These are the dates of the modules

• Module 1 – Friday, October 11, to Sunday, October 13, 2024
• Module 2 – Friday, November 22, to Sunday, November 24, 2024
• Module 3 – Friday, December 13, to Sunday, December 15, 2024
• Module 4 – Friday,January 10, to Sunday, January 12, 2025
• Module 5 (intensive week) – Monday, February 17, to Sunday, February 23, 2025
• Module 6 – Friday, March 14, to Sunday, March 16, 2025
• Module 7 (Easter) – Thursday, April 17, to Monday, April 21, 2025
• Module 8 (Pentecost) – Thursday, May 29, to Sunday, June 1, 2025

Class times

Module 1-4, 6:

• Fridays from 8:30 am to 5:45 pm
• Saturdays from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm
• Sundays from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
• 2 to 2.5 hours lunch break

Module 5 (intensive week):

• Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: afternoons only
• Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday: full day until 5:45 pm
• 2 to 2.5 hours lunch break

Module 7 (Easter):

• Thursday and Saturday: afternoons only
• Friday, Sunday and Monday: full day from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
• 1.5 hours lunch break

Module 8 (Pentecost):

• Thursday and Sunday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
• Friday from 8:30 am to 5:45 pm
• Saturday: afternoon only, from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm 1.5 to 2.5 hours lunch break

Course rate

The rate for the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training 2024 is:

• CHF 4’450.- for applications prior to March 31, 2024 (Early Bird offer)
• CHF 4’750.- for applications as of April 1, 2024 (regular price)

The course fee includes all online material and an extensive written course manual.
Not included is the cost for further reading material (recommended books).

For questions and other concerns please contact ausbildungen@airyoga.ch

Application

To apply for the 200-hour Teacher Training 2024 please use this Form (German only).

Closing date is on September 1, 2024.
Given the usually high demand, we recommend that you apply early!

Prerequisites for attending the Yoga Teacher Training

This training is demanding on a physical and psychological level. The schedule requires participants to immerse themselves in yoga. Applicants should be sincerely interested and committed to the study of yoga.

Further requirements:

• a regular yoga practice of a minimum of two years
• solid knowledge in both German and English (no translations are offered)
• good mental and physical health

Karma Yoga spots

AIRYOGA offers two Karma Yoga spots with a 50% discount on the training fee to any participant who is suited to this assignment and who cannot afford this training at full price. Assistance involves approx. 1-2 extra hours of helping out at the studio per training day.
To apply for the Karma Yoga spots please add your letter of motivation to your application form.

Further terms

• The applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis.
• AIRYOGA (Michael Hamilton or Stephen Thomas) will decide who is admitted to the course after assessing the application. Candidates that are not already regular students with Michael or Stephen are invited to a test class and a post class interview.
• The course requires a minimum of 16 participants to take place. It accepts a maximum of 32 participants (plus possibly persons making up missed hours from the previous course). Additional applicants will be put on the wait-list.
• The training will be taught in English or German, depending on the teacher.
• The teachers are composing their respective manual chapter in the teaching language.
• In order to graduate, trainees are required to have attended a minimum of 90% of all classroom hours and passed the written exam as well as a practical exam. Graduates are entitled to register as ‘RYT 200’ with the American Yoga Alliance®.

Michael Hamilton (Director):
Asana, Anatomy, Teaching Methodology, Yoga Philosophy

Michael is a meditation and yoga practitioner as well as a transpersonal therapist. The discovery of Buddhism in his twenties brought about dramatic life changes resulting in his departure from the west to the east and long years of studies in yoga and Buddhism in Asia. After discovering satipatthana meditation with its direct application of mindfulness to progressive stages of development, he started studies in short- and long-term retreat formats with Sayday U Vivekananda.

His approach combines modern methods developed in psychology with the skillful means developed in ancient Buddhist teachings on wisdom, in order to better facilitate development and healing in individuals and small groups.

He is deeply grateful to all those that have helped and guided him on his path, particularly Daido Roshi for his acts of kindness, Vivekanada and Baddhamanika for their endless patience, Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor for their insights into approaching practice, Doug Keller for therapeutic body awareness and Wolfgang Erhard and Lama Lhündrup for awakening the Bodhisattva spirit within.

Michael lives with his wife Sabine Glück in Ticino, Switzerland.
For more information, please see www.michaelhamiltonyoga.com

Michael teaches in English.

Stephen Thomas:
Asana, Pranayama, Teaching Methodology

Stephen is an experienced Yoga teacher and practitioner. He leads Teacher Trainings, Workshops and Immersions across Asia and Europe. His teaching is deeply rooted in the traditional Yoga practices of Asana, Pranayama and Meditation. His philosophical background is influenced by studies in the Classical systems of Yoga Philosophy as well as Tibetan Buddhism.
Stephen is also a direct student of  O.P. Tiwari of Kaivalyadham, India – a master in the science of Pranayama and Ayurveda. He combines that with over 20 years of study in Alignment and Therapeutic-based Asana, Ayurveda, Philosophy.

