What is Yoga Alliance? How to get RYT Certificate and Membership

Whether you are a professional or wish to become a yoga teacher and must be certified, you must understand what Yoga Alliance is and how to get an RYT Certificate and Membership. Yoga Alliance promotes and supports high-quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga teaching.

This article will provide details on What Yoga Alliance is and updates on getting RYT Certificate and Membership.

What is the Yoga Alliance and how does it work?

Yoga Alliance was founded in the United States as a nonprofit membership trade and professional group for yoga teachers.

The headquarters of the organization are in Arlington, Virginia. In the United States, a Registered Yoga Instructor (RYT) is a designation that recognizes a yoga teacher who has completed 200, 300, or 500 hours of yoga teacher training at a Registered Yoga School accredited by the Yoga Alliance.

In 2007, there were 9,940 yoga teachers who met the requirements for registration.

According to the Yoga Alliance, its registration is a voluntary certification mechanism. The teacher register is not a certification program, but rather a list of teachers who have finished their training at a Registered Yoga School and meet Yoga Alliance’s requirements for teaching experience.

Rather than providing specialized training, Yoga Alliance offers educational training guidelines that teachers, studios, and schools should adhere to in order to provide adequate study time.

It’s essentially a volunteer register of yoga teachers who have previously graduated from Yoga Alliance-accredited schools and want to add more legitimacy to their yoga credentials.

Though there are no specific curriculum guidelines, there is a set number of learning hours needed to receive a Yoga Alliance credential.

When it comes to these credentials, they’ve implemented a system known as Social Credentialing, in which feedback is provided via a reviewing system that is listed on their website’s Directory page.

The feedback gathered from these reviews is then used to enhance the courses and classes offered by schools and education providers for future benefit and progress.

Importance of Joining Alliance especially for Yoga Instructors

1. Listing in the directory:
Yoga Alliance members are granted a profile that appears on the Directory page. This profile confirms your registration, raises your visibility and directs more potential customers your way.

2. Enhanced integrity:
In the yoga community, the Yoga Alliance Registry Mark is a globally recognized sign. This is a certificate that almost all yogis will recognize on your resume or website once you’ve earned it.

3. Being a Member of the Yoga Alliance:
When you join, you’re not only becoming a member of an organization, but also a member of a select group of people. You’ll be able to network and connect with like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for the practice of yoga.

4. Participation in Free Online Workshops:
Throughout the year, online classes are offered to educate members about the challenges that yoga teachers, schools, and studios are now facing. Yoga Alliance members are eligible for free registration in these online study groups.

5. Access to Resources:
They also provide tools for yoga teachers and schools to view at their leisure, in addition to the publications available on the Yoga Alliance website. You can read the most recent issue of Yoga Insider and find an Index of Yoga Research here (the Yoga Alliance monthly newsletter).

6. Benefits and Discounts of Membership:
Members get access to liability insurance, legal advice, and even special discounts. Travel options, well-known fashion labels, education and training, essential oils, and other items are all eligible for these discounts.

The following are some of the disadvantages of joining Yoga Alliance:

1. Fees for application and registration:
All new members must pay an application cost of $50 for teachers and $400 for schools to get started, as well as an obligatory registration fee of $20 for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education providers, $115 for instructors, and $640 for schools.

2. Fees for Annual Renewal:
After receiving your certification, all members must pay an annual renewal fee of $20 for Yoga Alliance Continuing Education providers, $65 for teachers, and $240 for schools in order to keep their Yoga Alliance title and listing in the directory.

3. Minimum Requirements:
Many people assume that because Yoga Alliance is such a well-known organization, extensive measures are required to obtain a Yoga Alliance designation.

However, some of these designations only require a minimum of 200 practice hours, raising the question of whether such a small amount of study time (and variety) is sufficient.

4. Inadequate verification:
While everyone should be truthful in documenting the correct number of completion hours, that isn’t always the case. Yoga Alliance relies on a fairness system, which means completion hours are not vetted.

How much is the RYT Yoga Alliance Registration

You pay a $50 application fee and $65 yearly/renewal dues for all designations (RYT 200; E-RYT 200; RYT 500; E-RYT 200; RYT 500; E-RYT 500;) This brings the total to $115.

The charge for improving or upgrading any other certification is $50, which includes the specialized designations RCYT and RPYT. To upgrade, you would have to have the RYT designation.

Teachers wishing to register for E-RYT 500 through the Experienced Teacher Pathway must pay an application fee of $85.

