Once, I was driving from one town to another in the region of Shillong, which is in the northeastern part of India. At that time, Shillong had recently won its independence. The politicians told the people that everyone was now free. Some of the country people felt...
Yoga Understands the Brilliant Function of Pain
Yoga understands the brilliant function of pain. One difference between Yoga and Western medicine is the perspective on pain and suffering. In the hospital, pain is the adversary, and the treatments are there to “kill” it. They often prescribe “pain killers”...
The Early Years of Adaptive Yoga with Swami Satchidananda
In the early 1990s, in an effort to meet anyone who wished to practice exactly where they are, Swami Satchidananda brought together two of his monastic students to serve those who could not access the traditional Integral Yoga class. Swami Suddhananda (a Yoga teacher...
Working from Home? Try This Quick Yoga Practice
Integral Yogi Kalyani Verma shares some wonderful stretches and relaxation techniques in this 10 minute video. Kalyani lives in the UK and is the daughter of Siva and Gnanam Pillai, longtime devotees of Swami Satchidananda. Her parents first met Sri Swamiji in Sri...
Kundalini: A Dynamic Force
Yoga students should be very, very careful when it comes the kundalini. It is a dynamic force, part of the cosmic force, that is in everybody. It is something like a seed that is alive and has the quality to germinate into a big tree. But, if you break open the seed...
A Perfect Time for Yoga Therapy Certification
In this interview, Becca Pulliam talks with Nancy O’Brien, ment Therapeutic Applications of Integral Yoga Teacher Training (a partnership with Integral Yoga in San Francisco and Yogaville Virginia, and Integral Yoga New York) about updates in the 800-hour Integral...
Yoga Takes Care of Body and Mind
In the name of Yoga our goal is to keep the mind peaceful and food not only plays an important part in the health of the body, but it plays a very important part in the condition of the mind. So, you have to be very careful about what you are eating. To understand...
Integral Yoga New York and San Francisco Celebrate 50 Years! October 2 – 4, 2020
Fifty years ago, in October of 1970, the Integral Yoga Institute of New York purchased a building at 227 West 13th Street that has become an oasis of peace and health for thousands of New Yorkers and visitors from around the world. Similarly, in San Francisco, the...
H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda: Restoration of a Spiritual Masterpiece
September 8, 2020 was the 133rd Jayanthi (Birth Anniversary) of H. H. Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj (the Guru of Sri Swami Satchidananda). This auspicious occasion included a special puja in the reception area of Sivananda Hall at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, offered...
Challenge, Purification and Heroism
Sri Swami Sivananda (the Guru of Integral Yoga founder Sri Swami Satchidananda) said that our suffering brings out the essence in us, just as an herb releases its fragrance when crushed. Gold is exposed only by removing a mountain of soil. Diamonds are formed through...
The Monkey Mind
Some of the great Yoga Masters have compared the mind to a drunken monkey that has been bitten by a scorpion! You have such a mind, but when you allow the mind to do whatever it wants, you don’t really notice how mischievous it is. It is only when you try to keep it...
A Spiritual Conversation with Swami Satchidananda and Ram Dass
In this enlightening 1976 interview, American TV host and journalist Bill Boggs spoke with Swami Satchidananda and Ram Dass in New York City. They discussed a range of topics from many paths to our goal, happiness, suffering, enlightenment, prison Yoga, and more....
Reflections on Aging and Yoga
It was 1968 and I was in my 20s in New York City. I started practicing Yoga at the Integral Yoga Institute. I am now in my 70s, it is 2020, and I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am still practicing Yoga. I’m sure you can do the math. Since my 20s, I have been...
Mahasamadhi: Faith and Transition
Swami Karunananda (senior Integral Yoga monk and master teacher) writes about the Guru-disciple relationship and shares some of the inspiring experiences she had with her Guru, Sri Swami Satchidananda. This talk was recently given on the 18th anniversary of the...
This Is What We Call Integral Yoga
In order to be attuned to the Cosmic Consciousness, you have to be tuned in. If you haven’t tuned yourself in, then nothing will come. And if you tune to a wrong station, horrible things will come. But when you are tuned well, when you are at ease, everything comes to...
Sacred Mantra: Free Download
Kirtan/musical artists and Integral Yogis Sam Rossitto and Meera Kerr each created a musical track of the sacred mantra for meditation given by Sri Swami Satchidananda. In his honor, we are sharing a mash-up of their songs, done with their blessings. Enjoy this new...