An Odesa native with 10 years of experience in the funeral industry found herself on the other side of the planet, became a certified coach, and now helps people transform their lives.
Alla Rakovich sits in an outdoor café giving us an interview in the small Irish town of Youghal on the west coast. Right nearby is the Celtic Sea, where she has been taking cold water swims every morning for the third year running. It’s hard to believe that this refined woman with eyes burning with a thirst for life was working as chief accountant at a funeral home in Odesa just four years ago.
“It’s written directly in my employment record: hired March 1, 2011, and dismissed March 1, 2021. From bell to bell – exactly 10 years,” Alla recounts.
Back then, in 2021, there was no war yet, but her internal transformation had already begun.
The Path to Change
Alla grew up with her grandmother; she had no parents. At 13, she went to study at an automotive technical college to become an auditor-accountant.
“My grandmother and I decided that accounting was great. And so all my life, until age 43, I thought this was my calling. But inside there was emptiness. No satisfaction from work.”
The catalyst for change came from back problems.
“I invested a lot of money in treatment in Odesa. I took all the medications, got injections, but nothing helped. And this search for myself led me to deep Kriya yoga meditations.”
In March 2021, Alla quit her job. It was a birthday gift to herself – she turned 43 on March 6. And on March 8, she unexpectedly received an invitation to the “Miss Top Ukraine 2021” beauty contest in Odesa, where she won the title “III – Vice Miss.”
“At that contest we did meditation before performing. And the feeling was incredible for me,” Alla recalls.
New Life in Ireland
In April 2022, the war forced Alla to leave for Ireland with her 8-year-old son Arseny. Initially they lived in a sports camp in Tipperary, then moved to a hotel in Youghal town. Recently – another move.
“For my son it was a big step. He barely spoke English before arriving in Ireland, was only in third grade. And now he communicates freely, goes to football club, does swimming and IT.”
But the hardest part was for her – being both mother and father simultaneously.
“Coaching helps understand what position you’re in now, who you are. I share my feelings openly with my child.”
Professional Growth
Even before the war in Odesa, Alla obtained an ACC ICF certificate as an international-level coach. And last year she received 6 degrees of Kriya yoga in Berlin – this was a real breakthrough. One activity complemented the other and life became whole.
“Kriya is yoga that helps a person connect three points: body, mind, and spiritual power. It’s a feeling of unity, security, acceptance, unconditional love for the world, for yourself, for people,” Alla explains.
Training in Berlin was a trial. Before receiving the 6th degree of Kriya yoga, she needed to meditate 6 hours a day for two days. But the result was worth it.
Business as Self-Realization
Alla registered as a sole trader and started her own practice. She works as a broad-profile life coach, helping people not only with emotional problems but also with life goals, health, relationships, and business.
“I help understand why a person feels this way. I don’t just work on consequences – I work with causes.”
Her approach combines coaching, psychology, yoga, and meditation. The life coaching program isn’t something unattainable. The program includes early rising, swimming in the sea or other bodies of water, cold water therapy, nutrition correction and increased water intake, yoga, relaxation practices, self-exploration and personal coaching sessions, goal setting, etc.
“When you start changing your life, your environment changes, your health, income – everything,” Alla summarizes.
Alla changed not only her profession but her lifestyle. She doesn’t eat meat, doesn’t drink alcohol, and fasts every Saturday.
“This is spiritual strength, when you can keep everything under control. That is, your weaknesses don’t control you, but you decide who you want to be.”
Products and Services
Alla’s business model includes monetizing several products:
Self-programming journals “I Believe in You” – in Ukrainian, Russian, and English. She prints them in Cork, distributes through local stores. Price of printed version – €20, online version – €10. (Order via WhatsApp)
Group course “I Believe in You” – 21-day transformation program. Participants wake up at 5 AM, keep journals, do Kriya yoga exercises, do cold water therapy, maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“In the course we train discipline, willpower. You need to go to bed by ten to wake up at five. Main rules: don’t lie, don’t consume alcohol or other substances for 21 days.”
Individual coaching sessions – €250 per hour.
Yoga – group classes €5, individual – €20.
Cold Water Therapy as a Way of Life
Every morning Alla swims in the Celtic Sea, regardless of weather.
“I gave myself my word to swim every morning, no matter what. And this hardens character so much. I know who I am. Whatever anyone tells me, I know.”
Challenges and Dreams
The transition from employee to entrepreneur proved challenging.
“You’re your own manager, marketer, office manager – everything is on you. And no one cancels the roles of mother, beloved. It’s really hard.”
There was no shortage of hate.
“When you share information about healthy lifestyle, you face people not understanding. They write: ‘If I drank that much water, I’d be dead already.’ But this doesn’t stop me – on the contrary, it motivates.”
Alla plans to expand her business, print journals for large supermarkets, create English-language content. Her dream is to help millions of people change their lives for the better.
“In 10 years I want to sell journals to 100 million people,” Alla shares her ambitious plans.
“Ireland helped me grow my spirit. Become stronger, wiser,” Alla concludes. And this is probably the best summary of her three-year journey from Odesa accountant to Irish life coach.