What is Yoga Alliance Certification

In communities all around the world, the Yoga Alliance RYT certifications are acknowledged as a hallmark of high-quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga training. Graduates of your RYS will be asked to become Registered Yoga Teachers with Yoga Alliance (RYTs).

Yoga Alliance does not certify or license anyone, which is why the phrase “Yoga Alliance certified” is a little misleading. However, a YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) can meet the Yoga Alliance standards to register with Yoga Alliance.

Under Yoga Alliance, there are over 6,000 Registered Yoga Schools (RYS). All that is required of the company/school is to submit the proper papers and pay a charge. This assures, according to the Yoga Alliance website, that the training:

• Has a pre-determined curriculum that complies with the Yoga Alliance’s requirements.
• Yoga teacher trainers who are competent to train teachers give the class.
• Provides a systematic approach that emphasizes depth over breadth.

Finding a YTT that is “Yoga Alliance certified” is something, but it isn’t everything if you are a yoga student seeking a wonderful YTT.

Why register with Yoga Alliance

Yoga Alliance registration comes with numerous benefits, such as lower insurance rates than non-yoga Alliance certified teachers. You’ll also be included in Yoga Alliance’s database of thousands of teachers, making it easier for people in your area to find you through their search queries.

In addition, Yoga Alliance has partnered with a variety of businesses (including Hugger Mugger, T-Mobile, Alamo, and Hertz), all of which offer discounts and special deals to Yoga Alliance registered teachers.

Yoga Alliance registration is straightforward, may be completed online, and requires an annual payment to keep your registration current.

How long is the registration valid?

Every three years, all RYTs at all levels must record at least 45 hours of teaching and 30 hours of training, with an annual renewal to keep their certification. It is awarded to yoga teachers who have completed training and teaching experience that meets Yoga Alliance standards.

The RYS is a certification provided to yoga schools that have met the Yoga Alliance’s criteria and membership requirements in terms of training and teaching experience.

Registered Yoga Schools (RYS) are yoga schools that have met the Yoga Alliance’s standards for yoga teacher training.

Is it necessary to be a member of the Yoga Alliance?

While some businesses may insist on their instructors having a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) accreditation, Yoga Alliance membership is optional and not needed to teach yoga. Members of the Yoga Alliance get more than simply a certificate. Membership comes with a variety of other benefits in addition to credentials:

• Online Workshops provide education (free for members).
•  Listing in the well-trafficked online yoga instructor and school directory.
• Supporting causes that are essential to the yoga community.
• Participating in local Community Meet-Ups and using social media to engage the community.
• Discounts or perks on yoga products and services.

Difference between RYT and E-RYT

The ‘E’ stands for “experienced,” while RYT stands for Registered Yoga Teacher. It denotes that this instructor has completed a specified number of post-graduate teaching hours. E-RYT indicates two years and at least 1,000 hours of teaching at the 200-hour level.

The E-RYT designation at the 500-hour level signifies that the instructor has taught for at least 2,000 hours – 500 of which must have been after completing the 500-hour certification, and also has at least four years of experience minimum.

There are also RCYTs and RPYTs, in addition to the different classifications (RYT 200, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, and E-RYT 500). These are instructors who specialize in teaching Prenatal Yoga and Children’s Yoga.

Yoga schools cannot apply hours from Children’s Yoga Training or Prenatal Yoga Training toward a 200- or 500-hour certification, according to Yoga Alliance guidelines.

How to become Yoga Alliance Certified

Yoga teachers who achieve Yoga Alliance standards in terms of training and teaching experience obtain the Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) credential. An RYT must be able to:

1. Complete 200 or 500-hour training at a Registered Yoga School (RYS) and gain confirmation from them;

2. Every three years, complete 30 hours of Continuing Education;

CE Requirements for RYT

Within three years of their original registration, RYTs and E-RYTs must complete 75 hours of CE. The total number of hours must contain the following:

a. 45 hours of yoga instruction;

b. 30 hours of yoga instruction directly tied to one of the Educational Categories, which include:

• Contact hours must account for at least 10 of the training hours.
• There can be no more than 20 non-contact hours in a training session.

All teaching and training hours can be tracked and posted on members’ directory profiles through their Yoga Alliance membership accounts.

3. Annual membership dues must be paid.

Is Yoga Alliance Accredited?

