Markus William Kasunich
Holistic life coach, speaker, author & spiritual maven
Markus has been facilitating personal transformation, exploring the power of human potential and practicing holistic healing modalities with individual clients, entrepreneurs, couples and groups all over the globe for over 20 years.
Background, Training and Experience
- Native Canadian Algonquin Heritage
- Near death experience (10 years old)
- Psychology & Fine Arts at York & Concordia
- Integrated Holistic Studies at HNC Collage (3 years)
- New Warrior/Mankind Project (co-facilitator of I-group) (2 years)
- Over 30,000 hours of holistic coaching practice (20 years)
- Intensive study with gurus, mystics & shamans (15 years)
- Personal traditional psychological therapy (4 years)
- Facilitated thousands of lectures, workshops & events (20 years)
- One year solitary Vision Quest in the mountains of BC, Canada
- Facilitating men’s workshops, groups & gatherings (15 years)
- Living “out of the world” in an ashram (11 years)
- Student of Jungian psychology & transpersonal psychology
- Over 25 years of formal meditation study and personal practice
- Creator of the I-Forum Program (2012 – 2015)
- Intensive Kriya meditation training and mentorship (in the Sri Maheshwari Prasad Dubey Lineage – 8 years)
- Organized & facilitated group retreats with his wife Samjhi (9 years)
- Co-founder of Awareness-U (2013 – 2019)
- Co-creator of the Awareness-U App ( on the market 2012 – 2018)
- Frequent podcast and radio show guest (for over 10 years)
- Ongoing personal mentoring (20 years)
- Founder of the Relation-SHIFT Academy (2019 – present)
- Host of the Relation-SHIFT Webcast (2018 – present)
- Author of IRAM: A Map for Creating Conscious Relationships
- Professional Artist
- Devoted husband & father (of two)
- Adventurer, seeker, nature lover, perpetual student of life
Markus is the furthest thing from an ‘ordinary’ teacher, healer, coach or mentor.
I have rarely met such a gifted individual who has created such a powerful platform for transformation.
He integrates the psychological, interpersonal, spiritual and his unbelievable personal experience into
a practical coaching model. His programs have completely changed every relationship in my inner
and outer life, in ways I couldn’t have dreamt possible.
His Personal Story
The journey Begins
Markus was born in Ontario, Canada. It took years for Markus to accept, integrate and articulate a single moment that would forever change the course of his life. This near-death experience of his childhood may have seemed like a simple “close call” to those in his immediate sphere, but for him, it inspired an unprecedented awakening of consciousness, that thrust him, completely unprepared into a remarkable but now alien relationship with every aspect of life.
At this young age of 10, his strange new perspective oscillated somewhere between being completely overwhelmed with the previously unseen dimensions of life, feeling completely misunderstood, but also in total awe. Life was indeed extraordinary, with much more depth than the mundane and “normal” paradigm that was presented to him. He became driven to understand, explore and master the depths of human nature, and more deeply realize the inherent consciousness that inspired the human experience. In that moment, a true seeker was born and this began his journey and adventure on an unconventional path.
A Foundation of Consciousness
The exploration of consciousness, the nature of human conditioning, and the power of the mind and creative manifestation became his passion as Markus studied Psychology and Creative Fine Arts at York University in Toronto, Ontario, continuing his education at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec. Eventually, his exploration led him to study the unconventional, alternative, and holistic philosophies and practices relating to consciousness. Drawing on his unique perspective and study of human dynamics he was already professionally counseling, coaching, and mentoring people twice his age in his 20’s. He became actively involved with the New Warrior/Mankind project in the late 90’s and other organizations, earnestly looking for a mentor, but became the teacher. He continued to facilitate men’s gatherings and similar retreats for people all over Canada and the United States for the next 15 years.
Relentless for continued education he continued to study and rediscover his native Canadian roots, natural practices, heart-centered and earth-based philosophies. He mentored with alternative masters, gurus, spiritual teachers, shamans, mystics, healers, counselors, psychologists from South America, Mexico, England, Europe, Australia, India, Canada, and all over the U.S.A. perfecting his skills, training, and expanding his personal realization.
