When looking for a yoga teacher training course or Yoga Alliance just making up your mind to enter the world of yoga and healing, one of the most common terms that you might often come across is Certification”. Now, for the beginners, it might be confusing to understand how this term makes a difference in their learning and career. Why do great yoga schools call themselves certified yoga schools, and what is this actually? So, we are here to clear every doubt about the Yoga Alliance Certification and how it works. 

What is the Yoga Alliance?

A non-profit organisation, which is known and recognised globally, is the Yoga Alliance is known for setting certain standards that the yoga teacher training courses and yoga schools should meet. If we talk about (YA)US, then it was founded in the year 1999. YA aims to maintain unity, quality, safety, and similarity in the yoga education imparted throughout the world. The main aim of the Yoga Alliance is to preserve the quality of yoga training and prioritise the skills of those who are registered with the and have learned or given the yoga training that meets the global standards. 

Yoga Alliance does not give direct certification to the yoga schools or teachers, but it works by maintaining a registry of global yoga teachers and global schools that meet its yoga teacher training standards. When a yoga guru completes a yoga course or training from a school that is registered with the YA they can apply to be a part of RYT. 

Now, RYT means Registered Yoga Teacher. This is a directory maintained by (YA) to make the registered yoga teacher accessible to the whole world. In order to get registered with the Yoga Alliance, the school or the yoga institution submits some paperwork along with the required fee. But more than that, it should follow the norms and standards of yoga training decided by the (YA) As per the Yoga Alliance website, a Yoga certified school or training ensures the following:

• A pre-defined curriculum of the yoga TTCs and Course.

• Yoga training should only be given by certified yoga teachers (RYT yoga teachers).

• Consistency of what is taught and how it is taught.

• Set theory and practical sessions.

• Certification on the completion of the yoga teacher training or other yoga courses acceptable and recognised globally.

Main Registrations Under Yoga Alliance

1. Registered Yoga Teacher or RYT

When a yoga teacher completes a yoga teacher training from a school that is registered with (YA) and has the Yoga Alliance certification, then they are given the title of Registered Yoga Teacher or RYT. The most common RYT levels in which a yoga teacher can register are RYT 200, RYT 500, and RYT 300. These levels depend on the level of training that one has completed. For example, if a teacher has completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training course from a Yoga Alliance-certified school, then he or she can get registered as RYT 200.

2. Registered Yoga School or RYS 

Similarly, the yoga institutions that follow the global standards set by the Yoga Alliance and are registered with the (YA) Yoga Alliance are called RYS or Registered Yoga Schools. These schools are known to offer structured yoga training that meets the international standard of yoga training. 

3. Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider or YACEP

Now, the experienced yoga teachers are allowed to conduct different yoga workshops and training programs, which are of an advanced level, by being registered as a YACEP or Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider under the Yoga Alliance authority

Advantages of choosing a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga School and Yoga Course

Once aspiring yoga learners graduate from a certified yoga teacher training course, they can enjoy the following perks:

• They can register themselves with the YA as RYS or YACEP 

• The certified trainers and yoga institutions are registered in the global directory of the Yoga Alliance, increasing their credibility in the global wellness industry.

• Certified Yoga Gurus and Yoga Centres are invited to the yoga meet-ups and events.

• They receive advocacy alerts when there are any kind of government problems for the yoga industry.

• They are notified about any change or upgradation in the global training standards.

• Certified yoga schools offer quality in everything, be it training, food, and accommodation or even the amenities, making the learning experience exceptional.

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Conclusion

A Certification ensures uniformity in the yoga training provided in different parts of the world. It removes the gap between learning yoga at different places. This initiative has made yoga training much more structured and efficient. So, whenever you are looking for a YTTC or Yoga School, always choose the one accredited with the Yoga Alliance!