Registered Yoga Schools (RYS®s)
Yoga schools that provide Yoga teacher training may apply to register several types of programs with Yoga Alliance. Registration acknowledges that the training program meets standards for curriculum developed by Yoga Alliance and that training is conducted by qualified instructors.
Types of Yoga Training Programs
For more details, visit the standards for each type of program listed below:
How to Apply
To register your Yoga school, submit a paper application for review. The application asks for information on your faculty and curriculum. Yoga Alliance will review your application and contact you if anything is unclear. It takes approximately six (6) months to review and process a paper RYS application (currently available only in paper form).
If you are currently developing your curriculum, here are a few ideas to help you start this process:
- Search for a local registered school and contact them about their experience creating a Yoga program
- Solicit experienced teachers in your area to co-teach, co-develop or review your program
- Start with the sutras, using the wisdom from the ancient texts to inform your Yoga curriculum as well as your training policies
- Reflect on your own training, what you enjoyed, what other elements you’d like to incorporate based on your experiences
- Price your program costs against the market and make a clear refund policy
- Schedule the program compassionately, consider what type of schedule you can wholly commit to and what type of schedule your potential trainees desire, as well as potential make-up sessions for special circumstances
Who Can Teach
Faculty of RYSs must meet the criteria below:
- Director: This person is the owner of your RYS curriculum and the main point of contact with Yoga Alliance. This is the only person authorized to make changes to the RYS record (name, curriculum, faculty, etc.). The Director may also be a Primary E-RYT.
- Primary E-RYT®s: Yoga Alliance standards require a minimum number of contact hours be taught by your Primary E-RYTs. These teachers must be E-RYTs; E-RYT 200s for RYS 200s and E-RYT 500s for RYS 500s. For a RYS 200 you may have a maximum of two Primary E-RYTs. For a RYS 500 you may have a maximum of five Primary E-RYTs. For RCYS (Children’s) and RPYS (Prenatal), the Primary E-RYTs must carry the corresponding specialty designation (RCYT or RPYT).
- Other Faculty: For teachers that are not E-RYTs, you will list their relevant certification(s). Other teachers are required to have at least 100 hours of relevant training in the topic area they are teaching. Yoga Alliance standards do not allow for contact hours with other teachers to qualify as contact hours required with the Primary E-RYT(s).
What to Cover
Review the educational categories for what to cover in your RYS curriculum.
How to Maintain Registration
Schools must pay an annual fee to remain registered with Yoga Alliance. If registration lapses for more than one year, a school must reapply.
>Register as a RYS (paper application only is available at this time)
>Review the Guidelines