23/08/2023
What differentiates Yoga Alliance International from Yoga Alliance?
Among the most prominent Alliance organizations are the Yoga Alliance International Registry (not to be confused with the Yoga Alliance International from India); with offices in the UK and Australia, the Canadian Yoga Alliance based in Canada; the Yoga Alliance European Registry based in the UK to serve the community of Europe and internationally; the Yoga Alliance International Italy Division based in Italy; and the Yoga Alliance (USA-based). Despite having similar titles and objectives, there are some distinctions between them, and they all maintain an online registry of teachers and schools that meet their standards.
Based in the USA, the Yoga Alliance describes itself as a "voluntary credentialing system." Both yoga teachers and training schools that meet the organization's criteria can apply to join and be featured on YA's listing directory.
For Yoga Alliance, two years of teaching experience is sufficient time for the lead trainer to run foundational yoga teacher training. Yes, only two years of teaching experience are needed to train others to become yoga teachers. The lead trainer for a YTT must teach 65% of the course.
On the other hand, the Yoga Alliance International Registry requires yoga teacher-led trainers to have at least 3,500 teaching hours (four years) of experience to run a 200-hour foundation course and up to 10,000 hours of experience for higher levels of credentials. They also required that all ERYT (lead trainer) applicants take an online competency test.
Moreover, the lead trainer of a YTT must teach 85% of the in-person training and 80% of the virtual training. Unlike its counterparts, the Yoga Alliance offers various registration levels within the RYT, ERYT, and RYS categories, including Master Yoga Teacher and Associate Yoga Student credentials.
To enhance its credentialing system, Yoga Alliance International (Registry) has introduced the RYT/RYS-250 PLUS Level 1 Advanced and the RYT/RYS-500 PLUS Advanced Diploma, the latter of which is a replacement for the old RYT/RYS-500 credential and the RYT YIN-50 and 100-hour credentials.
In addition, the Yoga Alliance International Registry does not enforce mandatory continuing education activities for yoga teachers to keep their certification current with the association. They believe that every yoga organization should simplify the path for teachers to upgrade to higher membership levels through continuing education activities rather than regard continuing education as a separate and distinctive process required for yoga professionals solely to maintain registration with their association.
So these are the key differences between Yoga Alliance (USA) and Yoga Alliance International (Registry).