Yoga Conference in San Francisco April 28 - May 3 - 2026
Join us in-person or online - early discount tickets till April 20
Location: Hotel Kabuki - 1625 Post Street - San Francisco
Hosted by Anusara Yoga + Yogakula
Discount. - Use promo code: Equanimity at checkout Valid through April 20
Main Conference: April 30 - May 3 - 2026
Teacher Training Intensive: Tue April 28 1pm - Thur 12pm April 30 with Noah Maze + Christina Sell
Therapeutics Immersion: Tue April 28 1pm - Thur 12pm April 30 with Doug Keller + Julia Pearring
Dear Friends,
We’re excited to invite you to a deeply inspiring gathering in the heart of San Francisco—an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and draw strength from the transformative, time-honored practices of yoga during these uncertain times.
Why This Gathering Matters
In a world of constant change, yoga offers steadiness, resilience, and a sense of sacred belonging. At this conference, you’ll:
Cultivate inner resilience and calm through asana, breath-work, meditation, and nervous-system–supportive practices
Reconnect with your sacred essence—in yourself, in others, and in our shared stewardship of the living Earth
Find strength in community, honoring diversity, empathy, and inclusive, compassionate care
Conference Faculty include:
Carlos Pomeda, Noah Mazé, Christina Sell, Doug Keller, Julia Pearring, Desiree Rumbaugh, Madhuri Martin, Adam Ballenger, Denise Hatch, Jayendra Hanley, Jeanie Manchester, Benjamin Finnerty, Masumi Yoshida, Jacalyn Prete, Peter Goodman, Judyth Hill, Suzanne Zuber, Saraswati Clere, with special guests: Gopi Kallayil, Stephanie Lopez, and Dacher Keltner.
Evenings of Inspiration
Soul-Lifting Concerts: MC YOGI + Benjy & Heather Wertheimer (Shantala)
Mantra & Sound Gatherings: Sound healing and kirtan
Location: Hotel Kabuki, San Francisco — an oasis of calm in the Fillmore District
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Transform your Practice with Seasoned Teachers
You'll learn:
Healthy Alignment: Emphasis on alignment principles and biomechanical integrity, drawing from therapeutic and structural approaches from the Anusara method.
Dynamic Asana: Experience asana practices that build strength and stamina while respecting each student’s unique body and needs.
Subtle Body Work: Detailed instruction on subtle energetics, pranayama, and the use of bandhas in physical and energetic alignment.
Methodical Teaching: Clear instruction on progressive sequencing and cueing.
Anatomy and Therapy: In-depth exploration of functional anatomy and yoga therapeutics.
Heart-Centered Philosophy: Explore yogic philosophy, which emphasizes personal growth, compassion, and connection to the heart.
Register early - we do expect to sell out
YOGA CONFERENCE TICKETS
In-Person Conference Tickets
Main Conference
Early Bird (through April 15): $550 / Regular Price (after April 20): $615
Teacher Training / Therapeutics Immersion – 15 hrs
Early Bird (through April 15): $350/ Regular Price (after April 20): $390
Conference + Teacher Training/ Therapeutics Immersion
Early Bird (through April 15): $850/ Regular Price (after April 20): $890
Day Pass
Early Bird (through April 15): $250 / Regular Price (after April 20): $265
Two-Day Pass
Early Bird (through April 15): $450/ Regular Price (after April 20): $465
Day Passes include access to the Main Conference for one day (April 30, May 1, 2, or 3). Teacher Training sessions are not included.
College Student – Teacher Training/ Therapeutics Immersion 15 hrs
$250 (Student ID required)
College Student – Main Conference
$450 (Student ID required)
Special Event Tickets
Bhagavad Gita Classes with Carlos Pomeda $80/ till April 20/ $90 after
MC YOGI - Yoga Class + Concert
Before April 30: $108 / After April 30: $120
MC YOGI Yoga Class Only
Before April 30: $65/ After April 30: $75
MC YOGI Concert Only
Before April 30: $65/ After April 30: $75
Shantala Concert Before April 30: $50 / After April 30: $60
Discount Code Use promo code EQUANIMITY at checkout Valid through April 20
LIVESTREAM TICKETS
Main Conference (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $320 / Regular Price: $420
Teacher Training Intensive (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $250/ Regular Price: $350
Therapeutics Immersion (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $250/ Regular Price: $350
Conference + Teacher Training (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $650 / Regular Price: $850
Conference + Therapeutics Immersion (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $650/ Regular Price: $850
Bhagavad Gita Course (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $80 / Regular Price: $90
Teacher Training + Bhagavad Gita (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $300 / Regular Price: $400
Therapeutics Immersion + Bhagavad Gita (Livestream)
Early Bird (through April 20): $300/ Regular Price: $400
Policies
YogaKula Policies No refunds are offered. Tickets may be transferred to another participant, or recordings may be accessed.
