We’re grateful you’re here. Your curiosity and commitment to yoga’s potential align with our mission—to connect, grow, and uplift the global yoga community.
Whether you’re a student, teacher, or advocate, you play a vital role in shaping a more inclusive and accessible yoga community.
Amplifying the
Power of Yoga
Our mission
is to advocate for yoga, in its wholeness, and for all human beings in theirs.
Our purpose
is to amplify the power of yoga and make it accessible to anyone wherever they are, under whatever circumstances.
We advance yoga through
- Credentialing & Professional Support: Recognizing and supporting yoga professionals and schools.
- Community Support: Providing resources, events, and continuing education to support the growth of yoga.
- Advocacy: Championing policies that protect and uplift yoga communities.
- Partnerships: Collaborating to expand yoga’s reach and impact.
Together, we will create a world in which yoga serves as a force for personal growth, collective well-being, and social change.
More Yoga,
Better World
Our vision is a better, bolder, more compassionate world grounded in yoga.
By advocating for both yoga in its wholeness and the well-being of all individuals, we work toward a world where:
- Yoga is accessible to all, regardless of background, identity, or ability.
- Yoga teachers and schools receive the resources they need to thrive.
- Communities are strengthened through the practice of yoga.
Every credential issued, barrier removed, and connection fostered brings us closer to this vision—one breath, one practice, one community at a time.
Our Values
Grounded in Kindness,
Driven by Progress
Our values guide our work and relationships within the yoga community and beyond:
Begin with Connection
Humans are inherently social beings. We derive meaning and purpose through our relationships and know that the first step to achieving global wellness lies within community care.
Pursue Progress
To redefine what’s possible, we actively pursue and explore innovative ideas. We do this in efforts to disrupt outdated thinking and to establish more effective and useful norms that serve the yoga community and world at large.
Take Action
Good intentions are simply not enough to make real change. We are committed to putting our action where our mind and heart are – if we believe in something, we put our energy and resources into supporting that belief.
Be Kind
Kindness is more than being nice. It is doing the right thing, even when it’s hard, even if it’s unpopular, and even when no one is watching. Moving with kindness is to move with respect and integrity, and to serve with no expectation of receiving something in return.
These values inspire us to challenge outdated paradigms, break down barriers, and lead with intention.
Beliefs That Shape Our Work
Beliefs are the foundational ideas that inform how we see the world and guide how we uphold our values in practice. We believe:
- Through self-reflection, self-work, and action, we can transform ourselves and, together, transform the world.
- Self-awareness is the first step in dismantling systems of oppression, and it is useless without continued courageous action.
- Community is essential to the human experience. It drives a life of purpose and meaning.
- Change is growth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- In the importance of individuals and communities being seen, heard, felt, and represented.
We strive to build a yoga community that reflects equity, inclusion, and collective care by grounding our work in these beliefs.
Our History
From Collective Vision to Global Impact
Yoga Alliance began in 1997 as a collective of yoga teachers and practitioners who saw the rapid growth of yoga in the West and recognized the need to establish shared standards for teacher training. They believed that if the community didn’t come together to set these guidelines, yoga teaching could quickly drift away from the traditions passed down by their teachers.
With a commitment to preserving the integrity of the practice, they formed Yoga Alliance in 1999 and introduced the first voluntary registry for yoga schools and teachers.
Over the years, Yoga Alliance has expanded its efforts in response to the community:
Today, Yoga Alliance represents the largest global network of yoga professionals and schools, supporting a vibrant, inclusive, and empowered yoga community with about 100,000 members across more than 100 countries.
A Commitment to Equity and Integrity
Our Ethical Commitment unites members around shared principles that ensure a welcoming and transformative practice. This commitment prioritizes:
Your Role in the Future of Yoga
Yoga is a practice of growth, learning, and connection—and your journey is just beginning.
The right school is just the start—let’s take the next step together.