Alberta’s only ashram launches its website
November 17, 2008
On November 17 2008, Alberta’s first and only ashram, Atmalaya Ashram of Calgary, launched its website. Designed and developed by Xpan Interactive, this content-rich site provides information about Atmalaya’s yoga teachings, classes, therapies, and retreats, and hosts its online courses.
“I had a tough set of requirements for Xpan,” stated Atmalaya Ashram’s president, Daniel Ross (also known as Yogacharya Gowrishankarananda). “I wanted a site that was rich in texture and ambiance, and filled with information. The site also had to be technically robust enough to support the online courses and third-party billing.”
The real challenge was that Ross needed to have the site ready in only 16 days — in time for a major marketing event. The Xpan team was “fast, positive, and patient, and had the site ready in time,” Ross added. He had worked with Xpan to develop sites for other companies in the past, so was confident of the company’s website development capabilities. “For the Atmalaya website, I was also able to depend on Xpan’s considerable experience in elearning and e-commerce.”
At its Calgary ashram, Atmalaya focuses on teaching the Rishiculture Ashtanga Yogic practices. Developing the site, which uses modern web and elearning technology to present ancient teachings, created a unique challenge.
“Atmalaya” is a combination of the Sanskrit words for “soul” and “absorption” — qualities that are reflected in the site’s ambiance. “I’ve already received comments such as “fantastic, beautiful and inspiring” from Yoga teachers around the world,” Ross stated.
Ross has a rich future planned for the Atmalaya Ashram: he is currently writing 40 more courses for the online curriculum, developing the Atmalaya Orphanage, searching for a new rural site for the centre, and working to obtain certification for the teacher training program. The Atmalaya website provides a strong foundation to support this significant growth.
About Atmalaya Ashram
Atmalaya Ashram was founded in 2004 by Yogacharya Gowrishankarananda (also known as Daniel Ross) as a Calgary-based instruction and retreat centre focusing on facilitating Rishiculture Ashtanga Yogic practices. The Atmalaya Ashram provides classroom and online courses, retreats, teacher training, and is developing the Atmalaya Orphanage.
About Xpan Interactive Ltd.
Xpan Interactive Ltd. is a Canadian digital agency based in Calgary, Alberta. From concept to implementation, Xpan delivers exceptional elearning, multimedia, and internet solutions to a diverse range of global clients.
For information:
Atmalaya Ashram
Daniel Ross (Yogacharya Gowrishankarananda), President
acharya@atmalayaashram.com
www.atmalayaashram.com
Xpan Interactive Ltd.
Ron Thiele, President and CEO
+1 403 221 8573
ron@xpan.ca
www.xpan.ca