Nadia Gilani (The Yoga Dissdent) and author of The Yoga Manifesto

nadia gilani

Instagram: @theyogadissident

Sweat Factor: 3-ish. Depends how prone to sweatiness you are. Some students sweat loads, others perhaps less. You can dial it up or down depending on what’s right for you. I always offer options. 

Alignment Focus: 3

Music: Electronic, beatsy, drummy, earth sounds, classical, modern. Think: Bonobo, Four Tet, Nils Frahm, Max Richter, all played gently in the background

Pregnancy Trained: No

FAQ’S

What should people expect from your class:

Energising, grounding, strong, restorative, fun.

If you weren't a yoga teacher, what would you be:

I worked as a journalist before I started teaching yoga and I’m also an author so I’m already doing other things. I love smells though and love including scents and oils in my classes so I sometimes think dreamy thoughts about being a perfumer or working in an essential oil lab or something. 

What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self:

The tough times will pass, and things will always get better, trust your heart.

What's your favourite asana/exercise and why:

Headstand. I was terrified of it for years before my teacher at the time shoved me towards practicing it. I love teaching it to beginners for that reason. It’s scary, I get it, but we only learn to do it by practicing it. I work hard to create a safe space so students feel safe to give it a go when they’re ready.

What do you do in your spare time:

Bouncing around to drum n bass, strength-training, knitting, looking at art, walks in wild places, origami, fiddling around on the piano. And def daydreaming about the next book!