Since there is often debate within the yoga community about which professional organisations are ‘recognised’ and which have ‘authority’, YTT has put together some thoughts on the topic.
•
Is ‘yoga’ a protected title?
No, and therefore it is not subject to the same legislative requirements that apply to professional bodies in other fields.
•
Who is qualified to ‘recognise’ a yoga organisation? A body external to yoga? Or from within the yoga community? Within the UK or outside it?
Many external bodies that might wish to play a role in this form of ‘recognition’ are not qualified to do so, and therefore YTT does not believe it needs to seek their authority, preferring to build its credibility by earning the trust and respect of yoga teachers themselves.
•
Do organisations achieve recognition and authority simply by being around a long time?
Obviously organisations do become well known and better established the longer they endure, but it would not be of benefit to the yoga community, nor the public that is serves, if new organisations were deemed inferior simply because of their newness and change were opposed.Such organisations can offer something different that yoga teachers want and need, play a role in ensuring that diversity is respected and provide a home for those who have not previously felt represented.
Denying teachers choice and requiring them to simply accept the status quo would therefore not be helpful, either for individuals or yoga as a whole. Importantly, unlike some other organisations, YTT is open to all yoga teachers, wherever they trained and whatever lineage they follow, which means that diversity can be actively fostered and the organisation is more a community and less a club.
•
Does an organisation with ‘Governing Body’ status have greater authority and more right to be ‘recognised’?
It should be remembered that this status was awarded by Sport England, Sport Scotland etc (external non-yoga bodies) and that (given that yoga is most definitely not a sport) the usefulness and validity of the title could be questioned. Representivity and diversity are also pertinent here, since the ‘Governing Bodies’ for both England and Scotland only admit their own trainees (or those of associates) as members.
•
Any serious yoga organisation needs to have CPD requirements.
This is true, and as part of its application process, YTT asks teachers to reflect on svadhyaya (self-study) and demonstrate that they are engaged in active ongoing learning. YTT schools are also required to have CPD recommendations for their teachers, although, as is the case for other yoga organisations, these requirements are not prescriptive since YTT wishes to ensure respect for diversity as well as for the focus and interests of different schools and teachers. As part of its ongoing commitment to svadhyaya, YTT is already planning to register CPD courses provided by registered Yoga Elders and these plans will be rolled out in 2025.
