Ott Alemaa

Teaching focus at Goyoga Tallinn

Ott Alemaa teaches traditional Ashtanga yoga , Mysore-style practice , and specialised Men's Yoga at Goyoga Tallinn . Classes are in Estonian and English.

He co-anchors the morning Ashtanga Mysore programme and leads Men's Yoga. Together with Grete Rämmal and founder Raili Maripuu , he helps keep the Tallinn Ashtanga shala active for consistent traditional practice in the city centre ( Narva mnt 7D ).

From back pain to teaching

Ott comes from a lifelong athletic background and an academic foundation in psychology. He came to yoga through his own health issues: practice was recommended for severe back pain. Systematic, persistent work helped him get past the pain, and he found much more than relief. That path led him toward teaching others who face similar challenges.

He prefers dynamic, physical, fast-paced movement, which is why he stays dedicated to traditional Ashtanga Mysore. The aim is simple: leave the room having elevated both body and mind.

He is glad to have connected three things he loves: yoga, psychology, and communicating with people. Physical practice and mental science sit on the same mat in how he teaches.

How sports psychology meets Ashtanga

Ott holds a Master's degree in Social Psychology from Tallinn University. Both his Bachelor's and Master's theses were in sports psychology. He has also studied business management. That lens shapes how he teaches, without turning the room into a lecture hall:

Stress and autonomic regulation through breath linked to a demanding Ashtanga sequence

Self-management via Mysore: ownership of your own practice, not waiting to be led through every breath

Mental fortitude built through dynamic physical intensity you can meet honestly

Ego versus process : structured growth over the perfect pose, learned the hard way from his own back-injury path

Mysore method: discipline that sticks

In Mysore style you build a sustainable daily personal practice (what Estonians call omaharjutus ). The method emphasises discipline and routine: you learn the sequence step by step, practise what you know at your own pace, and receive clear guidance when you are ready for the next posture.

That rhythm suits people who want yoga they can keep for years, not a one-off workout. See also the studio's Ashtanga class page for how the system is taught at Goyoga.

Men's Yoga: strength, mobility, and recovery

Men's Yoga is open to all experience levels who want to practise in a relaxed, supportive masculine environment with good humour. It balances the physical demands and ambition of other sports, restores the body, and calms the mind after intense workdays.

The practice is Ashtanga-based: strength, mobility, flexibility, balance, and conscious breathing. Guidance is clear and practical. No previous yoga experience is required.

Focus What you work on Who it suits

Strength & balance Functional power without heavy equipment Athletes and desk workers alike

Mobility & flexibility Joints and range of motion after sport or sitting Anyone who feels stiff or "too tight for yoga"

Breath & recovery Calm nervous system after a loaded day Busy schedules, high intensity elsewhere

Lecturer and corporate trainer

Besides yoga, Ott works today as a lecturer and trainer. He has studied business management and holds a Master's in Social Psychology from Tallinn University. He has run seminars for universities and private enterprises, with favourite themes in stress management and working teams. He has also appeared in a Tallinn University context on entrepreneurship foundations ( Ettevõtluse alused ; watch on Vimeo ).

One training format he offers is Teadlik rahulolu juhtimine (conscious wellbeing management): three self-management training days, or a personal schedule. It uses thought models and tasks to develop awareness and inner clarity, with daily tasks and timely messages that keep the themes alive between sessions. For studio corporate programmes, see corporate yoga in Tallinn .

Training and credentials

Master's degree in Social Psychology, Tallinn University

Bachelor's and Master's theses in sports psychology

Lecturer and corporate trainer: stress management and team dynamics

Tallinn University appearance on entrepreneurship foundations ( Ettevõtluse alused ): Vimeo

Jooga Podcast interview with Mai Wistik, #45 Vestleme joogaõpetaja Ott Alemaaga (~53 min, Estonian): Spotify · Podtail

Professional listing: Sportos

10 years practising yoga

3 years teaching

EQF Level 3–4 Fitness Trainer Qualification Course (2021)

200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Mysore, India (2018)

Credentials listed here are only those Ott shared. Student feedback is not published until he provides it.

Media and listings

Personal interview for Jooga Podcast with host Mai Wistik: #45: Vestleme joogaõpetaja Ott Alemaaga (Estonian, about 53 minutes). Same episode on Spotify and Podtail .

Professional listing on Sportos .

Who it is for

Come if you want traditional Ashtanga or Mysore, or a men's-focused room that still welcomes clear beginners. Come if other sports leave you strong but stiff, if workdays load your back and mind, or if you want practice that builds ownership rather than chasing perfect poses. You do not need to be flexible first.

Next steps: check the studio schedule , read more about yoga for men in Tallinn , or book a private session via the contact options on this page.

Common questions

Do I need Ashtanga experience for Men's Yoga?
No. Ott teaches with clear, practical guidance for all levels.

What is Mysore style here?
Self-paced practice of the sequence you know, with teacher support, aimed at a sustainable daily personal practice.

Is the men's class only for men?
It is offered as a specialised men's practice in a supportive masculine environment. Ask the studio if you are unsure which class fits you.

Does he also train companies?
Yes. Ott lectures and coaches on stress management and team dynamics, including the Teadlik rahulolu juhtimine format. Ask the studio for corporate enquiries.

Where is the shala?
Goyoga Tallinn, central Tallinn. Directions .