Our Teachers
Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers
Becoming a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher requires years of practice, study and a rigorous examination of skills. For teachers, the Certification Mark demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the purity, excellence and high standards of Iyengar Yoga. Certified Iyengar Yoga instructors teach the method set forth by B. K. S. Iyengar, maintain a regular personal practice, continue their training with senior teachers, and hold to ethical guidelines.
Every Certified Iyengar Teacher has passed at least two rigorous, standardized assessments. Some have passed many more. The candidate begins the application process after three years study and developing a relationship with a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher who agrees to become a mentoring teacher. Then comes two years teaching, exclusively in the Iyengar Method — all before the actual testing begins.
In the assessment process itself, candidates are tested on anatomy and philosophy, then carefully observed and evaluated as they demonstrate Asanas and Pranayamas, and as they teach a class of students.
Tree House Iyengar Yoga is proud to display the Iyengar Teacher Certification Mark reflecting the dedication of its teachers.
Fred Dowd
Fred began practicing yoga in 1982 and started to teach in 1986. He left his computer programming job at Texas Instruments to teach yoga full time in 1988. Fred was a founder of the Dallas Yoga Center and its director for nine years. He currently works at the University of Washington.
Fred was certified by the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States in 1990. A long time student of Ramanand Patel, Fred has also studied extensively with Joan White, Mary Dunn, Manouso Manos and George Purvis. He has studied with B.K.S. Iyengar and his family in Pune, India six times since 1989.
Fred’s classes are designed to promote alignment and health as he works in the flow with the needs of the students.
George Kindl
George began studying the Iyengar system of yoga in 2001 and became a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher in 2008.
He has studied with a variety of senior-level Iyengar teachers including George Purvis, Patricia Walden, Swati and Rajiv Chanchanni, and Joan White. He also participated in classes led by Geeta Iyengar at the 2007 U.S. convention.
George finds the ability to individualize the practice to suit the particular needs of the student most appealing about the Iyengar system. In addition to teaching at Tree House, George teaches at Seattle Iyengar Yoga Studio in Ballard.