| Not enough people look into their yoga teachers | | | | planning on becoming a Yoga instructor or even just |
| teaching credentials. It's advisable to do this as part of | | | | studying yoga for the enhancement of your own |
| your research before choosing and participating in | | | | practice you want to be sure that you are picking a |
| yoga classes. In British Columbia Canada alone you | | | | recognized school and/or teacher. Some of the |
| can teach yoga with a training starting from 35 hours | | | | Organizations that use the "RYT" designation are |
| of training upwards of 500 hours of training. This | | | | Yoga Alliance (a US company but it is know and used |
| makes quite a difference in the teachers knowledge | | | | worldwide), International Yoga Teachers Association |
| and experience. | | | | (worldwide) and Yoga BC (a newer organization in |
| Depending on the facility type will also depend on the | | | | British Columbia only). The registered yoga teacher |
| designation of the teacher's working. City run facilities | | | | designation has a 200hour and a 500hour level, which |
| and fitness facilities generally require a minimum of the | | | | is the hours spent training followed by a practical exam |
| Yoga Leader designation. Private studio's have a wide | | | | and a written test. There are also higher levels which |
| range of teacher requirements, from students to 500hr | | | | are teachers of teachers, this is more of a concern |
| RYT. | | | | when you are training to be a yoga teacher. |
| Before you take a yoga class it is beneficial to look on | | | | In British Columbia there is another designation through |
| the facilities website or make a phone call to find out | | | | the British Columbia Recreations and Parks |
| the teachers background. Even if it is just so you | | | | Association. This designation is called a BCRPA Yoga |
| know what to expect from the class. | | | | Leader and the training involves 35 hours of training |
| As yoga becomes more and more popular it is also | | | | and an evaluation. Often people with this designation |
| becoming safer for the practicing public. Up until | | | | have other existing designations such as Personal |
| recently anybody could call themselves a yoga | | | | Trainer, Pilates Leader, Weight Trainer and/or Group |
| teacher. Some governing bodies are emerging and | | | | Fitness Leader. |
| trying to ensure the amount of knowledge and skill the | | | | So depending on what you are looking out of your |
| instructors have is up to an acceptable level to keep | | | | yoga practice be sure to check into your yoga |
| their students safe before an instructor can call | | | | teacher credentials. To keep yourself be sure to only |
| themselves a "RYT" or a Registered Yoga Teacher. | | | | put yourself in the hands of a yoga teacher that you |
| There are also different levels of RYT's. If you are | | | | trust. |