Ubuntu Bali Series: Meet Our Yogis

Ubuntu Bali’s yoga shala hosts a melting pot of yogis from around the world. We are grateful for all the knowledge and positive energy that they have brought into our lives.

For the love of community and to honour these beautiful souls, we bring you a series of interviews about how they started their path of yoga.

Meet Renato Vianna

The first time I took an Asthanga yoga class was in Brazil. My father was in ICU and I went to classes as a means of emotional support and to release the pain. The poses were so hard.

Almost 10 years later, my twenty-two year marriage dissolved and I found myself going back to Asthanga yoga. The practice of Ashtanga allowed me to challenge my body and integrating vipassana is where I was able to go deep in my soul...

I felt inspired after I learned about a Brazilian guy who is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. He almost died and was paralyzed for a long time due to a paragliding accident. Despite many limitations and broken bones, he was able to cure himself with his Asthanga yoga practice.

Twenty years ago, I started my first Iyengar class. Eventually, I moved to vinyasa because Asthanga was a big challenge. My worse pose is marichyasana D and bridge.

My challenge is to keep my body young so that I am able to surf and learn new things. At the moment, I’m learning a new sport called “Wing foil”.

I’m starting at age 54 and my body was very stiff. It’s amazing how I’m getting more flexible.

It’s never too late to start Ashtanga yoga but I wish I had started at age 18 because the practice is a great way to make your body and mind strong. It doesn’t matter your age or condition, just have the desire to show up and practice.