Stephen teaches classes and workshops at AIRYOGA in Zurich and his own studio, SVARUPA in Bern. He is a father of two and dedicates his time to family life, writing and researching Yoga. He also works one-on-one with many students and helps to mentor teachers in the community.
For more information, please see https://svarupa.com

Stephen teaches in English.

Christina Eggenschwiler:
Anatomy, Physiology, Prevention

Christina has a decade of teaching experience. As a lecturer for functional anatomy and physiology she is involved in various teacher training courses in Switzerland and abroad. She gained her professional knowledge during her training as a yoga teacher at Yoga Medicine, at Anatomy Trains in Motion, in spiral dynamics and in various specializations (CAS sports and movement therapy, Pilates, health promotion, injury prevention, pain therapy, etc.). With a Master’s degree in Sports Science she has a comprehensive understanding of movement. She imparts the theory with clarity and many application examples and the practice with exciting self-awareness techniques.
For more information, please see www.the-yugen.com

Christina teaches in German.

Manuela Peverelli:
Meditation, Personal Development, Asana (Sadhana)

In 2002, Manuela got in touch with Yoga for the first time and was immediately fascinated by the art of embodied presence. She grew up in Zurich, where she completed her first teacher training in 2008. She then lived in Asia for some years, where she fully dedicated her time to the study of Yoga. In 2012, Zurich became her home base again and she spent the winter months in Asia to deepen her own practice and teach retreats. Silent times in Vipassana and Metta retreats as well as time in Yoga ashrams were equally important to her.
She recently completed a three-year education in Buddhist Psychotherapy in Germany. Manuela is still a searcher and continues to be a grateful student. 

Manuela’s teaching is joyful and powerful, and at the same time a journey into non-conceptual and boundless awareness.

Since 2020, Manuela lives in the south-west of France, together with her partner Marc and her son Tao. They lead a small retreat center for mindfulness, ecology and spirituality. She is teaching in various Yoga Teacher Trainings in Zurich and offers retreats and workshops in different places in Switzerland and Europe.
For more information, please visit www.karmacircus.com

Manuela teaches in German.

Sabine Glück:
Asana (Sadhana), Meditation, Personal Development, Yoga Nidra

Sabine studied Psychology at the University of Zurich. These years formed the beginning of dedicated exploration of what it means to be an embodied, human being. What possibilities do we have to curate our lifes in ways leading towards true love, freedom and wholeness admits this wonderful and challenging life? Intensive study of Yoga and the Buddhadharma structured her life in the last 15 years. The continuous exploration in daily life as well as intensive retreat times enrich and influence her life in wonderful ways and affirm over and over the intention to dedicate her time to uncover intuitive wisdom and compassion, celebrate the aliveness and gratefully honor each moment.

Sabine offers MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction) and meditation courses since 2017 and supports people on their individual path towards embodied awareness and wholesome and joyful curation of their life. A three-year education in Buddhist Psychotherapy in Germany enriches and influences the way she teaches and supports groups and individuals.
Sabine lives with her husband Michael Hamilton and their dog Juna in a remote valley in Ticino.
For more information, please visit www.sabineglueck.com

Sabine teaches in German.

Evelyn Hunger:
Ayurveda Foundations, Ayurveda related Sadhana

On one of her frequent travels to India, Evelyn came into contact first with yoga and then with Ayurveda. She was so fascinated from that point on, that she immersed herself with the philosophical system and its practice. Yoga teacher trainings and retreats with Stephen Thomas as her teacher and mentor for many years, but also inputs from other teachers, as well as her daily personal practice, help Evelyn gain a deeper perspective and understanding, that she constantly integrates in her daily life, which helps her have an honest, empathic and enjoyable relationship with life.

Evelyn trained to become a certified Ayurveda Specialist at the European Academy for Ayurveda, and supplemented her studies with an internship over several months at an Ayurvedic clinic in South India. The knowledge from her profession as an emergency care nurse is an important link to work in a holistic way. In addition, Evelyn is deeply inspired by the Mahamudra practice of Tibetan Buddhism, which shapes her yoga practice and brings her fulfillment and joy in her daily life. Phases of intensive practice are just as important to her as to experience her mind clearly and to open her heart anew in each encounter even in the hectic emergency care routine.
To find out more on Evelyn also see www.yogaayus.ch

Evelyn teaches in German.

Module 1: Foundations in Mind, Heart and Body Yogic Practice

April 12-14, 2024

In this module we will build a foundation from which to explore the practice methods that support participants on their personal path towards a deeper understanding and the cultivation of their inherent heart qualities.
In the theoretical part, we introduce the Buddhist teaching of the Four Noble Truth and the Eightfold Noble Path and discuss its meaning in the context of our modern life.
This module is the starting point of a journey. We get in touch with one another and start growing together as a group which opens up a sacred space arisen out of trust to support each individual on their personal journey.

