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Beyond the Meditation Cushion
The great South Indian sage Thiruvalluvar said, “What is tapasya (penance)?” Tapasya doesn’t mean go and close your eyes and meditate. That’s easy, comfortable. Tapas means to burn. A spiritual seeker is supposed to practice tapasya. Thiruvalluvar says, “The more you...
Planting New Seeds for Spiritual Growth
As the first signs of spring emerged, I invited a group of sincere seekers to embark on a journey of inner cultivation through a 3-part series called Keys to Sustainable Growth. Just as the earth awakens in spring, offering fertile ground for new life, I encouraged...
The Path to Spiritual Ripening
Everything takes its own time to mature, including one’s spiritual maturity. Just because you pray a raw fruit will ripen, it won’t ripen overnight. Imagine that you plant a seed and you just sit there and pray, “Please seed, I have planted you and I hope you will be...
Breath, Body and Brain Aligned
While Sri Patanjali and other classical Yoga sources have known this for several thousand years, recent medical research highlights the profound connection between breath, body, and mind, emphasizing breathwork as a tool for emotional regulation and stress relief....
Resolutions That Last: The Art of Sustainable Spiritual Practice
For many years, I’ve given a talk on New Year’s resolutions at our annual Integral Yoga New Year’s Retreat. I focus mainly on setting achievable goals for a regular spiritual practice of poses, breathing, relaxation and meditation. Here’s a few suggestions from that...
United Nations Declares December 21st as “World Meditation Day”
The United Nations General Assembly has set a powerful intention for global harmony by unanimously declaring December 21st as World Meditation Day. This landmark resolution on December 6, 2024, invites the world to pause, reflect, and embrace the transformative...
Health Benefits of Pranayama
In this talk hosted by the Integral Yoga Institute of New Jersey, Integral Yoga master teacher and senior monastic Swami Karunananda explains the benefits of the practice of pranayama (yogic breathing techniques). She also shares the instructions she received from her...
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...
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...
Integral Yoga San Francisco Announces Ongoing Personal Retreat Offerings
Experience a profound rejuvenation of body, mind and spirit by immersing yourself in a personal retreat at Integral Yoga Institute. Relax and unwind at our urban Ashram, where you will find space for self-reflection and intentional self-care, in the heart of San...