What is Yoga Alliance?
Yoga Alliance is a non-profit organization representing the yoga community, uniting over 7,000 registered yoga schools, and whose primary purpose is to ensure universal access to safe, high-quality and equitable yoga instruction.
By fostering accountability, promoting and upholding health and safety standards, and advocating for a global yoga community against unfair practises, they have made a tremendous impact on the teaching of yoga worldwide.
Although they do not provide teacher training themselves, they do offer members access to professional and trustworthy resources, global directories, and various perks such as discounts on products and services. Their ongoing mission is to celebrate the diversity of yoga traditions, and to continue expanding educational and economic opportunities for teachers.
Do Yoga Schools have to be part of the Yoga Alliance?
Joining is entirely voluntary, and not all schools choose to place themselves under Yoga Alliance’s umbrella. However, many schools do prefer to do so because of its universally-recognised status and the multitude of benefits it offers, such as an invaluable support system and free access to plenty of resources.
On Choosing a Registered Yoga School (RYS)
Registered Yoga Teachers (RYTs) are certified professionals who have completed a minimum of two hundred hours of training and have met the standards set by Yoga Alliance. To become a RYT, one must complete a teacher training program through a registered yoga school (RYS), acquire thirty hours of continuing education in every three year period, and pay an annual membership fee.
Registered Yoga Schools (RYS) are schools that have been approved by the Yoga Alliance. One of the most significant advantages of choosing an RYS is the assured recognition and credibility it provides. Those teachers who have trained under an RYS’s tutelage have gone through a standardized curriculum and are afforded more credibility in the marketplace.
On Not Choosing a Registered Yoga School
While going through an RYS is all well and good, there are many prospective teachers out there who will simply feel allergic to the thought of a ‘standardized curriculum.’ It requires some self-awareness and responsibility on the part of each aspiring teacher to find a school that’s the best fit for them, and it’s crucial to research and understand each school’s approach to ensure the program aligns with one’s personal goals and preferences.
While some schools might excel in teaching yoga philosophy, others might have a stronger focus on teaching methodology. Bear in mind that schools, registered or otherwise, all vary in their quality of teaching. Though Yoga Alliance provides precedents for high-quality teaching standards, it cannot monitor any school’s day-to-day teachings and cannot ensure this quality across the board.
Non-Registered Yoga Schools
Yoga Alliance comes with several benefits, but it’s not a regulatory organization. As such, it does not have a monopoly over yoga schools worldwide, meaning that unregistered schools can still provide a high-quality education while emphasising different focuses or teaching approaches.
While these non-registered schools might lack the recognition, prestige and even some resources of registered schools, they can provide an alternative path for those seeking a more personalized yoga education.
The Advantages of Non-Registered Schools
One of the most appealing aspects of non-registered schools is the flexibility they offer in terms of curriculum and schedule. These schools can create unique programs that cater to specific interests and allow the students to delve deeper into specialized areas of yoga practice. Focusing on personal growth at a non-registered school can help you develop an incredibly deep and uniquely alternative understanding of yoga and its practices.
The Potential Disadvantages …
Without the credibility provided by Yoga Alliance registration, it can be more challenging to find employment or further educational opportunities as a teacher. The lack of recognition and acceptance by certain employers and other institutions can become obstacles in building a career, at least in the early days.
Another potential disadvantage is the lack of oversight and accountability that non-registered schools might have compared to registered schools. This could lead to inconsistencies in the quality of instruction or resources available to students.
To mitigate these concerns, it’s crucial to thoroughly research non-registered schools, read reviews, and speak with past students to gather as much information as possible before making a decision.
The Downside of Yoga Alliance
While Yoga Alliance has been established as the leading organization for yoga teacher training programs, it’s not without its criticisms. One common complaint is that the Alliance has become more of a marketing tool for yoga schools to attract students, rather than an organization that upholds the ethical commitment and equitable teaching of yoga. This may lead to some schools offering minimum standards of training while failing to promote the philosophy of yoga and to deliver the full potential benefit to students.
In addition, completing the curriculum requirements and hours of study may not be enough to fully prepare a person for teaching. Experience is the true determination of a teacher, and there is some discrepancy between the quality of teachers Yoga Alliance recognises and those it does not.
This means that some experienced yoga instructors are not given the proper recognition for their skills and experience where they perhaps should be. After all, when it all boils down, registered or not, your reputation and credentials as a teacher are determined by your connection with students you teach and the consistent quality of the classes you lead.
To put it all bluntly, the vision doesn’t always match the reality, and the Yoga Alliance certification stamp doesn’t necessarily equate to a high-standard.
To Register or Not to Register
This all begs the question: if registration doesn’t guarantee quality, then is there any reason in becoming a registered teacher? Is there any point in going to a registered school over a non-registered school?
This is where your own sense of self-awareness comes into play. The benefits of being registered are obvious. Just like getting insurance, even though you do not have to get it – it still might be a good idea. On paper, it helps you to avoid some potential obstacles that need not be there when you’re first starting out. Likewise, you’re able to tap into a bunch of resources and support systems while bearing the credentials to help you move through your early career with a little more ease.
However, there’s no plain-sailing in any career and the yoga industry is no exception to the rule. The Yoga Alliance’s stamp of approval might help you open some doors, but it doesn’t guarantee success or even that you’ve received the training that’s best for you. In the end, only you can decide what’s best for you, and it may just be that the best education you need is ‘off the beaten track.’
