Truthfulness is something lauded by most wisdom paths but what does it really mean to be living truthfully—in one’s life, relationships, and in following your bliss? The "Two Old Fogey Yogis" explore the many aspects and layers of satya, including living as...
The recent political drama, on top of the continued devastation wreaked by the COVID virus, has many of us holding our breath in a state of hypervigilance or steeling ourselves against the next assault on our values. While it is important to be aware of the events...
In this open, honest and inspiring interview, Avi Gordon (director of Integral Yoga Teachers Assoc) and Tom Callahan (IYTA communications administrator) discuss what brought them to Yoga (and to living in Yogaville) and the questions that led to the recognition that...
A new year often means making resolutions and setting goals. In this video from an annual New Year's Silent Yoga Retreat at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville (Virginia) several years ago, Swami Karunananda (senior monk and chair of the Integral Yoga Spiritual Life Board)...
In this conversation, Heike Farkas (director, Integral Yoga Germany) and Avi Gordon (director, IYTA) discuss how to shift our attitude toward challenges, the practice of humility, and the importance of having fun. Heike Amma Farkas has been practicing Yoga since the...
If you have ever worked with me or any other ICF certified coach, you’ll recognize the five mandatory questions that are used to establish the coaching agreement at the beginning of each and every coaching session: 1. What would you like to work on in the session...
Once you become the master of your body, mind, and senses, you truly become the master of everything. If you are unable to curb a negative thought, at least try not to speak the thought. And if you can’t control the thought or the speaking of the thought, control the...
As a young girl, I spent part of my summers with my grandparents in Deal, New Jersey. My days were spent at the beach, where I reveled in the violent surf. The undertow on the Jersey shore can be quite dangerous, so there were lifeguards on duty. Even on days when it...
As human beings, we have beautiful clothes, nice cars, and we are very fond of many things. We think we are so great, but much of what we do is also done by many animals. They eat when they’re hungry and they have nice houses in which to live. Are your houses as nice...
In the morning and evening, take some time for your personal physical and mental Yoga practice. This should include a little pranayama, meditation and some asana. The entire thing need not take more than an hour, or an hour and a half. You can always find some time in...
In this recent Integral Yoga Podcast, Avi Gordon (director, Integral Yoga Teachers Association) talks with Ram Wiener about forgiveness, the experience of finding a Guru, and allowing the universe to shape us into someone we like. Ram (vice-president of business at...
Even post-election we are still undergoing turbulent times in a divided nation. When Swami Satchidananda (Sri Gurudev) arrived in New York City in 1966 our country was also going through seismic cultural shifts. I know that, for me, the teachings and practices of...
A selfless person does not depend on anyone or anything to be happy. Selflessness, unconditional happiness, and peace of mind go hand in hand. Whatever happens, such a person retains their peace. By remaining in that peace, they are in a much better position to react...
In October 2020, Swami Karunananda gave the following talk—during the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute’s 50th anniversary celebration—on the future of the Integral Yoga teachings and organization. A reporter once asked me to describe Swami Satchidananda’s legacy,...
Are you looking for true enlightenment, or do you just want to escape from reality? In this video, Integral Yoga teacher and Yoga therapist Nalanie Chellaram talks about the dangers of drugs and ayahuasca, both of which are seen as shortcuts to enlightenment. She also...
In 1975, Swami Satchidananda was asked a question about how to avoid getting so caught up in spiritual bliss, that we forget about the social and ecological problems in our world. The person asking the question really wanted Sri Swamiji’s advice on how we best can...