Conference Recording Policy
If you register for the livestream, recordings will be available one month after the event.
Register for Pre Conference events - available in-person or online (recordings available)
April 28-30 - Teacher Training with Noah Maze + Christina Sell
April 28-30 - Therapeutics Immersion with Doug Keller + Julia Pearring
Schedule – Yoga Conference
Pre-Conference – Trainings - April 28-April 30
April 28 - 1pm-6pm, April 29 – 8:30am-6:00pm, April 30 - 8:30am- 12:00pm (15 hrs)
· Yoga Therapeutics Immersion with Doug Keller + Julia Pearring (B)
· Sacred Pause: An Anusara Yoga Teacher Training with Christina Sell + Noah Maze (A)
See descriptions below
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Main Conference – San Francisco - April 30 – May 3
Thursday April 30
2:00–3:00pm - Conference Opening - Conference Team, introductions and chant
The opening gathering integrates orientation and introductions with the collective setting of intentions, creating a strong and supportive foundation for our work together. Through mantra and sacred sound offered by Benjy and Heather Wertheimer, we attune the body, breath, and mind, establishing a field of presence and connection that will inform the conference experience as a whole.
3:00–5:00pm - Anchored in Presence: Opening Class
Led by Noah Mazé, Desiree Rumbaugh, Suzanne Zuber and Peter Goodman—this dynamic asana practice is both grounding and heart-felt. Through strong, flowing movement and breath-based alignment, we collectively invoke steadiness and open the body to presence. Expect strength and grace, sweat and stillness, laughter and grounding—a full-body invocation of the courage to stay centered amidst life’s waves.
5:00–6:00pm - Nourish & Connect – connection opportunities + refreshments
Enjoy refreshments and the opportunity to connect with the community.
6:00–7:30pm Dinner break
7:30–9:00pm- Satsang: Wisdom & Heart Opening Practices – Carlos Pomeda, Benjy & Heather Wertheimer
This evening satsang weaves together contemplative wisdom and devotional expression. Carlos Pomeda offers illuminating reflections from the Bhagavad Gītā, revealing yoga as a path of engaged equanimity—meeting life fully while remaining inwardly free. Following the teaching, Benjy and Heather Wertheimer lead a soulful kirtan, inviting participants into the vibrational power of mantra and sacred music. Together, wisdom and devotion open a shared space of remembrance, connection, and heartfelt presence.
Friday May 1
7:00–7:45am Morning Practice.
· Suzanne Zuber – Awaken the Body - an invigorating movement practice to open joints and warm muscles. (B)
· Jacalyn Prete – Meditation - a centering practice of breath and stillness to set the tone for the day from the inside out. (A)
7:45am–8:30am - Breakfast break
8:30–9:55am- Carlos Pomeda - Teachings from the Gita: Yoga Is Equanimity
In this foundational session, Carlos Pomeda explores the Gītā’s teaching on steadiness in the midst of action. Drawing from the text’s central insights, he reveals how yoga calls us into the living center of our experience—where clarity, responsibility, and compassion arise together. Participants will learn how equanimity is not passivity, but a dynamic inner posture that allows us to act decisively without being driven by fear, reactivity, or attachment.
10:15–11:30am
· Noah Mazé - Stillness in Motion: Yoga for Turbulent Times (B)
In a world that rarely pauses, this class becomes sanctuary. With vigorous, grounded movement and intelligent sequencing, Noah offers a toolkit for finding steadiness within—physically, mentally, and emotionally. You’ll leave feeling strengthened, not just in your body but in your clarity and courage.
· Jeanie Manchester – Mythic Flow: Awakening the Goddess Within (A)
Jeanie Manchester weaves flowing asana, mantra, and sacred myth into a deeply embodied and soulful practice. Guided by the energy of Shakti, this workshop invites participants to awaken intuition, devotion, and inner strength through movement and story. As myth comes alive in the body, practice becomes a portal for self-expression and reverence. This session is accessible to all and designed to inspire fierce love, creativity, and connection.
