Sati Casanova: “I want to benefit as many people as possible”

— 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 cannot 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.

For a long time I could not 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, various people 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 group Guru Groove Foundation (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 the disease of my vocal cords; vegetarianism had 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, the way you cook at home, they can’t cook vegetables in a cafe?

Can not. But the most important point is 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, interacting with the locals and going diving. Several times I met the sunrise 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 to attend a service in a small church, which made a 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 the modern world, which offers so many temptations and temptations. 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. You can spend your 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 are doing: 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 the 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 principle, 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 of art: music, vocals, choreography, fine and decorative arts, even in 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, it was precisely these traditions that were laid in me 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.

The famous singer Sati Casanova has discovered a new role for herself - she performs mantras and even performed on the same stage with Deva Premal and Miten. She spoke to Yoga Journal about yoga, music and plans for the future.

Each stage of my musical career is important in its own way. But the most important thing came when I turned towards spiritual and ethnic music. Once I discovered my attraction to her, everything fell into place. And it’s not even a feeling, but as if knowing that everything that had been done before had prepared me exactly for this moment.

Before I started chanting mantras, I was lost. This was the period when I left the Factory group, but that didn’t make me any happier. Then I felt misunderstood, unrecognized, and thought: “Why am I even on this earth?” I sat depressed, drank tea, looked into emptiness, meditated (at that time still unconsciously). And I meditated to find myself, to understand why I was born, what my purpose is.

Everything happened spontaneously - the best things happen that way. And the mantras also came spontaneously. I listened to them a lot, then sang them at one event in a yoga club, then at another, third, fourth... I didn’t take any lessons on chanting mantras as such. All the vocal teachers I've ever had have helped me, I'm truly grateful to each of them. But the greatest teachers for me are life and God. I turned to the Creator in prayer: “Please make me your instrument, your flute, breathe through me, I am only your guide...” - that was my mantra in recent years. I didn’t take Sanskrit lessons - as you know, for us Russian speakers, Sanskrit is quite easy for us, since Sanskrit and Slavic languages ​​are consonant. My native Kabardian is so difficult that after it, probably only Chinese will seem difficult.

I dream of finding the “golden ratio” of mantras and pop music, the energetic weaving into the genre of popular music of the state that is present when mantras are chanted. This is more difficult to do with pop songs. But, in my opinion, it was Edith Piaf who said that even a telephone directory can be sung in such a way that people will cry.

Yoga came into my life about 10 years ago, when my lover, who was a very authoritative person for me at that time, said: “You know, it seems to me that yoga will suit you - you have scoliosis and frayed nerves.” It was not my will, but rather a desire to please him. I am very grateful to him for this. First there were asanas, then gradually I began to delve into the ethical and energetic components, and only then things like purpose, dharma, and karma began to open up. I believe that every day I am becoming closer to that yogi who truly practices, observing all the principles of yoga. The fullness of life, horizontally and vertically - that is what yoga is.

Whose opinion is important to me? The opinion of the teacher who initiated me into the Atma Kriya Yoga technique. The words of parents are important, although our opinions may differ. And that is great. What is most gratifying is that communication with family is becoming increasingly high quality. My dad interprets the Koran. All of the above does not negate my belonging to the Muslim tradition. Dad used to worry, but now he said that my passion for other traditions seemed to strengthen me in Islam.

Of all the places on Earth, my favorites are India and Bali.

I dream of freeing myself. Anyone who understands what I mean knows. What more could you ask for? Everything else is decoration. True liberation, realization - there are so many techniques and noise around this, conversations, books, masters - both false and real. Those who dig in this direction know that you can get lost in this, but the answers are only in the heart.

For the first time in my life, I don't care what happens next. For the first time, I don’t plan or imagine. No matter what happens, I will never tire of repeating the words of Mother Teresa: “The Lord did not give me anything that I asked for, but he gave me what my soul really needed.”

Interview: Maria Rusakova

Photo: Andrey Vasiliev for Yoga Journal

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: floating in fantasies and bursting with ideas is a real 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 a creative person, and what may be 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, takes 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. The 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 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. I’m not very interested in reading someone’s fiction right 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 a documentary about the singer Dalida “When Love Leaves” - 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, and 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. Recently I began to intensively engage in physical education using the author’s “Transformer” system. I used to deny strength training, but now I actively introduce it into my life. Such activities give me a feeling 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.

Interview: Margarita Virova

Illustrations: Dasha Chertanova

IN THE RUBRIC "LIFE STYLE" we ask different people about healthy lifestyle with a human face: we talk about the importance of self-care and pleasant ways to make life more comfortable. The heroine of the new issue is singer Sati Casanova, who told us about meditation, developing a routine and vegetarian nutrition.

Sati Casanova

singer, 34 years old

The healthiest approach is
complex

I have been practicing atma kriya yoga for the fifth year now. This is an opportunity to work with the mind, an opportunity to calm it down and control it. And a mind that is calm and controlled can do anything. For me, yoga is not just a whim and entertainment - it is part of me. The yoga that we know as physical culture is only a thousandth part of this huge philosophy.

Many of the habits that I consider useful are became a part of my life. In the morning I take a cold shower - it hardens me and immediately wakes me up. Most often, I do meditation immediately after - depending on how much time I have, it can be thirty minutes, an hour or an hour and a half.

Politics and religion are completely uninteresting to me- yoga is beyond them. Since March last year, I myself have been a teacher of Atma Kriya Yoga. On the day when I found out that a man who was simply giving lectures had been arrested, I couldn’t be silent. It turns out that my activity can be recognized as missionary. The law seems to me to be unfinished, since it argues with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, which proclaims freedom of choice and religion. You cannot deprive a person of the opportunity to gain knowledge the way he wants and where he wants.

I don't like the gym. For twenty to forty minutes I do a set of exercises that changes: it could be yoga with Pilates, for example. Most often, my classes are based on planks - this structures the body, takes a minimum of time and gives maximum results. I start with a sun salutation (surya namaskar), which warms up my body and helps me feel energetic.

I'm a vegetarian, but I experiment with my diet. and I try to listen to my body. I had a period when I ate a lot of different cereals with water: quinoa, green buckwheat, chia seeds. Since the summer, I have been trying to make smoothies from greens, vegetables, fruits and berries. I feel much better - the need for invigorating drinks such as pu-erh or coffee has simply disappeared.

Lack of protein- a common problem among vegetarians. To prevent this from happening, I eat hulled hemp seeds, which contain a lot of protein and important amino acids - and are easily digestible.

I am a rebel and, like many, I suffer from the fact that the regime requires discipline. The only thing I force myself to do with joy is my spiritual practice, meditation.

Man is designed in such a way that he loves to break prohibitions. Therefore, I make an agreement with myself: for example, if I categorically do not want to exercise my body, then I suggest that I do a minimum of exercises. I start with five minutes of classes, get excited and say to myself: “See, I just had to start!” Another ten minutes, and then another - and the program is at least completed.

The reward system is important. For example, I ask myself to do something, and in return I promise myself to go for a massage. The main thing is not to lie: there was a period when I did this, and it had a very bad effect on the whole body.

The healthiest approach is comprehensive. I try to pay attention to my body, but between an hour of meditation and an hour of physical activity, I will choose meditation.