State Licensing

[DouglasRThompson]

When the Yoga Alliance was first formed, about ten years ago, there were lots of discussions among the various yoga schools as to whether it was a good thing, and whether they should join them.

At the school I attended, the Himalayan Institute, it was openly discussed in teacher's workshops, to get an idea of what the feelings were of those of us that had already gone through their training. The Himalayan Institute had a great training program at the time, that took about a year to go through.

On the one hand, we felt that there were so many differences in philosophies among different schools, that we didn't want to impose a specific set of criterea on everyone. After all, according to Patanjali, in his second Sutra, he says, plain and simple, "Yoga is a stillness of the fluctuations of the mind." But on the other hand, due to yoga's popularity and growth, the insurance companies were about to start dictating policy (or so we believed.)

We reluctantly embraced the Yoga Alliance, because we all felt that if we didn't set forth certification requirements, the insurance companies would. The Yoga Alliance has, over the years, done an admirable job of fulfilling their mission. And the yoga teacher's community is a better-trained, more professional group as a result.

I think the teacher requirements necessary to be certified through the Yoga Alliance, combined with the requirements that individual schools impose (usually more than what is mandated by the Yoga Alliance) are more than enough. Licensing is, in my opinion, just another way for insurance companies to stick their hands into my wallet. Their motivation is nothing short of greed.

And the sad thing is, this scenario played out to its ultimate means they will simply stop selling us liability insurance, unless we are "licensed." It's a win-win situation for everyone except the poor yoga teacher. Continuing education? Many of us already do that either because our individual schools require it, or because we simply want to keep current, and learn. A good teacher, after all, is also a good student.

Finally, "licensed" is just a word. The Yoga Alliance says I am a "registered" yoga teacher. The Himalayan Institute says I am a "certified" yoga teacher. They are all just words. Many health insurance companies already send their clients to "registered" yoga teachers that agree to charge them a reduced rate.

Yes, Harlan, I am one of the whiners! I am already a professional. I offer my services for a fair price. And I have clients willing to pay for those services.

I have proper training. I have proper insurance. My studio has a business license. My studio has a U and O. I regularly attend workshops for yoga teachers. All this comes at a yearly cost. Enough already!

Be @ Peace,
Douglas

[yogagatlinburg]

I am a certified yoga teacher in Gatlinburg Tennessee and have taught for several years.
I am also a certified personal trainer, certified in sports nutrition, and children's yoga.
I believe I am a very good teacher. I do not have the accredited hours according to Yoga Alliance. Would love to but no one offers that any where near me. I can not travel to another place hours away and leave my other businesses.
What would teachers like me do?

[pegasus]

I do agree with Harlan and Sara that having this standard across the board (if it does spread to all states or go national) would change the face of the yoga in our country. While I see their points, I just don't think it would be for the good.

1. Not all of us can afford the time/money to attend a registered yoga teacher training, but many of us who are not RYT's are still very good teachers. Also, many yoga teachers have objected all along to trying to standardize and register this field. We will lose many good teachers who are unable or unwilling to go this route.

2. The schools, agencies, state, and insurance companies will want a bigger bite out of us, and we will have to pass this on to our clients. It's hard enough already to get paid well for this. Again, we will lose many good teachers.

3. Just because your doctor prescribes yoga doesn't mean your insurance will pay for it. My insurance still won't pay for massage or chiropractic, and they have been fighting that fight a long time.

4. As for the yoga schools, while some are approved by Yoga Alliance, none of them are accredited with the educational system, so one cannot get a student loan, government grant, or traditional scholarship to help pay for them. The 200 hr trainings I have considered cost anywhere from $2000-4000 plus travel, meals, lodging, books, etc.

I just don't think it will work. And I'm not sure if this is what we all want YOGA in America to end up looking like.

[Suzanne]

Yoga Alliance just announced that, due to the efforts of John Friend speaking to the Assembly Majority Office in New Jersey, the state of New Jersey has taken the bill requiring yoga instructors to be licensed off the roster. Their argument is that "it will eliminate 2,000 jobs in the state."

I agree that it may eliminate jobs, but perhaps those jobs (teaching positions) are ones that should not be filled by people who lack adequate training and education. There's no law that says someone HAS to be certified to teach yoga or that it's mandatory to have an RYT after your name, but most teachers do because they believe it's their ethical responsibility to do so. Harlan's right. You'd probably get your extra 100 hours in CEU credits, and many schools require much more than 200 hours for certification (mine required 280). Go back and count up all of your hours; you're probably over the 300 mark now. If we're licensed and, therefore, can be recommended by physicians via prescription, would that not increase our client base? Remember the time before massage therapy was a reimburseable service? Perhaps not all people who perform massage are licensed, but those who are reap an additional benefit of insurance reimbursement. I don't know what insurance costs would be to the yoga instructor, but most instructors should at least already carry liability insurance.

As Dr. Timothy McCall says, "yoga is strong medicine." To carry credentials that reflect our training, education, and commitment to maintaining the quality of yoga instruction supports the argument for being licensed. The fitness center where I teach (and is my main source of income) is now offering a 16-hour "training" for any yoga student who has taken 10 classes to be eligible to teach an intermediate yoga class there. I have strongly voiced my concerns to management, citing risks of injury and lack of anatomy education, etc., and am considering if this is a place where I can continue to teach and maintain my ethics.

If there is a political action committee forming out there, let me know. I support maintaining--and raising--the standards of education for yoga instructors. When I spoke to Gary Kraftsow last January, he said that recognition of yoga my the medical community as a therapeutic modality is "decades away." Maybe not.

[eganvay]

If licensensing was to be required, who would set the crieteria? I would wish to see higher quality teachers, (Along with the great, there's alot of really bad/callous Yoga in boston)

Like a previous poster, I dont buy into the names. I'm 'certified' but not 'registered' why not? becuase how will sending a fee to yoga Alliance make be a better teacher? I've seen some pretty lousy YA 'approved' teacher trainings being offered.

Same with the insuarance policies. I taught for 5 years without insurance, because I didn't believe in it. When I started to take groups on retreats I decided to sign up, to protect the students if someone got injured in our travels.

The policies are vaugely written/detailed. And anyone who sends in a check is covered. what's that about? so I bought a policy. How do they know that I have a clue in how to take care of people. They don't care, they want the money. Again, like the previous poster said, it's about them profiteering off of our efforts. Has anyone had to issue a claim to these people? I wonder how well that goes?

I've got tons of training, If a license was required I'm sure I'd qualify, but what would it cost and where would the money go? and Why? Count my vote as no.

-j

p.s. had a great benefit class yesterday, a record number of students, and 1,000 pounds of food for the local pantry! Very cool, as I invited them all to bring their favorite foods. See the invite that worked so well here:

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