NATHALIE DAOU
As my teacher often said, “Where there is life, there is yoga.” From the moment I encountered the teachings of yoga, I felt an undeniable pull toward this ancient path, a fascination that slowly became devotion, discipline, and ultimately, a way of living.
My journey began in my teenage years, at a time when I was already experiencing chronic back pain. Yoga entered my life not merely as a physical practice, but as a source of healing and inner transformation. It offered me a profound understanding of both the physical and energetic body, becoming a refuge for my physical pain and a foundation for mental and emotional well-being. As my studies deepened, I discovered the method of Ashtanga Yoga and found myself completely immersed in a system overflowing with wisdom, structure, and self-inquiry. Through the practice, I experienced not only strength and healing, but also humility, compassion, and a deeper connection to life itself.
Born in Iran to a Lebanese father and a Korean mother, I grew up surrounded by different cultures, traditions, and ways of seeing the world. This upbringing instilled in me an open mind, a gentle heart, and a deep respect for humanity in all its diversity. Living across different countries and cultures revealed something universal: beyond language, religion, or nationality, we are all connected through faith — faith in ourselves, faith in the path, faith in effort, and faith in surrendering to what we cannot control. Faith that life will hold us, even in moments of uncertainty.
To me, Ashtanga Yoga is far more than a physical discipline. It is a sacred tool that guides us back to our center. The teachings of yoga do not seek to give us something new, but rather to help us remember what has always existed within us, clarity, presence, resilience, and peace.
Before dedicating my life fully to teaching yoga, I spent nearly eight years working as a producer in the production industry. That chapter of my life exposed me to the intensity and demands of the modern world and gave me a deeper understanding of the pressures many people silently carry. It shaped my perspective profoundly and continues to influence the grounded and compassionate way I approach teaching today.
When I was first introduced to Ashtanga Yoga, the connection was immediate and life-changing. Since then, I have remained devoted to the practice and the continuous journey of learning it demands. After more than two decades of dedicated daily practice, I began teaching yoga in 2012.
Traveling to Mysore, India, to study with my teacher Sharath Jois at the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute became a natural and essential part of my path. I continued returning to study with him at the Sharath Yoga Centre until his passing in November 2024.
I remain deeply humbled and grateful to have received Authorisation from my beloved teacher Sharath Jois to teach Ashtanga Yoga, becoming the first Lebanese practitioner to receive this blessing within the lineage.
Today, I am honoured to be holding the only traditional authorised Ashtanga Yoga program in Dubai, and to currently be the only Level 2 Authorised teacher by Sharath Jois teaching in the city. Through The Shala Dubai, my intention is to preserve and share this practice with sincerity, devotion, and deep respect for the lineage from which it comes.
Yoga has been woven into the fabric of my life for as long as I can remember. The practice continues to strengthen me while softening me, teaching me discipline while reminding me to remain humble. It inspires me to meet each moment with awareness, gratitude, and sincerity.
It is the greatest honour of my life to share this practice and lineage with others. I remain forever grateful to my Guru, whose teachings shaped not only my practice, but the way I move through life and hold space for my students today.
May we continue to honour this sacred tradition by stepping onto our mats with devotion, humility, and gratitude.
Nathalie Daou
For the list of authorized teachers please check this link:
https://sharathyogacentre.com/asia/
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AGOSTINA FRESNO
Agostina is a dedicated practitioner, passionate about yoga and she has been assisting Nathalie Daou at The Shala Dubai. she is teaching the morning Mysore classes at Dubai Internet City branch. Here is a little message from her:
"I discovered the Ashtanga practice six years ago during a challenging period in my life. Within a few months of starting the practice, things began to take a different direction. Since then, the practice has been my faithful companion, a lifestyle. The most significant revelation for me was not achieving impressive asanas and postures (which constitute just one anga of the eight steps of Ashtanga).
I truly grasped that there is something beyond the physical body; we are purusha (soul), akin to an eternal light that never goes out. Ashtanga, for me, is a path in constant construction, physically, spiritually, and mentally. It transforms your life for the better. This practice has changed my life, and for that, I'm eternally grateful.
In my younger days, I was a dancer and later began teaching dance classes. When I started practicing yoga, a few years later, I felt the need to share what this practice brought me.
I believe I was born with a passion for teaching and sharing knowledge. It's a privilege and an honor to help others. Sharing this practice brings me immense joy!
I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mysore for the first time, a journey I had been dreaming of for so long. My plan was to practice under SharathJi and finally meet him in person, an experience I had deeply looked forward to. However, with his unexpected passing, everything shifted. Instead of canceling my trip, I decided to practice with his mother, Saraswati Jois, and it turned out to be one of the most profound and transformative experiences of my life. Practicing in that sacred space under Saraswati’s guidance was humbling and deeply inspiring.
Beyond the practice, I completely fell in love with Mysore itself, the rhythm of the city, the peaceful early mornings, the warmth of the people, and the simplicity of life there. There was a sense of stillness amidst the movement, a feeling of being exactly where I was meant to be. This trip was not just about yoga; it was about connection, surrender, and rediscovering the essence of the practice in its purest form. Mysore now holds a special place in my heart, and I know this was only the beginning of a much deeper journey.”