Amarayoga offers Teacher Trainings that are registered with the Icelandic Yoga Alliance, https://www.jogakennari.is/, as well as the internationally recognized Yoga Alliance of America, https://yogaalliance.org/. This means that every requirement for this kind of training will be met, in every subject; asana, anatomy, history, philosophy, teaching techniques, ethics, etc. We will also look at book keeping and tax return, according to the Icelandic system.
Only 12 people are accepted in each group to maintain the quality of the training and secure that every participant has a good access to the teacher. The graduating student will become part of the community of Amarayoga teachers on Facebook.
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​This program provides international qualifications to teach traditional yoga classes, hatha yoga and vinyasa.​ Registration is now open for the winter of 2025-2026.
Some who embark are determined to teach yoga after graduation, others are entering the program for their own development. Once the confirmation fee has been paid, students will have access to online yoga classes and can practice on their own time. Those who can attend our open classes in Hafnarfjörður are always welcome during the training.
During the winter of 2024-2025, our training took place mostly online for the first time. This experiment exceeded expectations, so we will continue this way! There will be pre-recorded lectures that can be watched whenever and as often as suits you. The textbooks (included in the price) will be delivered the first weekend, or they will be given in a PDF format. ​
We meet four weekends, two in each semester, but in between we keep in touch via Zoom. On the weekends in Hafnarfjörður, we focus on the exercises themselves and make sure that all students master them. Anatomy is largely taught on site, in Hafnarfjörður, and students get the opportunity to practice teaching on these weekends. ​
Students are required to take a few multiple-choice exams from the course material and submit a short project on anatomy. They need to convince the teacher that they have achieved a reasonable grasp of the material. However, the program does not demand so much from students that it is quite feasible to do it working full-time.
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Weekends in Hafnarfjörður:
​??? - Asana
??? - Anatomy
??? - Practicum
??? - Practicum and Graduation
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We will meet at Zoom 11 times. Each session is about 2 hrs long.
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​The goal of the program is: ​
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- To give students the confidence to perform the exercises themselves as well as to guide others through them. ​
- To introduce students to meditation techniques and the benefits of meditation.
- To show how stillness of mind goes hand in hand with sitting within oneself with complete confidence. ​
- To provide a good foundation of anatomical knowledge which in turn provides confidence in the exercises.
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- To train students well in putting together yoga classes of different types, whether they want to lead a class in calm "hatha" yoga or a more energetic "vinyasa" flow.
- To educate students about the background of the system so that they are well aware of the difference between reality and myth. ​
- To give a taste of what is found in this endless treasure chest we call yoga.​
Please note that 100% attendance is required, even though unforeseeable circumstances are naturally taken into account.
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It is necessary to confirm participation by paying a confirmation fee - non-refundable - of 50,000.- The confirmation fee will then be deducted from the total amount. The price for the program is 430,000.- paid in cash before September 1st, but you are welcome to divide it into 4 payments. This increases the price by ISK 20,000.- and the division could look like this: 50,000.- in confirmation, 100,000.- for the first teaching weekend, 100,000.- on October 1st, 2025, 100,000.- in January 2026 and 100,000.- in February 2026. Note that many unions sponsor their members for this program.
If you want to register on an international platform, Yoga Alliance is the strongest registration agency, apart from being the first to set up the 200-hour minimum requirements for teacher certification. Here is their website: https://www.yogaalliance.org/. There you can also look at their regestry for teachers and schools. Students from recognized school will be accepted into the YA if they so wish.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you want to join!
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Lead trainer is Ásta María Þórarinsdóttir. Rakel Dögg Sigurgeirsdóttir covers the anatomy. Ásta María has practiced yoga for over 40 years and has worked as a yoga teacher since the turn of the century. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance of America with international qualifications to graduate yoga teachers. Ásta María has also been a board member of the Icelandic Yoga Alliance for years. Rakel Dögg graduated from Amarayoga in 2016. Rakel is a physiotherapist and she teaches the anatomy part of the program in her own unique and fun way.