12:00–1:15pm
· Desiree Rumbaugh – Twist to Transform: Spinal Spirals for Strength & Insight(B)
Equanimity isn’t about staying calm just for the sake of it—it’s about standing firm in your power when the world tries to shake you. Twists aren’t just poses—they’re a metaphor. They help us release what’s rigid, what’s been held too tightly for too long. And when you combine that physical opening with your breath and your inner fire? That’s where the shift happens. That’s how expansion is born.
· Julia Pearring – Organic Expansion: Authentic Expression One Pose At A Time (A)
In this practice, we will engage, express, and remember what’s true. Moving through the asanas with intentionality, we will explore how organic expansion arises when effort meets receptivity. Expect a steady unfolding, with asanas that ask us to take up more space as well as asanas that are compact and "pretzel-y". In each and every pose, we'll show up, together, to increase our strength of presence and emanate our radiant hearts.
1:15-2:15pm - Lunch break
1:30–2:00pm – PANEL – Anusara Worldwide: Community, Leadership, and the Path Forward
Join us for a lunchtime conversation exploring how Anusara Yoga is evolving worldwide through new projects, initiatives, and teacher-led leadership. Hear updates on the growth of Anusara in countries around the globe and the latest developments within our teacher-run organization. Discover emerging opportunities to connect, collaborate, and strengthen the global Anusara Kula.
2:15–3:30pm
· Christina Sell – The Peak Within: Sequencing Toward Your Highest Expression (B)
Christina Sell refines the art of intelligent sequencing for both students and teachers. This workshop explores how to skillfully build toward peak poses or moments of deeper awareness with clarity and purpose. Participants will sharpen their observational skills and deepen their understanding of how sequences unfold in the body and mind. With Christina’s signature blend of passion, precision, and humor, practice is elevated and inspired.
· Madhuri Martin + Denise Hatch – Neuro-Aligned: Where Science Meets Soul (A)
Madhuri Martin and Denise Hatch weave modern neuroscience and timeless yogic wisdom. This workshop explores neuroplasticity through intentional movement, breath, and self-inquiry. Participants discover how alignment and awareness can reshape habitual patterns and support resilience and clarity. The session offers a powerful pathway toward embodied purpose and lasting transformation.
4:00–5:00pm
· Desiree Rumbaugh – Step Out of the Comfort Zone: Arm Balances(B)
“There’s no comfort in the growth zone—and no growth in the comfort zone.” That’s not just a slogan. That’s the truth we don’t hear enough. We’ve all been conditioned to cling to what’s familiar—even when it limits us. But transformation that changes your body, your mindset, your life demands more. These poses will challenge you. They might frustrate you. But they’ll also wake something up in you—resilience, clarity, power. Growth doesn’t come from grinding or forcing. It comes from showing up with intention, staying present, and being open to who you’re becoming. This is where the shift happens—not just on the mat, but in how you move through the world.
· Benjamin Finnerty + Masumi Yoshida – Fearless Heart: The Art of Backbends(A)
Benjamin Finnerty and Masumi Yoshida invites practitioners to cultivate trust, courage, and openness through heart-centered practice. This session explores intelligent progressions and supportive techniques for safely approaching backbends. Participants learn to build a compassionate relationship with the spine while expanding breath and emotional space. The result is a practice that releases fear and reconnects you with a resilient, open heart.
5:30–7:00pm. Chill Flow with MC YOGI In this 90-minute yoga class MC YOGI creates a sanctuary where yoga, music, and meditation come together like poetry in motion. Gentle, grounding sequences meet soulful beats guiding you to soften, release, and reconnect with your center. This class is open to all levels, inviting you to breathe deeper, move with ease, and leave feeling renewed from the inside out.
8:00–9:30pm. MC YOGI in Concert: An electrifying evening of yoga-inspired hip hop with MC YOGI! Melding sacred mantras, and high-energy beats, this concert is a celebration of modern yogic culture. Come dance, chant, and elevate in a collective field of joy and vibration.
