Never Stop Being a Student: Sergey Petrov and Lotos Academy
Sergey, let’s start from the very beginning. How did your journey into the world of massage begin? What led you to create Lotos Academy and dedicate so many years to training massage therapists?
My journey into the world of massage began during my student years, when I was studying at the Academy of Sports. That was where I gained my first professional knowledge of sports massage and realized how important anatomy, physiology, an understanding of movement, and the ability to work with the human body are for a specialist.
It is especially symbolic for me that when I was 18 years old, a friend gave me a massage table as a gift. That gift marked the beginning of my professional career in massage. At first, I practiced and gained experience, but I soon realized that serious professional growth requires continuous learning and constant expansion of one’s knowledge.
My journey then took me through medical college, medical university, medical academy, and later a pedagogical university, where I earned a Master’s degree as a rehabilitation instructor. In addition, I completed numerous professional courses and training programs in Ukraine, Europe, and Asia.
Every stage gave me new knowledge and helped me develop a deeper understanding of the profession. Gradually, I came to realize that massage is much more than a collection of techniques and movements. It is a combination of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, practical skills, observation, communication psychology, and responsibility toward the person you are working with.
Over time, I developed a desire not only to continue growing professionally myself, but also to share my knowledge with others. Lotos Academy began with a small number of my clients and their relatives who came to me for massage and wanted to learn massage techniques themselves. My first students appeared back in 2001.
Gradually, interest in training grew, educational programs were developed, and new instructors and areas of study were introduced. What began as a small initiative eventually grew into a complete educational system.
Today, in 2026, after 25 years of development, Lotos Academy has 15 branches in Ukraine and 6 branches in other countries, while also successfully developing its franchise network. The Academy has trained 17,000 massage therapists.
For me, these are not just numbers. Behind every one of them is a person who gained a profession, started working, opened their own massage practice or studio, and continues to develop professionally.
I have always wanted Lotos Academy to give students more than knowledge and a certificate. I want them to gain a genuine understanding of the profession. It is important to teach people how to think, analyze, work safely, and develop their own professional style.
That is why teaching has become one of the most important parts of my life. When you see someone arrive with practically no experience and, after some time, become a confident professional, start working, continue developing, and achieve their own goals, you understand why you have dedicated so many years to this work.
Before the war, you organized in-person massage championships in Ukraine. How has your work changed since the beginning of the war, and how has the world of massage in Ukraine changed?
The war changed almost everything, both professionally and personally. Many Ukrainian massage therapists were forced to move to other cities or countries, but the professional community did not disappear.
On the contrary, I saw an enormous desire among people to continue working and developing. For many, their profession became a source of stability and strength. The opportunity to study, work, and set professional goals helps people keep moving forward.
We continue to organize national-level in-person championships in Ukraine. At the same time, we are developing international competitions remotely, because we cannot invite international participants to areas where there are increased security risks.
As a result, the Ukrainian massage community has become more geographically dispersed, but at the same time more open to international professional interaction.
Together with Edina Leichter, you decided to move your league into an online format. How did this idea come about, and what challenges did you face?
It was very important for us to preserve the opportunity for professionals to demonstrate their skills, communicate professionally, and feel that they are part of an international community. If participants cannot come to the championship, then the championship has to come to them. That is how the idea of developing the online format together with Edina Leichter was born. We had to establish technical requirements for video submissions, application rules, an evaluation system, and a clear process of interaction between participants and judges.
It was especially important for us to ensure that the judging process was objective and transparent. Gradually, this format developed into an independent international project that allows specialists from different countries to participate in competitions without complicated travel arrangements and organizational barriers.
What is the secret behind the success of the GL International Massage Championship Online?
One of the main factors is accessibility. Participants do not have to spend money on flights, accommodation, visas, or transporting equipment. They can be in any country in the world and still present their work to an international panel of judges.
However, accessibility must always be combined with quality. That is why transparent rules, professional evaluation criteria, and an international community of participants and judges are so important to us.
