HUMBERTO J. MENEGHIN
YV –
Not long ago, in 2015/2016, you have returned to Mysore, India, to act again as
Sharath Jois’ assistant in the Shala. How was that experiencing this time? So,
this means Mysore has become your second home?
DANY – I was in Mysore in December / 2015 and January /
2016 for the fourth time and I signed up to be Sharath’s assistant again. For
sure this time I was more easy because I already knew how was the scheme of
assistance and how Sharath likes to work. Connection with him was bigger; I also
felt that he had more trust and confidence in my teaching and driving
adjustments. For me it is always a wonderful experience to be at his side
adjusting students from around the world, each one within their difficulties
with different bodies, minds and cultures, but sharing the same energy in the Shala.
It's beautiful to see! For sure, Mysore became my second home.
YV –
In Mysore, you still had a chance to see Amma. Many people that get a hug from this
Guru, feel very good, lightweight, in another energy level. How was your
meeting with Amma?
DANY
– Amma has an Ashram in Mysore and she is
usually there in February. On my first trip to Mysore I had the privilege to
see her and receive her hug. Her energy and presence is very strong. The hug
was very fast, I can’t say that I felt something, but that moment was very
special. After hugging foreigners we were asked to stand on the stage beside
her and it was very rewarding.
YV –
Discipline, dedication and persistence are required for those who want to
engage in achieving a goal and even a dream. Do you think if someone starts
practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga regularly, he or she can become more
determined to make his or her goals a reality? Why so many entrepreneurs,
successful people, CEOs, and even those who works in the financial market on
Wall Street, without mention some celebrities, love to practice Ashtanga? It is
the secret of success?
DANY
– How Sharath Jois says, to practice Ashtanga, we
need 3 D letters: discipline, determination and devotion. Practice is the
mirror of life. If you are determined in your sadhana (spiritual discipline), surely will take this attitude to
their daily life. I heard from a teacher and found it very interesting that the
ásanas of Ashtanga are part of the
practice of Tapas, which is the third
of Nyamas (internal observances).
Through breathing and ásanas we
activate the inner fire, the flame that ignites and pushes us to go beyond and find
our goals.
YV –
More than a year you opened your Shala, in Leblon, Rio de Janeiro. Considering
a numerous workshops that you do in
Brazil and even abroad, how do you deal with the administration of your school
and the practices offered there? Does it still apply not practice during New
and Full Moons? Or a lot of people don’t follow it and let’s go practice, because
it is what matters?
DANY
– I opened my Shala exactly 1 year ago and I am
very happy to do my work in Rio de Janeiro as an authorized teacher in the
method. The routine is quiet and easy and I can well manage classes during the
week and weekend workshops. Of course when I have a workshop I link one week to
another, non stop! Ufa! But it's very
good, I have nothing to complain about. Shala follows the tradition of the
method as taught in Mysore and therefore has no classes in the days of
full moon and new moon. I try to pass the same tradition for my students
because I think is very important to follow the lineage and the teachings of
the masters.
YV –
Aerial Yoga, AcroYoga are some of variations that have appeared lately
concerning how to perform ásanas. Are These styles also accessible to people who
practices Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga or for those who
practices Ashtanga they should not practice anything that is not in the series and
even a less dynamic practice? On the opposite, there are so many who are
faithful of Traditional Hatha Yoga and do not identify with AVY; however, some
people make some unconstructive critics to Ashtanga. How Ashtangis should
handle with these inopportune comments? Ignore and continue on the path of
practice is the best solution?
DANY
– I don’t have anything to talk about the new Yoga
styles, because I never practiced, but I think everyone has a free will to seek
your way. I think it’s important to follow a school and a teacher that has the
foundation in its tradition, the "parampara"
which is the ultimate teaching from master to disciple, the pure teaching; the
source. Today we have more options and modes, but the ideal would be to choose
a path and believe in it. Our minds already have so many distractions ... and there
is Yoga to stabilize it and not to leave it with more confusion. As Sharath
told in a conference: When you are sick, seek just one doctor and believe in
him, if you seek three doctors, each one will say something and you'll go crazy
... kkkk
Fortunately, I am very well settled with my life and
my practice of Ashtanga that goes far beyond doing ásanas, because this is only a part. Ashtanga practice means
practicing the eight limbs and the first and second limbs tells of ethics and
behavior of a Yogi. So, it's not ethical to talk bad and criticize without
knowing the real method ... so I don’t care about what others say.
