Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar developed what has come to be called Iyengar yoga from a firm spiritual, philosophical and practical base. Iyengar yoga is a way of life, rather than a physical activity.

Students are advised to take the necessary time to learn the asanas and pranayama purely for the joy of learning.

How do I sign up to train as a teacher?

• If you’ve attended Iyengar yoga classes regularly for a minimum of three years and have a good standard of practice in the Level 1 asanas, you can begin to train as a teacher.

• The route to teaching is via mentorship with an experienced teacher who has been approved as a mentor by Iyengar Yoga (UK). 

• If you’re interested in training to teach please discuss this with your regular class teacher. If your teacher isn’t able to mentor you themselves, they’ll be able to put you in touch with a suitable mentor.

What happens when I start training?

• As a trainee, you’ll be expected to attend regular classes with your mentor and will progress to demonstrate and assist during class as well as undertaking various written assignments and attending peer-group sessions.

• The mentorship period will last a minimum of three years, but may take longer.

• During the mentorship period, trainees are expected to learn both the Level 1 and Level 2 syllabi – before teaching the basics, students must be at an advanced level of learning.

Summary

After completing the above (three years’ attendance at classes, plus at least three years of mentorship), candidates will have practised Iyengar yoga regularly for a minimum of six years before applying for the Level 1 teaching assessment.

They will have achieved a high standard in their personal practice in the asanas, and a preliminary awareness of the subtlety of Iyengar yoga and its philosophy.