Saturday May 2
7:00–7:45am | Morning Practice
· Jayendra Hanley – Breathwork & Presence: First a few simple stretches and a practice of breath/pranayama, then a guided meditation with breath/mantra, settling into an inner stillness that is also full and alive (B)
· Saraswati Clere – Sun Salutations & Stillness - Ignite your energy through breath-led movement and easeful rhythm. (A)
7:45am–8:30am Breakfast break
8:30–10:00am | Carlos Pomeda - Gita as a Mirror – The Dharma of Balance
Carlos presents the Bhagavad Gītā as a mirror for self-inquiry and conscious living. How do we remain present when life pulls us off center? How do we engage fully without losing ourselves? This session invites participants to use spiritual wisdom as a lens for seeing clearly, choosing wisely, and responding skillfully—cultivating balance not by avoiding life’s challenges, but by meeting them with awareness and grace.
10:15–11:30am
· Adam Ballenger – Living the Lines: Spirals, Loops & Universal Intelligence (B) This practice explores the sacred geometry of your body through Anusara’s alignment loops and spirals. Discover how your structure mirrors universal patterns of flow. Through embodied inquiry and elegant sequencing, you’ll feel more integrated, powerful, and alive in your movement.
· Christina Sell – Flow & Form: Aligning the Moving Body (A) This masterful class bridges vinyasa with alignment-based technique, helping you refine and empower your flow. Christina unpacks how biomechanics and precision elevate fluid movement into an art form of strength, grace, and intentionality. You’ll leave feeling both lit up and dialed in.
12:00–1:15pm
· Doug Keller – Refining the Breath: the Power of the Vagus, the Wisdom of Pranayama Practice (B) The Vagus nerve has become our most famous nerve in recent years, and for good reason: it is indispensable for regulating our nervous system, emotional states, and cognitive health. Current literature focuses on ways of stimulating the vagus nerve to optimize its function. Hatha yoga practices — particularly pranayama — have always been geared toward achieving precisely that and more. This workshop focuses on the key elements of pranayama which stimulate and harness the vagus nerve to promote optimal health, resilience, and vitality on all levels in the face of modern stresses. This workshop will transform your pranayama practice and your appreciation of it, as well as your ability to communicate it to your students in terms that they can trust, understand, and put into practice!
· Desiree Rumbaugh – A Worthy Goal: Handstands Forever (A) The Bhagavad Gita calls us into radical presence. It reminds us: show up fully, give your whole heart to the work—but let go of the outcome. That’s revolutionary in a world that constantly tells us our worth is tied to results. In this practice, we move with intention. We face the fire, we do the work—but we refuse to let our value be defined by whether or not we “nail” the pose. Handstands aren’t just a physical goal—they’re a mirror. They teach us about humility, resilience, and trust. This class is about progress—not perfection and reclaiming your practice as an act of self-respect, not self-judgment.
1:15–2:15pm – Lunch
1:30–2:15pm –The Art + Science of Being Human: (In-person + Online) with Gopi Kallayil, Stephanie Lopez,and Denise Hatch. In this panel we will explore how ancient yogic wisdom and modern science together illuminate pathways to resilience, balance, and human flourishing. Gopi Kallayil—Chief Business Strategist, AI at Google, author of The Happy Human and The Internet to the Inner-net, and longtime yoga practitioner—brings a unique perspective on mindful leadership and innovation. Joining him is Stephanie Lopez, director of the iRest Institute, meditation teacher, and psychotherapist with over 30 years immersed in nondual yogic teachings. Denise Hatch, founder of Power of the Mind and creator of the Yoga Sports Performance Method, integrates neuroscience, yoga, and hypnotherapy to help people transform stress and unlock their full potential. Together they discuss how practices such as breath-work, meditation, mantra, and embodied awareness support nervous system balance, clarity of mind, and the cultivation of equanimity in our rapidly changing world.
The event is open to the public with pre-registration required; when registering either the online or in-person option.
2:30–3:45pm
· Noah Mazé – Living the Practice: Sequencing from Soul & Skill (B) Weave together the threads of form and feeling in this integrative practice. Noah brings intelligence, humor, and heart to a dynamic session that blends physical challenge with soulful intention. Learn healthy sequencing principles and leave with tools to craft transformative practices for yourself or your students.
· Madhuri Martin & Judyth Hill – Poetry in Motion: Ritual, Rhythm & Radiance (A) Part ceremony, part creativity, this embodied ritual blends yoga, sacred poetry, chant, and movement. You’ll be invited into the mystery where breath becomes verse, movement becomes prayer, and your soul finds its voice. For seekers longing for connection to beauty and deeper meaning.
