If you are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color), a Detroit/Hamtramck/Highland Park resident, and have been studying Iyengar Yoga for at least 1 year, scroll down to read more about our program.
Unpaid Apprenticeship positions are available. If you are not BIPOC, or not seeking a paid position, you can apply here.
If you’ve only recently inquired about the program, you have several good options before you:
If you are not yet a student at IYDC, we urge you to join us in class. Learn more here.
If you are already an Iyengar Yoga student, start coming to any of the Intermediate level classes. This will prepare you for the Apprenticeship Program.
The very heart of Iyengar Yoga teaching is a grounded, consistent, earnest home practice, supplemented by steady relationships with trusted teachers. Nothing, including teaching, is more noble than being a practitioner. We support each other in beloved community to help one another develop and grow on the path as practitioners. Please make this your highest endeavor, whether or not you are an apprentice.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Gwi-Seok for IYDC
BIPOC PAID APPRENTICE PROGRAM IYDC hires 3-4 BIPOC paid apprentices each year. BIPOC apprentices participate in a 2.5 year mentoring program, leading to supervised teaching, and hopefully certification. Apprentices should have at least 1 year of consistent Iyengar Yoga study with a CIYT (Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher).
We encourage highly motivated Iyengar Yoga students with less than 1 year of recent and consistent Iyengar Yoga study to apply and be considered for thePre-Apprentice Program.
As a Solidarity Fund Yoga Equity project, we seek apprentices who live in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park, MI. We especially seek BIPOC applicants, applicants who identify as LGBTQIA, and applicants from other marginalized groups, who may need support to pursue the path of Iyengar Yoga teaching. The PAID positions are not intended for those who are not from marginalized groups, who already have the capacity to pay for classes, workshops, and trainings, and do not live in Detroit. However, all are free to apply as UNPAID apprentices.
This program attempts to remove some of the barriers many people from marginalized groups experience when trying to immerse themselves in the life path of Iyengar Yoga. We recognize the tremendous commitment of time and energy it requires to become a teacher of Iyengar Yoga. We also emphasize that learning to teach Iyengar Yoga cannot be accomplished in a single year, nor in 200-500 hours, but that it needs to be preceded by a steady, consistent study and practice, and developed over years, through mentorship, relationship, peer support, and community. We recognize that it is not actually possible to place a dollar value on these requirements. This program is an attempt to make the path of Iyengar Yoga teaching concrete and viable, for both the apprentices and IYDC.
Apprentices will apply online, and those applying for the paid positions will be interviewed by the IYDC Apprenticeship Coordinators.
PAID APPRENTICESHIP DESCRIPTION The length of each term will be individually determined based on apprentices’ prior experience, progress of study, time and energy available, and personal life circumstances. A longer or shorter term is neither better or worse, but should be tailored to the apprentice’s needs and capacities.
TERM 1: INTENSIVE STUDY (6-12 months) Apprentices will be paid $100/month and all classes, trainings, and workshops will be included at no cost. Requirements are:
Attend at least 8 Intermediate/Advanced classes each month
Attend monthly study groups
Pedagogy study group
Yoga in Society/philosophy study group
Attend IYDC workshops.
TERM 2: STUDY AND ASSISTING (6-12 months) Apprentices will be paid $200/month and all classes, trainings, and workshops will be included at no cost. Requirements include all of the above, plus:
Assist classes
1 beginner class/week
1 therapy class/week
TERM 3: SUPERVISED TEACHING (6 months) Apprentices will be paid $300/month and all classes, trainings, and workshops will be included at no cost. Requirements include all of the above, plus:
Apprentices will teach 1 class/week, with supervision.
Mentors will observe once/month and provide feedback and coaching.
Apprenticeship may continue beyond 2.5 years on an UNPAID basis.
At the conclusion of the apprenticeship, apprentices will be eligible to join IYDC faculty, and continue their study as teachers. Apprentices will continue to be actively coached in preparation for IYNAUS certification at all levels.