Mind Body Soul Retreats

Iyengar Certification Process – Why Practice with an Iyengar Teacher?

Our world is now populated with many yoga teachers and there is little regulation. A yoga teacher certificate can be purchased after attending a yoga workshop nearly anywhere. 

Mr Iyengar created a rigorous certification process for CIYTs (Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers) which is incomparable with Yoga Alliance Accreditation. The certification process for Iyengar Yoga Teachers might be compared to a Master’s Degree and Doctoral Programs. 

Prospective students must first apply for admission to the teacher training program. The application includes proof of a minimum 3 years consecutive practice, plus at least one recommendation from a CIYT who has followed and can verify their practice. Upon approval, the candidate must then pass an entry examination, which is the final assessment for program admission. 

Iyengar Teacher Training Courses last 3 years. Once the candidate is accepted to the teacher training program, they must pass 2 rigorous assessments that are critiqued by 3 outside examiners, who are not teachers from the training program. If the candidate passes their first examination, which is taken at the end of 2 years, the Intermediate 1 certification is valid only for 1 year. 

To become a CITY, the candidate must complete that last year of the 3-year program, and prepare for and pass the second assessment, certification Intermediate 2. 

Once an Iyengar Teacher has Intermediate 2 certification, they continue studying and apprenticing with Senior CIYTs, which is might be compared  to CEUs or continuing education credits for professionals with Master Degrees.