Sivagurunathapillai—known to many simply as Siva Pillai—lived a life that radiated devotion, scholarship, service, and cultural stewardship. Born in 1942 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, he emerged from Sri Lanka’s great center of Tamil culture, carrying its beauty, precision,...
Sally Kirkland, the Golden Globe–winning actress, Oscar nominee, and radiant spiritual seeker known to the Integral Yoga community as Satya passed away on November 11, 2025, at age 84. Though acclaimed for her magnetic presence on stage and screen, those who knew her...
Rose Diane Ladd—known to the world as the acclaimed actress Diane Ladd and to the Integral Yoga community as Divya (“Divine one”)—passed away peacefully at her home in Ojai, California, on November 3, 2025, at the age of 89. Her daughter, actress Laura Dern, was by...
Thanksgiving, a special time when we give thanks. It's the perfect time to reflect on how we can put gratitude and compassion into action. As we make our way through the month of November, we can return to the following practice as a tool to deepen your capacity for...
The yogic masters describe prana as the subtle current that sustains body, mind, and spirit. For most, it remains hidden beneath the surface of breath. But for those who practice deeply, prana is revealed as the very thread of consciousness itself. To know prana is to...
The life of a seeker is marked not only by radiant moments of revelation but by encounters that test the very fiber of discernment. For the young Ramaswamy—who would one day be known to the world as Swami Satchidananda—one such turning point came through his meeting...
At the close of our morning meditation, the residents of the San Francisco Integral Yoga Institute reaffirm the intention we hold for our spiritual growth while living together in community. Last month, we chose a phrase from this affirmation as our focal practice:...
There is a saying, “Marriages are made in heaven.” Heaven is wherever the spirit is expressed. In this sense, a true marriage is not only on the physical level. The couple temporarily rises to a lofty height. We could say that their wedding is a celestial gathering....
Why do we gossip? This question might appear trivial at first, but when examined deeply, it opens a window into human psychology, social dynamics, and the level of spiritual evolution or lack thereof. Gossip is not merely idle talk, it is more. It is both idle and...
Prejudice exists not only in the world around us but also, often unconsciously, within us. Whether we see it or not, it shapes how open—or closed—our hearts are to others. Recognizing the subtle ways prejudice arises in us can be a powerful step toward living with...
If you deny thoughts and emotions or try to get rid of them by suppressing them they will just reemerge. When negative thoughts come there are three things you can do. You can ignore them the same way that the blue sky ignores the gray clouds that appear in it. The...
The world has lost one of its most steadfast voices for the voiceless: Dr. Jane Goodall. Her life was nothing short of a living hymn to compassion, curiosity, and courage. Integral Yoga Magazine, steeped in the ideals of harmony, nonviolence, and the unity of life, we...
If you asked Sri Swami Sivananda what a busy person in the West should actually do each day to grow spiritually, he would likely point you to a deceptively simple framework: do a little meditation, a little prayer, a little study, a little service—every day—with...
Gurudev Sivanandaji used to say that we should watch our thoughts because they create habits. Once you develop a habit, it becomes your character. And then your character becomes your destiny. So, it all originates with your thinking. That is why it is so important to...
Viveka is the spiritual practice of discrimination—distinguishing between the real and unreal, the eternal and temporary, the Spiritual Presence and ego-identity. Here are some ways to put viveka into practice. See which of these resonates with you and supports you to...
When tracing the spiritual roots of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s extraordinary life and mission, one finds a constellation of saints, Siddhars, and sages who shaped his vision. Among these was a yogi of remarkable attainment and discipline: Sri Swami Sivananda...