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Gratefully Navigating the Holidays
Holidays symbolize significance. They are markers for human history, our shared values and beliefs, and a time of remembrance. Holidays can elicit awe, joy, connection, hope, and memories. However, their nourishment can also be a source of pain. I like to think of...
Santosha – Making Peace with the Present
Contentment is a deceptively simple concept that offers tremendous benefit if we fully embrace its practice. It is referred to as santosha in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and is not so easy to master because the habit of wanting and achieving is so deeply ingrained in...
Seeking the Kingdom Within: A Journey to True Contentment
We try to use our limited, finite intelligence to understand, grasp things, and make our lives happy, aiming to achieve and acquire this or that. Yet, in the end, nothing seems to truly help. Sometimes, it may feel like we’re finding peace or happiness, but all these...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 10: The Inspirational Influence of Sri Ramalinga Swamigal
Sri Ramalinga Swamigal, a great Tamil Siddhar, left an indelible mark on South Indian spirituality, inspiring future generations through his profound compassion, universal outlook, and commitment to social justice. His teachings continue to resonate, particularly...
Honoring Alan Asangan Binstock: An Integral Yoga Luminary
Alan Asangan Binstock was born in 1948 and raised in Bronx, New York. His formal fine arts education began in New York’s High School of Music and Art, followed by undergraduate studies at Hunter College. He moved to Boulder, Colorado and began developing sculpture and...
Iria Leino: A Life of Art, Spirituality, and Yoga
The Finnish-born artist Iria Leino is known not only for her expansive body of abstract work but also for her deep spiritual devotion, which played a central role in her artistic development. Throughout her life, she found inspiration in a rich spiritual practice and,...
Five Small Gestures of Gratitude to Counteract Fear and Violence
Imagine a country whose citizens—maybe even its leaders—are brave, calm, and open towards each other; a country whose people realize that all human beings belong together as one family and must act accordingly; a country guided by Common Sense. This may seem more than...
The Essential Quality for Spiritual Growth
A few years ago, I read an article titled “Humility, The Virtue No One Wants.” It was a good title, I thought, because humility is maybe just a little too close to the word humiliation for comfort, a bit like shame, the sort of thing we think we’d like to get away...
The Antidote to Fear
The only way to deal with fear is to face it. The more you try to run, the more it will haunt you. Face it and ask yourself questions: “Who are you? Where are you coming from? Why are you coming to me? What am I afraid of?” When you ask these questions, you will find...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 9: Sri Ramakrishna–All Paths Lead to God
In Part 8 of this series, we explored how Ramaswamy (Swami Satchidananda’s birth name) delved deeply into his spiritual yearnings, engaging with sacred texts and absorbing the wisdom of saints. Another profound influence during this formative period was the life and...
Free Online Yoga for First Responders Starting October 14
FireFlex Yoga, an online donation-based Yoga class designed for First Responders (anyone is welcome to register/attend), is happy to announce a new initiative. All proceeds go toward supporting a nonprofit that serves First Responders. The class will be LIVE and...
Integral Yoga Virtual Memorial Service: Nov. 3, 2024
The Integral Yoga Ministry welcomes you join the Annual Integral Yoga Virtual Memorial Service Sunday, November 3, 2024, 1pm - 3pm Eastern. We know that the loss of a loved one is difficult and can't be easily adjusted to no matter how long ago they passed. We also...
Integral Psychology of Yoga
Introduction The art and science of Yoga, one of the greatest treasures of India's unique cultural heritage, has much to offer in terms of understanding the human mind. Yoga treats the human being as a multi-layered conscious being, possessing three bodies (sthula,...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 8: Surrender and Grace–The Mystical Poetry that Transformed a Seeker
In Part 7 of this series, Ramaswamy (Swami Satchidananda’s birth name) had expressed his deepening spiritual yearnings to his parents and they agreed to not pressure him into remarriage. Instead, they gave him time to devote himself to religious study and meditation...
Humility: Access to Deeper Wisdom
While humility is the hallmark of a sincere spiritual aspirant, we may rarely think of practicing it. In an age where self-empowerment is synonymous with personal growth, the idea of humbling oneself is decidedly unpopular. It can easily be dismissed as a sign of...
How God Came Into My Life
It would be easy to dismiss the question by saying: "Yes, after a prolonged period of intense austerities and meditation while I was living in Swarg Ashram, during which I had the darshan of a number of maharishis and their blessings, the Lord appeared before me in...
The Grateful Life Is a Liberated Life
When I feel defeated by all of the distractions and information I consume on a daily basis, I go to the river near my home. On the shore, my senses are inundated with beauty — the light in the trees, a heron passing by, the roar of water over stones that drowns out...
Announcing the Fall Silent Yoga Retreat: October 24-27, 2024
We live in an era of rapid technological advances, unexpected changes, and overwhelming stimulus. How do we navigate through it all with comfort? Learn to be more accepting of any situation, trying not to resist it, but instead, embracing each moment while maintaining...
Relax into the Holidays with Restorative Yoga
Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville will host "Relax into the Holidays with Restorative Yoga" with Satya Greenstone, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT from November 29 - December 1, 2024. In this workshop, experience deep relaxation and rejuvenation during a time period when it’s needed...
Experiential Raja Yoga Retreat
Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville will host an "Experiential Raja Yoga Retreat" with Swami Karunananda, E-RYT 500 from November 1 - 3, 2024. Daily sessions for meditation, Hatha Yoga and pranayama will energize and relax you. Guided experiential exercises will help you...
H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda: 137th Jayanthi and 100th Sannyas Anniversary
September 8th 2024 marks the 137th Jayanthi (birth anniversary), as well as the 100th Sannyas (monkhood) anniversary of H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda, the Guru of Sri Swami Satchidananda. Swami Satchidananda humbly said of his Guru, " I feel very fortunate to have sat at...
What It Really Means to “Practice” The Yoga Sutras
In this episode of the Integral Yoga Podcast, Avi Gordon (director of the Integral Yoga Teachers Association) is in conversation with Carroll Ann (Prashanti) Friedmann. She shares her personal journey with the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the sankalpa (vow or...
Documentary: “Divine Harmony”
On August 27, 2024 a special kirtan service in celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Swamini Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda was held at the Integral Yoga Institute of New York. Special highlights of the program included special guest, Sita Michelle...
Meditation Teacher Training – November 2024 Online
The Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco is offering a Meditation Teacher Training (Yoga Alliance Hours: 105 and Integral Yoga® 300-hour Program) starting November 14, 2024 taught by Swami Ramananda and Diana Meltsner and guest teacher Rich Panico M.D. The IYI is...
VedantaWorks: The Teachings of Swami Vivekananda
VedantaWorks recently released their third podcast series: The Raja Yoga classes of Swami Vivekananda. VedantaWorks is dedicated to the teachings of Vedanta, the basic philosophy of Hinduism as expressed through Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was an...