Yoga Alliance Opens Yoga Teacher Registry
| Requirements | Options | Applying |

The Yoga Alliance is now accepting applications from yoga teachers and teacher-training organizations for its national Yoga Teachers Registry. The registry is designed to certify to students, health clubs, insurance companies and anyone else who might care that a teacher has fulfilled certain minimum training requirements. Teachers who meet the standards will be allowed to use the Alliance's registry mark -- RYT (registered yoga teacher) -- in resumes, advertisements and other promotional materials.

According to the Alliance, the registry was a pre-emptive move to head off possible action by non-yoga organizations, such as insurance companies and government agencies, to set standards for yoga teachers. The registry, however, is not yet recognized by anyone outside the Alliance as an official certification. Nonetheless, it can't hurt to have an RYT next to your name and it might help, especially if the Alliance follows through on plans to actively promote its registry.

In addition, the registry could prove valuable to would-be yoga teachers shopping for a training program. Yoga teacher training is a growth industry, with new programs popping up quicker than you can say yogashcittavrittinirodhah. National standards might help make the search process easier. National training organizations that are involved with the Alliance include 3HO, Iyengar, Integral, Integrative Yoga Therapy, International Yoga Studies and Kripalu. The Himalayan Institute and Sivananda are among the major training institutions not involved at this time.

Teacher Requirements

There are two levels of registration that teachers can apply for -- 200-hour or 500-hour -- plus three routes to get there. The requirements are listed below.

200 Hour Level		500 Hour Level
Category	Required Hours	Category	Required Hours
Techniques (asana, meditation, pranayama, etc.)	100	Techniques (asana, meditation, pranayama, etc.)	150
Teaching Methodology	20	Teaching Methodology	30
Anatomy/Physiology	20	Anatomy/Physiology	35
Philosophy, ethics, lifestyle	20	Philosophy, ethics, lifestyle	50
Practicum (student teaching, assisting, etc.)	10	Practicum (student teaching, assisting, etc.)	40
Electives	30	Electives	195
Contact Hours (Teacher trainer is physically present)	80% (160 hours minimum)	Contact Hours (Teacher trainer is physically present)	70% (350 hours minimum)
		Teaching Experience	100