Iyengar yoga is taught worldwide in over 40 countries, and there are more than 1200 certified teachers in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

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Iyengar Yoga: Exceptional Teaching Standards

All Iyengar yoga teachers are trained to very high standards, with a minimum of six years’ practice before qualifying.

Once qualified, teachers must continue to train and complete regular professional development training in order to maintain their certificate and use the Iyengar name. In this way, the care and precision that characterises Iyengar yoga is maintained.

These high teaching standards are part of the reason Iyengar yoga is the most widely practised method of yoga worldwide. The Certification Mark is the guarantee of this quality.

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Yoga Therapy Teachers

Iyengar yoga has been used successfully to treat a range of conditions including musculoskeletal, physiological and emotional.

Only teachers with significant experience and training are certified to teach yoga therapy. You can find one using our search here and selecting the therapy teacher option.

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Training to teach

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 āsanas and prāṇāyāma 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 āsanas, 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 āsanas, and a preliminary awareness of the subtlety of Iyengar yoga and its philosophy.

Members of IY(UK) can find more detailed information about what being mentored entails here

Teaching Certificate Levels

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