INTEGRAL YOGA

Integral Yoga® helped pioneer the introduction of Yoga to the western world 50 years ago. Yoga master Sri Swami Satchidananda from Tamil Nadu in South India, came to New York and shared his teachings, which promote an easeful body, a peaceful mind, and a useful life. He taught that selfless service and interfaith understanding were essential for a peaceful world.

On October 7, 1966, the Integral Yoga Institute of New York was founded in Manhattan, and in August 1969, Swami Satchidananda’s students traveled west to found the Integral Yoga Institute of San Francisco. Today, there are over 30 Integral Yoga Institutes and Centers on six continents, with international headquarters at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville® in Virginia, USA. Hong Kong has a small but vibrant Integral Yoga community offering classes in yoga, meditation, yoga philosophy and yoga teacher training.

The Integral Yoga global community includes over 5,000 Integral Yoga teachers—many of whom have become leaders in the changing paradigm of modern Yoga and healthcare, as well as founding successful programs for specific populations. 

About the Founder: Sri Swami Satchidananda

His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral Yoga®, is one of the most revered Yoga masters of our time. He dedicated his life to peace—both for the individual and for the world. He blended the physical discipline of Yoga, the spiritual philosophy of India, and an innovative interfaith approach that promoted harmony among all faith traditions. By making Yoga accessible to millions, he helped launch and shape the modern Yoga movement that has since become a global phenomenon. His Guru was Master Sivananda -- also an enlightened Yoga Master who was responsible for sending out the largest group of enlightened Gurus out into the world. 

Integral Yoga is a complete science that cultivates the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health of an individual. It's approach is non-competitive, adaptive and meditative. Integral Yoga is a flexible combination of six branches of yoga, each one adaptable to suit an individuals needs and temperament. It is a holistic form of yoga. The six branches of Integral Yoga are each powerful tools to gain self-mastery. When combined a person can see very subtle yet profound and measurable effects of the practice.

Integral Yoga has a thriving Hong Kong community with a number of certified teachers and yoga classes. We meet weekly for a community practice together.

EXPLORE INTEGRAL YOGA

INTEGRAL YOGA'S SIX BRANCHES

Hatha Yoga
Focuses on the physical aspects through asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), mudras, kriyas, yogic diet, and deep relaxation.

Raja Yoga
Balance and control of the mind through ethical practices, concentration and meditation.

Bhakti Yoga
The path of devotion, by constant love, thought, and service of the Divine. Bhakti Yoga can be practiced by everyone. All that is needed is faith and constant remembrance of God.

Karma Yoga
The path of action and selfless service. Serving without attachment to the fruits (or results) of the action.

Jnana Yoga
The intellectual approach. Through the knowledge of what really exists, that is, what is not changeable, one who engages in the Path of Wisdom realizes Oneness with the entire Universe.

Japa Yoga
Japa means repetition of a mantram – a sound structure of one or more syllables which represents a particular aspect of the Divine Vibration.

INTEGRAL YOGA & WELLNESS

Swami Satchidananda’s approach to mind-body health was decades ahead of its time in the West. He defined disease essentially as a state of “dis-ease” that could be remedied (and prevented) by a vegetarian diet, stress reduction through the Yoga practices and philosophy, and living a useful life of selfless service.

This holistic approach sparked a revolution in evidence-based Yoga therapy treatment programs for cancer, heart disease, immune diseases, physical disabilities, PTSD, addictions, and more.

The beauty and bounty of nature inspire Integral Yoga practitioners to live with gratitude and reverence for our planet, to use natural organic products and be earth-friendly in all activities.

INTEGRAL YOGA & INTERFAITH VALUES

Integral Yoga is also based on interfaith values. Swami Satchidananda taught that all faiths share essential universal principles and he encouraged Integral Yogis to respect and honor the unity in diversity. This is summarized by his motto, “Truth is one, paths are many.”

Built in Yogaville—Integral Yoga’s international headquarters—the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) is a unique temple dedicated to interfaith understanding and the Light within all faiths. Individual altars represent and honor the different world faiths and spiritual paths.