Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training: A Rigorous Path to Excellence
As yoga has become increasingly popular over the last couple of decades, there seems to be a myriad of yoga teacher training courses on the market. Yoga is an unregulated industry in Australia. There is nothing to stop someone declaring themselves a yoga teacher and hanging out their yoga teacher shingle. One important factor that distinguishes Iyengar yoga from other styles of yoga is its rigorous teaching standards and the professional certifying process that exists within the community both here in Australia and throughout the world.
Iyengar Yoga Australia: A Community Built On Excellence
Iyengar Yoga Australia, formally known as the BKS Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia (BKSIYAA), is a community of yoga teachers and students who are committed to the learning, practicing, propagating and protecting of the art, science and philosophy of yoga according to the teachings of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar (1918–2014), acknowledged as one of the most influential teachers of Yoga in the last century and considered the father of modern yoga.
Established in 1985 by a group of 19 founding members, the Association has grown into an organisation of over 700 members. The Association's goals are clear and purposeful: to promote the teaching of the Iyengar method of yoga, establish and maintain guidelines for the certification of teachers of Iyengar yoga, and to provide social, cultural and educational services for its members. As a registered company limited by guarantee that complies with Australian Corporations Law, the Association operates with transparency and accountability.
Iyengar Yoga Australia brings together people interested in the Iyengar method, promotes the ideals of BKS Iyengar, facilitates visits from overseas teachers to Australia, fosters good communication within the yoga community, spreads knowledge about authentic yoga practice, and maintains connections with other international Iyengar associations. This global network ensures consistency and quality across all Iyengar yoga teaching worldwide.
The Certification Process: Guided by RIMYI
The Association, through its Certification Committee, administers and regulates the requirements and standards for the training and assessment of Iyengar yoga teachers. What makes this process particularly robust is that the assessment and certification procedures are guided and coordinated by the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI), the home of Iyengar yoga in Pune, India. This direct connection to the source ensures that the teaching standards remain authentic and aligned with the vision of BKS Iyengar himself.
The Association upholds rigorous ethical guidelines through its Teachers' Code of Practice, which is based on the ethical principles of yama and niyama from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. These guidelines are supported by a comprehensive Complaints Handling Procedure, ensuring accountability and professionalism within the teaching community. Certified teachers are recognised internationally by the BKS Iyengar Yoga Certification Mark, a symbol of quality and competence recognised worldwide.
Prerequisites: Building a Strong Foundation
Unlike many other teacher training courses where previous yoga experience is not necessarily a prerequisite, participating in an Iyengar yoga teacher training course requires significant preparation. Prospective trainees must have regular class attendance for a minimum of three years, or a minimum of three hundred (300) hours of class attendance. Additionally, they must have established a regular personal practice.
This requirement is not arbitrary. Establishing a regular personal practice takes time and dedication, but it really is the key to becoming a competent and effective teacher. You cannot teach what you have not experienced in your own body. The depth of understanding that comes from years of practice creates the foundation from which effective teaching emerges. This experiential knowledge allows teachers to guide students with authenticity, recognising the subtle challenges and breakthroughs that occur on the yoga journey.
The Progressive Certification Structure
The certification process maintains the precision and integrity of Iyengar yoga and offers teachers a clearly identifiable professional development path. This is a progressive process consisting of five levels, from Level 1 to Level 5, with each level reflecting a higher degree of teacher commitment and responsibilities. Each of these levels has a specific syllabus of asanas and pranayamas. To progress, a teacher must, at an assessment, meet the standard of practice and teaching appropriate for that level.
The Path to Level 1 Certification
To attain Iyengar certification at the first level, Level 1, requires substantial preparation and dedication:
Attendance of at least 300 hours of a recognised teacher training course or apprenticeship programme
100 hours of assisting and adjusting with their teacher trainer, providing hands-on experience in working with students
Satisfactory completion of a comprehensive assessment process
The assessment itself is multi-faceted and thorough, involving:
A written examination testing theoretical knowledge
The presentation of a practice session demonstrating personal asana practice
A thirty (30) minute teaching segment showcasing teaching ability
Candidates present at assessment supported by a referral from their training teacher. This referral indicates that, in the eyes of their training teacher, the candidate has developed the required skill and commitment to practice and teaching. It is the role of the Assessing Committee—consisting of a Moderator and two to three Assessors—to independently verify the judgment of their referring teacher.
