Yulia Rudko

Since childhood, Yulia has been involved in a spiritual search to find peace in her heart and mind. It is almost like a non-stop voice inside that keeps searching, digging and looking for an understanding of people, their behaviours, their reactions, why we do what we do, what brings us peace and what takes us further away from it.

Yulia was brought up in a family where they would use herbs and healing touch first before going to a medical doctor. Not knowing anything about yoga then, Yulia would put her body in different poses that felt good, especially when she was going through emotional struggles. Later, she discovered that she intuitively did yogic poses without them being taught to her by anyone.

Yulia's first yoga class was in 2002. She was amazed at how yoga made her feel. It was such a different peaceful and joyous feeling after the class that she never got from any other forms of exercise, be it Pilates, fitness classes or running. She continued taking classes here and there, and noticed that when she did yoga, she felt more ease and lightness in her mind and body. The curiosity about energy movement and healing brought Yulia to Reiki. She is now a Reiki Master and has also completed an Angelic Healing course.

In 2012, Yulia decided to take her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Rameen Peyrow of Sattva School of Yoga. She wanted to deepen her understanding and learn more, and after completing her training she felt a calling to teach yoga, since she wanted everyone to feel better just like she did. If we feel better, we are happier and we create more happiness all around us.

Yulia then discovered Thai Yoga Massage and absolutely fell in love with it. She took her first training with Shawne Klassen of Thai Yoga International in 2013, and she started practicing it right away. In 2014 and 2015, she took more courses in Thai Yoga Massage with Shai Plonski of Still Light Centre. Being thirsty for more experience and tools to help people, Yulia enrolled in Critical Alignment Yoga Therapy training with Gert van Leeuwen in 2014. Later that year, she enrolled in the Yoga Therapy program at Mount Royal University and in a 500-hour therapeutic yoga teacher training program at Mandorla Yoga Institute with Stefani Wilton. Most recently, Yulia completed a "Power of Awareness" course with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, and a yoga therapy program for cancer survivors - YogaThrive with Tyla Arnason. During all this time of learning, Yulia had been teaching yoga and providing healing services using Reiki, Thai Yoga Massage and Yoga Therapy.

Yulia knows she will never stop learning, as our bodies, minds, and hearts are always full of mystery. And the exciting part is that she is not looking toward some defined end in learning - the process itself is so fun and rewarding! The discoveries, the 'aha' moments, people that we meet, friendships that we create, the joy of helping someone to feel ease are all amazing and part of the journey - not the end.