As I settle into September, the days are getting shorter and the morning air carries a little more crispness. This season invites deep reflection, a sense of focus and a reassessment of what it means to be in the world while nurturing my spiritual practice.
Seasonal transitions remind me of the changes happening all around, all the time. Yet, there are threads of continuity that offer steadiness, like the Ashram’s live online classes.
So much of my daily life is now digital – work meetings, friend dates over video call, emails to scrolling on social media. As with most things, there are both gifts and drawbacks to living in such a digitized world. On one hand, I am able to stay connected in ways that were once unimaginable. On the other hand, these connections can sometimes feel overwhelming or unsatisfying in their depth.
In the case of the Ashram’s live classes, the experience is profoundly different. While the Ashram is so far from where I live, the online offerings extend the Ashram’s reach further – bringing together participants, students and seekers from across the world.
Through the online classes we connect, like points of Light coming together in search of community and the joy of shared embodied practice.
Alive and Connected with Community
What feels most special about the online classes is that they are live and alive. These are not prerecorded sessions, but gatherings that unfold in real time, offering interactive spaces where connection and community can flourish.
The teachers who guide them carry deep love and passion for Swami Radha’s teachings and the Ashram community, bringing in that sense of aliveness. Through their dedication and selfless service, they create workshops designed to nourish and bring clarity. By asking meaningful questions and listening with attentiveness and care, they foster a nurturing, safe environment for people to reflect, learn and grow.
There is something deeply comforting about showing up at a set time to deepen spiritual practice and mindfulness, knowing that others are logging on too. In the circle of sharing, I feel a deep resonance with the group, I feel heard and seen. I am reminded that our journeys are not so different, that we carry similar questions and longings, each seeking meaning in the mystery of life. The teachings reveal themselves as luminous tools and what we create together in these spaces is rich and uplifting. We learn so much from each other
Swami Radhananda writes that “Our divine spark is nourished and encouraged through community respect and personal spiritual practices… That is what community can do – it can support people’s sincere ideals”
The online classes offer a doorway to the teachings and the teachings meet us wherever we might be. Breathing, listening, reflecting and sharing together, we are reminded that we are not alone.
Opening Doors: Accessibility in the Online Yoga Space
For many, the accessibility of joining from home has opened new doors, making it possible to weave spiritual practice and community into daily life.
While it may not always be easy to travel physically to the Ashram, the online classes offer access to a spiritual community from the comfort of your own home – opening the doors to more accessibility within the yoga community.
For those new to the Ashram, these classes provide a glimpse into the richness of our on-site retreats. For those who’ve been to the Ashram, they serve as reminders of the power of the teachings to bring people together, inviting clarity, relaxation and spiritual renewal.
In this way, the online classes reflect the symbolism of the Temple of Light: many doors and ways for people to enter in and connect to the Light.
Light Connects: Teachings of the Divine Feminine
In Swami Radha’s final message to the world, she asked us to stay together and to take care of one another – to let the Light guide our lives. These words remind me of the importance of spiritual community and that the Light is always present. The Light shines through, helping us find joy in the simplest of interactions, like a heartfelt conversation in class or a moment of silence we share together online.
The Ashram’s online offerings are extensions of this Light. Each gathering is a chance to pause, listen and be guided by teachings grounded in the Divine Feminine.
Now is a time to remember that we don’t walk this path alone. Through the Ashram’s live online offerings, the teachings continue to ripple out, uniquely touching each of our lives.
By Katie Taher