Yoga tips from guest editor Sati Casanova. Sati Casanova: “I want to benefit as many people as possible! Where Sati Casanova teaches yoga

Earrings, Axenoff Jewelery

Model: Sati Casanova
Producer: Elena Polyakova
Photo: Olga Zhadan
Style: Irene Duzhiy
Make-up: Irina Dzhagaeva
Hair: Alena Kostyuk @peng_msk

Thank you Ararat Park Hyatt Hotel And Dress One
for assistance in organizing the shooting.

Sati Casanova managed to maintain popularity and close attention of the audience without betraying herself. Yes, she became more mature, but that only made her more interesting. It’s rare that you meet a pop star with whom you plan to conduct an hour-long interview, and three hours later you still can’t tear yourself away from the conversation: music, business, yoga, family, Instagram and, of course, your favorite beauty looks created with Givenchy. ..

Image: Not a day without romance

Sundress, Roseville; shoes, Evelina Khromtchenko & Ekonika

Elena Polyakova: Nowadays, every successful girl and woman is faced with the same question: how to be a mother, a good wife, a businesswoman and just an interesting conversationalist at the same time?

Sati Casanova: Like it or not, you have to conform - in all areas. (Smiling.) However, it’s not for me to judge how good I am as a businesswoman, since I’m still new to this business. Key word: "yet." But the role of a creative person is what I do best: soaring in fantasies and gushing with ideas - sheer pleasure. But it was this skill that ultimately brought me to where I am now.

As for a good wife, I like being one: so far everything is simple! We have been married for less than a year, and if you add up all the days when we can be together, there are very few of them. We still spend more time apart. True, this almost doesn’t upset us: we like that we are both so passionate about our work and believe in our star. Everyone is busy not just with their favorite work: it is about purpose. We are lucky that we respect this feeling in each other. Perhaps, when children appear, everyday life will begin to consume us: everyone says so. But I promised myself that I would try to protect our relationship from routine. Besides, it’s easier with Stefano in this sense: when I, for example, have absolutely no time to cook, he can quite easily make his own pasta (Sati’s husband is Italian - editor’s note), and it’s great, I’m far from him in this regard. And he tries to respond to my convincing requests to put things back in their place.

— Your husband is a famous photographer. What are the advantages of living with creative person, and what, perhaps, are some of the difficulties?

— So far I see only the pros, although the cons are visible somewhere on the horizon. I like that he understands me when it comes to creativity. At the same time, Stefano is a very grounded person, a kind of pragmatic European. In a good way. He is from the north of Italy, from Turin - clear, punctual, neat, which is what I learn from him.

“But creative men often focus only on their desires. Doesn't this happen to your husband?

— All creative men are characterized by self-centeredness, it’s true. But it is in both me and my husband. It happens that we both sit in our own thoughts, but it’s rather nice. I hope that we will remain at this stage, without rigidly tugging on the blanket. He is always ready to help me with photography, and I help him with publications. Perhaps we will even do some kind of joint project, for example in the field of travel. We are united by our love for the culture of other peoples and their traditions. I'm currently going on a yoga trip to Bali, and my husband will join me later - partly to be with me, partly to take photos. The second is most likely even more interesting to him, but I am not offended, on the contrary, I understand him very much.

Image: Successful woman

— What are you working on now?

— I am creating an ethnic project that is truly interesting to me, although not many people know about it yet. It is called Sati Ethnica: it combines ancient mantras, ancient Circassian songs of my people, chants that are “packed” into modern electronic music. I came to this idea spontaneously, and my love for this kind of music emerged quite naturally. At first I listened, then I started singing mantras for friends or in closed yoga clubs, and I started giving small concerts. Then - more concerts, and later a whole album appeared, which is already on iTunes. Now I'm working on my second album within the framework of this concept. I am looking abroad for record labels, sound producers and partners, anyone who is also excited about this idea. Without knowing it, I fell into the trend with both electronic music and authenticity in a modern interpretation. Although I’m not interested in trendiness, of course, but in the opportunity to reveal myself as fully as possible.

In addition, a new single in the pop music genre will be released on July 20. In the fall, in Moscow, as in the previous three years, I will have a concert with Deva Premal. In general, I believe that music has a tremendous effect on a person. Even if we listen to anything, it still affects us. Numerous experiments with the crystal lattice of water droplets are direct proof of this. They say that music is the language of God. And I really want my music to be worthy of this title. Now is a special time: patterns are being broken, and people are increasingly asking questions: “Who am I? What am I living for? My ethnic project gives me answers to them.

— What is your favorite thing in your profession, and what is the most difficult?

— Unpredictability is both a favorite and a difficult thing. On the one hand, I adore moving, meetings, and new opportunities. On the other hand, if you are not in a resourceful state, then it’s hard for you. Sometimes I don’t want to go to a club or go on stage in front of a crowd of thousands, but I need to do it. Over the years, I have learned to forgive myself for being apathetic or sad. It turns out that I also have the right to be sad.

— What helped you not to break down, despite the need to adapt?

“I had to adapt and still have to—it’s part of the profession.” But I began to be able to look at the situation from the other side, change my perspective. If something used to annoy me, now I turn the process into a game, asking myself: “What if I love this? What if this is what I've been waiting for all my life? I make a bet with myself, I fantasize. This technique doesn’t always work, of course. But I am capricious and create scandals much less often now than before.

