number several equations with only one number

First of all, you probably don't want the align environment if you have only one column of equations. In fact, your example is probably best with the cases environment. But to answer your question directly, used the aligned environment within equation - this way the outside environment gives the number:

\begin{equation}
  \begin{aligned}
  w^T x_i + b &\geq 1-\xi_i &\text{ if }& y_i=1,  \\
  w^T x_i + b &\leq -1+\xi_i & \text{ if } &y_i=-1,
  \end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The documentation of the amsmath package explains this and more.

How about something like:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{amssymb,amsmath}

\begin{document}

\begin{equation}\label{A_Label}
  \begin{split}
    w^T x_i + b \geqslant 1-\xi_i \text{ if } y_i &= 1, \\
    w^T x_i + b \leqslant -1+\xi_i \text{ if } y_i &= -1
  \end{split}
\end{equation}

\end{document}

which produces: