Sept 2023 - A new beginning with Gratitude for our growing family
The hot days of summer have come to an end, the refreshing rains are upon us and we have just crossed the Fall Equinox, a time of balance and harmony when the days and nights are nearly equal. This period of transition marks a new beginning. It is an opportunity to reflect on the past year, be grateful for what is and set intentions for the year ahead.
Here at A Sunlit Path we take the opportunity to express gratitude for the greatest wealth we possess: our beautiful, growing community.
Since we wrapped up the last season in April, we have been focused on bringing in passionate seekers who wish to be a part of our mission of helping people connect to the Divine within though yoga, Indian classical art forms and healing modalities. We put out a specific call and got many responses, but as is the way of the Universe, the prayer was answered in gratefully unexpected ways. It is our pleasure now to introduce you to a few new community members:
Alessandra Silver
Alessandra Silver is a filmmaker and photographer with a poetic eye for capturing the truth behind the apparent reality. We are grateful for the stories she will be creating for us about A Sunlit Path and the people, events and vision behind it. The spirit with which she has come on board continues to light up our hearts and takes us leaps ahead on The Sunlit Path. Please follow us on our social media page @sunlitpathcommunity to see the new video creations as they come out, made with love by Alessandra and her team.
Saraswathi Vasudevan
Saraswathi Vasudevan is a yoga teacher, trainer and therapist with over 30 years experience, founder of YogaVahini and serves on the Voluntary Board of Directors of Yoga Alliance. She joins us with her first offering this month at the two-day Yoga of Nature retreat co-facilitated by Parvathi Nagarajan. Her wisdom served with such gentle humility has captured our hearts and we are so grateful for her generous sharing and look forward to learning from her.
Lakshmi Santra
Lakshmi Santra is a Hindustani classical vocalist born into a family of talented musicians in Calcutta. She brings her voice and her heart to us through devotional kirtans and Hindustani vocal music classes. Her weekly classes will be held every Tuesday from 6-7pm. We are blessed through her to have more opportunities to open our hearts through the divine instrument of voice.
Kothandaraman Arumugam
Kothandaraman Arumugam, or Raman as he is known, has grown up in and with Auroville and worked in architecture, farming and filming. In his heart he is a Tamil Shaivite who has spent decades pouring over classic texts, especially Shaivite Saint Mannikkavasagar’s Thiruvasagam and Samandhar’s Thevaram. Raman will soon lead regular Satsangs (streamed online as well) to guide us in embracing the Shivarasa in these texts. Please spread the word as this niche subject warrants being tasted by a wider audience.
Vithya Arasu
Vithya Arasu is a brilliant Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancer whose grace extends beyond her form to the way she moves through the ancient vocabulary to discover gems that she shares through her Natyashastra classes and videos on karanas. She extends her exploration further in her offering of Dance as Yoga retreat from November 3-5th. Her experimentation with ancient art forms bound by tradition breathes new life and possibility into the world of classical Indian dance and we are excited to dance with her soon.
If you’d like to know more about any of these beautiful individuals we are blessed to have with us, please go to www.asunlitpath.org/community
Gita Wolf
Another individual we are blessed to have in our community since last August is Gita Wolf. People often take a long pause after entering A Sunlit Path when they see a poster showcasing many well-known yoga postures in an altogether unique way. Called Metamorphosis, it is a poster accompaniment to a book with poses sketched in the likeness of the animal or object upon which the poses were named. It is one of the many beautiful works of Tara Books, headed by Gita Wolf. Please check out their newly opened bookstore called Books ’n Things in Kuyilapalayam. Gita is also a dedicated yoga student of Sudha at A Sunlit Path. Inspired by her newfound passion for yoga and the high demand for the now out-of-print book, Gita is now working with Sudha on the second edition of Metamophosis. Like yoga, the process of writing together has been a very joyous and rewarding process and we are excited to share the result with you sometime next year.
Bringing together high vibrating beings on a mission to serve is crucial for transformation work at the collective level. We are uber grateful to be connected with all of you on The Sunlit Path and feel curiously joyous for what lies ahead. Let us all keep deepening in our field for our own growth while holding the collective in our minds and hearts. Love and light to each of you as we all transition into this new cycle.