Suit, Nebo; clips, Crystalline

— What is the most important thing for you at your current age? There is a popular hashtag on the Internet: #ageisjustanumber. Do you agree with this?

- Yes, I adore my age! I’m 35, and when I look at photos of myself fifteen or twenty years ago, I find myself much more interesting and attractive now than then, including in appearance. I'm sure that in ten or even twenty years I will be even cooler. The internal transformation that happened to me is reflected on my face and in my entire appearance. I wouldn’t change a single event, even the most terrible one, I wouldn’t erase a single one of my mistakes. They are all very dear to me, because they made me exactly who I am now. I had to work hard to accept myself with all the “cracks”. Exactly when I began to succeed, I met my husband.

The only thing I would keep with me is desperate courage. I was just crazy and I really liked it. Of course, I made a lot of mistakes, didn’t think about the consequences, and jumped with my saber drawn. I challenged public opinion, but now I understand that I did it out of my own vulnerability, fear of what they would think of me.

Now I’m still just as hot-tempered, but I’m already careful, learning to cope with blows and criticism. There is such a cruel phenomenon - “cyberbullying”. I would even like to devote a separate project to this topic. Many people feel their impunity on the Internet and do what they want: they offend, curse, threaten, and so on. And words sometimes hurt much more than deeds. I really look forward to the time when the law making such actions punishable will come into force. After all, many people suffer from them, including teenagers, who are especially susceptible to such attacks. There were many cases where people were even driven to suicide.

I recently listened to a speech by Monica Lewinsky, who spent ten years in severe depression precisely because of such persecution. On the TED channel, the current Monica said that every person has the right to make mistakes, but no one has the right to stone them to death. In my current state of open vulnerability, I can honestly admit that this is very painful. But I no longer run from negative comments, but try to delve into them and respond immediately.

— What was the most difficult thing for you to correct in yourself?

- Anger and intolerance to mistakes - first of all to your own, but also to others too. I had to work hard on myself in this area, and my journey is not over yet. Recently, my friend and I discussed that love is born from self-tolerance, and I suddenly realized that it is not! On the contrary: patience is born from love. Love is unity, with yourself and the world. My spiritual master, by the way, always said so, but his words began to reach me only now, six years later!

Image: Star

— Today, show business stars compete in popularity not with each other, but with digital celebrities. How do you feel about this and do you have any rules of conduct on social networks?

— Honestly, at first I couldn’t even understand: what kind of phenomenon is this? And now I have to take this into account, I even follow some digital heroes myself. For example, Regina Todorenko is very lively and real. However, she is, of course, also a TV star. Or Aunt Motya: sometimes it’s interesting to watch her. I also really like Marina Vovchenko - she is a super blogger, but both on Instagram and in life she manages to be the same person. Or Nadya Andreeva, who always says something useful and interesting.

But in general, Instagram is a very dishonest thing. Even more dishonest than television. After all, we don’t know who sits there and writes all these smart thoughts for the heroines of social networks, does these beautiful photos. Some personal growth coach may not have the money to pay rent, and the beautiful woman who teaches how to build relationships “behind the scenes” is in a state of divorce. I'm stressed by the need to appear to be someone rather than actually be. On the other hand, there is also a lot of useful and good things in social networks, Instagram stars sometimes have a great influence on us, and the platform itself provides a unique opportunity to maintain contact with fans. I didn’t take this seriously before, but now I carefully read the comments.

— Are you doing a digital detox for yourself?

“I’ve never had to turn off my phone yet.” Quite the contrary: I recently purchased a small laptop to write down thoughts for a future book. But I intend to give myself such a detox, of course. Especially now that I'm married. Or when children appear and there is nowhere to go: I don’t want to give them an example of a person who walks around with a phone all the time.

— How do you relax and when do you allow yourself to turn off your head and reboot?

— To answer in a nutshell, it’s yoga and meditation. And, of course, a walk - ideally barefoot! Just walk for three or four hours: through the forests, through the mountains, along the beach, closer to nature. Cities fascinate me less - with the possible exception of small Italian ones or Lisbon with its million streets. But in Bali, something happens to me: I reboot very easily. But it also happens that even on vacation I can’t turn off my head. Sometimes I like it. The main thing is to be honest with yourself. Basically, I have all the tools to switch within five minutes, I just have to direct my attention to the right zone. I have been practicing for seven years and teaching Atma-Kriya Yoga for three years - a powerful technique for working with the consciousness and subconscious, with the soul and supersoul.

— How can I get to your classes?

“Once a month or a month and a half we give an announcement on my social networks, accept applications, conduct telephone interviews with the person and find out whether he really wants to study or is just out of idle curiosity. Surprisingly, there has never been a time when someone came just to look at the star. Training lasts two full days, and for me these are the happiest two days.

— Where, in your opinion, should you start doing yoga? How to do this correctly?

— I came to yoga in 2004. I strongly recommend not to rush and not to jump straight into intense group classes: Just trust my fourteen years of experience. With my characteristic maximalism, I first rushed into Ashtanga yoga. All types of yoga are wonderful, but I didn’t take into account that I had quite serious scoliosis, which, of course, only got worse from the classes. If yoga were therapeutic, when the instructor straightens it centimeter by centimeter, it would be a different matter. Therefore, I would recommend starting with Iyengar yoga.

