin into your life and practice—when and how to practice, important cautions, and the power of subtle awareness.
Join for a single session or immerse yourself in the full series. All sessions will be recorded and shared with enrolled students for 2 weeks.
Ideal for: Curious students, dedicated practitioners, and teachers seeking to deepen their understanding of Yin Yoga, differentiate it from restorative practices, and explore the bridge between yogic wisdom, Daoist philosophy, and Eastern approaches to healing.
IYISF.org
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Raja Yoga Teacher Training Open House
Saturday July 18 • 8am - 9am Pacific Daylight Time
Online • Free
• Swami Divyananda Ma, E-RYT 500
• Sue Evans, MBA/MHA, C-IAYT, E-CYT
Join Swami Divyananda and Sue Evans in a FREE info session about the upcoming online 2-part Raja Yoga Teacher Training.
Part 1: September 30, 2026 – December 12 (no 11/28)
Part 2: February 27 – April 3, 2027
Wednesdays: 5 – 7:30 pm PT
Saturdays: 8–12 pm, 1:15–3:30 pm PT
Raja Yoga provides a practical approach to health and balance in all aspects of life: physical, mental, social and spiritual. It proposes a pathway to relieve suffering, which is the goal of all the great wisdom traditions, and the practical goal of Yoga teaching and therapy.
This is a natural next step in learning for those who completed 200-hour Yoga teacher training from any Yoga tradition and will give teachers practical tools on how to share these ancient teachings in these modern times.
For more information about the upcoming training: Raja Yoga Teacher Training go IYISF.org
If you’re unable to attend this informational open house, we’re hosting second one – Wednesday, August 19 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm PDT • ONLINE with Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500 & Kealoha Deluz, PhD.
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06/25/2026
If I had to summarize the ultimate purpose behind all the teachings and practices of Yoga, I would say it is 1) to experience the spiritual presence within, the ground of being that we all share. 2) to learn to act in the world with love and compassion in our hearts.
In this context, loving others cannot be made into a business deal. It is a natural flow of compassion that arises from knowing our oneness.
The Sufi mystic, Hafiz, beautifully put it this way:
“Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,
"You owe me."
Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.”
06/22/2026
Meditation Evolves in Stages
The beginning stage of meditation is called Dharana, or concentration, which refers to the process of bringing the mind back again and again to our intended object. As we practice regularly, we gradually learn to sustain our focus, withdrawing our mental energy from dwelling on other thoughts, an effort that requires patience and persistence. The other practices of a typical Integral Yoga class - asanas, deep relaxation, and pranayama - act as a preparation for Dharana, stabilizing the body and building up the energy that is needed to begin controlling the subtle, mental level.
Sri Swami Satchidananda uses the analogy of a rocket propelling itself beyond the pull of gravity to convey how we must refrain from wasting energy, eliminate physical toxins and reduce mental tension to build up the strength and clarity to free ourselves from identifying completely with the thoughts. We always have thoughts and feelings, but they do not have to govern our experience of life.
When a one-pointed focus is sustained, then we reach what Patanjali calls Dhyana, or meditation. Here one really begins to experience some stillness in the mind and see whatever we meditate on with real clarity. When the mental level is quieted sufficiently, it can experience the even more subtle spiritual aspect of our being that is normally drowned out by all the “busy-ness” in the mind.
Finally, when even that one-pointed meditation is sustained, Samadhi is attained. At this stage, there is a complete experience of our spiritual consciousness and a sense of oneness with all of creation. The inner Light or true Self shines forth unobstructed into the serene mind, illuminating it with wisdom and deep peace.
Even though this final stage may seem distant to us, all the other preliminary aspects of Yoga can be practiced regularly, by anyone of any background or faith. Together, they form a firm foundation for spiritual growth and bring benefits to all aspects of our lives: our health, our mental and emotional stability, our ability to focus on tasks and to be clear in our relationships with others. Most importantly, they help us to experience ourselves as more than just the body/mind and give us access to the deep, peaceful ocean of Spirit within that can, with regular practice, become a source of tremendous healing and guidance.
06/16/2026
I really appreciate these words from a contemporary Buddhist teacher. I also find that tuning into the sensations in the body and realigning my posture helps me ground my attention in the present and also ensures I am not unconsciously holding physical tension as I sit to meditate. The mind always has a story and readily flits into the past and future, while the body simply is as it is in the present moment, without comment.
“I used to think that taming and training the mind was key to meditative states such as stillness, stability, and peace. But over time, I've come to discover something surprising: the body may be our most overlooked resource when it comes to learning how to focus and to become calm, even when it comes to enlightenment itself. I started to experience my body as the most powerful ally in a deep and meaningful spiritual practice. When the world is spinning, when my thoughts are tumbling, when my emotions are raging, the body is reliably present and stable. The breath is breathing, my feet are grounded. Sometimes it can feel as if our thoughts are so loud, we cannot hear the symphony of our present moment experience above the din of thoughts. But as soon as we pay attention to the body, we discover a fresh and full field of feeling that brings with it vividness, openness, and the taste of nonconceptual space.”
