Media Inquiries

Yoga Alliance is the leading non-profit organization serving yoga schools and teachers around the world. The association provides globally-recognized credentials that stand as markers of high quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga teaching and unifies members around a shared Ethical Commitment.


Upholding Standards

Our yoga teacher training standards support the global yoga community’s efforts to serve students around the world, including advancing access to yoga among underrepresented populations.

To support the modern needs of our membership and the broader yoga community, Yoga Alliance undertook a comprehensive and inclusive Standards Review Project which brought together members and non-members, yoga teachers and practitioners, thought and field leaders, wisdom holders, and not-for-profit and for-profit business leaders from around the world to examine and up-level the legacy yoga teacher training standards. This effort resulted in elevated Registered Yoga School (RYS 200) standardsa strengthened application and review process, and member-wide Ethical Commitment, which outlines safe and respectful guidelines for the profession of yoga teaching. This commitment consists of three elements: a strengthened Code of Conduct, a new Scope of Practice, and a responsibility to Equity in Yoga.

Yoga Alliance provides the following credentials:

Registered Yoga School (RYS)

  • RYS 200, RYS 300, RYS 500
  • Registered Children’s Yoga School (RCYS)
  • Registered Prenatal Yoga School (RPYS)

Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT)

  • RYT 200, RYT 500
  • Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200, E-RYT 500)
  • Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP)
  • Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT)
  • Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher (RPYT)

Pursuing Social Justice

Racism and hatred are the opposites of all that yoga teaches, and we raise our voice in solidarity with those fighting for social justice for all.

Yoga Alliance and the Yoga Alliance Foundation stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQIA+ community. In addition to facilitating ongoing social justice conversations and Continuing Education workshops internally and within the yoga community, Social Justice Resources are available online for those who would like to learn more, increase their awareness and empathy, and contribute to social justice causes.

Broadening Access to Yoga Through the Yoga Alliance Foundation

The Yoga Alliance Foundation leverages yoga for social impact and fosters an expansive, accessible, and equitable yoga community.

The Yoga Alliance Foundation works to broaden access to yoga’s healing potential, foster greater equity and more diverse representation within the yoga community, and expand educational, service, and economic opportunities for yoga teachers. To help address the community’s pressing needs due to COVID-19, the Yoga Alliance Foundation established an Emergency Relief Fund to support those within the yoga community hardest hit by this pandemic and Teaching for Equity, an ongoing initiative that supports yoga professionals across the globe who serve for little or no pay in bringing the healing benefits of yoga to communities who have experienced marginalization.

Navigating COVID-19

Throughout COVID-19, Yoga Alliance is serving yoga schools and teachers by providing access to relief funds and helping those who can transform their businesses online to serve the public during these challenging times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had dramatic effects on the yoga teaching community, as its economic impact disproportionately affects small businesses and individuals whose income depends on in-person engagement, such as yoga schools and teachers. Among the many steps taken by the organization to support our community, Yoga Alliance developed yourya.org to help those seeking business support, health and care information, Continuing Education, and guidance through a quick transition to online teaching due to social distancing regulations. The Yoga Alliance Foundation also launched an Emergency Relief Fund to provide global financial support to those within the yoga community experiencing extreme economic hardship due to the pandemic.

Advancing Equity in Yoga

Yoga Alliance members abide by an Ethical Commitment that unifies members around shared principles and fosters safe and respectful guidelines for the profession of yoga teaching.

Yoga Alliance’s position on equity deepens the understanding of and responsibility to the many instances of inequity that live in yoga spaces. We use the word equity to reference providing resources, tools, and support according to the specific needs of the individual or the community. Equity in yoga means equal opportunity to teach, practice, and study yoga safely, without harm or judgment. Honest and informative exchanges with our membership and the broader yoga community—as well as with leaders in the yoga equity movement—led to and influenced the development of our Ethical Commitment, including our strengthened Code of Conduct and new Scope of Practice.

Curating Yoga Research on Health and Wellbeing

Yoga Alliance curates the latest and most relevant research on yoga’s ancient, multi-faceted ability to improve health, wellness, and disease.

A vast library of evidence-based research that has been curated by our Director of Research Dr. Sat Bir Singh Khalsa reveals the science of yoga and explains its therapeutic efficacy when used in conjunction with conventional medicine.

Additionally, the 2016 Yoga in America Study conducted by Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal expands on the practice of yoga in America, following 2008 and 2012 studies by Yoga Journal.

Updating the Yoga Community

See our most recent releases and announcements.

Advancing the Understanding of Yoga and Yoga Teaching

Yoga Alliance and the Yoga Alliance Foundation experts in the areas of yoga, yoga teaching, service, and practice are available for comment. Please contact media@yogaalliance.org.

VerywellMind spoke to our Director of Research about why yoga is proven to reduce work-related stress.

WCAX-TV in Burlington, Vermont, profiled Teaching for Equity participant Krista Marzewski on her work and the Yoga Alliance Foundation program to support access.

Women’s Health Magazine interviewed our Board Chair Kerry Maiorca on how to find the yoga practice that is right for you.

VerywellMind interviewed our Director of Research about new a newly published study on yoga's ability to help improve anxiety.

Independent Media Institute spoke with our experts about why yoga is essential for times like these.

Shape magazine article on the meaning of Om, featuring Vice President of Cross-Cultural Advancement Maya Breuer

Forbes piece on yoga after COVID-19, featuring Board Chair Kerry Maiorca

Forbes helps busts yoga myths, featuring Board Chair Kerry Maiorca and Vice President of Cross-Cultural Advancement Maya Breuer

Parade magazine on tips for being less stressed, featuring Vice President of Standards Dr. Christa Kuberry

Contact:

For interviews and additional background, media@yogaalliance.org

Yoga Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)(6). Yoga Alliance Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3). This website refers to the two organizations as "Yoga Alliance." Copyright 2024 Yoga Alliance. Yoga Alliance, the Yoga Alliance logo, RYS, RYT, and YACEP are registered marks with the USPTO and other jurisdictions.