IYEA Statement on Standards
The subject of standards is a favorite topic among yoga educators. In discussions related to standards, the question that I always raise is: “Standards established by whom, on behalf of whom, and enforced by whom?”
I’ve always believed that the whole notion of industry-wide standards is invalid, because it presupposes an entity that ENFORCES those standards on an entire industry. Yoga and force are incompatible because yoga is about freedom, and yoga is about relationship, and force destroys both. It is precisely that flawed way of thinking we are fighting against when we resist government attempts to control our profession.
The only legitimate standards are the ones we set for ourselves, and agree to be held personally accountable for. This is the basis of IYEA’s policy on standards.
No organization, association or alliance can guarantee the public that its members will live up to a set of standards. Any time they try, they are actually interfering with the only true vehicle for verifying a teacher’s standards – the student/teacher relationship. There’s certainly nothing wrong with groups of people who embrace similar standards joining together for mutual benefit – just so long as they don’t presume to speak for anyone else, or seek to impose their standards on others, or mislead the public into thinking that they can control the behavior of their members.
However high or low a teacher’s standards may be, there’s no problem at all as long as they are honest about what those standards are.
What if my standard happens to be one hour of teacher training for yoga, and I honestly disclose that fact to a prospective student? If he still decides to study with me, who has the right to prohibit that relationship? Nobody’s rights have been violated, there is no victim, no crime, and no need for a professional or governmental agency to intervene.
What if my standard is one thousand hours for yoga teacher training? Certainly no problem there, as long as I don’t attempt to prevent people with less training from teaching.
What if I tell a prospective student that I have one thousand hours of training, but in actuality I only have one? Well, I’ve commited fraud, which is a crime. This is where the government has a proper function in punishing me because fraud is a form of force that violates the rights of another.
Ultimately, legitimacy is something each of us can only grant to ourselves – by the integrity of our thought, speech and action. It can never be bestowed upon us by another, or absorbed collectively by forming or joining organizations, boards, or Alliances.
The only requirement that IYEA asks of its members is that they clearly communicate to the public what their standards are, and agree to be held accountable for those standards.
We offer no registry or listing service for your program, as that would make it easy for your state’s regulators to target you with their enforcement efforts.
We do offer a unique forum for support, discussion, education and inspiration.
Membership is open to all, and membership fees are 100% voluntary. Donations may be tax-deductible as educational expenses. For more info, click here.
Membership is open to all, and membership fees are 100% voluntary. Donations may be tax-deductible as educational expenses. For more info, click here.
