The yogini: Dina Ghandour
The pose: Eight angle (aka astavakrasana)
The location: Somewhere in the desert of the UAE
The benefits: This challenging arm balance strengthens your wrists, arms and shoulders and tones your core. It also boosts your sense of balance. And being playful in yoga opens the heart. And we are at one when we live by the heart.
When did your yoga journey begin and what sparked it?
I stumbled across yoga at the age of 15 via a Gaiam home video I bought on Amazon. I saw a friend in highschool doing a head stand and was in complete awe. I have been hooked ever since, now in a much more spiritual way than initially intended.
How has yoga transformed your life?
Yoga has helped me look at myself – and the world – more objectively. I understand myself so much better: my patterns, my emotions, and all my strengths and weaknesses. It has helped me become the best version of myself in all aspects of life – but there’s always more work to do.
In what ways has yoga challenged you?
Yoga has challenged me to sit with my thoughts – to learn how to deal with and reflect on difficult thoughts or situations by just letting them sit, rather than just pushing them away and moving on.
What’s your favourite asana?
I love balancing poses because I feel like they give you so much insight into how your body and mind work – a constant play of fear and confidence coming head to head. There’s so much to learn from these asanas – especially about oneself.
Has yoga helped you overcome any particular fears?
I struggle with anxiety every now and then and I think that’s what yoga has helped me manage better. When I moved back from the US to the UAE after being there for 7 years, it was a very challenging time with a lot of changes. Yoga helped me regain my centre and my focus.
Besides yoga, what are your passions in life?
I really just want to impact those around me, especially women, in a positive way. That’s my ultimate motivation in life – through whichever path I take, whether that be teaching yoga, being a good friend and daughter or having my own business.
What’s your (healthy) go-to snack?
Does Nutella on a rice cracker count? Because that’s usually what happens at about 4pm on any given day!
What are your plans for 2015?
I see stronger bonds with those I love. I see my business growing locally and regionally. I see myself sharing the joy of yoga through teaching – I’m doing a teacher training course this summer in Costa Rica, with the Jivamukti school of yoga.
What attracted you to Jivamukti Yoga?
When I moved back to the UAE four years ago, my teacher Maria Pamoukian was the one who inspired me into this school of thought.
What three things make you smile?
People laughing, dark chocolate and good music.
And three things that make you upset?
ignorance, discrimination and the way some people drive on the roads in the UAE.
What’s your mantra in life?
Let. Go.
Tell us about your future dreams…
At the moment, it’s about living in the now, but also being confident with whatever lies ahead will be everything that’s meant to be.
Dina is the owner of the popular boutique yogawear store, YApparel. For more information go to www.yapparel.com
