Yoga Alliance Standards

I've been a member of the organization since 2016. I started as a registered yoga teacher (RYT) at the 200 hour level and spent many years working my way up to the experienced e-RYT 500 designation. The organization also provided me with the opportunity to open my own registered yoga school (RYS) at the 200 hour foundations level to begin training students to become teachers.

This accreditation has helped me to grow my professional yoga career in a variety of ways. They've also provided me with a ton of member benefits such as online continuing through digital programs and opportunities to connect with other yoga teachers around the world through their online CommUnity. As someone that's been in the yoga community for 15 years now, I'm so grateful that I decided to join and am thrilled to be a part of this organization.

I echo what others have said. This "non-profit business" is a money racket. They demand money and do nothing to support teachers, studios, or yoga schools. They are supposed to be the managing entity for yoga, but I know for a fact that they don't check anything - from school efficacy or quality to the certificates that teachers upload to the number of hours that teachers log.

They have started an "up-level" requirement for schools, and they don't even have it organized. So after schools have spent countless hours on their "up-level" program, they have decided to put a hold on that process because they are so unorganized. Their website is also a million years old and hardly works. Spend some of OUR hard-earned money on actually doing your jobs.

I've been an unwilling registrant of YA for 10 years because I've run a yoga school for that long. They do nothing for yoga teachers and schools. The organization is just incredibly good at marketing. You don't need this to teach. Being registered with YA means nothing more than you got suckered into paying them. But they've done such a good job marketing that students think this is necessary. Schools pay them money to file paperwork but don't have to uphold the standards because YA can't legally hold anyone accountable. YA isn't recognized by any institution whatsoever.

No governments. No states. No cities. They are a fake certification company that's 100% about making money. No one needs them to teach. The organization is filled with contradictions and circle speak. They don't even abide by their own rules and ethical standards. They offer nothing but a listing. I've taught yoga for 16 years all over the world full-time and not once has any employer ever asked if I was YA registered.

They did not provide proper support regarding a glich in their system, causing unnecessary difficulty. Something indicative of current institutions, along with mindless accountability through paperwork.

This service is indispensable for any Yoga professional who sees the value in being tuned into a community that bolsters your business. I am a school founder in trauma sensitive yoga called Inner Beat Yoga, Yoga Alliance patiently walked me through steps to best set-up! Thank you!

Having standards for yoga teachers and yoga teacher training is great. You know what's not great? Paying money to an organization to uphold those standards and then having the organization turn a blind eye to unethical yoga teachers and watered down yoga studios. Capitalism + yoga = YA. Where does the money go I wonder.