Core Curriculum

THE CONVERSATION: Do yoga teachers need to cover any standard content, or a “common core”, based on where yoga is today? If so, what basic knowledge should every yoga teacher share to ensure quality and safety and to honor yoga’s past?

WHAT WE LEARNED:

Most yoga professionals feel that yoga teacher standards need to be updated with the notion of a “Core Curriculum” being at the heart of said standards.  This came through loud and clear via our survey, the listening tour, the virtual town halls, and the working group sessions.

As we saw via our 12,000-respondent survey, 83% reported being somewhat to very interested in seeing standards be updated. Teacher Trainers and Studio Owners/Managers were most favorable towards this, while individuals in India were most interested than anywhere else in the world.

In addition, the survey told us that, while training hours are important to becoming a teacher, there are differing opinions regarding what those hours should cover and what they represent. Most yoga professionals and practitioners agree that yoga teachers should have a basic understanding of yoga “fundamentals”, such as asana, pranayama, and meditation, as well as human anatomy, yoga philosophy, and a commitment to a Code of Conduct. Read more here.

Standards Review Project Survey: Attitudes and Beliefs of Yoga Professionals and Practitioners Worldwide 2018, Edge Research.

Through the working group specific to Core Curriculum, there were a few recommendations that “rose to the top” including:

  • Revised standards must include hours and competencies as well as assessments of knowledge, skills, and experience
  • Revised standards must emphasize safety, competency, accessibility, inclusion, inspiration, and aspiration
  • Revised standards must still be inclusive of diverse lineages

To learn more about this working group’s recommendations, please download the Core Curriculum Working Group Paper here. As a reminder, Yoga Alliance brought together a diverse spectrum of expert advisory voices to maximize the perspectives and resources within this area of inquiry. They represented one stream of input in the process, albeit an important stream.  We thank them for their participation and dedication.

Note: these working group papers provide expert recommendations to Yoga Alliance and the yoga community for consideration as the Standards Review Project continues. They are not prescribed actions but rather insights from an experienced and dedicated group of subject matter experts. They were written by an independent third party. At this point in time, no decisions have been made regarding standards updates, and we welcome and encourage your feedback and comments regarding the entirety of the SRP process.

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Susanna Barkataki

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Susanna Barkataki, M.Ed. Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT, member of Thich Nhat Hanh’s Core Community of Interbeing, is known for her passion for decolonizing yoga - practicing yoga not just as poses but as a way of life. She ...
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Jasmine Chehrazi

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Mayte Criado

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Gary Kraftsow

Gary Kraftsow

Gary Kraftsow has been a pioneer in the transmission of yoga for health, healing and personal transformation for over 40 years. He began his study of yoga in India with T.K.V. Desikachar in 1974 and received a Viniyoga Special Diploma from ...
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Brahmani Liebman

Brahmani Liebman

Brahmani Liebman, MSEd, E-RYT 500, is an internationally recognized yoga teacher in the Kripalu tradition. She founded the Rivertown Center for Yoga and Health and was director and head teacher for over 20 years. Brahmani is currently co-creator & director (with Jashoda ...
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Heather Peterson

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Nivedita Ashok Pingle

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Swami Ramananda

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Mark Singleton

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Sierra Rose Stange

Sierra Rose Stange

Sierra Rose Stange, Ancient Historian, 200hr Yoga Instructor, 300hr in-Progress. Sierra currently teaches Kirtana Classes with Stories from the Puranas, Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata to give students an opportunity to experience Bhakti and Jnana Yoga. Sierra practices and teaches a Vinyasa ...
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Judy Weaver

Judy Weaver

Judy Weaver, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, YACEP, is a yoga therapist and a yoga “teacher of teachers." She is widely recognized for her expertiseand knowledge of yoga and other body-mind disciplines and regularly conducts certified yoga teacher training classes, facilitates workshops and lectures ...
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Cora Wen

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Cora Wen, E-RYT 500, YACEP, has built her reputation as an internationally acclaimed yoga practitioner and teacher over the past 25 years. She is a follower of the great Indian Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, who passed away in August 2014. Toward the end ...
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