From South Kingsway to Global Fame: How Face Yoga and Face Building Changed My Life and Career

In 2019, before face fitness became a trend on TikTok and Instagram, I—Anya Ateachka, founder of Royal York Spa—was already quietly transforming faces in the back of a little salon on South Kingsway inside the old Rico of Italy. At the time, it was still a humble start. But the magic I developed there, surrounded by devoted clients from Bloor West Village, would go on to change skincare in Toronto.
Back then, I was in my late 30s—still glowing, but noticing changes: my cheek volume was disappearing, my jowls softening, and baby fat fading. Despite doing yoga, sailing at Mimico Yacht Club, and working with pharmaceutical-grade skincare like iS Clinical, I could feel gravity and time at work.
But I didn’t give in.

The Face Behind the Face: My Turning Point

I had built a name in Toronto already. A quick Google of “deep cleansing facial Toronto” would bring up my spa—Royal York Spa—right near the top. People drove from Barrie, Oakville, even New York to visit me for my famous European extractions and healing touch.
Still, even with world-class skincare, I knew I needed something more. Dark circles, puffiness, a persistent double chin—all of it pointed to one truth: skin alone wasn’t the problem.

The Birth of Face Fitness

During COVID, I returned to Belarus and trained under Marina Dorn, an expert in facial kinesiology and face yoga. I immersed myself in anatomy, facial taping, muscle therapy, nutrition, and lymphatic drainage. I studied every method—Eastern and Western.
That’s when I realized the power of face yoga, face building, and true face fitness:
→ Some muscles need to relax.
→ Some muscles need to build.
→ But all need circulation and care.
When I returned to Toronto, I spent 14 days in quarantine—and in that quiet, I uploaded a simple video using glycerin, castor oil, lemon essential oil, and comfort oil to lift the neck. That video changed everything. I opened my TikTok, and thousands had already watched it. My followers exploded.
That’s when Face of the Future Beauty Club was born.

What Makes Us Different: The Anatomical Facial

What Makes Us Different: The Anatomical Facial

Out of all the treatments I’ve created, the Anatomical Facial is the one that put us on the map.
🧬 It’s a unique fusion of holistic and medical aesthetics—and as of today, no other spa in Toronto or even Canada offers it the way we do.
Not Elmwood Spa, not Fairmont Hotel Spa, not even Four Seasons Spa.
They do beautiful facials—but they haven’t yet caught up to what we’re offering at Royal York Spa.
Our Anatomical Facial includes:

• Structural facial massage (external + intraoral buccal)

• Ultrasonic exfoliation

• LED light therapy

• Facial sculpting & lymph drainage

• Skin tightening radiofrequency

• Custom serums with hyaluronic acid, peptides & vitamin C

• Holistic aromatherapy and energy balancing

• All powered by our in-house RYS Signature Cream

It’s the most comprehensive face fitness + face yoga + face building protocol available in Canada.

Real Results, Real Stories

Clients come to us with:

• Sagging jawlines

• Double chins

• Dark circles & puffy eyes

• Marionette lines

• Tension headaches from jaw clenching

• Swollen face from lymphatic blockages

And we give them back their lift, their light, their youth.
Even my own mother, who suffered since birth from a C6/C7 injury that gave her a short neck and puffy face—now glows. I worked on her neck, trapezius muscles, and posture. The change was remarkable. Her face opened up.

...3 Tips for a Lifted Face (Without Surgery)

Want to change your face? Start with:

1. Neck release work – circulation starts here
2. Scalp massage – tension hides in the head
3. Chewing muscle relaxation – jaw tension creates jowls

Even just those three—done right—will define your jawline, reduce swelling, and brighten your eyes.
And yes—you can absolutely combine face yoga with skincare. That’s what we do in every single facial at Royal York Spa...

Why They Come to Royal York Spa

From Z103.5 radio personalities to Canadian singers like Alessia Cara (yes, I gave Alessia her very first facial back at Rico of Italy), from luxury influencers to working moms and CEOs, our spa in Etobicoke on Park Lawn and Lakeshore has become a secret sanctuary for those in the know.

We blend:

• Deep medical aesthetic knowledge

• True holistic therapies

• Personalized skincare

• Innovative anatomical protocols

That’s why people travel from New Brunswick, New York, Tobermory, and across Ontario just to see us.

📍 Royal York Spa – Etobicoke’s hidden gem.
💻 Join our Face of the Future Beauty Club to learn at home.
📲 Follow @ateachka on TikTok & Instagram for real-time beauty education.