In this heartfelt and reflective conversation led by host Avi Gordon (director of Integral Yoga Teachers Association), Swami Asokananda (president of the Integral Yoga Institute of New York) shares his incredible life journey—from his Brooklyn upbringing in a...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 17: The Alchemical Architecture of Awakening –The All Faiths Yantra and the LOTUS
In the last two installments of this series, we explored the profound presence of the Divine Mother Bhuvaneshvari—She who is the sovereign of the worlds—and how her sacred mantra and yantra became a mystical foundation within the Integral Yoga tradition. Though rarely...
Virtual Fundraiser for Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville – May 15 & 17, 2025
Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville is hosting a Virtual Fundraiser on May 15th and then again on May 17. Please JOIN THE RENEWAL! Join for a heartwarming 30-minute virtual fundraiser to uplift and support our beloved Ashram—a sanctuary of peace, service and spiritual...
Ayurveda’s Path to Well-Being
In this episode, Hannah Levin discusses her mission to alleviate unnecessary suffering through Ayurveda and Yoga, drawing from her personal health crisis with high-grade cervical dysplasia. She explains how Western medicine offered surgery as the only option, but...
Sacred Resistance: Circle of Protection
The following reflections are excerpted from the new book Sacred Resistance: Eco-Activism and the Rise of New Spiritual Communities, edited by Mark Clatterbuck. Five different spiritual communities are observed, exploring how, spirituality—individual and communal,...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 16: The Mother’s Geometry—The Bhuvaneshvari Yantra
In the sacred stillness of the Palani Hills, at the samadhi shrine of the great Siddhar Bhogar, a seed of profound transformation was sown in the heart of a young seeker named Ramasamy. Years later, known to the world as Sri Swami Satchidananda, he would carry that...
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...
How to Stay Heart-Centered Once You Find Yourself There
Swami Satchidananda said, “Bhakti Yoga is the easiest practice because we begin with love. Chanting doesn’t require a quiet place or a particular kind of dress or a particular type of life.” This testimony is evidenced by the steadily increasing popularity of kirtan...
Pope Francis (1936–2025): A Beacon of Peace, Spirituality, and Compassion
Pope Francis — born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936 to Italian immigrant parents — made history as the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to ascend to the papacy in the Church’s two-millennia-long tradition. Upon his election, he chose the name...
Why Simplicity Brings Inner Peace
In this conversation on "Why Simplicity Brings Inner Peace," host Avi Gordon talks with Les Anand Roberts whose life took a transformative turn when he discovered the Integral Yoga Centre in Gibraltar and became deeply involved in the spiritual teachings of Swami...
Start Your Day Right with a Sip of Inspiration!
These beautifully designed mugs feature inspiring quotes: from the altars of the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) or from Swami Satchidananda. Some of our mugs feature illustrations by the iconic artist Peter Max. Whether you’re welcoming the day with a warm...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 15: Bhuvaneshvari–Queen of the Universe, Heart of the Path
In the previous chapter of this journey tracing the spiritual legacy of Swami Satchidananda, we touched on the mystical experience he had while meditating at the samadhi shrine of Siddhar Bhogar in Palani. It was there—surrounded by the silent vibrations of Tamil...
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...
Get Yourself Back to “the Garden” – the New Integral Yoga Woodstock Collection
Looking for some inspiration? The Integral Yoga Etsy Shop has you covered—literally! Our Woodstock collection is a blast from the past reminding us it's time to "Get Ourselves Back to the Garden!" All our Integral Yoga Shop offerings bring you fun and uplifting...
Age Like a Yogi: Victoria Moran’s Guide to Living Radiantly at Any Age
Aging is often viewed as something to resist, delay, or even fear. But what if, instead of dreading it, we embraced aging as a sacred passage—an opportunity to deepen our wisdom, refine our spirit, and live with greater joy? This is precisely the perspective that...
Embarking on a Spiritual Odyssey, Part 14: Bhogar’s Mystical Legacy and a Sadhu’s Initiation
High above the verdant landscape of Tamil Nadu, atop the sacred Palani Hills, the echoes of devotion resound through the ages. The Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple—one of the six revered abodes of Lord Muruga—stands as both a beacon of spiritual transformation...