Discover a cinematic journey into how Ukrainian women navigate war's devastation, revealing not just practice but presence, resilience, and what remains human when everything collapses.
In the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of Ukrainian women gather for what become the largest Kundalini yoga teacher trainings ever held — remarkably, in a country under active bombardment.
What begins as a chronicle of spiritual practice gradually transforms into something more elemental: an inquiry into how consciousness survives and even thrives under extreme pressure.
Told almost entirely through women’s voices, the film moves from external devastation toward an existential confrontation — ultimately holding the viewer in an unflinching gaze and asking what responsibility follows witnessing.
"When I filmed these women, I did not speak their language. I believed I was making a film about yoga. Months later, the translations revealed they had been saying something far larger."
— Bob Degus, Director
The Women
Thirty-five Ukrainian women — teachers, mothers, volunteers, frontline workers — guide the film. They are not framed as victims, nor as heroes. They are witnesses.
Click each portrait to meet them.
Resonance of the Human Spirit
A world-class soundtrack, composed and conducted by the extraordinary Sandrine Rudaz connects the power of the film to the emotional journey within.
The incomparable orchestral performance anchors the film, drawing viewers more deeply into its emotional and experiential journey.
Come along for a brief look behind the scenes as the soundtrack is recorded in Budapest, with Sandrine leading the way.
This documentary invites a deeper reflection on what remains human in conflict - not only through the women it portrays, but through the act of witnessing itself.
In June 2025, we had the privilege of bringing a work-in-progress screening of Yogis of Ukraine to the very women featured in the film. Please enjoy this behind-the-scenes glimpse into our journey—and a deeper look at what is unfolding in Ukraine today.
While the film portrays yoga as one of the tools these women turn to amid violence, it ultimately becomes a gateway into a larger exploration - how presence, attention, and inner life persist in the face of destruction, and how the act of witnessing war changes both subject and spectator.
The Women Speak
These are excerpts of testimony recorded during active bombardment. Near the film's end, the women stop explaining and simply look back at the viewer.
How Yogis of Ukraine is Touching Hearts Around the World
Audiences have responded deeply not just to the film's stories of survival, but to its structural shift - a transition from observable events to an interior reckoning that stays with viewers long after the credits.
See how audiences worldwide have been deeply moved by the strength, resilience, and healing journey of these incredible Ukrainian women.
Living Light Productions
About The Film
🎥 A Story of Resilience: Filmed in Ukraine Amidst War
Shot across Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Lviv, Bucha, Irpin and Borodianka during multiple visits in 2023–2024. The film moves from the outer architecture of war — destroyed homes, empty apartments — to the inner architecture of the people who remain.
🎶 Honoring the Music Behind the Film
The music for Yogis of Ukraine is proudly supported by
Reel Change: Fund for Diversity in Film Scoring, made possible by SESAC and Disney composer, Christophe Beck and administered by New Music USA.
