Yoga Credentialing

I find this topic so difficult to talk about in a linear way. Perhaps, I can shed some light on it from my perspective along the way. Additionally, I am aware that my view has the potential to be myopic as I have only ever had to manage a relationship with one credential entity, which most of you as certified teachers also work with — Yoga Alliance.

However, I believe many of you are probably have only a single membership to YA, as well. Or maybe you have only considered membership to the same organization. I know there are others out there. I recall a California Yoga Teachers one; and I believe there are a couple for Ayurvedic practitioners, which I am not a member of.

The credentialing process is not complicated as many certification programs (held at studios or independently) are registered as schools that meet the proposed credentialing requirements. The school pays a years fee to be listed; and holding these standards as registered to the organization. This means that you, as a student, wanting to become a teacher, are qualified to become a member of the organization as registered member. This has nothing to do with teaching, learning or ability. This part rides completely on the school/studio providing a quality program that includes credentialing guidelines and registration.

Having been a member of several teacher training programs for many years, I can tell you that these proposed credentials and what is actually taught do not always line up. I can also tell you, submitting many applications, having built many teacher training programs around the world, that the requirements for the teacher training curriculum should be a lose guideline at best.

Some of you may argue with me on this point and that is okay; however, what comes to mind is anatomy. This is one area of yoga that has been adapted to physical fitness requirements over classical yoga anatomy which has a lot more to do with energetic, the spine and endocrine system, and digestive system. I have seen some people do this very well and some of it so foreign and impractical that it would be impossible for the student to grasp any of the concepts.

I am not pointing a finger. I run programs too! One of the reason why I am able to do that successfully is because I have sat on a lot of teacher training programs as witness to students leaving more confused than when they entered. This reason was the motivation behind my mentorship program which started as one of, if not they first 300 hour program. I did this because I wanted students to unlearn all the things that yoga was suppose to be. Sticking to traditional entry points from a variety of lineages, the vision is more on introduction to multiple options to move along and through so that you land at something that can be pulled on and opened up into your own potential journey. It’s deep and student focused!

As one who has graduated from a training program, you are credentialed! You don’t need to register with Yoga Alliance. You can still get most of the perks offered on you own; such as insurance, etc. I must say, I am not sure if studios ask if you are Yoga Alliance certified or registered because I am not sure what that landscape looks like at the moment. For me, I never had that question arise, unless a student asked if my own programs were registered, which they are.

Why do I choose to keep my program registered? That’s a great question! I keep the program registered for those that are trying to earn advanced certification and registration as it offers an alternative to a crazy asana only program. It’s well-rounded and people get a lot out of it. In the last 5–6 years, very few people care that it’s registered. That’s cool too!

The original intent of the program is for the practitioner to go deeper into the studies of yoga like on a retreat. Many people do not realize that yoga has many philosophical facets, meditation is yoga, there is breathing and all the energy that most people talk about in the spiritual world is yoga derived… not to mention that it works with mindset (mindfulness and wellbeing) on a level that most people have not even studies or arrived at from a western standpoint. So I base the program on that… and the ability to register is there too.

Personally, I wouldn’t worry much about registration. Find a qualified teacher. If you know one but maybe you are looking for another path of yoga, ask the qualified one to refer you to someone. Most of us that are deep into this know others who do things better in other areas; or should I say they pay attention to areas we may not and vice versa.

Also, ask what the benefit is. You can easily read books, practice a lot and offer classes online. I’m not saying that is right or wrong. I really don’t know. I do know that if you are authentically pulling on the idea of being accomplished that your self-practice will take you far and an accomplished teacher can take you further and a lot of the times deeper into the inner work. To me, that was all the credentialing I needed. Later in life, I grandfathered into the registration to fill the role as lead teacher. Education is important for me; that importance was worth the registration.