About us
About Vipassana.ca
We are Artem Rusinov and Valerii Bandurko, two yoga and meditation teachers in Alberta. Through Vipassana.ca we lead one-day retreats in Edmonton and Calgary, 3-day silent retreats in a monastery, a 10-day Vipassana course online and free yoga days, along with many other events throughout the year, from yoga nidra evenings to yoga classes.
Artem Rusinov, founder · Edmonton · Valerii Bandurko, co-founder · Calgary
Our story
Both of us came to Vipassana after years of looking elsewhere: books, breathwork, ceremonies, success at work. What finally held was the simplest thing: sitting still and observing the breath and the body exactly as they are.
Artem found it during a ten-day Vipassana course and began teaching yoga and meditation in Edmonton. Valerii came through yoga, then 3-day and 10-day retreats, and after a one-day retreat with Artem in the fall of 2024 started teaching alongside him in Calgary. Vipassana.ca grew out of that partnership: a place in Alberta to learn this practice properly, close to home.
We teach Vipassana in the Mahāsi Sayadaw tradition, noting what arises as it arises, and combine it with gentle hatha yoga, Kriya yoga, pranayama and sound. Every session is guided out loud, groups are small, and no experience is needed. Vipassana is a technique of attention, not a religion, and people of every background practise with us.
The teachers
Artem Rusinov
Yogi · Meditator · Founder
I am from Ukraine and grew up in an ordinary family: my father was a musician in a symphony orchestra, my mother an educator. Spiritual questions were around me from an early age. I met many traditions, from Krishnaism to Orthodox Christianity, and visited many temples without paying them much attention. Yet deep inside I always sensed there was something more to discover.
School, sports, music school, pedagogical and economic institutes and an MBA. After my studies I served in the special forces, which taught me discipline, resilience and inner strength. Later I worked as a top manager in some of the largest companies in Ukraine and Central Asia. It brought external success, and the clear understanding that material success is not the true source of happiness. During one of my ten-day Vipassana courses I found what I had been searching for my entire life: something that cannot be taken away but can always be developed.
For me, yoga is not just physical exercise. It is the path to unity with existence, to seeing reality as it truly is. Today I lead Vipassana retreats and teach the path of deep inner transformation, and I invite you to explore it with me.
Credentials · tap a certificate to enlarge itCertified yoga instructor · registered with Yoga Alliance · member of the International Yoga Federation · meditation teacher certificate
Valerii Bandurko
Co-founder · Retreat coordinator
Yoga entered my life about eight years ago through back pain. At first it was simply a physical practice that helped me support my body, but over time I realised yoga is much deeper: a path to oneself, to inner peace, and to understanding who we truly are. Alongside it, meditation became part of my daily life and taught me presence, patience and balance.
I explored many practices, from holotropic breathwork to shamanic rituals, but the most profound impact came from Vipassana. Seemingly simple, yet incredibly deep, it helped me discover silence and the centre within. I began with 3-day retreats and eventually attended 10-day immersions.
I never planned to become a teacher. After a one-day retreat with Artem in the fall of 2024 everything changed, and I am deeply grateful to him for that step. Today I lead retreats in Calgary, help grow the Vipassana.ca community and write for our blog.
Credentials · tap a certificate to enlarge itCertified yoga instructor · registered with Yoga Alliance · Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED level C
What participants say
5.0 · 33 reviews on Google · read all reviews
“Both teachers explained the practices clearly and guided us with patience.”
“Thoughtfully organized and beautifully facilitated. I left feeling renewed.”
Practise with us
- Yoga Nidra: Deep Trance JourneyCalgary Oct 24 · Edmonton Nov 8 · 7 PM · $50→
- Free Yoga DayCalgary · 11 AM – 1 PM · free, in support of Calgary Food Bank→
- Online 10-Day VipassanaLive every morning from your home · $100→
- 3-Day Vipassana RetreatMount St. Francis monastery near Calgary · private room, meals and transfer included · from $749→
- 3-Day Silent Meditation RetreatMount St. Francis monastery near Calgary · private room, meals and transfer included · from $749→
Questions
Who runs Vipassana.ca?
Two teachers: Artem Rusinov, the founder, who teaches in Edmonton, and Valerii Bandurko, co-founder and retreat coordinator, who teaches in Calgary. Together they lead every retreat and course.
Are the teachers certified?
Yes. Both are certified yoga instructors registered with Yoga Alliance. Artem is also a member of the International Yoga Federation and holds a meditation teacher certificate. Valerii holds a Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid & CPR/AED level C certificate. The certificates are shown with each teacher above.
Is this the Goenka course (dhamma.org)?
No. Vipassana.ca is an independent community. We teach Vipassana in the Mahāsi Sayadaw tradition, and our retreats are our own programmes, shorter and more gently paced than the 10-day Goenka courses.
I have never meditated. Where should I start?
Most people start with the one-day retreat in Edmonton or Calgary and go home the same evening. If you are unsure, write to life@vipassana.ca and we will tell you honestly which format fits.
Have any questions?
Feel free to contact us! We’re here to answer your questions about Vipassana meditation, upcoming courses, or how to start your journey. Contact us for guidance, support, or to learn more about how Vipassana can bring peace and clarity to your life.