— What makeup tricks do you have in your arsenal?

— The main trick that I discovered for myself is this: the less makeup, the more beautiful and younger the face. But each has its own characteristics. I have dry and thin skin, so I don’t use powder, but choose rich foundations. I apply a special multi-stage care with Japanese cosmetics underneath, and the skin remains radiant. A great option is to take a pencil and blend it until you have a very light haze on your eyes, paint on your eyelashes and lightly tint your lips with gloss, as if they were kissed. Nowadays, just one gloss can change the entire look, which is exactly how we played with the new Givenchy glosses: from delicate, with a barely visible translucent color to bright and rich scarlet lips in the spirit of femme fatale. Another trick is to use neutral Gloss Interdit on the cheeks: rub a drop with your fingers and apply very carefully, instead of blush, this makes the face look more natural.

In general, I started using cosmetics early: at the age of 15, when I was already going to school, I secretly took lip pencil from my mother and painted my lips in the entrance. Throughout my childhood I carried my mother’s lipsticks and acted out dramatic scenes in front of the mirror. The drama at the age of five was serious, with shouts: “You don’t love me! Why did you deceive me! She ran up to the mirror and kissed him. In a word, I have always been friends with cosmetics and I know how to apply makeup quite well - including in the car, while rocking, in the dark. However, I might as well not wear makeup at all.

— One of my favorite books is “Autobiography of a Yogi” by Paramahansa Yogananda. Reading someone's fiction is not very interesting to me now. I don’t want to pollute my mind with other people’s fantasies, even brilliant ones. I haven’t been to a movie theater in ages, but I really liked the recent film “The Shape of Water.” I also watched documentary about the singer Dalida “When Love Leaves” is also excellent. I’m really looking forward to “Avatar 2”, “Shantaram” by Johnny Depp and the new film adaptation of the epic “Mahabharata”.

— Now everyone is obsessed with healthy lifestyle. Are you an exception too?

— For the last few years I have been vegan, but I came to it very gradually. I gave up meat almost immediately as soon as I started doing yoga, then I gave up chicken. It was a little more difficult to give up fish and seafood, but six years ago I went through initiation into Atma Kriya Yoga, and this stage was also passed. I recently started working out hard physical culture according to the author's "Transformer" system. Previously denied power training, and now I’m actively introducing them into my life. Such activities give me a sense of grounding, and I just began to miss something earthly, dense. Otherwise, it turns out that I don’t eat meat, I often practice meditation, and I live on the 35th floor.

Dress, Kochetkova; jacket, I Am Studio; bag, Nasch; shoes, Evelina Khromtchenko & Ekonika

I also had to lose weight; I was worried about some problem areas that I wanted to work on. I admit honestly: I had various psychological difficulties with nutrition, I lost a lot of weight, after which it took a long time to restore my health. Through experience, I discovered something important: when I consumed dairy products, I swelled and a strange puffiness appeared. So I excluded them and started going to osteopaths or massage therapists who stimulate lymph. Healthy lymph is absolutely the key to good health, beauty and flexibility. In addition, I eliminated gluten from my diet. But in general, first of all, self-love determines whether your life will be happy or not. I began to understand this only now and that is why I would not exchange my age for any other.

Sati Casanova: “I want to be useful as possible more of people"

— Sati, please tell us how you came to vegetarianism?

I came to vegetarianism gradually, starting my immersion in a new culture for me with yoga classes. This was seven years ago. I had some back pain and was advised to do yoga. I started with Ashtanga yoga and practiced it very actively - I’m a stubborn girl, if I need something, then... Simultaneously with the practice, I read spiritual literature, and gradually the understanding of yoga came: yes, this is a whole path, philosophy! The first book for me was the book “The Heart of Yoga” by T. Desikachar. I learned about the main principle - ahimsa (non-violence). I learned what yama, niyama, and karma are. I remember I had an excellent yogini teacher, to whom I want to express my gratitude. Her name is Alena Naasan. She still teaches at many yoga centers. This is an angel! She was the one who instilled in me a love for yoga. She explained everything with such trepidation and helped me navigate.

Back then I still ate meat. You know, I was born and raised in the Caucasus. And there is a very beautiful culture of feasts with ancient traditions that are still carefully observed. One of the traditions is to serve meat to the table. Meat is an obligatory dish at a Caucasian feast. And although in Moscow I could not eat meat for six months, returning to my homeland, I was somehow tempted, listening to my father’s logical arguments: “How can this be? You are going against nature. You were born in this region and you can’t help but eat the foods you were raised on. It is not right!" Then I could still be broken. I ate a piece of meat, but then I suffered for three days because my body was already weaned from meat.

Since then I haven't eaten meat. My parents didn’t understand me right away, but they understood. They respect my choice, and I am very grateful to them for that. Mom cooks vegetarian dishes for me. And if usually one type of cheese is served at the table, then when I arrive there are three or four of them, because cheese is my everything.

