Project Plan and Event Schedule

Yoga Alliance is conducting a comprehensive and inclusive Standards Review Project for the first time in its 18-year history. The first step in this process will be a survey for members and non-members, which will be released in six languages on February 1, 2018.  Please keep an eye out for an email from us with the survey – your input and voice are incredibly vital to this process.

In Q4 of 2018, Yoga Alliance will compile and review public feedback and working group recommendations and will draft and publish proposed changes to the standards. We will invite additional public feedback and may develop additional drafts based on what we learn. We will publish a final draft of proposed revisions by the end of 2018, and our intention is to bring as many of the final proposed revisions to a member vote at that time.

Look for discussions around the Standards Review at each of the festivals and events we plan to attend this year. Additional international events and smaller convenings, both in the US and abroad, will be listed as they are confirmed.

Yoga Alliance has identified eight key areas of inquiry for this Standards Review: Scope of Practice, Code of Conduct, Integrity, Inclusion, Teacher Qualifications, Core Curriculum, Teacher Trainer Qualifications, and Online Learning. Throughout the year, each of these areas of inquiry will serve as a theme for a month of community conversation and engagement.

In addition to direct feedback from members and non-members, YA will form a working group of 10-15 subject-matter experts from within and outside yoga for each of these areas of inquiry. Working groups will address specific questions on their topics and will publish a final report of their recommendations.

If you are an expert in one of the above areas and would like to apply to join a working group, please email a resume or CV to info@yogaalliance.org, with the name of the working group you are applying for in the subject line.
Each month, Yoga Alliance will produce one video introducing the month’s discussion topic, two podcasts with thought leaders, two blog posts, and one live event (online or in-person and livestreamed). Starting in February we will have an online forum where you can join the conversation around the themes for each month.
This schedule is subject to change.
FEBRUARY | SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Conversation: “What is a yoga teacher?”

Feb 1 | Surveys will be sent out to members and non-members.
Want a survey? Be sure to sign our list here. 

Feb 8-11, Sedona Yoga Festival, Sedona AZ
MARCH | CODE OF CONDUCT

Conversation: “The ‘HOW’ of teaching yoga.”

Mar 1-7, International Yoga Festival, Rishikesh, India
APRIL | INCLUSION IN YOGA

Conversation: “Bringing yoga to everybody.”

Apr 21-25, Yoga Journal Live, NYC

Apr 30, Yoga Reaches Out, Foxborough MA

MAY | COMMON CORE

Conversation: “Is there some standard content all yoga teachers should know?”

May 11-13, Yoga Service Council, Rhinebeck NY
JUNE | QUALIFICATIONS OF A TEACHER

Conversation: “What qualifications are necessary to be a yoga teacher?”

Jun 2, SoulFestNYC, New York

Jun 14-17, Hanuman Yoga Festival, Boulder CO

Jun 14-17, IAYT’s Symposium on Yoga Therapy and Research, Reston VA

JULY | QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A TEACHER TRAINER

Conversation: “What qualifications are necessary to be a trainer of yoga teachers?”

Jul 19-22, Wanderlust Squaw Valley, North Lake Tahoe CA
SEPTEMBER | INTEGRITY IN YOGA

Conversation: “The pros and cons of testing.”

Sep 12-17, Bhakti Fest, Joshua Tree CA
October | ONLINE LEARNING

Conversation: “What, if anything, is the appropriate role of online education in yoga teaching and yoga teacher training?”

Oct 15-17, Symposium on Yoga Research, Lenox MA

Oct 19-21, Om Yoga Show, London

PAST EVENTS

Dec 5–7, 2017 | Focus Group One Dallas, TX An assembly of select yoga teachers and field professionals will discuss a wide range of topics to identify common observations.