I still remember my first encounter with yoga: I was a teenager and a professional tennis player living in Moscow, Russia, who was drawn to something that was considered a strange religious ritual (back in early 2000s). My mom only agreed to let me take some yoga classes because it would help me be more flexible for tennis but I knew in my heart there was more in it for me.

One day, out of the blue, I told my grandpa that I felt yoga would be a major part of my life. Fast forward to today, yoga has been with me ever since. When I stopped playing competitive tennis, yoga was what gave me space to just do what felt right for my body and my soul instead of constantly competing and pushing myself beyond my limits. During my yoga teacher training with Hilaire, yoga became this compass in my life to learn about my inner and outer worlds. It helped me understand myself and truly trust my inner voice. Yoga is a journey - one that is never linear but always therapeutic in the end. And it’s a journey that takes place inside yourself. It’s not about making major changes in your life but rather enabling you to find beauty in this imperfect world and your own internal universe. We don’t see the world as it is but as we are.

In my classes, you can expect to explore and learn more about yourself through meditation, softening, strengthening, and accepting the present moment in its current form or shape. Never stop exploring your inner and outer worlds!