Petr Firstov · Novosibirsk / world

AI +
Yoga

I create AI projects and communities. I practice Ashtanga Yoga and Vipassana. I explore how technology and mindfulness help create a freer and more fulfilling life.

Petr Firstov
PRACTICE
AI × BUSINESS × HUMAN
01 / The Path

Two directions.
One path.

On one side — artificial intelligence, engineering, entrepreneurship and building new products. On the other — Ashtanga yoga, Vipassana, retreats and exploring one's own consciousness.

At first glance these are two different worlds. For me they are connected by one question: how to become freer — in my thinking, actions and life.

AI helps create the outer.
Practice helps explore the inner.
02 / Personal Journey

How I got here

01 / SUCCESS

Career and material success

I built a career in real estate and construction, launched side projects, grew my income. Externally everything was going well. But over time there was more money and less inner fulfilment.

02 / SEARCH

Family and new meaning

I took the natural path: started a family, became a parent. But a few years later the old question returned: "Am I actually living my own life?"

03 / CRISIS

When the old models stopped working

A crisis began, projects fell apart, the old meanings disappeared. I had to honestly admit: I could not continue on the old trajectory.

04 / INDIA

The year that changed direction

I went to India looking for new experiences and answers. I lived there for about a year, worked on different projects, acted in films, guided tours and first heard about Vipassana.

Petr Firstov by the ocean in IndiaPetr Firstov with friends in India
Personal memory

India was not an answer,
but a new question

A year by the ocean, new roles, people and practices helped me stop and see how much wider my own path could be. That is where I first heard about Vipassana — but I truly met it only after returning home.

India · stage of search
The next turnReturning home led me from the outer journey to the inner one — to my first Vipassana.
03 / Two Poles

To create.
To understand.

01 / Outer
Petr Firstov and AI technology

AI & projects

A tool of freedom that turns ideas into working systems without a dev team and huge budgets.

  • AI Club & communities
  • AI products & agents
  • Business automation
  • Educational projects
Open AI Club ↗
02 / Inner
Ashtanga Yoga & meditation

Yoga & Vipassana

Practices that help stop the constant search for outer answers and turn attention inward — to what is already happening in mind and body.

  • Ashtanga Yoga
  • Vipassana & retreats
  • Regular practice
  • Conscious living
Learn about the practice ↓
04 / Vipassana

The answer was closer than I thought

After India I returned to Novosibirsk and kept practising. I took up Ashtanga yoga and learned about Vipassana courses organised by volunteers on a basis of service.

The first course became one of the strongest events of my entire search. I discovered that you don't have to keep looking for answers in the outer world. You can turn attention inward.

Later I took courses both as a student and as a volunteer — serving other participants. Watching their changes, I felt again: my actions really can be of benefit.

Last day of a Vipassana course — Petr and studentsAshtanga Yoga — meditation practice
Last day of the course

Practice comes alive when shared

Everyone comes to the course with their own story and stays alone with themselves. On the last day speech, smiles and a sense of community return. This is me and the students of one of the recent Vipassana courses.

05 / Foundation

What I believe now

Freedom

The ability to choose the direction of your own life.

Awareness

The ability to notice your thoughts, reactions and patterns.

Practice

Change happens through regular action.

Technology

Tools should expand human capabilities.

Benefit

What works for me is worth passing on.

Inquiry

You don't need ready-made answers. What matters is to keep asking questions.

06 / Ahead

To keep exploring
and creating.

Leading by example — showing how one can explore the inner world while using the possibilities of the modern technological world.

07 / Get in Touch

Technology — to create.
Practice — to understand why.

If this resonates with you — I'd be glad to connect.