Our team of partners and ambassadors also plays a major role: Daniela Caracciuolo from Italy, Nihat Ayçerman from Turkey, Emil Elefterov from Bulgaria, Jeppe Tengbjerg from Denmark, Aynur Ahmadova from Azerbaijan, Olja Pilic Dobric from Serbia, Lin Patchamart from Thailand, Dejan Jelen from Slovenia, Iulian Motoc from Romania, Takuto Kawakami from Japan, as well as many other colleagues.
They develop the championship movement in their countries, bring professionals together, and help build an international professional community.
Thanks to this teamwork, GL is becoming more than just a competition. It is becoming a movement that creates opportunities for professional growth and helps raise the prestige of the massage profession worldwide.
For participants, it is an opportunity to test their level, see the work of their colleagues, gain recognition, and establish professional connections without leaving their own country.
What are the advantages and limitations of an online championship compared with an in-person competition?
These are two different formats, and each serves its own purpose.
An online championship makes international competitions accessible to specialists from different countries, while video recordings allow judges to carefully analyze individual elements of a participant’s work and technique.
The limitation is that a camera cannot always fully convey the atmosphere of the work, the connection between the therapist and the model, or movement in space in the same way an in-person competition can.
In addition, online communication cannot replace personal interaction between colleagues.
That is why we continue to develop both formats: national in-person championships in Ukraine and international competitions online.
Where do you think the strength of Ukrainian massage therapists comes from?
I see an enormous desire among Ukrainian professionals to continue developing even when circumstances make it extremely difficult.
The Ukrainian school of massage has traditionally placed great emphasis on technique, anatomy, practical skills, and continuous education.
Today, this is combined with a remarkable ability to adapt. Professionals relocate, learn new languages, discover different professional schools and approaches, and continue improving their skills. It is this combination of a strong professional foundation, hard work, and adaptability that allows Ukrainian massage therapists to represent Ukraine with dignity on the international stage.
How important is it today to continue learning and maintain connections with the international professional community?
Today, it is essential. Massage should not develop within a closed system. Different countries have their own schools, traditions, and approaches, and exchanging experience makes all of us stronger professionals.
You can have twenty or thirty years of experience and still meet someone who can show you something new. That is why I always tell my students and colleagues: never stop being a student. For Ukrainian professionals, international communication is especially important because it helps maintain professional connections with colleagues from different countries and opens up new opportunities for growth and development.
What qualities should an outstanding massage therapist have in order to stand out internationally?
Beautiful technique alone is not enough. It is important to understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. A good massage therapist knows anatomy, understands biomechanics, works safely, and knows how to adapt techniques to the individual person.
Professional culture, ergonomics, connection with the model, consistency of movements, and professional ethics are equally important.
At the highest level, the specialists who truly stand out are those who have developed their own recognizable professional style.
And, of course, a true master must continue learning regardless of how many diplomas, medals, or years of professional experience they have.
What is the most important lesson you have learned from the world of massage and the people within it?
The most important lesson is that development never ends.
Over the years, I have met professionals from many different countries, each with their own journey, school, and experience. This has taught me to respect different approaches and to understand that there is not always only one correct way to solve a professional challenge.
For me, true professionalism is not only about knowledge. It is also about curiosity, respect for colleagues, and a willingness to continue developing throughout your career.
What would you like to say to Ukrainian massage therapists who continue to work, study, and look toward the future?
First of all, I want to say: keep learning, keep working, participate in championships, and communicate with colleagues from other countries.
Show your skills to the world, and do not be afraid to start again if circumstances have forced you to move to another city or another country.
Every Ukrainian professional who represents their country with dignity on an international professional platform does more than simply demonstrate a massage technique. They demonstrate strength, professionalism, and the ability to keep moving forward.
Medals and diplomas are important, but the greatest victory is to continue becoming stronger, both as a professional and as a person.
I believe in Ukrainian massage therapists, and I see their determination to continue developing. We will continue organizing national championships in Ukraine and developing international cooperation through the online format.
I hope that one day we will once again be able to gather at major international massage championships in Ukraine together with our friends, partners, and colleagues from all over the world.
See you at our training programs and championships!
With great love and respect for all our colleagues and partners,Sergey Petrov Lotos Academy
Interview collected for our magazine. Special thanks to Sergey Petrov for his availability and the sincerity with which he shared own vision.
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