The Yoga Alliance RYT certificates are internationally recognized and reflect high-quality, secure, inclusive, and equitable yoga education in communities all over the globe. Graduates of your RYS will be asked to become Registered Yoga Teachers with Yoga Alliance (RYTs).

How much does an RYT Certification cost

The cost of yoga certification varies widely, ranging from $200 to $7,000 depending on the type of instruction and accommodations you want.

Depending on the sort of training you pick and where you acquire it, a 200-hour yoga teacher training will cost you around $1,000 and $3,000, while a more comprehensive yoga certification course would cost you between $1,000 and $7,000.

Timeframe for TTC Pricing, Specializations range in price from $200 to $999 and last anywhere from one to three weeks.

• TTC for 200 hours ranges in price from $999–$4,000 and lasts anywhere from three to four weeks.
• TTC for 300 hours ranges in price from $1,000 to $7,000 and lasts anywhere from three to five weeks.
• TTC for 500 hours ranges in price from $1,500 to $5,000 and lasts anywhere from three to eight weeks.

Low-range: $200 – $999:

This price range is often reserved for specialized training courses that do not lead to a teaching certificate. They’re ideal for individuals on a tight budget, looking to stay close to home, or merely passing through a location with cool training.

Middle range; $1000 – $2999:

If it is local or headquartered in a super cheap place, such as India, a Yoga Alliance-registered yoga teacher training will most likely fall into this price range. Any YTT course in this range is a bargain, and you can complete it in; Mexico, the US, India, or Nepal depending on where you reside.

High-range; $3000 and Above:

This price level is frequently seen in exotic locations where world-renowned yoga teachers gather for tailored yoga teacher training programs. Luxury accommodations, exquisite meals, and a fun bunch of people from all over the world will be included in many of them. These rates are likely to be found in Bali, Thailand, Europe, or your overpriced local yoga studio.

STEPS TO GET AN (RYT) CERTIFICATION

To become an RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher), you must complete a 200-hour RYS training first, which includes foundational/basic concepts that will help you get started as a yoga teacher.

Once you have completed this training, you will be eligible to become an RYT 200. Then, after completing a 300-hour training and logging 100 post-training teaching hours, you may choose to complete an RYS 300 training, which will provide you with a greater breadth and depth of knowledge.

After completing an RYS 300 training and logging 100 post-training teaching hours, you will be eligible to become RYT 500.

The International 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification is available online through Rajadhiraja Yoga Teacher Training.

• Prerequisites for applying
  You’ll need a webcam or a smartphone with a camera, set aside time in your schedule to review material, and there are necessary reading books, all for less than £50 ($69.52) for the program.

You’ll also need to be fluent in English because all instruction and the final exam are conducted in that language. Past grads describe this as listening to the voice inside when it’s “time” to deepen your practice and follow your passion.

Graduates hail from many walks of life, including self-taught yogis who felt compelled to help others.

• How does the training go?
  The training will take place online on the course portal (for pre-recorded sessions) and via Zoom (for live sessions); please ensure that you have a webcam or smartphone with a camera; you can also take this training on your iPad or other mobile devices.

You will have the option of attending live training sessions for certain classes, all core training, and learning materials will be available for viewing in the form of recorded classes and lectures, and you will be able to browse your courses at any time on any of your mobile devices, desktop computers, or laptop computers.

This course can be taken at your own pace, starting at 3 weeks and continuing as long as you desire.

To graduate and get the certificate, you must meet certain requirements.

1. Get a passing grade on the online exam.

2. End with a final teaching practice by sending in a 40 minutes video of you teaching either family or friends (this video will be thoroughly assessed by the lead trainer and the YTT group so you can get a personal review on your teaching).

• Session schedules
  On-demand training is released every week, and you will also have weekly live Zoom training calls. The live training is regulated based on the UK, UTC zone.

• Certifications
  Students who complete this online course are qualified to become Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance.

Yoga Alliance | FAQs

Conclusion

Whether or not to join Yoga Alliance is a personal decision that will differ from one individual to the next. Some argue that without the “Yoga Alliance Seal,” which derives from the completion hours learning process, no yoga instructor or institution should exist.

Others, on the other hand, prefer to use different ways. In the end, a great yoga teacher or school is defined by the heart behind the teachings, not by the number of hours practiced or degrees earned.

If you lead your class with honesty, wisdom, and the most joyful and humble of hearts, your yoga teaching career will grow.

References

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga_Alliance
• https://www.yogiapproved.com/yoga/join-yoga-alliance/