Mentoring Requirements
Mentor Requirements
IYNAUS encourages all teachers to have a mentor. Ideally, your mentor should be the teacher with whom you have the most consistent, committed, and connected relationship. This teacher should be someone you study with and interact with regularly in the process of developing your practice and teaching.
While all CIYTs are strongly encouraged to have a formal mentor, the following circumstances require formal mentors:
- All Iyengar Yoga practitioners studying for any level of assessment.
- Level 1 CIYTs who passed their Level 1 or Introductory I/II assessment within the last three years.
- All CIYTs studying the additional poses and material for their current level that they were not previously tested on for purposes of teaching. To teach the asanas not previously tested, please
be sure your mentor has seen and approved your teaching of these asanas. - All CIYTs studying and learning to teach asanas on their next syllabus, regardless of whether they plan to assess for that level.
- Notwithstanding the above, CIYTs who are Level 3 or Intermediate Junior III for at least five years are not required to have a formal mentor.
Mentors must be named when renewing the Certification Mark. As a friendly reminder, CIYTs no longer need to send in paper Certification Mark Agreements. Simply complete the agreement online when you renew.
The relationship between mentor and mentee is an important relationship. Mentees should not name a mentor on their Certification Mark renewal before discussing and confirming with their mentor.
Mentors for Level 2 CIYTs preparing to assess for Level 3
Per RIMYI Guidelines, Trainers/Mentors for Level 3 are:
- Teachers currently conducting general classes as per the syllabus of Level 3
AND - Teachers certified at minimum Level 4 for at least three years (new system)
OR - Teachers certified at Advanced Junior I, Advanced Junior II, Advanced Junior III, Advanced Senior
I or Advanced Senior II
AND - Should have visited RIMYI at least three times
However, the RIMYI Guidelines also make this important note: All certified teachers, who have rich experience in teaching but have not pursued further certification levels, and were granted special permission either by Guruji, RIMYI, or their Associations may continue to do so. Associations may consider similar requests on a case-by-case basis. RIMYI reserves the right to grant exceptions to the rules. Associations and RIMYI will inform each other about such requests to maintain a common list of trainers/mentors.
The IYNAUS Assessment Committee is granting permission to Level 3 teachers to be formal mentors for Level 2 teachers under the following circumstances:
- Level 3 or Intermediate Junior III CIYT for at least five years
Mentor Requirements FAQs:
Q: I am a Level 1 teacher, and I passed my Level 1 assessment in 2021. Do I need a formal mentor?
A: Yes, you need a formal mentor for three years after you first become a CIYT. In this case, you would need a formal mentor until 2024.
Q: I am a former Introductory teacher (now a Level 1 teacher) and became a CIYT in 2010. I do not plan to assess again and plan to only teach poses from the Introductory syllabus. Do I need a formal mentor?
A: No, you do not need a formal mentor.
Q: I am a Level 2 CIYT. I have completed my study of the Level 2 poses that I was not tested on with my mentor. I do not plan to assess again. I practice poses from the Level 3 and 4 syllabi, but do not plan to teach them. Do I need a formal mentor?
A: No, you do not need a formal mentor. There are no restrictions on your personal practice and study.
Q: I am a Level 3 teacher and received my Intermediate Jr III certificate more than five years ago. I want to teach both the poses on the Level 3 syllabus that I was not tested on and poses from the Level 4
syllabus. I may or may not assess again. Do I need a formal mentor?
A: No, you do not need a formal mentor. Level 3 teachers are not permitted to teach asanas above their level. However, if you decide to assess for Level 4 you will need a formal mentor to recommend you for assessment.
Q: What do I put on the Certification Mark Agreement if I fall into the category of not needing a mentor?
A: You may write “N/A not planning to go up for assessment” where it asks you to list a mentor’s name on the Certification Mark Agreement.
