"A Declaration of Independence for Yoga Educators"
© July 4, 2009 Leslie Kaminoff and IYEA
This is an expanded version of an article I wrote for the Fall 2009 edition of The International Journal of Yoga Therapy, and it is being posted to the web on July 4, 2009 courtesy of IAYT. I urge you to join IAYT to receive a subscription to the annual journal, the tri-annual, "Yoga Therapy Today," other member benefits, and especially to have your voice heard by its leadership.
Until a month ago, I was prepared to write a perspective piece for the International Journal of Yoga Therapy centering on the IAYT-sponsored Council of Schools that I attended this March in Los Angeles. Those well-organized and productive meetings produced a richly textured dialogue surrounding issues such as certification standards, accreditation and definitions of yoga therapy. Unfortunately, I can no longer write about those issues because it has become clear that dialogue can no longer exist for us as a community - it has been obliterated by the regulatory agencies of several states' departments of education...
posted by Leslie Kaminoff @ 7/04/2009 01:30:00 AM
1 Comments:
i wholeheartedly agree with what you say and am happy to add my support. the situation is very upsetting and, as you have stated, one feels 'bullied' to comply 'or else!'. i have never been a fan of yoga alliance and wish to stop paying them hundred's of dollars for the priviledge of being called a registered yoga teacher who runs a registered yoga school, but my question is...(as they hold me in a head lock)...
If i cancel my association with YA, would i loose business as a result? If YOUR workshops were not providing the CEU's YA have regulated that us RYT's require a certain number of, would i attend your workshop??
Are your upcoming workshops offering CEU's? If so, is this counter to being 'independent'? Your well-deserved reputation allows you to be independent, and i am sure students would attend your workshops if no CEUs were offered, but what about the lesser known teachers (such as i) who perhaps need the draw of CEUs or similar incentives to attract business?
As said, i support your efforts, and am now a member of IYEA, but will 'i' be able to attract enough business on my 'yoga intensive program'(!!) as an independent, without the 'backing'(!) of YA?
shanti om - suzanne
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