I for a long time I couldn't stop eating fish. I thought: “There won’t be anything left for me to eat!” What then is there? Maybe pasta, pasta? But this is impossible, since there is no way for me to get better” (laughs). The answer came like this. I met the singer Marina Devyatova. She is already a second generation vegetarian and does not know what animal food is. She and I ended up at the same feast, where she amazed me with her meekness. When I used to realize that I had nothing to eat, I was so angry! Thanks to her, I learned that you can’t go hungry at any feast. Potatoes, cheese, steamed vegetables - this is what can be found in any kitchen. You can always eat raw vegetables, although eating them in winter is a little... cold.

There was another test. At some point I started having problems with my vocal cords, and for a singer this is a disaster. At that moment different people They tried to convince me that the cause of the problem was my refusal to eat meat. They explained that due to the lack of meat in my diet, my hemoglobin level and general tone had decreased. I talked with Tatyana Shamanina from the Guru Groove Foundation group (Tatiana is a vegetarian) and she said that after giving up animal food she began to sing much better and cleaner, the sound became flying, sparkling. And I realized that all health problems are purely psychosomatic. Subsequently, I discovered the nature of my illness vocal cords, vegetarianism has nothing to do with it. But that is another story.

How do you feel after giving up animal foods?

I had a period when I literally re-engaged in spiritual practices and did not receive any grounding. It was like I was carried away. I reasoned like this: “People are rude creatures, they smoke, drink and swear. I’d rather stay upstairs...” I think many people have gone through this. And suddenly I wanted coffee. Although it doesn’t suit me - it makes me feel bad physically, but energetically it’s a different matter. At that time, a grounding element was needed. I am still a little attached to coffee, chocolate, and Pu-erh tea. Of course, it is difficult to resist old habits of the body and the influence of society. But I pray that I can handle this with dignity, that I still have the same respect for people who still eat meat, and that I don't elevate myself as a good person. Everyone has their own choice. You should never force or judge anyone.

Now I am a vegetarian with all my heart, with all my being. I fully accept the principle of ahimsa. My vegetarianism today is more organic and harmonious than even a year ago.

- Has vegetarianism ceased to be militant?

Yes, it is not at all militant! Now I understand that everywhere: in any society, in any outback, I can find food for myself. And I'm calm. I understand that the cult of food that I had before is not entirely healthy. I understand that food is only a small part of life. An important part, but not worth much attention. Food must go from being a cult to becoming a culture.

- Sati, tell me, do you cook yourself?

Yes, I really like to cook. True, I rarely do this. Currently my cooking is limited to steamed vegetables using a mixture of Indian spices and ghee. In cafes, vegetarian dishes sometimes turn out somewhat bland. When I cook, I cook deliciously!

- So, they can’t cook vegetables in a cafe the way you cook at home?

Can not. But the most important point lies in the energy of the cooked food. I feel more and more how energy the food is imbued with. It is known that when food is cooked over a fire, it most strongly absorbs the thoughts of the one who cooks. Even those who simply serve affect the quality. Do you believe it? Due to this, I feel less and less inclined to eat in public places. I usually go where I know the chef. I know that Jagannath employs understanding people. There is also a Moscow cafe “Ganga”, here you can find praying food. I would like to recommend the wonderful Armenian restaurant Gayane's in Moscow to vegetarians. Do you know how many vegetarian dishes there are in Armenian cuisine?

So many! For example, I love Karabakh flatbreads made from unleavened dough with cheese and herbs, cooked in the tandoor. What a taste of spinach pie! For the owner of this restaurant, her work is her home, and I know how much warmth and love she brings there. The cook is also a very warm, soulful woman, like all mothers in the Caucasus. Even if there is passion in such food, there will be a lot of love in it.

Sati, it seems interesting to me that your vegetarianism is not even a belief, but something deeper, something identical to your nature...

Yes it is. Now it is. Especially after India. This country literally blew my mind. I was in Chennai and talked to local residents and went diving. I met the sunrise several times on the ocean shore. It was a real connection with nature, people and culture. I want to cry with joy that I got to know India.

- Yes, truly holy places have this property.

Right. Somehow I accidentally got into a service in a small temple that produced great impression. I usually go to all churches - it doesn’t matter to me what denomination it belongs to. The priest in that church amazed me with his simplicity, goodwill and the amazing atmosphere he created. I was able to visit a few more temples in Chennai. The biggest impression on me was made by the most modest of them - the Sai Baba Temple.

And what amazing restaurants there are in India! You take the menu and see two pages of non-vegetarian dishes and twenty-two of vegetarian ones. True, everything there is very spicy, but at the same time incredibly tasty.

One of my friends became a vegetarian just after he tried delicious vegetarian food in India.

Understand! For me, it's not just about taste. If you listen to yourself, you will notice that after eating rough animal food, even fish, completely different thoughts are born. Of course, this does not mean that vegetarianism can make a person a saint or simply enlightened. Undoubtedly, spiritual work must take its course. But it becomes much easier if you exclude the factors that bend you to the ground. Vegetarianism is first and foremost about helping yourself. If you want to go fast, why eat something that weighs you down? Sometimes on business you have to communicate with energetically heavy people. Then you need to use known grounding means. Recently, I have discovered that it is not at all necessary to consume things that poison the body. For example, sport is a very good grounding activity. Food helps, even vegetarian food, for example, fried cheese. There is yoga that also helps with this - Ashtanga yoga, yoga-23.