What Makes the Assessment Path Rigorous
The assessment process stands apart from typical yoga teacher training evaluations in several key ways:
Independent Assessment
Assessing Committees are carefully composed to ensure objectivity. All efforts are made to ensure that both genders are represented on each committee, ideally in equal ratio, and with at least one Assessor being non-local. Importantly, Assessors do not assess their own students. The Certification Committee remains alert to any recognisable conflicts of interest, whether involving spouses, children, or close friendships, and makes adjustments to committee composition as needed.
Personal Practice Evaluation
The personal practice component is not a performance but a genuine demonstration of the candidate's understanding and embodiment of yoga asanas. Candidates must demonstrate their own understanding through a structured practice session observed by trained Assessors. This practice reveals the depth of their sadhana (practice experience) and shows whether they have internalised the principles of alignment, action, and awareness that characterise Iyengar yoga.
Teaching Skills Assessment
The thirty-minute teaching segment evaluates multiple dimensions of teaching ability:
Communication: Can the candidate articulate instructions clearly and effectively?
Sequencing: Does the candidate understand how to build a logical, safe progression of asanas?
Observation: Can the candidate see what is happening in students' bodies and respond appropriately?
Adjustment: Does the candidate know how to make physical adjustments and corrections skilfully and safely?
Presence: Does the candidate maintain appropriate awareness of the entire class while working with individual students?
This teaching segment uses volunteer students, and the Student Co-ordinator ensures appropriate students are available for the teaching sessions. This realistic teaching environment allows Assessors to observe how candidates work with actual students rather than fellow trainees.
Written Component
Candidates must demonstrate theoretical knowledge across several domains:
Yoga philosophy, particularly as articulated in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
The specific teachings and methodology of BKS Iyengar
Anatomy and physiology as relevant to yoga practice
Understanding of how to work with different student populations
The theory syllabus builds progressively through the levels, with Level 1 candidates expected to have read foundational texts including Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and selected articles from RIMYI’s quarterly newsletter, Yoga Rahasya.
Comprehensive Feedback
After assessment, candidates receive detailed feedback from the Assessing Committee. This feedback is designed to support ongoing development, whether the candidate passes or needs to reassess. The feedback process is structured carefully to be constructive, respectful, and specific. Guidelines emphasise that feedback should help candidates understand both their strengths and areas requiring further development, delivered in language that is clear and professional.
For candidates who do not pass, the feedback provides a roadmap for further study and practice. They can reassess when they and their training teacher feel they are ready, with no limit on the number of attempts.
Certified vs Registered: Understanding the Difference
It is crucial to understand that in Iyengar yoga, teachers are certified through the rigorous process described above, not simply registered. In Australia there exist other yoga organisations such as Yoga Australia and Yoga Alliance; however, they are not certifying bodies. They register teachers as having completed 200 or 500 hours of study. That training can vary widely in quality and content and is not really assessed or monitored in any thorough or systematic way.
The Iyengar system is fundamentally different. Every certified teacher has:
Been trained under a qualified Iyengar teacher trainer who meets specific requirements
Completed extensive hours of study, practice, and hands-on assisting experience
Undergone independent assessment by experienced Assessors appointed by the Certification Committee
Demonstrated competency in both personal practice and teaching ability through multiple assessment components
Agreed to uphold the Teachers' Code of Conduct based on the ethical principles of yama and niyama from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras
This distinction matters enormously for students. When attending an Iyengar yoga class, students can be assured that they are in genuinely competent hands, with a teacher who has been rigorously assessed by independent experts.
Ongoing Responsibilities and Development
The journey doesn't end at Level 1 certification. Certified teachers accept ongoing responsibilities that maintain the integrity of their certification:
Active Membership
Teachers must maintain active teaching membership in the Association, which ensures they remain connected to the broader Iyengar community and stay informed about developments in teaching methodology and standards.
