I often quote Avvaiyar, a very great saintly female poet from South India. She was clever with her use of words and never wasted any. Just a few words were enough to give you a great message. Somebody asked her, “How can I arrive at my home?” or in other words, “How...
Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Sri Swami Satchidananda Observed
The 18th Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Integral Yoga Founder Sri Swami Satchidananda is August 19, 2020. It will be observed globally at all Integral Yoga centers. Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville's Livestream program in honor of the anniversary will be streamed on...
Guru Tattva: The Guru Principle
Through venerating our Guru, our lineage and traditions, we are connecting with the principle of Guru-tattva. This is summarized in Śrīgurustotram: akhaṇḍamaṇḍalākāraṁ vyāptaṁ yena carācaram tatpadaṁ darśitaṁ yena tasmai śrīgurave namaḥ Salutations to that Guru, who...
Creating a Just World: A Spiritual Perspective
Avi Gordon (Integral Yoga Teachers Association director) is joined by Rev. Kamala Itzel Hayward (Integral Yoga teacher, Yoga therapist, Integral Yoga minister) for this conversation on spirituality and social justice. For 13 years, Rev. Kamala practiced law full time,...
Setting Aside Selfishness
My spiritual master, Swami Sivananda used to say, “The sannyas (swami/renunciate) ego is the worst kind of ego. You have renounced everything, but you have not renounced the egoism of renunciation itself.” That’s what you see when someone demands: “Do you know who I...
All Us Men
In this article, Darren Mahesh Hayward explains how he came to set up a meditation group in the UK called All Us Men (or AUM). The group is aimed at helping men manage difficult emotional times. A group of men from all walks of life, different ages and lifestyle, all...
Enlightened Health in the Time of COVID-19
"The enlightened person does whatever is appropriate," explains Dr. Amrita, in the latest Integral Yoga Podcast. Avi Gordon (Integral Yoga Teachers Association director) discusses enlightened action and a number of wellness topics with Dr. Amrita— founder of America's...
Surfing the Waves: Equanimity During Uncertainty
Sri Swami Satchidananda often reminded us that the great surfers spend thousands of dollars to travel across the globe to find the big waves, and to experience the thrill of riding them into the shore. Emotionally, socially, economically and spiritually we are...
Yoga’s First Interfaith Ministry
The first thoughts of proposing some type of ministry for the Integral Yoga organization occurred in the winter of 1980. My mother had been a member of the Third Order of St. Francis when she was young. This order was established by St. Francis in response to a...
Wake Up!
When I was a young boy, I used to dream a lot about wild animals in the jungle. And very often, in these dreams, they used to chase me. I would run and run and get so tired and when I felt that I couldn’t run anymore and the tiger was very close to me, right in the...
In Memoriam: Carol Kalyani Neuman
Carol Kalyani Neuman was brilliant, kind, and fun. She was the first woman to become an executive at the New York Times. Prior to moving to Yogaville, she served on the Board of the Integral Yoga Institute of New York and was selected by Swami Satchidananda to...
BOOK: Reach Your Potential
In Reach Your Potential (a mini-book, part of the Peter Max Cover Art Series), Swami Satchidananda focuses on how we can reach our health, wellness, and happiness potential, as well as how to cultivate self-mastery. Through the Yoga practices, he shows how we can...
How to Cultivate Equanimity
To cultivate equanimity you have to have a strong mind and that means a strong will. In order to develop the will, that one-pointed mind, you practice concentration and meditation. Concentration strengthens the mind because anything that is fully concentrated is more...
Yoga Brings Us Back to Our Nature
We all want to become healthy, both mentally and physically, but somehow there are a lot of toxins in our bodies and minds. The more we clean the mind, the more we bring out the true light within. I can compare what happens in the oil industry to what happens within...
“Truth is One, Paths are Many” Interfaith Chant
This inspiring video is offered on Guru Poornima, a yearly observance that traditionally honors one's Guru, or spiritual preceptor. Many decades ago, Swami Satchidananda (the world-renowned and beloved Yoga master, founder of Integral Yoga Global, and interfaith...
My Journey to Becoming a Yoga Teacher
I was born in 1977 and I think it is fair to say that Yoga has been part of my life since I was a baby. But I would never have expected Yoga to become such a prevalent part of my life. For this, I am grateful to my parents and my father’s wonderful Guru, Swami...