ISSA | Yoga Across Continents: Natalia's ISSA Certification Success

In the peaceful surroundings of Vancouver's cedar forests and oceanfront landscapes, Natalia Maksymenko found her calling. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Natalia recently completed her ISSA Yoga 200 certification, marking what she describes as "only the first step" in her yoga journey.

Discovering Yoga's Healing Power

Natalia's relationship with yoga began when in her early 20’s in Ukraine. "I took my first hot yoga class when I was 22 years old in Kyiv. It was then that I realized the healing power of yoga, and my back was especially grateful," she recalls. After a brief hiatus, back pain prompted her return to the practice.

A pivotal moment occurred when a friend invited her to visit a Kyiv yoga studio and Natalia was deeply impressed by the instructor. "He spoke minimally, focusing on muscle engagement and yoga's effects. He was in excellent physical shape," Natalia explains. "His influence led me to commit deeply to yoga and adopt a vegetarian lifestyle."

During periods away from Ukraine, yoga became Natalia's emotional support. After becoming a mother—an experience she credits with her "most powerful spiritual growth"—and relocating to Vancouver, Canada, she found herself contemplating her purpose.

"Upon arriving in Vancouver, I often wondered about my purpose here. I envisioned practicing yoga in this beautiful setting," she shares. Noticing friends frequently asking her how to calm their minds and reduce constant consumption, Natalia made a significant decision: "Observing many people feeling lost, I decided to become a yoga teacher."

Finding ISSA: The Perfect Fit

When researching yoga certification programs, Natalia discovered ISSA through a friend's recommendation. As a personal trainer herself, her friend's professional endorsement carried weight. "I asked where she got her certificate, and she said ISSA. Then I went to the site, and I liked everything—the communication at first, and how the lessons are built," Natalia explains.

Two factors particularly attracted her to ISSA's Yoga 200 program: affordability and flexibility. "I was happy because I liked the price. If you want to practice yoga offline in some yoga studio, it's so expensive for me," she notes. "And the flexible schedule—it's really useful and comfortable."

The Learning Experience

Beginning her ISSA journey in 2024 and completing it in January 2025, Natalia established a consistent study routine. "I studied every day, for example, from 9:00 a.m. until 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. This time is really comfortable for me," she explains. Her approach combined online learning with practical application: "I tried to watch videos and practice with the yoga teacher. It really helped me realize how to do asanas correctly, because before I realized I did not do them right."

Natalia supplemented her ISSA training by attending classes at a local yoga studio, simultaneously improving her English skills—making her accomplishment even more impressive as English is not her first language.

Looking to the Future

For Natalia, completing the ISSA Yoga 200 certification is just the beginning. "This is only the first step in my yoga journey," she emphasizes. "I'm going to maybe attend other courses, like aerial yoga, because I love practicing aerial yoga."

She appreciates that yoga encompasses far more than physical postures: "Yoga is so much deeper than just knowledge about how to do poses correctly. It includes traditional medicine, which I love too, and many techniques of meditation. It's really interesting."

Her commitment to continued growth is evident: "I'm not stopping at this stage. I'm going to keep learning more and more to be more helpful to people who surround me and for my students in the future."

Taking the First Steps as an Instructor

Natalia has already begun her teaching journey with her first student—her husband. She's now planning small group sessions with friends and exploring options to rent studio space for classes.

With a seven-year-old daughter who she says "really changed my mind," Natalia brings a nurturing perspective to her teaching. "Before, I didn't notice children, but I felt something changed inside me, and now I know how to live for another person, not only for yourself. I think it was the main lesson for me."

When asked what advice she would give to someone considering the ISSA Yoga 200 course, Natalia doesn't hesitate: "You should take this course because it really helps you gain confidence in yourself and realize how to lead your classes. I love the yoga teachers in this course, which is why I would recommend it to all my friends who are looking to become fitness instructors or yoga teachers."

The Outdoor Connection

Having practiced yoga in Kyiv, where it has become increasingly popular outdoors, Natalia plans to bring this approach to her teaching in Vancouver. "Outdoors is better. You feel more of a connection with earth, especially when you do meditation," she explains. "It's really good just listening to birds around in the morning. It's the best way."

Her personal practice reflects this holistic approach: meditation and gentle stretching in the morning, with more intensive practice in the evening when possible.

Begin Your Own Yoga Journey

Natalia's story showcases how the ISSA Yoga 200 certification can help transform a personal passion into a teaching path that impacts others. With flexible scheduling, comprehensive instruction, and affordable pricing, the program offers accessibility to aspiring yoga instructors worldwide.

Whether you're seeking to deepen your personal practice or embark on a teaching career, ISSA's Yoga 200 course provides the foundation—just as it did for Natalia as she begins sharing the healing benefits of yoga from Vancouver's beautiful natural settings.

Ready to start your own yoga teaching journey? Learn more about the ISSA Yoga 200 certification program today.