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Enlightening Moments: From a First Meeting in 1966 to a Lifetime of Guidance
I’m sure that many of Swami Satchidananda's (Gurudev’s) followers have had enlightening moments in his presence and their personal relationship. As I reflect on the 60 years since his arrival in New York, here are a few of mine. On that auspicious day in 1966 when we...
A Sacred Tapestry: The Spiritual Roots of Integral Yoga
This month, in place of our regular installment of “Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey,” we turn to the spiritual lineage that shaped Sri Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev) before he arrived in America in July 1966. As we celebrate Guru Poornima, we also mark 60 years...
Brotherhood Beyond Boundaries: The Profound Friendship of Br. David Steindl-Rast and Swami Satchidananda
There are friendships that transcend the limitations of time, culture, and tradition—friendships that seem destined, woven into the very fabric of life’s unfolding story. Such was the deep and abiding bond between Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB, and Sri Swami...
LOTUS at Forty: The Light That Welcomes Every Path
In July 1986, during the International Year of Peace, a luminous vision took form in the rolling hills of central Virginia. On July 20, spiritual leaders, dignitaries, devotees, neighbors, and seekers gathered at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville for the dedication of...
“How I Came to the West”: Sri Swami Satchidananda in His Own Words
Editor’s note: On July 31, 1966, Sri Swami Satchidananda arrived in New York City for what was expected to be a brief visit. Sixty years later, and as we also mark the 40th anniversary of the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS), we revisit Sri Gurudev’s own...
LOTUS 40th Anniversary Celebration: September 2026
Join us at Satchidananda Ashram—Yogaville to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Light of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) September 4-6, 2026. This weekend is a time to come together and renew our commitment to the universal message of LOTUS dedicated to the Light of...
Working with Our Fears
Nalanie Chellaram, founder of Service in Satchidananda and one of Integral Yoga's master teachers, asks the question: What do you fear - Death? Sickness? Having no money? In this, the first in a video series, Nalanie discusses some of the different fears we may have,...
A Bridge of Wisdom and Compassion: Remembering Tenzin Robert A.F. Thurman
With deep respect and gratitude, we join the many communities around the world mourning the passing of Tenzin Robert A.F. Thurman—beloved scholar, teacher, translator, activist, and longtime friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Professor Robert Thurman passed away...
Meditation Teacher Training – August 2026
Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville will host a Meditation Teacher Training with Swami Karunananda, E-RYT 500, Swami Priyaananda, E-RYT 500 and Satyam Penn, Ph.D. from August 10 - 23, 2026. Swami Satchidananda said: “Meditation is the most important practice. Most of our...
Raja Yoga Teacher Training – September 2026
Join the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco for a 2-part Raja Yoga Teacher Training with trainers Swami Ramananda and Swami Divyananda Date and Times (PDT) Part 1: September 30, 2026 – December 12 and Part 2: February 27 – April 3, 2027. For Yoga teachers, Yoga...
Grief and Healing with Nalanie Chellaram
Recently, Integral Yoga master teacher and center head Nalanie Chellaram was in conversation with Amber Bishop Garcia,host of the holistic series "Activate with Amber" on GBC (Gibratar's public service broadcaster). In this powerful conversation on grief and healing...
Yoga Sutras: Which Magical Power Would You Choose?
snihyanti jantavo nityaṃ vairiṇo ‘pi parasparam | api svārthakṛte sāmyabhājaḥ sādhoḥ prabhāvataḥ || स्निह्यन्ति जन्तवो नित्यं वैरिणोऽपि परस्परम् । अपि स्वार्थकृते साम्यभाजः साधोः प्रभावतः ॥ Living beings, even eternal enemies (like the snake and mongoose), feel...
Peacemakers Podcast: Bernie Glassman Roshi on 60 Years of Practice
The late great Bernie Glassman was a Zen Buddhist Roshi, interfaith and social activist. He and Integral Yoga founder Swami Satchidananda were very close collaborators and shared many platforms together. In this episode of the Peacemakers Podcast, Bernie Glassman...
Spiritual Luminaries Series: Sri Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda arrived in Chicago at age thirty as a delegate to the World’s Parliament of Religions. It was the first such parliament and might have been the last if the “handsome monk in the orange robe,” as one writer described him, had not made it memorable. He...
Moving Beyond Gratitude to Living Gratefully
Living gratefully is the stance we take when confronting adversity. It is the deep knowledge that what is before us may not be desired, but we can control our response despite whatever chaos is around us. It’s easy to give thanks when you are pleased with what is...
How Saru Sivanesan Overcame Intergenerational Trauma To Find Healing As An Adult
As a child, however, Saru could not fully understand what was happening. The conflicts between his parents were both simple and complicated, involving disputes over dowry and interference from extended family, creating a perfect storm when the world outside his home...
Integral Yoga 60th Anniversary Merch!
Honor 60 years of Integral Yoga with this special Diamond Jubilee design featuring Sri Swami Satchidananda alongside his beloved Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda. From t-shirts to water bottles to and travel mugs – each item honors the Diamond Jubilee (1966-2026) of Integral...
Questions & Answers with Swami Sarvapriyananda: Atman & Anatman?
At the Vedanta Society of New York, Swami Sarvapriyananda recently addressed various topics including: How to understand Advaita’s Atman and the Buddhist doctrine of no-self? After enlightenment, why might one still show anger or other ordinary human reactions? How...
The World Is Crying Out for Pratyahara – It Just Doesn’t Know It
I’ll be honest with you. Pratyahara isn’t a word I use often in class. Funny way to open when it’s literally in the title but stick with me. I was introduced to it during my Yoga teacher training, the fifth limb of Patanjali’s Eight Limbs, the withdrawal of the senses...
Yoga Beyond the Pose
Somewhere along the way, Yoga became something we do – 60 minutes on a mat, a few breaths, a few shapes. But Yoga was never meant to fit neatly into an hour of your day. It was meant to shape your day and your way of being. The asanas (poses) are only one small...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 28: Upanishad Vihar and the Call of the Self
After his years of disciplined training at Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam and his time of hands-on service with Sri Bhikshu Swamigal in the nature cure camps, Sambasivam Chaitanya’s journey began to move in another direction. The earlier stages had shaped him through...
Svadhyaya: The Study of Spiritual Teachings
Svadhyaya is the sacred practice of self-study through spiritual teachings. More than simply reading spiritual texts, svadhyaya invites us to seek wisdom that reveals our deepest nature, and then to bring that wisdom fully into the way we live, think, and serve. As...
Turn Life’s Challenges into Spiritual Strength
There is a Hindu scripture that compares our human mind with a monkey. It says that the mind is like a monkey—a drunken monkey. And not just like a drunken monkey, but like a drunken monkey bitten by a scorpion. Just imagine the condition of that monkey! So, how are...
The Sound of Silence: A Summer Silent Retreat in Yogaville
The Sound of Silence: A Summer Silent Retreat in Yogaville with Swami Divyananda Ma, E-RYT 500, Swami Karunananda, E-RYT 500 and Swan Michelle will be held from July 8 - 12, 2026 Step away from the noise of daily life and enter a spacious, nourishing silence at...
Your Next Chapter: Women’s Weekend Retreat June 2026
Your Next Chapter: Energized, Inspired, Strong: A Women’s Weekend Retreat with Integral Yoga teacher Vimukti Aslan will be held from June 5 - 7, 2026 at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville in central Virginia. A transformational weekend for women ready to reclaim their...