Daniel (they/them) moves through this world as a trans, non-binary educator, writer, and facilitator of yoga asana and meditation. They are a founding collaborator of the Trans Yoga Project, a group of trans facilitators and practitioners committed to creating equitable and affirming spaces for trans and queer communities.
Daniel shares offerings inspired by over ten years of personal practice and study in various traditions, including Hatha, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Meditation, and more. They dedicate their voice to creating affirming space for all humans to explore and discover connection with their own hearts in the ways that serve them best. The space Daniel holds is focused on honoring the experience of all beings, showing up exactly as they are, and allowing these teachings to meet each person where they are, so they can be woven into every aspect of their life.
Alongside their yoga asana and meditation classes, Daniel leads workshops and trainings that support facilitators in creating affirming space for communities that are, too often, pushed to the margins. They also create offerings that dive into the heart of ancient yogic philosophy, giving practitioners the space to connect to the wisdom of these teachings, and the wisdom of themselves, in a profound way. Their firm belief is that the practices we engage with both individually and in community are practices of liberation at their core.
Stay connected with Daniel on Instagram: @danielsannito_ or visit their website at danielsannito.com to learn more about them and their offerings.
In the midst of life happening all around us, sometimes it can feel easy to forget the practices that nurture our hearts. We get caught up in the day-to-day tasks, the demands of all of the happenings in our lives and it seems like the practices for ourselves are the first ones to slip away.
In the midst of life happening all around us, sometimes it can feel easy to forget the practices that nurture our hearts. We get caught up in the day-to-day tasks, the demands of all of the happenings in our lives and it seems like the practices for ourselves are the first ones to slip away.
We’re faced, every day, with stress, anxiety, and an overwhelming amount of stimuli. Our bodies, our minds, and our spirits absorb each of our experiences and store all of them in some capacity. With so much tension being held in our space, the commitment to engage in daily practices rooted in compassion, love, tenderness, and gratitude can be pivotal parts of our healing.
In the same way that we see leaves fall away from the trees, this season is the time for us to shed some of the clutter we’ve picked up over the course of this past year. We’re well into Vata season by now and this airy energy tends to leave us feeling as if we are a part of the fallen leaves, drifting in the wind. Both fortunately and unfortunately, this feeling is completely normal. If you’re experiencing anything that feels overwhelming or ungrounding, you are not alone.
As we come up on nearly 20 months of existing with a global pandemic, the holiday season approaching, and demands of everyday work and life persisting, navigating mental health can feel impossible. All of us are low on capacity, the reality is we all need more than any one of us can give. Because of these fluctuations in capacity, building a network and finding supportive practices might look a lot different this season than they have in the past.
As the brisk air of autumn arrives, we are reminded that vata season is approaching. The cycles of nature move in different forms and at different times depending on where you are located. Vata season is present during the time of year that most embodies the qualities of the vata dosha: dry, airy, light, cold, changeable, and mobile.
I grew up in New York and one of the things I distinctly remember is the smell of autumn, my favorite time of year. I remember the crunching of the leaves under my feet as the trees shed their layers and the cool air in the mornings indicating the seasons were indeed changing.
We live in a world that is largely created using straight lines, boxes, and sharp angles. We see it in the steel frame of a new building being built, in the grid structure of big city streets, even on our highways, outlined in colors and dashed lines. It’s no wonder we crave routine in our daily lives, the world we live in guides us towards structure at every turn. When we get caught up in structure and hard lines it’s easy to forget the natural ebb and flow that we embody.
Humans have an undeniable connection to nature and the environments around us. As the seasons change, you might notice mood changes or a craving for certain foods. Our bodies have this internal knowledge and are attuned deeply to our surroundings because we are part of them and they are a part of us.
“To know that you do not know is the best. To think you know when you do not is a disease. Recognizing this disease as a disease is to be free of it. - Lao Tzu”