Näthan Gangadean was born and raised in the Philadelphia area, steeped in yogic philosophy through his father and his father’s lineage from India. In 2001, he moved to Sedona to pursue his spiritual path, truly immersing himself in the study of Asana and Pranayama (Yoga on the mat).
That same year, he trained as a teacher at It’s Yoga in San Francisco and then helped his sister back in Sedona to open Devi Yoga, a yoga studio named after their grandmother, where Näthan had the freedom to discover his authentic teaching style, which he felt was in his bones, longing to emerge. Concurrently, he completed 750 hours of massage training, which profoundly influenced his approach to yoga as well.
Though initially trained in Ashtanga Vinyasa, he found himself intuitively guided toward a more organic and user-friendly approach to the physical aspects of yoga. This method emphasizes breath, sensitivity over flexibility, awareness over achievement, and quality over quantity. His classes offer a massage-like, creative, and explorative experience, focused on enjoying being in the body, and uniquely marked by each participant’s freedom to discover their innate healing wisdom. In essence, he teaches yoga not as a proprietary technique, but as an inherent healing ability in all of us granted by nature itself.
In Näthan’s classes, you will discover that yoga is not limited to the pop-yoga culture, which often focuses on superficial ends like flexibility and appearances. Instead, it is a joyful and deeply fascinating way to deepen your connection to your untapped human body and the healing wisdom of the cosmos within.
Näthan also received classical piano training as a teenager. By the time he arrived in Sedona at 18, he had taught himself guitar and began to discover his singing voice. Inspired by artists like John Lennon, Peter Gabriel and Michael Jackson, he began writing songs heavily influenced by his spiritual path and a desire to help humanity, launching a music career centered on themes of awakening and liberation.
While locally celebrated for his music, something steered him away from pursuing mainstream success, opting instead to preserve the integrity of his music’s origins. His songs transmit healing vibrations not only through their lyrics and chords but also through their subliminal qualities, the space between the notes.
Näthan selectively performs at venues that honor and recognize this intention. The Sanctuary is one such special venue, offering residents an intimate concert journey with Näthan that few get to experience in such a sacred space.