-Lama Willa Blythe Baker
Founder and spiritual director of the Natural Dharma Fellowship in Boston, lineage holder of Tibetan Buddhism
Kirtan with Acharya Mangalananda
Saturday June 27
7:00pm - 8:30pm
In-Person
Chanting mantras and prayers are key elements of the Bhakti Yoga path, which leads to union with Divine Consciousness. Chanting calms the nerves, purifies the emotions, heals the body, and opens the heart. It elevates and concentrates the mind, preparing one for silent mantra repetition, meditation, and communion with the Divine. When done with a devotional attitude, chanting lifts the emotions toward selfless, divine love
About Acharya Mangalananda:
He has learned by deep immersion the traditional spiritual music of India. His kirtan is couched in the mystical ragas of India and is full of the lively ecstatic joy of the Divine Names. Mangalananda has toured extensively throughout India, Europe and the USA, presenting kirtan concerts, yoga classes and workshop retreats. He is an Acharya (an appointed Spiritual Teacher) of Ma Anandamayi Ashram in Omkareshwar / Indore in the lineage of Sri Anandamayi Ma.Acharya Mangalananda began his spiritual life in 1972 under the guidance of Swami Satchidananda, a direct disciple of Swami Sivananda. After an inner experience with Anandamayi Ma, the great woman Saint mentioned in Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi”, with Sw. Satchidananda’s permission, he went to India to find her. He travelled with her in India during 1973 and ’74, receiving mantra Initiation from her. He has been since living within her Lineage with some of her great disciples in ashrams in the US and India. In 2001, he was sent back to India by Ma’s main Swami, Sw. Bhaskarananda to help start a school in one of her ashrams. He lived in Central India for twelve years, teaching in this school and also traveling within India extensively. From 2007 to 2013, the Ashram sent him yearly to Europe and the US to present kirtan concerts and classes. In 2013, he returned to the US and lives in the San Francisco area, where he presents programs and hosts an online worldwide Matri Satsang group. He is an appointed Acharya (Lineage Teacher) of Ma Sharanam Ashram in India. He is the author of the book “A Goddess Among Us” which has been translated and published into five different languages. He is on the Board of Directors of the Shri Anandamayi Ma Ashram and Temple in Massachusetts and is a guest speaker and musician at Satchidananda Ashram/Yogaville, as well as at Sivananda Yoga Farm and Sivananda Bahama.
See you there
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06/11/2026
How to Deepen Meditation Practice
Deepening a meditation practice requires more than simply sitting for longer periods of time. A truly effective practice depends on cultivating a sufficient level of refined energy. This energy expresses itself as alertness, mental clarity, willpower, conviction, and discrimination. These qualities make it possible to step back from the powerful stream of thoughts, emotions, and personal stories that continually capture our attention. Without them, we can remain absorbed in our mental patterns without even recognizing it—much like becoming engrossed in a mediocre movie and only later realizing that it was not worth the time and attention we gave it.
One of the most important ways to strengthen meditation is through conscious prioritization. The quality of our practice is deeply influenced by how we invest our energy throughout the day. Reflect on what you truly value and consider creating a personal mission statement that helps align your choices with your deepest aspirations. When our daily actions are guided by clear intentions, the mind becomes less fragmented and more available for inner work.
Lifestyle also plays a significant role in supporting meditation. The many choices we make regarding diet, sleep, work, entertainment, and social interactions all affect the quality of our energy and attention. Paying attention to the effects of stimulants such as coffee, excess sugar, overeating, or poor sleep can reveal obstacles to deeper practice. Cultivating pratyahara—the ability to withdraw attention from unnecessary sensory stimulation—helps conserve mental energy and creates the inner quiet needed for meditation to flourish.
Inspiration is another essential ingredient. Reading spiritual books, studying uplifting teachings, and sharing your journey with a trusted practice partner can renew enthusiasm and remind you of the deeper purpose behind your efforts. Equally important is the preparation that precedes meditation. Often, more progress comes from skillful preparation than from simply extending the sitting itself. Practices such as pranayama, a brief seated Yoga Nidra, reaffirming a heartfelt intention, or offering a prayer for guidance and support can help settle the mind and open the heart. Since willpower alone is often no match for deeply rooted emotions and attachments, calling upon a deeper source of strength can be invaluable.
Different approaches to meditation may be helpful at different times. The path of Raja Yoga emphasizes patient, step-by-step refocusing of attention and the cultivation of concentration and pratyahara. Bhakti Yoga invites us to surrender our burdens, offer them to the Divine, and rest in trust. Jnana Yoga encourages inquiry and observation—labeling thoughts, noticing recurring patterns, examining self-talk, and ultimately becoming aware of the awareness that observes all experience. Karma Yoga transforms practice into an offering, where meditation is motivated by a sincere desire to serve and benefit others.
Finally, every meditation practice benefits from periodic renewal. Participating in group meditations, attending workshops or retreats, practicing silence for part of a day, fasting moderately when appropriate, or occasionally extending the length of your sittings can provide a powerful boost. Having a friend, mentor, or practice companion with whom you can share insights, challenges, and encouragement can also make a tremendous difference. Meditation deepens most naturally when it is supported by an intentional lifestyle, inspired effort, and a community of shared aspiration.
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