I'm Vanya Panamska, a Hormone Yoga Therapy Teacher
At the peak of my corporate career, I looked perfect on paper: successful executive, loving mother, dedicated wife.
But a breast cancer diagnosis at 34 showed me how disconnected I had become from my body and myself. Like many women, I was running on empty while trying to do it all. Through healing, I found my way back through Hormone Yoga Therapy (HYT) and Iyengar Yoga.
Today, as a certified teacher in multiple practices, I bring together Eastern wisdom and modern well-being approaches to support women during life's transitions.
I invite you to navigate my timeline or read my full journey.
My Timeline So Far
Navigate the key moments that shaped my path from early caregiver, corporate leadership, health wake-up call, to supporting women through my teaching.
My Full Journey From Within
A personal story of reconnection and transformation — how losing touch with myself led to profound change and a mission to help other women find their way back to balance.
Early Life Lessons
I grew up in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, between two powerful influences: my father, a military engineer teaching future pilots, who valued discipline and precision, and my mother, a radiologist who shared her emotional world openly. Between these different energies, I learned two essential lessons: structure from my father and compassion from my mother.
From my earliest years, caring for others came naturally to me, especially with my younger brother. But as family expectations grew, this nurturing instinct faded behind the pressure to excel in every area of life. Being the "good daughter" became my identity, though it meant losing touch with my true self.
Career Dreams, Building a Family, and the Pressure of Perfection
After completing two master's degrees in finance and human resources psychology, I built a successful corporate career. Step by step, I climbed the ladder at multinational companies, managing large teams and creating meaningful change. I married my loving husband, and together we welcomed two beautiful daughters.
On paper, I had everything: an impressive career, a loving family, and notable achievements. But trying to be the perfect everything: perfect mother, perfect wife, perfect leader, and perfect daughter left me running on empty. The constant push for excellence in every role slowly disconnected me from who I really was.
I love life so much!"
Life-Changing Diagnosis, Medical Menopause, and Starting My Transformation
At 34, while managing a demanding career and family life, I received life-changing news: breast cancer. During treatment, I asked my doctor, "Why did this happen? I love life so much. How did I press the death button?" His response changed everything: "This is what you want." He explained that while every human body has cancerous cells, my lifestyle had brought this forward.
The treatments put me into medical menopause, creating a complete disconnect from my body. I dealt with hot flashes, mood swings, and severe brain fog daily. I felt like a stranger in my own skin, lost and struggling to find my way back.
Finding My Way Back to Myself
When a friend mentioned Hormone Yoga Therapy's popularity in Austria, I decided to try it at home. Two weeks later, my cycle returned; a moment that changed everything. I immediately began studying with Dinah Rodriguez, the founder of Hormone Yoga Therapy, and became certified. I also deepened my practice through Iyengar yoga, known for its precision and depth.
These practices didn't just heal my body, they restored my connection to myself. As I shared these tools with friends, I saw how this knowledge could change lives. In 2017, I made the decision to leave my corporate career and focus on teaching yoga and supporting others.
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I go fighting, and you come after me,
gently touching and healing."
Leading with Authenticity
In 2019, I returned to the corporate world for one of the most significant projects of my career. As an HR and Administrative Director for one of Bulgaria's largest companies, I led a transformation that impacted 2,500 employees.
Walking into a male-dominated boardroom as one of two women, and later the only woman, had its challenges. At first, I felt pulled to follow traditional leadership styles, but something within me said to stay true to who I had become. When I chose to work from my feminine qualities, my empathy, collaboration, and emotional intelligence, these became my greatest strengths.
A senior colleague shared words that touched me deeply: "You are showing a different way, one that brings people together rather than dividing them." My boss captured it perfectly when he said, "I love working with you as a team, I go fighting, and you come after me, gently touching and healing." This showed me that leading with heart creates lasting change, and that bringing your whole self forward isn't a weakness, it's where true power lives.
A New Chapter
In 2022, I made my boldest move yet: leaving corporate life again to fully commit to my purpose.
Moving to Poland with my family brought new challenges and gifts, including another health challenge that reinforced the deep connection between body, mind, and soul.
Today, I support women in embracing their life stages with confidence and balance. Through hormone yoga, Iyengar yoga, and Ayurveda, I help women reconnect with their bodies and overcome health challenges. My work creates a space where women support each other, building a community of transformation that goes beyond individual change.
An Invitation to Connect
If you're feeling lost, disconnected, or unsure where to turn, I understand. I've walked this path, and I know that change is possible. You have the power to create the life you want, one that's balanced and true to who you are.
This isn't just about yoga or wellness, it's about coming home to yourself. Whether through my online courses, transformative retreats, or one-on-one guidance, I'm here to support your journey back to balance.
