YOGA TEACHER TRAINING 2025
Berlin & Online
Yoga Alliance - Certified
with Naama Ityel & Anya Kinneavy
Dates to be confirmed. Write to us to hear first.
Are you ready to take the next step on your yoga journey?
Our teacher training programme is for all those who want to delve deeper into yoga, whether with the intention of becoming a teacher or purely for deepening and inspiring your own practice.
This programme is approved by the Yoga Alliance international awarding body. It stays true to the historical tradition of yoga while keeping a fresh, lively perspective on applying its teachings to modern day life.
The course content covers the historical, philosophical, physical and spiritual dimensions of yoga as well as the art of teaching and the yoga teaching profession itself. We will walk hand in hand supporting each of our students to feel confident as future yoga teachers.
The structure is designed to give you just the right amount of breathing space. The sessions will be rich and in-depth while spacious; intentional time between them to read, reflect, connect with your group and integrate the journey.
You will…
Explore the many facets of the vast tradition of yoga in a supportive group environment
Enjoy a safe and non-judgmental space that will be a fertile ground for a rich personal growth
Be supported in discovering and expressing your individual, unique voice and strengths as a teacher
Receive access to our video library for the duration of the training to support and expand your own āsana and meditation practice at home
Gain the foundations of knowledge you need alongside personalised mentoring to develop and refine your teaching and communication skills in order to lead safe, effective and meaningful yoga classes
Be eligible to become an international Yoga Alliance-certified teacher upon successful completion
Be guided attentively by Anya and Naama - two highly experienced, Berlin-based teachers - who complement each other with respective expertise in yoga’s subtle and physical dimensions
Enjoy a syllabus that is enriched by the input of two inspiring guest teachers sharing their knowledge of embodied anatomy
Our approach is…Open-minded, explorative and curious; asking questions is as important as giving answers
Inclusive and diverse; you’ll become equipped to respond skillfully to differing abilities, bodies and levels of experience
Passionate about the deeper teachings of yoga philosophy and meditation and making them relevant to our daily lives
Lively and engaging; we encourage discussion and reflection
Empowering; we will mentor you individually as well as encourage your ability to evaluate yourself and discover your own answers
Embodied and experiential; “objective” knowledge is there to be felt, questioned and integrated
REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION
At least 2 years of yoga practice
Interest, curiosity and passion for the path of yoga
Students must each have taken at least one class with both Anya and Naama
INVESTMENT:
3,499€
Deposit to hold your place: 700€ (non-refundable, non-transferable)
Instalment payment is possible - write to us for more information
REGISTERING:
Spaces are limited!
Please see our ‘frequently asked questions below’ to ensure you’ve understood all the information, then email us to check availability and register
We’re here for your questions: clayyogatraining@gmail.com
Course content
Asana:
Learning to perform and guide the asanas seen in a Vinyasa class
Key Yoga Asanas: Performing and guiding them accurately
The History of Asana
Key Alignment Principles
Stability and Ease
Rooting and Expanding
Contraindications
Specific conditions and injuries
Sthira sukham āsanam
Sequencing classes with Specific Themes
Subtle Body:
Pranayama and its Effects
Key Pranayama Techniques
Koshas, Chakras, Nadis and Prana Vayus
Meditation:
Context and theory of meditation
Key meditation techniques
Understanding and Guiding Mindfulness Practices
Carrying meditation wisdom into daily life
The Science and Practice of Mantra
Dharana leading to Dhyāna
Yoga History and Philosophy:
The Historical Roots of Yoga: Ancient times to Modern Day
What is the ‘Original’ Yoga?
Introduction to Sanskrit; pronunciation & transliteration
Key Yogic texts and scripture: incl. Vedas, Upanishads, Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali
Key Yogic terminology, incl. dharma, moksha, avidya, vairagya, kleshas
Traditional Chants; meaning & practice
Embodied Anatomy:
Major Bones
Joint Types
Major muscles involved in asana
Connectivity of movement in the body
Types of muscle contraction
Physiology:
The Nervous System
Body-mind connection
The circulatory, endocrine and digestive systems as they relate to yoga practice
The Respiratory system
Biomechanics:
Types of joint movements
Joint stabilisation
How to move safely
Misalignment and adaptations
The Art of Teaching
Presence & Voice
Your Strengths and Style
Verbal Cues; Clarity & Precision
Visual Cues; Demonstrating
Physical cues; Hands on adjustments
Inclusive Guidance
Sequencing
Classes with Specific Themes
Pace & Timing
Ethics & Accountability
Class management
Environment
The Business of Yoga:
Working in self-employment in Berlin (and beyond)
Yoga teaching and travel
Registering with the Yoga Alliance
Accounting basics to get started
Marketing, incl. website & social media strategies
Practicalities, pricing, scheduling
Expectations moving forwards as a teacher
About the teachers
Anya Kinneavy has over 20 years’ experience of teaching and practice and founded ‘Yoga in English Berlin’ - Berlin’s first English-language classes - in 2009.
She teaches the whole path of Yoga and integrates its life-enhancing philosophy and meditative goal into the āsana (movement) practice.
In her classes the postures become a breath-centred flow of movement in meditation, guiding each student to clarity, inner spaciousness and calm.
