NATHALIE DAOU
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.
My journey with yoga began in my mid-teenage years when I was already experiencing back pains. Yoga became my guiding light, offering me a deeper understanding of my physical and energetic body. It acted as therapy for my physical pains and contributed to my mental wellness. As I delved deeper into the path of yoga, I encountered the system called Ashtanga Yoga and found myself fully immersed in a practice rich with knowledge and wisdom. It not only helped me alleviate physical pains but also fostered a loving and humble attitude towards myself, nature, and life.
I feel blessed to have been exposed to various cultures and beliefs, being born to a Lebanese father and Korean mother in Iran. This upbringing taught me to keep an open mind, a gentle heart, and to cultivate kindness, patience, and compassion. Living in different countries revealed a common thread among us, regardless of nationality, religion, or belief – the importance of faith. Faith in ourselves, the effort required, and surrendering to the outcome. Faith that the universe will catch us if we fall. Ashtanga Yoga, too, is not just about shaping the body; it is a tool for us to return to our center. In fact, most of the teachings of yoga are not new; they are reminders of what we already know but have somehow managed to forget.
Before I started teaching yoga, I worked as a producer in a production house for about 8 years. I am grateful for that experience as it allowed me to understand various aspects of our present life. Exposure to the challenges of an intense industry opened my eyes to the reality faced by many in today's world and played a significant role in shaping the person I am today.
When introduced to Ashtanga, the connection was instant, and I haven't stopped practicing and learning since. With about 20 years of dedicated daily practice, I began teaching yoga in 2012.
Traveling to Mysore to deepen my studies with R. Sharath Jois at the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute was a natural step forward, and I had been returning ever since to visit my teacher at the Sharath Yoga Centre up to his passing in November 2024.
I am humbled and grateful to be the first Lebanese practitioner to have received blessings from my dear teacher R. Sharath Jois to teach Ashtanga Yoga.
Yoga has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and my practice has helped me grow stronger while maintaining a forgiving attitude. It inspires me to live each moment mindfully and to the fullest.
It is an honor to share my love and passion for yoga. I am forever grateful to my Guru. His teachings have shaped not only my practice but also the way I share this beautiful tradition with all of you.
Let us honor his legacy by continuing to step onto our mats with intention, humility, and gratitude.
Nathalie Daou
For the list of authorized teachers please check this link:
https://sharathyogacentre.com/asia/
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ASSISTANT TEACHERS
YARA EL HAYEK
I found yoga in 2019 while trying to balance the stress of a demanding corporate job. In the beginning, it was tough، I struggled to stay still, focus on my breath, and move through the postures. I was stiff, impatient, and stretching felt so uncomfortable that I often wanted to skip it altogether.
Since I used to be a runner, I convinced myself that yoga wasn’t for me. I thought I’d never be flexible, never be able to touch my hands to my feet. But something kept bringing me back to the mat; the challenge, the feeling I got after class, and my love for going upside down.
What started as just a way to move and breathe slowly became something much deeper. I was amazed by how my body was changing, how I was learning to play on my mat, and how my mindset was shifting.
Then, a few years ago, I found Ashtanga Yoga, and everything changed. I never imagined I’d enjoy practicing the same sequence every single day, but somehow, it felt different each time. Ashtanga taught me patience, and over time, it became more than just a physical practice. Through pregnancy, postpartum, and now as a mom of twins, I’ve kept showing up, no matter what. Yoga has given me discipline, resilience, and a sense of calm that I never had before. It’s been my anchor through every stage of life.
This journey eventually took me to Mysore, India, where I had the honor of studying under the guidance of Sharath Jois at Sharath Yoga Center.
Now, as a dedicated practitioner and assistant teacher at The Shala Dubai, I love sharing this practice with others. My goal isn’t just to teach postures; it’s to help people move through life with more awareness, ease, and strength, just like yoga has done for me.
PARISA ABAD
Parisa has been teaching yoga in Iran for the past 6 years and has recently moved to Dubai. For her, practicing the Ashtanga Yoga method gives her a sense of ease, contentment and discipline.
No wonder she lives to share her passion for yoga with others.
In 2016, she embarked on an epic journey to India where she discovered she was entirely immersed in the tradition method of Ashtanga Yoga. Parisa's practice doesn't come from a place of achieving postures, but from a place of genuinely wanting to discover herself and become who she believes she is meant to become: brave and authentic to her values.
Parisa has been a regular practitioner at The Shala Dubai since she moved to Dubai and is currently assisting Nathalie Daou in the morning mysore classes.
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.”