IKYTA — the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association — is the global professional home for KRI-certified Kundalini Yoga teachers. We exist to support teachers not just at the moment of certification, but throughout the full arc of their teaching journey: deepening their practice, growing their community, and serving with clarity, integrity, and excellence.
Our History
Yogi Bhajan founded IKYTA — the 3HO International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association — in 1994, on the 25th anniversary of 3HO Foundation International. From its founding, his vision for IKYTA was clear: a global association that would serve as an umbrella for teachers in every country, protecting them, connecting them, and ensuring that no teacher would ever have to stand alone.
When Yogi Bhajan first heard the acronym IKYTA, he pronounced it Ik-ta and said: “Perfect, it means Oneness.” That principle of unity has shaped IKYTA’s identity ever since.
“It is very fortunate you have this Association. When I’ll be physically gone, search me out spiritually. You’ll need to sit together to do it.”
— Yogi Bhajan
“The fundamental principle of Kundalini Yoga is to unite.”
— Yogi Bhajan
Yogi Bhajan said there was one IKYTA and that all teachers belonged to it. He saw national associations as part of that one IKYTA — not as separate entities, but as expressions of a single global community. He was explicit: IKYTA was not American. It was international, and it belonged to all teachers. It was a place of inclusion for all.
“We are trying to organize for the safety of the yoga teachers. You cannot stand alone tomorrow. We cannot defend teachers if they are not part of the Association. If anyone says they teach Kundalini Yoga and they are not KRI certified we have no way to legally protect them and defend them if a problem arises.”
— Yogi Bhajan
“We want every teacher to be independent, but have a link.”
— Yogi Bhajan
Yogi Bhajan wanted IKYTA to be that link — to work from the grassroots, to help build communities and associations of teachers, to support the continued spiritual and professional growth of all teachers, and to be a place where problems could be resolved together.
Today, as IKYTA continues to evolve and rebuild, we carry forward that founding vision. We have listened to teachers from all over the world. We are co-creating an infrastructure that serves our consciousness, our professionalism, and our unity as Kundalini Yoga teachers — woven together with what was given to us directly from our Teacher, and with deep alignment with his vision and with the hearts of teachers everywhere.
Our Mission
IKYTA uplifts and supports KRI-certified Kundalini Yoga teachers worldwide by upholding professional standards, providing education, community connection, and resources for spiritual and personal growth.
Our Vision
IKYTA is the trusted, leading, and evolving home for Kundalini Yoga teachers — empowering a global community that achieves excellence as leaders of the Aquarian Age, guided by the spirit of service.
What We Do
Completing your KRI Level 1 certification is the beginning of a lifelong journey — not its conclusion. IKYTA is built around that reality. We provide the structures, resources, and community that allow teachers to continue growing long after training ends.
Through IKYTA, certified teachers access a professional directory that makes them visible and findable to students worldwide, a global network of peers and collaborators, ongoing education and development pathways, and exclusive benefits within the 3HO–KRI ecosystem. We also work to uphold the professional standards that give the KRI certification its meaning and the global teacher community its credibility.
IKYTA does not certify teachers — that is KRI’s role. What we do is ensure that once certified, no teacher has to navigate their path alone.
Whom We Serve
IKYTA serves KRI-certified Kundalini Yoga teachers at every stage of their journey — from teachers who have just received their Level 1 diploma and are stepping into their first classes, to experienced teachers pursuing Level 2, Level 3, and advanced development, to the national and regional associations around the world that depend on IKYTA for structure, standards, and global coordination.
We also serve, indirectly, the students and communities whose lives are touched by the teachers we support. When teachers are well-resourced, connected, and grounded in professional integrity, the transmission of Kundalini Yoga in the world is stronger.
Our Values
- Professional integrity
- The spirit of service
- Community connection and mutual support
- Lifelong learning and growth
- Ethical responsibility and accountability
- Trust, clarity, and consistency in organizational structures
- Respect for the diverse realities of teachers and associations worldwide
Part of the 3HO Foundation
IKYTA is an integral part of 3HO Foundation International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring people to live a healthy, happy, and holy lifestyle. 3HO and IKYTA share a deep commitment to supporting the global Kundalini Yoga community — each with a distinct and complementary role.
While IKYTA focuses on the professional journey of certified teachers, 3HO creates transformative experiences and resources for the broader community of practitioners worldwide. Together, they form a connected ecosystem in which teachers are supported, students are inspired, and the practice of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan continues to flourish across generations and cultures.
Meet the Team Behind IKYTA
IKYTA is led by a dedicated team committed to building a modern, trustworthy, and accessible home for teachers worldwide. We are here to support you — whether you are joining for the first time, navigating your membership, or growing within our community.
Have a question? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us here.