An Unconventional Path
Devastated and disillusioned, after a near-tragic car accident that nearly killed him and his passengers, he opted out of the chaos of society, gave up his worldly possessions, job, all of his money, and chose to engage on a personal “Vision Quest”, living off the land in the northern forests and mountains of British Columbia, Canada in contemplation, personal solitude, and meditation for almost a year.
After an extended pilgrimage to different continents, he settled into 11 years of service and meditation, living “under the radar” immersed in an ashram and spiritual community. He spent most of those years serving as the personal assistant to the spiritual teacher, the counselor for the global community and was made responsible for much of the business and management of the global organization. Alongside his duties, Markus continued to study the dynamics of human nature, intimately exploring the inner and outer aspects of every relationship and the conditioning and patterns that unconsciously influence behavior.
Within the ashram community, he assisted in facilitating worldwide retreats, pilgrimages, events, and managed staff and daily operations as he continued to refine his coaching, and counseling practice along with his ongoing personal journey of Self-exploration.
A New Beginning
Eventually he left the ashram life and officially re-entered society. He had almost no possessions, no assets, no home, no community. He courageously chose to walk away from almost all connections to his previous life. And in an instant, it was all gone.
By this time, Markus had already persevered through the more than a lifetime of challenges that had shaped his character as he once again started over. He had already returned from the dead in addition to several other near misses which included being kidnapped at gunpoint while travelling. He had worked through crippling experiences of physical, mental, sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse. He had survived off the land, lived with basic possessions for years and explored all over the world. He had become a father, left his arranged ashram marriage, was divorced and eventually immigrated to the US and became a citizen.
And he began yet another chapter when he fell in love and married the love of his life, Samjhi. Together they worked side-by-side offering workshops and retreats while they nurtured a beautiful blended family. In the midst of these adventures Markus experienced some of the most extraordinary examples of spiritual awakening and personal growth which only enhanced his ability to help people from all different walks of life.
When Markus returned to mainstream society he began his personal mission to master the art of abundance, manifestation and success in the material world. He applied all his expertise to demonstrate that despite all odds, with the right tools and guidance anyone could create the life of their dreams.
Holistic Life, Business & Relationship Coaching
As part of his 20 years meditation practice, Markus continued his education in the study of formal Kriya meditation. He was mentored for 8 years, traveling back and forth to India studying with direct masters in the Sri Maheshwari Prasad Dubey Lineage linage. At the same time, he dedicated himself to building a successful international coaching practice from the ground up.
He began to publish his writings, refine his teaching model, build programs, training and courses as he shared his education, experience and talent as a coach, teacher and mentor. He continued to professionally speak all over Canada and the US, regularly appearing on podcast and radio interviews.
He lectured on holistic and inspiring topics pertaining to inner and outer relationships, human potential, meditation, creativity, personal development, mindset, emotional awareness, overcoming obstacles, transforming consciousness and building a thriving business.
A Lifetime Commitment to Self-Exploration
Markus is devoted to his continued personal training and exploration of consciousness. Self-purification and Self-realization are a way of life. This deeply-personal journey of Self-investigation continues to refine his insight into the human condition. He explores the expansive mindset, success in the material world, creative potential and the transformational power of the human spirit in every relationship. He truly believes you can have it all: Conscious relationships, financial success, abundance, love, fulfillment, service, growth and a truly inspired, joyful and purposeful life.
Markus is a living example of his teachings. He weaves his remarkable life experiences, and years of training into comprehensive systems and tools for the practical world of business, relationships and all aspects of daily life. He teaches individuals and organizations to empower their own dreams, discover their purpose and truly realize their unlimited potential.
Markus presently lives in California with his wife, Samjhi and their family. He released his first book, IRAM: A Map For Creating Conscious Relationships in 2020. He officially launched the Relation new SHIFT Academy in 2021. He is presently writing his next series of books and offers regular programs such as the monthly LIVE Relation SHIFT Webcast. He continues to coach, mentor and teach both in-person and online.