YA News and Information

Calling All Calendar Yogis!

As we gear up for our 10th Anniversary next year, we need your help putting together a calendar that reflects the diversity of our registrants and the variety of yoga styles you represent.

To submit your photos, please email them to calendar@yogaalliance.org. Individual or group photos are welcome. Don't forget that only photos that are horizontal can be used. Please feel free to look at the 2008 calendar for inspiration. All submissions must be high resolution or print quality - 300 dpi at a size of 8.5" x 11" in JPG format.

Please include the following with your submission:

• Your name
• Address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Studio name & address if applicable
• Names of everyone in the photo
• A description of your pose
• Your favorite quote - it could be from a yogi, your favorite author, or even your mom
• A completed release.

Welcome

Yoga Alliance^® registers both individual yoga teachers and yoga teacher training programs (schools) who have complied with minimum educational standards established by the organization.

Please review our website to locate registered teachers and schools, for information and applications to register with our organization, or for general information about yoga.   Always feel free to contact our administrative offices to discuss any aspect of our organization.

Vision

Yoga Alliance^® supports yoga teachers and the diversity and integrity of yoga.

Mission

Our mission is to lead the yoga community, set standards, foster integrity, provide resources, and uphold the teachings of yoga.

We do not claim to "represent yoga" in the United States, but do represent our registrants and support all yoga teachers, whether or not registered with our organization.

Activities

Yoga Alliance^® is a non-profit, tax-exempt section 501(c)(3) organization.*  We maintain a national Yoga Teachers' Registry to recognize and promote teachers with training that meets our standards. Teachers registered with us are authorized to use the initials "RYT^®" (Registered Yoga Teacher) after their name, or the initials “E-RYT^SM" (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher) if they have significant teaching experience in addition to training. We issue registry marks (logos) for enrolled teachers to use in their resumes, advertising and business endeavors.

Yoga Alliance^® also maintains a Registry of Yoga Schools to recognize yoga teacher training programs of at least 200 or 500 hours. Registered schools are authorized to use the initials "RYS^®" (Registered Yoga School) after their names, and receive certificates of registration as well as registry marks. Once a school is registered, all graduates of an RYS^® are automatically eligible to register with us as RYT^®s.

The Registries are advertised and promoted to (a) the general public, (b) organizations that employ yoga teachers (i.e. YMCA's, athletic clubs, Park & Recreation Departments, etc.), and (c) organizations that review yoga teachers' credentials (hospitals, health insurance companies, govern-mental organizations, etc.).

Yoga Day USA^SM

Yoga Alliance^® is also the creator of Yoga Day USA^SM , an annual national celebration of yoga created by yoga teachers, schools and studios.  This year's celebration was held on Saturday, January 26, 2008. For more details and to see who participated, please go to www.yogadayusa.org.

*This designation means that income tax deductions may be taken for contributions made to Yoga Alliance^® by persons who itemize their deductions. Application, processing, and annual registration fees paid by applicants or existing members are NOT, however, tax deductible.