Texas Yoga Teacher Training Regs
I find it very unsettling — the brouhaha I’m hearing that the regulation of teacher training programs is being characterized as the regulation of all yoga classes and studios.
The fact of the matter is this: ONLY teacher training programs are subject to regulation. Yoga classes, yoga styles, yoga knowledge and tradition are not up for regulation by the state.
As a yoga teacher myself, I understand the reasoning behind regulating teacher training programs.
Ever had a really crappy yoga teacher? It’s likely they were not trained at all — or WORSE, they were trained in some fly-by-night weekend teacher training course that was unregulated. Teacher training SHOULD be reeled in!
Yes, after much thought, and after watching the Texas Yoga Anti-Regulation Show from the inside (and then bowing out and taking my money with me once I got a look at the real motives of those who are most loudly protesting)…
I have come out on the other side. I’m in full support of regulation.
I don’t love what’s happening, but I do want teachers who want to train people to teach — to have someone to be accountable to. If you are calling yourself a “school” or offering a “certificate for training” for “a job,” i.e. teacher, it is my opinion that you need more than just a “yoga woo woo all is love and light” mindset. You need to be legit. We all want yoga to be legit in other ways: for instance, so that it will be covered by insurance; so that it will be considered a real medical alternative; so that money-challenged yogis can get student loans for teacher trainings. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. Why are so many yogis against legitimizing yoga teacher trainings?
With regulation of teacher trainings comes opportunities to spread yoga beyond our little community. Imagine getting the Federal Government to bring yoga to the military! Imagine getting your health insurance to pay for your classes! Imagine government money and student loans for teacher training! For all of these reasons and so many more, the state’s acknowledgment of yoga opens many doors toward making yoga mainstream, accessible, and affordable to all.
I ask, why are you standing in the path of that?
darla cooks 
It’s like meditation, massage, acupuncture, etc. All once considered weird and off-beat. Now some of my family members get doctors prescriptions to get these done all paid for by their insurance!
How nice would it be to have real studies done by universities actually proving what we as yogis know. That yoga actually does give some excellent health benefits! It starts with legitimacy and having actual licensed schools.
But those small minded and selfish ego-types want to keep it obscure and closeted for their own reasons (usually money and control) are loudly complaining (another thing they excel at). Because they don’t “get it” and don’t see long-term they will quickly be forgotten as the earth… babe, it’s a changin’ world out there, and it’s spinning even faster than before. They will be left on the trash bin with all the weird crap people used to think about meditation and acupuncture.
Good riddance.
well put, D.
The fact that the state has a desire to regulate shows the importance and impact of the practice to the community and the world at large. I see it as flattering to the industry that enough people are taking interest that the state has a desire to step in. Regulation has its good and bad sides that can both be argued. Through proper curriculum it is easier to duplicate and give schools more notoriety. Thanks for your article on the subject at hand, especially since you are directly affected.
Good Work for Yoga