YV –
Many practitioners come only to discover Yoga after fifty years of age. Soon
they fall in love and go on to become very committed to the practice and
teachings. Okay, start practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga at age of fifty or this
practice is no longer accessible to these people because their body has no
longer be the same as a practitioner who has twenty-five?
DANY
– The practice of Ashtanga is for all kinds of
people of different ages, and then a person over 50 years will be very welcome!
Surely, this person will no longer have a body of 25 years, but have a lot of
maturity to understand that practice
goes far beyond than doing ásanas. If
one can breathe, one can practice! The series will be taught gradually
according to the possibilities of student and adapt where necessary. If a
student can’t jump, so can walk, if one can’t make the lotus posture, one can
cross your legs in sukhasana (easy
posture) and everything is fine! In my experience as a teacher, I have seen
older students with a lot of energy and they progress quickly.
YV –
This year, 2016 we go to have the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro; In India they already
consider Yoga as a sport and there are still ásanas championships, there and in other countries. Do you think
the trend is inserting Yoga, better saying
ásanas, in the Olympic Games and make it officially as a sport? Or is this not cobine even a bit of what the practice
brings to us?
DANY
– I can’t see yoga as a sport ... For me it is a
philosophy of life. Even related to the ásanas.
Ásanas are not made for competition,
are made to an internal search and each one has its history in this way.
YV – A
teacher that is trained in conducting AVY practices apply adjustments while
students are performing postures. Adjustments are really needed or we can put
it aside? And what to do when a student tells clearly that don’t want to be
touched, adjusted during a practice?
DANY
– Adjustments are very important in the practice
of Ashtanga. Adjustment can be done in
several ways: it can be touched or spoken too, may be stronger or more subtle. The
goal of the adjustment is to guide the student, but it need not be done all the
time. If a student doesn’t want to be touched, I think is important to respect,
but usually it ends up changing with time because the student will trust and
believing in his teacher. When there is this exchange, the adjustment becomes a
blessing.
YV –
Even if a Yoga teacher has practiced AVY a lot for years and has not gone many
times to Mysore to get a certification, but teaches good lessons, do you think
it is worthy? Or, this teacher actually needs to go straight to the source to
really become empowered?
DANY
– Every teacher needs a teacher. I myself
already taught before going to Mysore and be allowed, but I had my teacher in
Brazil, Matthew, who followed the traditions of the method. The most important
thing to teach is, first of all, have a commitment to your practice and with
the teachings received direct from the source.
YV –
Zico is your pet, a smart dog who often is on your side in your home when you
are practicing. Reveal to us: Zico behaves well when he is close to you or he
does not stop and sometimes you have to ask him to be quiet? Seeing you
practice, what do you think Zico would say, if he could talk?
DANY
– Ah Zico! Very reluctant to have a pet, but I
ended up falling in love ... When Zico was a puppy, he messed my practice, but
today he already understands and respects. Usually he sleeps, because my
practice too long, but when he wakes up, he is on the tip of the mat watching
me ... I guess he might be concerned and find me a little crazy sometimes ...
kkkk
YV –
Being a committed practitioner and also a teacher, trustful and successful, of
course you have many followers on social networks. So we can say that Dany Sá
is a very approachable person and that no one should fear her because she does
some postures that are intensive? And what are the highlights of your agenda
for this year 2016?
DANY
– Being on social networks helps a lot to spread
my work, but everything I post is part of my reality. The number of followers
happens for just a result, that's all! I am a committed Ashtanga practitioner, yes,
but like all and I'm in this way learning and sharing experiences. The more
advanced ásanas are part of my
personal process, so you have nothing to fear! This year 2016, I will be for
the first time teaching in China and it will be a new professional challenge.
Photos: Dany’s
personal archives
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ALSO DANY’S PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS IN THESE LINKS:
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