Guidelines
Yoga Alliance® standards are intended to strengthen the integrity of a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT®) or a Registered Yoga School (RYS®) in the yoga community and to enhance the public perception of yoga teachers as well-trained professionals. Schools may be recognized as RYSs and graduates as RYTs only when they train teachers using a definite, pre-defined curriculum and engage experienced instructors to conduct training directly with trainees.
Contact Hours Requirements
- Contact Hours: A contact hour is an in-person classroom hour in the physical presence of a faculty member. Contact hours in each category must be in a dedicated teacher training environment (into which others might occasionally be invited) rather than in classes intended for the general public. Of the required contact hours, a number are specified in the five educational categories. Remaining hours must be distributed among the five educational categories and can be taught by any faculty member.
- Non-Contact Hours: All outside resources should be thoughtfully chosen to support the training and be relevant to yoga and/or anatomy and physiology. Non-contact hours must be an assigned part of the curriculum and may include:
- Reading, Audio/Video, Internet that incorporate an assessment including reports, class discussions, presentations or tests
- Written Assignments on yoga-related topics; may be counted for all categories except Practicum
- Group Activities including directed discussion, techniques practice or teaching practice
- Evaluation of Yoga Classes outside of the program; each class must be evaluated via a written or oral exercise and may count for up to two hours of credit towards Techniques, Teaching Methodology or Practicum categories
Faculty Requirements
- Primary E-RYT®s: The Director of Teacher Training must be an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 200 or 500) at the corresponding level of the training. Directors of Teacher Training for RCYS® and RPYS® (Registered Children's Yoga Schools and Registered Prenatal Yoga Schools) must carry the corresponding specialty designation (RCYT® or RPYT®). For more information on the qualifications of an E-RYT, review the teacher designations.
- Other Faculty: All teachers other than the Primary E-RYTs in the yoga teacher training must be documented as either: a) a RYT, or b) having substantial training in the subject category they are teaching (at least 100 hours of education and/or experience).