Certification in Iyengar yoga
In Iyengar yoga the path to becoming a teacher is through mentorship, and not through a limited training programme. This requires a committed approach with regular personal practice, as well as the structured study of teaching methods.
“For a yogi, the body is the laboratory for perpetual experiment and research“
– BKS Iyengar
What is mentorship?
Mentorship means working closely with a teacher, who acts as a guide on your journey towards certification and maturation as a teacher.
The path to becoming a teacher takes time: it requires commitment over a number of years. It is not possible to take a quick route to being certified as a teacher in the Iyengar lineage – you cannot simply take a teacher training course over a few weekends – or even months.
In the Iyengar tradition, we firmly believe that in order to understand yoga you need to practice over an extended period and to be rooted in the yogic tradition.
The road towards maturity and inner growth
In the Iyengar yoga, we like to think of ourselves as beginners for, at least, the first years of our practice. Over these years we begin to understand that yoga is more than just exercise. It opens a door that allows us to view our inner-self without the constraints modern society imposes on each of us.
In the Iyengar tradition, we feel it is possible to begin to guide others (to teach others) only after an extended experience of consistent practice. You start by practising yoga on a personal journey, and then – having decided you have an inclination to teach – you must find a mentor who is willing to take you on and work with you. You will work closely with this mentor for a prolonged period of time before being assessed as an Iyengar yoga teacher.
The mentorship programme is based on home studies in anatomy, philosophy, in-depth practice of asanas, weekly classes and workshops. In addition to these, you will undertake an apprenticeship in teaching and regular conversations with your teacher. It is an enriching journey leading towards health and happiness.
The Iyengar tradition
BKS Iyengar (1918 – 2014), was taught yoga by his guru T. Krishnamacharya, before embarking on his own journey (of self-teaching and discovery), which lasted over 80 years. BKS Iyengar was a fierce and robust practitioner and teacher, constantly learning from his own mistakes in order to improve his practice and teaching.
The Iyengar yoga method, as it is taught today, has been tested, researched, elaborated upon and adapted over some 50 years. It is now world-renowned for its excellent therapeutic results. With the passing of BKS Iyengar, the methods of Iyengar yoga continue to be developed (through practice, research, testing and adaption) at
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune (India).
While Iyengar yoga has its roots deep in the classical yoga tradition, BKS Iyengar’s mission in life could be said to be to perfect, and understand the effects of, yogic poses (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayamas). The thoroughness of his research is second to none.
This understanding of how yoga relates to the individual at the psychological and philosophical level is central to the Iyengar tradition. It is important for anyone who wishes to teach Iyengar yoga to understand this attention to detail and rootedness in evidence, as well as in everyday practice.
Having said this, training as an Iyengar yoga teacher encompasses all of the separate limbs of the yogic system in a thorough and holistic fashion, giving a solid foundation for practice and teaching.
Since recently, the Iyengar yoga teaching certification training is open for all – the duration will vary according to the students.
Contact us for more information on the certification process.
