I was born in Rostov-on-Don, city near the Black Sea in the south of Russia. I graduated from Pedagogic State University of Rostov with a teaching credential in Russian language, Russian literature, and French language. During my studies, I was first exposed to yoga. We were doing asanas and cleansing the body’s systems through fasting. I was very impressed by these experiences which included fasting for thirteen days, drinking only water during that period. This group closed and I tried to continue my yoga by myself but it was difficult. I moved to the United States in 1999 and became reacquainted with yoga at the fitness center near our home. I was not satisfied with the yoga program because it was not true yoga but more of a yoga surrogate. I then went to the Teachers’ Training Course at the Grass Valley Ashram in May of 2006. I received my teaching diploma and began teaching yoga at the local fitness center. Recently, I completed the Vedanta course at the Grass Valley Ashram in October 2006.