Module 2 (Pentecost): The forces within us

May 17-20, 2024

This module is dedicated towards clarity of one’s individual motivation and intention for the practice. In contemplation and reflection, we move closer to what truly matters to us and what our heart longs for. We gently touch on individual tendencies and investigate how these shape the ways we look at ourselves and the world around us. Informed by a deeper understanding of the internal forces driving us, we encourage participants to connect to an intuitive and personal approach towards the manifestation of their vision.
To support us in this exploration, we introduce e.g. Kleshas as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra as well as three levels of emotional experiences as described in Buddhism.  

Module 3: Playfully approaching the individual practice

June 28-30, 2024

The third module is a playful exposition of and a deeper dive into the different orientations towards Asana, Pranayama/Kriyas, and Meditation in order to connect participants to an experiential understanding of the different approaches. Enriched by theoretical knowledge on Asana sequencing, different aspects of the meditation practice as well as approaches to classical Pranayama practice, this module gives Yogis concrete tools to keep up a purposeful practice at home.
Theoretically we will base this weekend on inspiration from e.g. the Krishnamaycharya traditions (Ashtanga, Iyengar), teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and the three turnings of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana).

Module 4: Awakening to wisdom

August 23-25, 2024

This module is dedicated to the teachings of natural wisdom that reaches beyond a conceptual mind. Letting body, mind and heart be our guides, there is the potential to discover that natural presence is always and already here and profound transformation can occur by resting in just simply being.
The Satipatthana Sutta, Heart Sutra and other Buddhist texts are introduced with the aim to broaden our understanding and encourage the inner exploration.

Module 5: Unleashing inherent heart qualities

September 13-15, 2024

The module’s focus is the traditions emphasizing and the practices cultivating heart qualities such as compassion, patience and kindness. Participants are guided to familiarize themselves with their inner landscape and find ways to move closer to inherent heart qualities that touch their life and the life of the people around them in a beautiful way.

To support us in this module’s dialogue and practice we draw inspiration from texts such as The Way of the Bodhisattva (Shantideva).

Module 6: Retreat at Casa Corvo

October 23-27, 2024

These days are an invitation to unplug, slow down, relax and integrate the practices and experiences of the past months. A long morning practice in silence, the surrounding nature and sharing this experience with a group of likeminded practitioners support us in further cultivating a gentle awareness. There will be enough time for walks, swimming, discovery trips into the surroundings.

Module 7: Working with difficult emotions

November 15-17, 2024

The seventh weekend focuses on working with difficult emotions. The practice offers a safe space to confront us with difficulties and with that, opens up the opportunity to learn and discover skillful means when encountering distress. Methods from Essential Psychotherapy (approach integrating psychotherapeutic work with Buddhist mind training) are introduced, which invite us to embrace healing and stimulate inner maturity through self-exploration.

Module 8: Re/vision

December 20-22, 2024

In this module the participants are encouraged to pause and reflect on the past weeks. How did my individual practice unfold? What creates resonance, what resistance? How do I connect to the motivation that keeps my practice steady? Does the practice lead me closer to my vision and heart wishes? Where do I want to go from here? How can I dedicate my life energy to the wellbeing of me and other beings?

Michael Hamilton

Growing up in apartheid South Africa led Michael to an early interest in the topic of individual and collective hardship and awakened within him the yearning to address and confront the challenges it brings.
In his youth it spurned him on to political activism and rebellion, sublimated through studies in art and literature, which additionally offered helpful glimpses into the human condition. The discovery of Buddhism in his twenties brought about dramatic life changes resulting in his departure from the west to the east and long years of studies in yoga and Buddhism in Asia. After discovering satipatthana meditation with its direct application of mindfulness to progressive stages of development, he started studies in short- and long-term retreat formats with Sayday U Vivekananda.
Currently Michael is undergoing a 3-year course in essential psychology, which combines skillful methods developed in psychology with the Buddhism teachings on wisdom, in order to better facilitate development and healing in individuals and small groups. He is deeply grateful to all those that have helped and guided him on his path, particularly Daido Roshi for his acts of kindness, Vivekanada and Baddhamanika for their endless patience, Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor for their insights into approaching practice, Doug Keller for therapeutic body awareness and Wolfgang Erhard and Lama Lhündrup for awakening the Bodhisattva spirit within.
Michael lives with his wife Sabine Glück in Ticino, Switzerland.
For more information please see www.michaelhamiltonyoga.com

Sabine Glück

Sabine is a Yoga and meditation practitioner and teacher and is co-directing the Center of Mindfulness in Zurich. She has practiced and studied avidly since 2010. Her love and commitment to spiritual practice influences her life and what she shares as a teacher.

Sabine honors her primary teachers of Hatha and Classical Yoga, Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, Michael Hamilton and Doug Keller as well as U Vivekananda and Baddhamanika for their compassionate and wise guidance in meditation practice.
She holds an MA in Psychology from the University of Zurich and is a certified MBSR teacher (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction). Currently Sabine is absolving a 3-years training in Essential Psychotherapy, an approach integrating psychotherapeutic methods and Buddhist wisdom. 

Sabine lives in a remote valley in Ticino, Switzerland. She is regularly retreating for longer practice periods.