What does it mean to be a certified Iyengar yoga instructor?
Certification means that an instructor has satisfied the rigorous requirements of the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States. In order to gain certification, a candidate must be first recommended by two senior level certified Iyengar teachers, attesting to his or her readiness to apply for certification assessment. Candidates then undergo a three-part assessment. The written portion evaluates their knowledge in areas such as the asana, yoga philosophy, sequencing of a class for various purposes, and dealing with students who have injuries or common problematic health conditions. The second portion of the assessment is a demonstrated practice of the poses on the candidate’s syllabus. Teaching skills are evaluated in the final portion of the exam. A certain level of proficiency must be met in order to pass the assessment. There are 10 levels of certification in the Iyengar system.