- Is yoga your daily practice today?

Yes, there is a set of exercises from the grounding group that I perform regularly.

Sati, how, with such an intense life schedule, do you manage to find time for self-development and such a difficult balance between earth and sky?

It's really not easy. The way you think is very important - at every moment. The books you read are also important.

- By the way, what are you reading now?

Now I’m reading the legendary book by R. Sharma “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.” This is a great book! Although mostly I don’t read it, but listen to it when I go about my daily activities.

- Is there anything that you can advise specifically to women to maintain balance?

I really like yoga. I think it suits everyone. For example, Ashtanga is also useful for fragile women - it helps strengthen the body and make it stronger. I practiced it for three years. Our body is the same temple, our house. If it is excessively fragile, the person is very vulnerable in life. The body is like a child. It always thanks you for your care and love. I just recently started treating my body this way, and it makes me very happy. When you ignore the needs of the body for a long time, constantly forcing it to do what is unusual for it - you sleep little, eat little, drink coffee - then sooner or later it will rebel and demand all your attention.

If yoga is not enough for someone, I highly recommend swimming. Again, it suits women very well. This is, firstly, beneficial contact with water, and secondly, when swimming, all muscle groups are involved. I also run in the morning, although I agree that running is not for everyone. While running I listen to music. When else will I be able to listen to music for 30-40 minutes straight?!

- Do you manage to keep the daily routine?

You have to - life forces you. But I feel good.

- Glad to hear it! There are so few people who feel good.

The way of thinking is very important. Recently I realized that negative thoughts and words, complaints, dissatisfaction do not improve health in any way, but just the opposite. You also burden other people with your problems, and all because you yourself cannot cope with your thoughts. The “help yourself” principle is absolute. Usually, instead of helping yourself, you also stress out your friends.

You know, I try to surround myself with people who think positively just like me. I also really value and appreciate everyone. I dream of creating a team of dedicated people, where everyone will be in their place and love what they do. There are a lot of unhappy people around who are constantly forced to compromise with themselves, to betray themselves in some way, to step over themselves.

I believe that you need to treat yourself with care, like a mother treats her child. There are things that offend a person, offend this internally pure child. For example, promiscuous sex life. Unfortunately, this aspect is not developed in our culture - there is no decent culture of relations between men and women that would be instilled from childhood. Sexual life outside of marriage, civil marriage, which is so popular now, is all very bad and harmful for a woman.

It seems that the moment of awareness is important in this matter. It’s one thing when such chaste behavior comes from prohibitions, and quite another when it comes from a wise and careful attitude towards oneself.

Yes, there are very strong prohibitions in the Caucasus. And it is precisely there that the sexual behavior of boys and girls, who outwardly look very decent, sometimes takes on quite ugly forms. Moreover, this hypocrisy comes from a complete misunderstanding of oneself, one’s nature.

Many people, for example, believe that sex is necessary for health. Actually this is not true. The body, both male and female, does not need this. Of course, this is a rather precarious position in modern world, offering so many temptations and enticements. But I perceive life as a school, where you need to learn to pass every test with dignity.

- So for you life is a test of something, learning something?

Yes, testing, learning, discovery, joy, surprise, pleasure, creation - all this can be placed under one universal concept - love. I'm in the right place. There is such a concept as “level of possession of space.” I have such a large possession of space that I don’t know how much I will be enough. I generate such large-scale projects that sometimes it becomes scary. However, I understand that I wouldn’t want to do anything less. For example, she is currently busy establishing a charitable foundation. It will be called the “Fund for Social and Creative Initiatives.” From the social sphere, I am especially attracted to the topic of ecology. Three years ago I created the project “No Garbage!” I created it easily, playfully, as such projects should probably be created. Several times we got together and picked up trash in the parks ourselves. Artists joined us. For example, last year there were Yana Rudkovskaya, Evgeni Plushenko, Dima Bilan. This year we plan to hold the event more widely and loudly so that many people have the opportunity to join.

- How do you find time for everything?

Finding time for such projects is a matter of priorities. We can always be busy with something. Can be carried out free time as usual, for example, with a friend over a cup of chocolate. Or you can do something really useful. It is important to think about the benefits of what you do: are you benefiting one person or a large number of people? Or maybe you benefit the entire planet, all of humanity? I prefer the latter. Now I'm worried about whether I will have to be torn between social activities and creativity.

- Why do you need this?

Yesterday I attended a performance by the legendary Cirque Du Soleil. Presented a new show dedicated to Michael Jackson. He himself was not really there, but his presence was very noticeable. In one evening, circus performers made seven thousand people happy. And they held seven such performances in Moscow. Total forty-nine thousand happy people per week! I think this is great! As I looked at them, I prayed that I would make something as beautiful as this, that would reach as many people as possible and fill them with a new understanding of themselves and the world.

- Sati, please tell us more about the foundation.

The foundation has several areas of activity. One of them is identifying talents among the younger generation and providing all possible support for gifted children. The Foundation has the resources to develop unique programs aimed at raising the awareness of children and youth in all areas of life. It's about about future. Talented children in the future may take positions of leadership, and the kind of old age that awaits us will depend on them. That is why we plan to work primarily with children and youth.

