Further Information

The (short) Story of NATHA Yogacenter Reykjavík

Serafim and Magdalena started NATHA Yogacenter Reykjavík in 2008. The yogaschool has always been run on a voluntary basis where all income went directly to pay rent and run the school. Serafim and Magdalena have supported themselves working normal jobs (Serafim is a computer supporter, Magdalena is a nurse) and have donated their work as teachers for 20 years (from 1995 in Denmark and after 2008 in Reykjavík, Iceland).

When honest people work selflsessly without asking for anything in return, help often comes unexpectedly. And that is what happened when NATHA received a gigantic donation, from one of our students, in the form of the premises we are now renovating.

Now we need to build the big yoga hall with all the magic work of electricity, ventilation and heating. Therefore we rely on your help so that the work of spreading knowledge of genuine yoga as a spiritual path can continue.

If you are curious about who we are, you are always welcome to visit us. We usually have Open House Sunday meetings every other Sunday and you are welcome to attend, see our schedule on our webpage www.natha.is.

The amazing story of this project.

In 2007 Magdalena and I decided to move to Iceland in order to share the treasure of yoga that had transformed our lives. The first year was the most difficult where we only had a few pupils. Fortunately we found help (as always) in the form of Icelandic colleagues that shared their yoga studio with us allowing us stay there for almost nothing. Thank you Auður og Ásta in Lotus Yogasetur for your generous help in our hour of need.

Despite this difficult year we decided to reinforce our efforts and make another try where we could have our classes in better times for our pupils
We rented a hall on an hourly basis for teaching yoga in "Rósin" in Bolholt 4 and are very grateful to Guðrún, who was administering " Rósin " at the time, for her honest and generous attitude when we rented their rooms. But soon we had too many classes to fit in their schedule and we had to move. We ended up renting the space beside "Rósin" and stayed there for a few years while the school grew steadily.

Then one day I was approached by one of our pupils who wanted to help the school in a special way. After some explanation, that had to be repeated a few times, we understood that he wanted to donate a location for the school. Wow, that was big, but so welcome help, and so unexpected that it took a little time to digest that it was really happening.

Our benefactor is Ágúst Shi Jin who has shown great selflessness in his donation and unparalleled work on the site.

The place was found and bought in the autumn of 2015 just before the real-estate prices started to soar again and the gigantic work of renovation started. Ágúst showed that he really meant what he had said and worked harder than anyone else on the project. He explained to me that his wish was that NATHA stayed in Iceland so that Icelanders could benefit from its teachings. With his Donation he made sure that we are not going anywhere anytime soon. :-)

The site as it was before the demolition - Ágúst Shi Jin and Gunnar Architect

Before the work started - So how do we proceed ? Eyþór in the foreground Ágúst and Gunnar talking in the background

Then we started to tear everything down to make room for the new. Ágúst (primus motor) in the background at work with the crowbar.

The work continues - Magdalena, Hanna and Ágúst.

And there appeared mountains of reusable timber ....

Rebuilding starts - A few walls where left standing, and we started to build new walls ...

Building walls ...

New walls appear where there where none before .... :-)

Ágúst moving the scaffolding into position

Ágúst insisted on making the site beautiful and installed these arches ....

On this clip we walk in the reception facing the new Yoga hall which will be built behind the curtains. We have a little peek behind the curtain at the hall itself, as it is now. Then we walk into the already renovated small yoga hall (where we are currently teaching) to see the 'look' of the yoga halls.