As my teacher says: "where there is life, there is yoga". Ever since I discovered the teachings of yoga I have been completely fascinated by it.
When I started to learn Yoga I was already suffering from back pains. Yoga guided me in finding more understanding of my physical and energetic body. As I dived deeper into the path of yoga I encountered the system called Ashtanga Yoga and found myself fully immersed in it. This nourishing practice is full of knowledge and wisdom, helped me cure many pains in my body including back pains and allowed me to keep a loving and humble attitude towards myself, nature and life.
With a Lebanese and Korean background, I feel blessed to have been exposed to various cultures and beliefs, to keep an open mind and to cultivate kindness, patience, compassion. Having lived in various countries I have noticed that regardless of our nationalities, religion or belief, we all have something in common, and that is to have faith. To have faith in ourselves, to make the effort required and to surrender to the outcome. To have faith that this universe will catch us if we fall. And Ashtanga Yoga is not different, it is not only about making shapes with the body, but it is a tool for us to come back to our center. In fact, most of the teachings of yoga are not new to us, they are merely a reminder of what we already know but have somehow managed to forget.
Before I started to teach yoga I was working as producer in an advertising agency for over 8 years and couldn't be more grateful to have had that experience as it allowed me to build an understanding of many aspects of the life we are living in the present moment.
I have been practicing yoga since my mid-teenage years as therapy for my physical pains and mental wellness. When I was introduced to Ashtanga, the connection was instant, and haven't stopped practicing and learning ever since.
After over 15 years of dedicated practice, I started teaching yoga since 2012 it was a natural step forward to travel to Mysore to deepen my studies with R. Sharath Jois at the Shri K.Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in 2015, and have been going back ever since to visit my teacher at the Sharath Yoga Centre.
It is very humbling to be the first Lebanese yoga practitioner to have received the blessings from my dear teacher R. Sharath Jois to teach Ashtanga Yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga has been a part of my life since I can remember, and my practice has helped me grow stronger and at the same time maintain a forgiving attitude. Yoga inspires me to live each moment more mindfully to the fullest.
It is an honor to share my love and passion for yoga. I am forever grateful to my Guru.
Nathalie Daou
For the list of authorized teachers please check this link:
https://sharathyogacentre.com/asia/
Nathalie Daou