Another direction is the popularization of national culture in the form in which it has been preserved. It is good if children are brought up in the spirit of the culture of their people, on the ethical code preserved in the culture of every nation. And if not? Culture, including ethnic culture, is what gives humanity today a chance to survive. One of the global goals of the foundation is to instill in the younger generation a sense of national pride, love for their culture and respect for other cultures.

Our first specific task is to organize a festival of children's and youth creativity with an emphasis on ethnicity. We want the festival to become a demonstration of the beauty of ethnic culture, a unifying beginning, an impetus for the revival of folk culture and good relations between peoples. We are interested in any options for performing original ethnic material in different types arts: music, vocals, choreography, fine and decorative arts, even culinary arts. During the festival we plan to organize charity auctions and fairs where indigenous people will be able to present their handicrafts. After all, now everything is so mechanized. There is no life at all in modern products! The same handmade products are so popular now because they have life, there is love. We plan that the festival will travel throughout Russia from region to region. Let's start with the most problematic area - the Caucasus. Now is an amazing time. People become more sensitive - to energies, to thoughts. Spiritual practices have literally become fashionable. We just want to contribute to these general processes. We can also help people in the regions earn at least a little money. Although, first of all, such fairs are about communication.

That is, on the one hand, this is the revelation of the uniqueness of each culture, and on the other, unification into a single cultural family?

Yes exactly. For example, a festival in the Caucasus will help unite the Caucasian peoples. There are already about twenty nationalities living in my native Kabardino-Balkaria alone! And so it is in every region. You come to such a recreated cultural world, to such a town and think: “Wow! This is all my country!”

- What else will the fund do?

The third direction of the foundation's work is environmental. Environmental issues are more relevant now than ever. Humanity is causing irreparable harm to the planet. And something needs to be done about this. Each of us can change something simply by clearing the space around us. When everything around you is clean, you become more stable. Do you agree? Whatever we can do in this physical universe, we will do.

We are now assembling a strong team for the fund. These must be people who are ready to work. And work not for the sake of a fee. So we are waiting for like-minded people. Join us!

- Do you want to return to people what they have forgotten?

Nowadays the study of Vedic culture - the Vedas, the Upanishads - is very popular. Recently, interest in the Slavic Vedas has awakened. This is because it is primordial knowledge that gives strength. All cultural practices of antiquity - dancing, singing - had a deep meaning, healing power, and helped people feel a connection with the earth, with nature, with each other. Then we lost it, now we really miss it. Now, discovering this ancient knowledge for ourselves, we are surprised to discover that, for example, it is possible to engage in self-healing. I am convinced that globalization and urbanization do not have anything good, since they destroy man’s connection with nature, with his origins. We can counter this only by restoring the foundation, that is, the traditions of peoples, folk culture. This doesn't mean I'm against the iPhone. I just want to use it while sitting in lotus position on the edge of the forest. And it seems to me that now is such an amazing time when this is really possible.

The popular Russian performer openly told Woman's Day about how yoga changed her creative and personal life.

Sati, in recent years you have dramatically changed your life by turning to yoga, mantras, Ayurveda and trainings. What made you do this?

There have been a lot of things in my life: depression, losses, unsuccessful novels, job losses. As a result, I realized that the loss of something in life comes from the fact that I am losing myself. It took me a long time to understand that it was all about me. Then I realized that I didn’t know myself at all. I’m always wearing some kind of mask, I’m always pretending to be someone, I’m trying to be good and comfortable. Immersed in all these thoughts, I sat in my apartment and didn’t want to see anyone for days. It was hard for me to live, I was disappointed in fame, money, fans, romance, party life, I was lost. Finally, one fine day, I realized that I wanted to change everything in my life or not live at all. I began to pray: “Lord, help me, I don’t want to live like this, either take me away or help me.” The Lord heard me and gave me the opportunity to change my life.

Don’t you feel like a stranger in the Moscow crowd now?

I don't know, and even if it is, I don't really care. If I suddenly became a stranger, so be it. The main thing is that I am happy and that I am not harming anyone. And the fact that I have become incomprehensible is the problem of those who do not understand me.

How did you deal with criticism from others regarding your activities?

I come from a Muslim family - my pilgrimages, retreats, yoga, seminars are perceived extremely critically by my Muslim friends, acquaintances or even strangers. Judge not lest ye be judged. There is a belief that a person who criticizes and slander takes some of the sins or karma upon himself. The saints say that if someone slanderes you, you need to pray for these people, because they take your sins upon themselves.

Has your passion for yoga and spiritual quests affected your creativity?

Yes, of course, but I can’t call it a hobby. This is much more than a hobby. The change in my lifestyle and my thinking also affected my creativity. In one word, an element of ethnicity appeared. It attracts me with its primordial nature - it is a return to the origins, to the true wisdom that we have lost as victims of globalization, civilization, and so on.

How did your family perceive your new way of life, since you probably had other traditions ingrained in you since childhood?

Since childhood, the traditions that have been instilled in me are that you need to live without harming anyone, be your own authority and live according to God’s laws. I can say with confidence that there is absolutely no conflict between the traditions that were instilled in me and what I am passionate about. I am just expanding my horizons, and this has absolutely nothing to do with religion or changing religions. All this is a mistaken opinion.