Anya is a committed student of Vedānta, Sanskrit and yoga history with a deep respect for the ancient wisdom of yoga. As the grateful student of many great teachers she loves to pass on this wisdom she is fortunate to have received in an engaging way that stays relevant to our modern-day lives.
www.yogainenglish.berlin
Instagram @yogainenglishberlin
Naama Ityel is a somatic educator who supports people in their self-transformative processes and in bringing social change. She is also a dance and Feldenkrais teacher and a dancer and choreographer.
She received her ashtanga-vinyasa certification in “Abhinam School of Yoga” in Dharamsala, India and has taught Vinyasa Flow yoga since 2009. Her classes are inspired by dance and somatic approaches such as Feldenkrais, Klein technique, Body Mind Centering and contact improvisation. Her teaching focuses on creating a deep relationship with the body and exploring nuances of the physical experience and how they affect the human psyche at large.
Naama teaches internationally in different institutions and studios such as Yellow-Yoga, Berlin University of the Arts (UDK), FreieUniversität (FU), Tanz Fabrik and Mime Centrum.
Naamaityel.wordpress.com
Instagram @naama_ityel
Guest Teachers
Alon Bracha
is a physiotherapist , hydro therapist and practitioner of the Ilan Lev method. He is a professional dancer and has been practising yoga and meditation for 15 years.
Ayelet Yekutiel
is a certified Somatic Movement Educator of Body-Mind Centering, Axis Syllabus and Yoga. She is a dance artist & performer and a passionate movement researcher and teacher. Ayelet teaches experiential & embodied anatomy, physiology, developmental patterns and bio-mechanics in Yoga teacher trainings.
PAST STUDENTS SAY …
Mirko
Ewa
Thomas
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. How ‘advanced’ do I need to be? What if I can’t do some postures?
A. We ask that you have practised yoga for at least 2 years. This means you have an essential awareness of yoga but it doesn’t mean you need to be an expert or a gymnast. Not being able to perform all asanas is fine. You will meet each key asana through a thorough process during the training and will explore new and deepened relationships with them. To be a yoga teacher does not mean to be able to perform asanas perfectly; understanding and guiding yoga skilfully is more important. If you’re still feeling unsure or nervous please talk to us.
Q. What criteria do I need to fulfil to get the Yoga Alliance certification?
A. 100% attendance is required as well as the full fee of the training and successfully passing all assessments (see next question)
Q. What assessment will there be?
A. We will assess your understanding of the content throughout the training in discussions and practice teaching sessions in a supportive, encouraging group environment.
Q. Are there any exams to pass? Could I fail?
A. The final weekends of the training will centre around a final teaching practice in which you’ll guide parts of a yoga class and receive constructive feedback.
If we consider that the teaching quality does not yet meet the necessary standard, it is possible that we’ll need to see you teach again before a certificate can be given. This would incur an additional cost, which we would endeavour to keep to a minimum.
A certificate will be given if you fulfil all aspects of the training, attend 100% of sessions and if you integrate the personal feedback into your teaching practice to a level that we are confident shows that you are ready to teach.
We will work together so that you feel prepared and confident in your own teaching ability.
Q. I see that 100% attendance is required for the certification. What if I need to miss a session?
A. If you miss a session you can:
Make it up by scheduling private classes with Anya or Naama. These are charged at an additional cost of €75 per hour plus studio rental if necessary. It is possible to book these additional private sessions together with other students and share the cost.
Q. I live outside of Berlin. Is this realistic for me?
A. Yes. We have intentionally arranged most weekends without classes on the preceding Friday evening to give those of you who live outside of Berlin enough time to travel here comfortably. In this year’s training students have joined us from Hamburg as well as Switzerland. If you will travel to Berlin for the training weekends it is necessary to arrive the evening before we start as both days of the training are from morning until evening. Additionally, two of the training weekends are held online to give non-Berliners more flexibility.
Q. What kind of schedule will the weekends have?
A. Each weekend will have a slightly different schedule in accordance with its content. Each day will start at approximately 9:30am and end by 18:00 at the latest. Online weekends are shorter. It is important for us to provide enough breaks each day so that students feel fresh, present and engaged.
Q. Are there any further costs?
A. No. However, you’ll need the basic equipment (internet access, computer / phone) to access the online sessions and a yoga mat at home.
There is no extra required reading that you must buy as we will provide you with the necessary teaching material in your manual. However, we will recommend some optional reading material to deepen your study if you wish. Some materials may be provided digitally; it is up to the student whether to print them at their own expense.
Q. Is it possible to pay in instalments?
A. Yes - write to us for more information.
Q. Is there any further time investment apart from the weekends and the 5 video classes?
A. Alongside the essential 200 training hours you will be expected to invest time in homework, group meetings, teaching practice and reflection for an average of 5 hours per month. In addition we encourage you to keep a steady practice and take at least one Yoga class per week during the training.
Q. I see that I need to have taken at least one class with both Anya and Naama. Where can I find their classes and make a booking?
A. Yes, we ask you to take a class with each of us to feel familiar with our style of teaching and get to meet each other personally. Anya and Naama both teach regularly at Yellow Yoga. Here's the schedule. Please check the 'news' section to see when there's a sub teacher as we may be away from time to time. More info and booking link here.
Q. How soon do I need to make my booking?
A. For the next training in 2024 we have received many enquiries. If you wish to have a place in the training we recommend that you write to us soon.
Q. What if I have other questions?
A: We welcome your questions. Feel free to write to us here clayyogatraining@gmail.com or request a personal call with us.