Professional Development
Certified teachers engage in ongoing teacher development, attending workshops, conventions, and classes with senior teachers. This commitment to continued learning reflects the understanding that teaching yoga is not a static achievement but a dynamic, evolving practice.
Working with Vulnerable People Registration
Teachers obtain Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration where required, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining safe, professional environments for all students.
Personal Practice
Teachers continue their personal practice and study, recognising that their own practice remains the foundation of their teaching. The depth and authenticity of teaching flows directly from the depth and authenticity of personal practice.
Extended Leave and Return to Teaching
The Association recognises that life circumstances may require teachers to take extended leave from teaching. Teachers taking leave of longer than two years must notify the Association. Upon returning to teaching after extended absence, teachers work with a mentor to ensure they are current with teaching standards before resuming classes.
The Path Forward: Higher Levels of Certification
Teachers may choose to progress through higher certification levels (Level 2 through Level 5), each requiring additional years of experience, study, and demonstrated excellence in practice and teaching. The minimum time requirements ensure adequate maturation:
Level 2: Minimum three years after Level 1 certification
Level 3: Minimum three years after Level 2 certification
Level 4 and 5: Requirements are set by RIMYI in Pune, India
At each level, the syllabi expand to include more advanced asanas and pranayama techniques. The teaching and practice standards become more refined, and the depth of understanding expected increases. Higher-level teachers take on additional responsibilities within the community, including mentoring and training teachers at lower levels.
Teacher Training and Mentoring Responsibilities
As teachers progress through the levels, they gain eligibility to train and mentor emerging teachers. The requirements to train teachers are specific:
Teacher Trainers must be Level 2 certified or higher
They must have their own established teaching practice
They take responsibility for assessing their trainees' readiness for assessment
The mentoring system creates a supportive structure for newly certified teachers. Teacher Mentors (who must be at least Level 1 certified and have two years post-certification teaching experience) guide registered teachers in training, helping them develop confidence and skill. This mentoring relationship embodies the traditional guru-sisya (teacher-student) relationship while adapted to contemporary Australian context.
A Living Tradition: The Legacy of BKS Iyengar
This entire certification system exists to preserve and propagate the teachings of BKS Iyengar, who himself wrote about his method: “I have no right to brand my method of practice and teaching as 'Iyengar Yoga'. It is my pupils that call it Iyengar Yoga to distinguish it from the teachings of others... The only thing I am doing is to bring out the in-depth, hidden qualities of yoga to the awareness of you all... what I do is nevertheless purely authentic traditional Yoga."
Guruji, as he was known to his students, was both a reformer and a traditionalist. He constantly experimented and investigated within his practice while linking that practice to the classical texts, particularly Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Above all, he was a practitioner whose teaching flowed from direct experience rather than intellectual understanding alone.
The certification system honours this legacy by insisting that teachers ground their teaching in their own deep practice and by maintaining rigorous standards that ensure the precision and therapeutic effectiveness for which Iyengar yoga is renowned worldwide.
Conclusion: A Clear Pathway Forward
For any aspiring teacher who is prepared to put in the effort and dedication, the Iyengar system provides a clear, structured pathway forward with internationally recognised standards and ongoing support from a vibrant community of practitioners. The journey from student to certified teacher, and potentially through the higher levels of certification, is demanding but deeply rewarding.
This system has helped to create a thriving community of teachers throughout Australia and the world, all united in their commitment to preserving and sharing the profound teachings of BKS Iyengar—the teacher who brought yoga to the modern world while maintaining its authentic traditional roots. When you study with an Iyengar teacher, you connect not just to that individual teacher but to this entire lineage, this global community, and to standards that have been carefully maintained across decades and continents.
Interested in learning more about Iyengar yoga teacher training? Email us here.
James Hasemer
James Hasemer is the Founder and Director of Central Yoga School and a Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Assessor, and Moderator. He has also served on the Iyengar Yoga Australia Board as Teacher Director and Teacher’s Committee Chair from 2021 - 2025.
References
[1] Teachers Certification Handbook: Requirements & Procedures for Certification & Assessment, Iyengar Yoga Australia, 2025
[2] Certification Procedure Manual, Iyengar Yoga Australia, 2025