Have you always been a vegetarian or did you come to this at a certain point in your life?

No matter how skillfully a person performs various poses, if after training he goes to chew hamburgers, he will not become a yogi. We should not harm living beings - neither by deeds nor even by words. And even more so, eat their meat. I didn’t have to force myself to become a vegetarian; everything happened naturally. My body itself refused meat, then it gradually became clear that I was allergic to chicken and fish. This just proves the fact that people are not inclined to eat animal products. I can say that I feel much better than when I ate meat.

Sati, many have noticed that you have lost weight recently. Is this related to your new lifestyle? Avoiding many foods has a negative impact on your health. Does this not apply to you?

Isn't the whole world now in pursuit of weight loss? Like any girl, I love slimness, grace and the like.

What do you usually eat? What does your daily food intake look like?

As a rule, I do not accept a heavy early breakfast. If I wake up very early, I can eat a handful of dried fruits and nuts. I discovered that it is ideal for me to eat green buckwheat porridge. Lately I really love this dish, I steam it, then simmer it for a long time on low heat or just pour boiling water in a thermos. I also add vegetables, spices, and vegetable oil. I prefer to eat all this deliciousness around 10–12 o’clock. It is also important to drink plenty of water in the morning, this helps the body remove toxins. Still, they wash the body, and so it also needs to be washed from the inside, so in the morning you need to drink at least half a liter. I love vegetable stews, soups, buckwheat, quinoa, rice. I have a lot of food in my diet, unlike those who eat fish and meat. My diet is much richer and more interesting.

As for love affairs, does your lifestyle prevent you from building relationships? After all, not many will share your interests.

It is quite logical that not every person will understand and share my hobbies, but that’s why people are looking for ideal partners suitable for them. I haven't seen mine yet, but I'm waiting.

What books do you read on self-development? Which ones would you recommend reading?

There are actually a lot of books on self-development, and there is also a lot of unnecessary garbage. It's easy to get lost in all this information. Regarding yoga, I would recommend a book that describes everything very concisely and clearly. 10 years ago it was recommended to me, and it was my introduction to yoga, the author of this book is Disikachar. "The Heart of Yoga" If you are interested in reading about a more spiritual component with mystical knowledge and skills, and at the same time an artistically beautifully written book, then it is better to read “Autobiography of a Yogi,” by Paramahansa Yogananda. If you are interested in esoteric knowledge, then read Daniil Andreev, “The Rose of the World”, these books turned my mind upside down.

Have your clothing preferences changed since you began your spiritual practice? Where do you most often buy things? What brands do you prefer?

By the way, spiritual practice freed me from dependence on brands, trends, and so on. I don't care about magazines constantly following trends. The task was made easier by the fact that a stylist, Daria, appeared on our staff, who, if necessary, takes the things that suit me. She knows my preferences and knows that I am absolutely not obsessed with fashion. It is important to me that clothes are feminine, elegant, comfortable and beautiful. I don’t really care what brands, most often I buy things from filming that I liked. I really regret wasting time shopping.

Sati, what perfume and cosmetics do you use? Probably organic. What brands do you prefer?

Yes, definitely. I love taking care of my skin using organic products. Nowadays you can also find organic decorative cosmetics. This, of course, costs a little more, but we have one face, and it will last for a long time, it is desirable that it remains beautiful at the same time. As for perfume, I prefer essential oils: Indian, Iranian, oriental. Just a drop of oil and I smell like a rose or like jasmine, and it's wonderful. In my opinion, this is much better than alcohol-based, smelly perfumes.

How do you start your day, what time do you wake up, what is the first thing you do, do you meditate every day?

As a rule, my day begins with practice, this is either physical or meditative yoga. It's always different, depending on how much free time I have. If I have a couple of hours left, then I can practice extensively, if less, then more concisely.

Sati Casanova has become a new video instructor for our readers. In the next issue of a joint project between the website and the first online school DaYoga.ru, the popular singer serves good example everyone who wants to become slimmer and more cheerful, as well as normalize and improve the processes responsible for women Health. Surya Namaskar, the legendary complex of hatha yoga asanas, whose name means “Salutations to the Sun,” helps to achieve these goals. Let's say hello to the luminary together with Sati, and in response to our politeness it will give us good health, fit figure and joys in your personal life.

Sati Casanova is one of the most famous in domestic show business yoga fans She is attracted not only by the external, physical side of the exercises, but also by the philosophy of the ancient Indian teachings. The singer came to the “yogic” lifestyle semi-accidentally: having suffered from an ever-aching back, on the recommendation of friends she turned to a yoga instructor, and since then, for almost 10 years, she has not parted with a gymnastic mat and begins every morning with “salutations to the Sun.”

Sati enthusiastically discovers all the new benefits of yoga: she is sure that daily asanas not only help her stay slim and flexible, but also improved her singing abilities, and also taught her to be more tolerant and patient with people, while at the same time not betraying her own principles. For example, Casanova had to work hard to convince her Caucasian relatives that giving up meat would only benefit her. But the girl was adamant, and the parents had no choice but to accept that their daughter was a vegetarian and respect her “exotic” views on the world and their place in it.