4:15–5:30pm
· Adam Ballenger – The Embodied Blueprint: Alignment from the Inside Out (B) Adam Ballenger explores alignment as a living, experiential process rather than a fixed set of external cues. This workshop invites practitioners to sense internal support, breath, and intention as the foundation for clear, sustainable movement. Through intelligent sequencing and embodied inquiry, students learn how inner awareness informs outer form, creating strength without rigidity and freedom without collapse. The result is a more integrated practice that supports longevity, clarity, and authentic expression both on and off the mat.
· Jeanie Manchester – Happy Hips: Grounded Freedom Through the Lower Body (B) Jeanie Manchester offers an intelligent and nurturing exploration of hip mobility and stability. Through alignment-based movement, mindful stretching, and breath awareness, participants cultivate both strength and flexibility. This session emphasizes safe hip opening while protecting the knees and sacrum. Reconnect with ease, support, and grounded freedom in your foundation.
5:30–7:00pm Dinner break / Special Community Dinner – pre-registration required
7:00–9:00pm | Kirtan Concert with Shantala – Benjy + Heather Wertheimer + friends
Experience the soul-stirring magic of Shantala, whose devotional performances have uplifted hearts and united communities around the world. With deep roots in the bhakti tradition, Benjy and Heather Wertheimer bring the highest caliber of musicianship to every note. Their concerts are a radiant offering of love in action—where the sacred is felt in everything, and the music becomes a bridge between spirit and sound.
Sunday, May 3
7:00–7:45am Morning Practice
· Suzanne Zuber – Sunrise Flow - Open the day with breath-led motion and devotion to the dawn. (B)
· Jacalyn Prete – Meditation - Rest in the still point within—the eternal witness beneath all movement and change. (A)
7:45am–8:30am Breakfast break
8:30–10:00am | Carlos Pomeda – Embodied Dharma: Action Without Attachment
In this culminating teaching, Carlos unpacks one of the Gītā’s most transformative insights: the art of acting without attachment to results. This is the essence of embodied dharma—engagement infused with freedom, effort aligned with surrender. Integrating the themes explored throughout the series, this session offers a powerful synthesis of wisdom and practice, inviting participants to live as awake, responsive, and wholehearted agents in the world.
10:30am–12:30pm | Closing Practice – The Still Point Within
Gather once more in a full-hearted, embodied closing led by Doug Keller, Noah Mazé, Jacalyn Prete, and Saraswati Clere. This collective practice integrates movement, mantra, and meditation, sealing in the wisdom and insight cultivated over the past days. Step back into the world not only renewed—but transformed.
12:00pm – 1:00pm – Conference Closing – Team - integration, gratitude, farewell blessing + chant with Benjy + Heather
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PRE-CONFERENCE TRAININGS
TuesdayApril 28 1pm –- Thursday April 30 12:00pm
Sacred Pause: An Anusara Yoga Teacher Training with renowned educators Christina Sell and Noah Mazé is designed for yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners who wish to deepen their understanding of the art, science, and heart of Anusara Yoga. Rooted in precise alignment, skillful sequencing, and life-affirming philosophy, this immersive training offers practical tools for refining asana, enhancing verbal and hands-on teaching skills, and embodying the principles that support clarity, stability, and freedom in practice and instruction. Participants will explore how universal alignment principles, purposeful action, and inspired teaching can support sustainable movement, greater confidence, and meaningful transformation—both on and off the mat.
Yoga Therapeutics Immersion with Doug Keller and Julia Pearring The Yoga Therapeutics Immersion is designed specifically for yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners seeking a deeper, more functional understanding of the body, an ability to assess the source of common pain problems and movement restrictions, and a toolbox for addressing them through asana modifications as well as remedial exercises that will enhance one’s practice. This immersion offers an effective balance between an integrative, whole-body approach to yoga therapeutics grounded in contemporary myofascial science, and practical wisdom for guiding students into better movement patterns. Moving beyond isolated alignment cues, the training explores the relationship between joint function and muscle tone through a tensegrity network of fascia that maintains movement and vitality. Yoga asanas, even more than other disciplines, are oriented toward restoring balance within this network to maintain flexibility, strength, and pain-free movement. It just takes a little more knowledge and insight into common movement and pain problems to understand how to benefit from the innate wisdom of the asanas. This immersion provides such knowledge in an accessible and applicable way.