Yoga Teacher Training Faces Regulation by States

[RamboLiberal]

Source: NY Times

It seemed like a good idea at the time. Ten years ago, with yoga transforming itself into a ubiquitous pop culture phenomenon from a niche pursuit, yoga teachers banded together to create a voluntary online registry of schools meeting new minimum standards for training instructors in the discipline.

But that list — which now includes nearly 1,000 yoga schools nationwide, many of them tiny — is being put to a use for which it was never intended. It is the key document in a nationwide crackdown on yoga schools that pits free-spirited yogis against lumbering state governments, which, unlike those they are trying to regulate, are not always known for their flexibility.

Citing laws that govern vocational schools, like those for hairdressers, chiropractors and truck drivers, regulators have begun to require licenses for yoga schools that train instructors, with all the fees, inspections and paperwork that entails. While confrontations have played out differently in different states, threats of shutdowns and fines have, in some cases, been met with accusations of power grabs and religious infringement — disputes that seem far removed from the meditative world yoga calls to mind.

In April, New York State sent letters to about 80 schools to warn them to suspend teacher training programs immediately or risk fines of up to $50,000 — prompting yogis around the state to join in opposition, and, apparently, persuading the state to back down.

In other states, regulators were not moved. In March, Michigan gave schools on the list one week to be certified by the state or cease operations. Virginia’s cumbersome licensing rules include a $2,500 sign-up fee — a big hit for modest studios that are often little more than one-room storefronts.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/nyregion/11yoga.html?_r=1&hp

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Jesus, what's next in state regulation? Reiki?

[MilesColtrane]

2. Government shouldn't tangle with yogis.

They're smarter than the average bear.

[bertman]

6. And a hoo hoo to you too, BooBoo.

:toast:

[summerbreeze]

3. "certification" for so many is a racket. Yet it does lend

legitimany to many schools and students. The racket is the state involment.

[tinrobot]

4. For most, teacher training is not a vocational school.

For me, it was a very personal thing. Eight months of intense yoga accelerated my practice and allowed me to meditate much more deeply. It had a very profound effect on me, and it was well worth it. I would certainly teach a yoga class if requested, but I have absolutely no desire to make it a career.

Out of the many people in my class, maybe 10% were there to make it a career, the rest were there for a variety of other reasons. If these states persist, I think "teacher's training" will evolve into "advanced training" or some other generic word that doesn't imply vocational training.

[EndElectoral]

5. States will do anything they can to get revenue, but this seems absurd