An Important Update Regarding Teacher Training Standards

Video Update 17/12/2020

Summary

The decisions we have taken and updates recommended, revolve around two primary principals that have not changed.

• SYT status of the Principal Training Teacher
• Desired Outcome of Teacher Training Program

As a result, we have decided to extend the recognition of Online Foundation Training, Specialist (Vocational) for a further 12 month period.

We have added additional requirements for Online Training and introduced an extended evaluation process on our side to talk with graduates from all courses. It is the Graduate Success Call.

We additionally have taken this opportunity to re-emphasise that the bulk of the contact hours should focus on teaching skills. We have updated the standards for Foundation and Specialist/Vocational Training. You can find more details below.

Two Primary Principals

From the outset, we built our Teacher Training requirements around two primary Principals. These are:

SYT status of the Principal Training Teacher

We believe that a Senior Teacher has the knowledge, experience and integrity to run a Training Course in such a way as to achieve the desired outcome.

Desired Outcome of Teacher Training Program

The desired outcome is to produce competent yoga teachers that feel confident to start teaching and are keen to continue to develop and grow.

Three Training Steps

There are three main elements to each Training course:

1. Desired Outcome
2. Standards
3. Delivery Method

Standards

The standards are a set of bare minimums to which each Training Course adheres, to facilitate the best chance of achieving the desired outcome above.

Delivery Method

There are currently three possible delivery methods:

• In-Person
• Online
• Hybrid (both the above)

The introduction of a new delivery method (online or hybrid) potentially increases the risk of NOT achieving the 'desired outcome'. As a result, we have introduced:

• Additional Requirements and Best Practices
• A Simple Survey Call to ALL Graduates

Learn more about Intensive Course additional requirements
Learn more about Online Course additional requirements
Learn more about best practices here

Graduate Success Call

As part of the ongoing evaluation of Online Training, we have introduced the Graduate Success Call. Graduates from all Foundation and Specialist/Vocational Training Courses will receive a short phone call from a Yoga Alliance Professionals specialist to ask two simple questions:

• Do you feel confident to Teach?
• Would you Recommend your Training Course?

We shall feed the results directly back to the Trainer on an anonymous basis.

We shall also collate and publish generic/ summarised results which are also completely anonymous.

It requires Trainers to submit all Trainee and Graduate lists with:

• Full Name
• Email
• Phone Number
• Country of Residence

It will help us to evaluate and monitor any risks associated with the online delivery method.

Simplification 

The emphasis for Foundation and Specialist/Vocational Training Courses has always been on Teaching Skills.

As such, we have amended the requirements to reflect this.

In the new model, there are NO MINIMUM total course hours.

Instead, there will be minimum contact hours which should focus primarily on teaching skills.

For example:

Foundation Training Courses

A minimum of 180 contact hours* and a Senior Yoga Teacher (who has a minimum of 8 years teaching and 4000 teaching hours experience) teaches a minimum of 70% of the Course. (It means each participant receives a minimum of 180 contact hours).

*Contact translates for online into 'live streaming' (pre-recorded sessions do not count as contact hours)

Specialist/Vocational Training Courses

A minimum of 28 contact hours and a Senior Yoga Teacher (who has a minimum of 8 years teaching and 4000 teaching hours experience) teaches the entire Course.

Further Approved CPD Training  

There are NO minimum hours. A Senior Yoga Teacher OR  Experienced Yoga Teacher teaches the entire Course.

Further Training to yoga teachers via an online delivery method is acceptable.

Online Graduation Certificate and YAP Profile

All Foundation and Specialist/Vocational Training Courses will indicate on the Graduation Certificate, and the Yoga Alliance Professionals profile page, the delivery method of the Course.

The purpose is to ensure total transparency for the general public.

Thank you for your ongoing support.