Surya Namaskar - a quick way to feel like a woman

Surya Namaskar is a complex that is not only popular, but also universal: depending on the level of training of a yoga practitioner, the pace and complexity of “salutations to the Sun” may vary, but the essence remains the same. This sequence of exercises is aimed at working all muscle groups and normalizing the functioning of internal organs. Surya Namaskar brings particular benefits to women, allowing them to qualitatively stimulate the blood circulation of the pelvic organs and the regeneration processes responsible for youth.

“A full circle of the complex can be an independent workout or used as a warm-up. You can perform surya namaskara either once or several times, explains yoga teacher Elena Buchina. - Surya Namaskar does not require special skills and does not take much time and effort. It is suitable for women of any age to maintain beauty and health. This complex can be compared to a battery; it gives a powerful boost of energy, helping you wake up and join the flow of life. With regular, correct execution, the practitioner will naturally develop correct posture, the skin becomes smooth, joints are strengthened and ligaments and tissues become elastic, restoration and general strengthening of the body occurs. The body becomes attractive, flexible, strong and resilient, the gait becomes smooth and graceful, the psyche becomes stable, and the mind becomes calm.”

Experts warn that contraindications to performing surya namaskara are exacerbations of diseases, fresh injuries, any complications associated with physical and mental state. Although in some cases asanas can relieve some symptoms and even speed up recovery, those who are unwell should seek the support and approval of a doctor before greeting the Sun.

Late pregnancy is also not best time for this practice, especially if you decide to start your acquaintance with yoga before the birth of your baby. And about how to lose weight after childbirth with the help of yoga, look at the book, which was prepared and recorded for you by Vice-Mrs. Universe Ekaterina Plotko.

Of course, not everyone accepts the principles of ahimsa (non-violence) that underlie yoga philosophy as closely and reverently as Sati Casanova. Some of us cannot imagine giving up meat, and, of course, the choice of favorite food remains the inalienable right of any person, and each of us makes all decisions on this topic independently and with full responsibility.

But if you want to do yoga for weight loss and health, it makes sense to review your diet in accordance with the recommendations teacher of the online yoga school DaYoga.ru Daria Osipova.

• 1 Without regrets, give up any canned, pickled, smoked foods.
• 2

  The lion's share of your menu should be vegetables and fruits.

• 3

  Diversify your sources of fiber by adding grains, whole grains and bran products to fresh plant-based foods.

• 4

  Reduce the heat treatment time of food as much as possible - the closer to its original appearance and form your food, the more benefits it will give you.

• 5

  Replace fats with unrefined vegetable oils, a source of unsaturated fatty acids.

• 6

  Try to eat freshly prepared food and avoid situations where you have to put into your mouth something that has been in the refrigerator for 2-3 days

• 7

  Concentration nutritional value food should go downward during the day: the most nutritious food should be eaten in the morning in order to “give yourself a boost”; The closer it gets to the evening, the lighter the dishes.

• 8

  To maintain your metabolism and not slow it down, eat small, frequent meals.

The yoga teacher reminds: thought is material and attitude towards oneself also affects weight; deep dissatisfaction with oneself can lead to the appearance of “unexpelled” extra pounds. Get to know your body and its capabilities, learn to love yourself, and this will definitely affect your appearance.

In her new column, guest editor of the “Beauty” section, Sati Casanova, shared her favorite yoga routines and exercises with readers.

More and more more people began to get involved in yoga. It's very nice that healthy image life is becoming a fashion trend! Probably not everyone knows that they became interested in yoga in Russia even before the 1917 revolution, although the history of yoga goes back to 3300-1700 BC. Yoga does not belong to a specific religion. Rather, it is a philosophy, because in a broad sense, it means a set of various spiritual, mental and physical practitioners. Now there are a lot of varieties and levels of yoga.

In my opinion, the most important thing when doing yoga is to tune in and concentrate, turn off all extraneous thoughts, simply enjoying the sensations. By devoting even 15-20 minutes to this process, you can literally renew yourself - yoga not only allows you to keep your muscles toned, but also gives you a great mood, and most importantly, a state of harmony and peace, which will have a beneficial effect on all your affairs.

There are many complexes and exercises in yoga, but I have my favorites.

Surya Namaskar. This is a yoga complex consisting of 12 asanas, successively replacing each other. Try doing this complex every morning. It won't take you much time, but the results will last all day.

Plank. A universal exercise for all muscle groups, especially the core, is the plank. There are many types of planks: classic top, top side, classic bottom, bottom side. You can stand in the plank for 40-60 seconds at any time that suits you. The lower back should not bend, the body should be flat, straight, the stomach should be tucked, the elbows should be strictly under the shoulders (90 degree angle). During the plank, breathe deeply and think about something pleasant - this way you can easily increase the time of this exercise.

Boat pose. Good for the abdominal muscles. The lower abs work very well, with which 90 percent of women always have problems.

Warrior pose (with variations). This is also from yoga; good for toning the leg muscles, if performed statically for 2-3 minutes.

Plow pose, cobra pose, bridge or half-bridge pose. All this is good for your back. The back is our core, and the condition of the abdominal muscles depends on how strong it is.

All this can be done at home, outdoors, on the beach - no matter where. For this you do not need cards to fitness clubs or personal trainers. All you need is your desire to be healthy and beautiful. What I sincerely wish for you!

Your Sati Casanova