Svetlana Maslennikova: Through yoga, I want to make as many people on the planet healthier and more harmonious as possible

Svetlana Maslennikova is a yoga coach with over 17 years of practice and the founder of TERRITORY OF YOGA—a brand that has evolved into a whole philosophy of conscious living.

In an interview with VITAGURU, Svetlana opened up about her calling, success, productivity, and inner harmony, and also shared her personal wellness rules and plans for the future.

Svetlana, tell us a bit about yourself. What are you currently focused on?

Right now, I’m sipping almond milk coffee and enjoying these thoughtful and inspiring questions.

More broadly, I’m learning how to live in harmony with life—and when I figure something out that works, I share it. That’s how I would describe my main activity and, without hesitation, my true calling: teaching yoga.

Alongside this, I’m growing business projects closely connected to my core mission—namely, the TERRITORY OF YOGA brand. It’s quite expansive, featuring a yoga clothing line known for its unique and stylish bodysuits.

I also run TERRITORY OF YOGA Studio, a stunningly beautiful yoga space, and I’m developing yoga travel experiences to some of the world’s most breathtaking locations. Each of these directions requires a lot of energy—our team is small, and I still personally handle much of the work, especially anything related to people.

I genuinely love everything I do—even when I feel a bit stretched thin. What keeps me grounded and inspired is the very thing all of this is built upon: yoga.

How did you discover your calling?

Since childhood, I’ve been drawn to two seemingly opposite things: a fascination with the human body—its strength and beauty, ballet and rhythmic gymnastics—and a deep curiosity for philosophy, psychology, and religion. I’d lose myself in books, uncovering profound ideas that weren’t widely popular at the time.

Eventually, I found a practice that brought all those interests together—yoga. I first heard about it around 25 years ago when pop icon Madonna became a fan. I was curious and decided to try it.

I found the only yoga club in Kyiv and went for a class. I loved it—twisting into these curious poses felt amazing, and the depth behind the practice sparked my curiosity even more. I got hooked, traveled the world, took countless trainings, never intending to teach.

But ten years later, after successfully giving birth thanks in part to yoga, I became a prenatal yoga instructor, teaching from fresh experience. From there, I began leading classes in studios and gyms—and eventually opened my own.

What advice would you give to someone just starting yoga?

Just start. Don’t overthink it—take action. Try different studios, different teachers. Explore and see what resonates with you and what you need from yoga.

Consistency will give you results beyond what you expect.

Find a teacher who feels right to you—not just someone who shows poses, but someone whose presence inspires you. Observe their approach—there should be no pain in the spine or knees. Muscle soreness is normal, but joint pain isn’t.

What does a holistic, conscious lifestyle mean to you?

It’s about balance—being fully present in the moment while continuously evolving. Consciousness in everything you do. And wholeness means applying that awareness to every area of life.

What’s the most important step toward self-discovery and inner harmony?

Understanding who you really are—recognizing your desires, traits, and even what you think of as flaws. Accept them, and gently guide yourself toward growth in a way that aligns with where you are now.

Harmony is health—physical, mental, and spiritual. And even if you face challenges in one area, you can learn to live with them mindfully and function effectively in the world.

Do you have any personal wellness rules?

Lots of them! Real wellness comes from consistent rituals and discipline—it’s how we protect the health we’ve been given.

Here are a few of mine:

Daily morning yoga, meditation, and mindful intention setting
4–6 intense workouts weekly (teaching classes doesn’t count as training for me)
Eating four meals a day at set times with a specific food plan
Drinking enough water
Bedtime by 11 PM and at least 7 hours of sleep
Taking the right supplements and vitamins
Bi-annual detoxes
“Break” days—when I intentionally relax all the rules (but no more than 20% of the time)

What inspires you and helps you stay productive?

Wise, successful, and soulful people. Physical movement. Aesthetics—whether it’s a landscape, an Instagram photo, a fashion show, a beautiful car, or a fit body.

Gratitude—both the one I feel and the one I receive, whether from a student or a client’s feedback.

Curiosity, learning new things, self-expression, financial independence, motivational books and films.

How do you handle life’s challenges?

I try not to fear them and remain calm. I assess what I can do, and what I need to simply accept.

I try to get to the root of my anxiety and work with it. If needed—I work more.

If there’s time and the problem doesn’t require immediate action, I’ll hit the gym for a tough workout. That helps immensely. And no, that’s not yoga—it’s the gym!

Yoga is like long-term therapy—it’s subtle and slow, like vitamins that take time to kick in.

Intense physical training, on the other hand, gives you a powerful adrenaline rush that sharpens your mind for a couple of hours. It’s like an energy shot. But without inner resilience and a basic fitness level, the gym can do more harm than good.

What do you think is most essential for success—in any area of life?

Hard work, respect, faith, and love for what you do. Constant learning. Discipline.

**Tell us more about your brand, TERRITORY OF YOGA. What sets your clothing apart from other yoga brands?**

It’s my creative baby—a way to express myself, build a business, and grow.

TERRITORY OF YOGA is the first designer yoga clothing brand in Ukraine and across the CIS countries.

Its foundation is in cotton bodysuits—comfortable, practical, skin-friendly, and flattering. We also have a men’s line, but the brand gained its popularity thanks to the women’s collection.

What makes it different? It was the first of its kind, and it’s infused with massive amounts of love and energy.

It’s like a second skin. I design these pieces with firsthand knowledge of what feels good during practice. I personally test and adjust everything. I’m not a fashion designer—I’m the end user. So I know exactly how yoga clothing should look and feel.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to streamline and scale my business.

I want to make yoga a stylish and widely embraced lifestyle practice—something accessible and attractive to everyone. And through that, help more people become healthier, happier, and more harmonious.