Regulatory
New York State to Yogis: Bend Over
- no_yoga.jpg
I often joke that half the women I know are doing yoga teacher training. Well, here's an even worse joke: The New York Dept. of Education has fired off cease-and-desist orders to yoga studios across the state informing them that teacher training without a license is a violation of Section 5001(1) of the Education Law -- one that could run them $50,000 in penalties. Huh? An outraged Bill Hammond of the Daily News is all over the story: "There's only one thing wrong with the state making this charge," Hammond writes. "It's utter nonsense. Not a single yoga studio in the state has ever applied for or received a license before. In fact, the notion of requiring yoga studios to get licenses never even occurred to state officials until a month or so ago."
That's when, apparently, NY discovered that some other states have started to "regulate" teacher training, and decided it might be good business. Now, of course, small New York studios are in a panic.
"We're concerned we're not going to have the resources to go through a lengthy licensing process with the state - not to mention the fees," Liz Buehler of Yoga High told Hammond. Sounds like the Dept. of Ed is softening its stance a little bit, but still the implications for yoga studios are scary. Not to mention Pilates and Gyrotonics studios, or any of the new classes that percolate regularly out of gyms like Crunch and Equinox. Will Patricia Moreno have to get a license to teach IntenSati, or Kristi Molinaro to teach 30/60/90?
Not to be too knee-jerk, however: With yoga exploding, some degree of regulation is probably a reasonable idea. But it does beg the question: Is the New York State Department of Education really equipped to do that job?
- Oliver's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Email this page
Comments
Considering the city itself is getting 44 billion cut in spending, this comes as no surprise, disappointing as it may be.
What's the licensing process?? You'd do the classes then get the license yah?
Submitted by Mr. Mohawk on 05.20.09 at 09:13.
Well I know something is going on with 30/60/90 b/c Kristi is not allowing anyone but her to teach that class anymore. She's trademarking it or something....
Some regulation is ok, as long as it's within reason.
Submitted by michlny on 05.20.09 at 10:45.
This just in from yoga teacher friend in the know: there is a meeting for local yogis to discuss the new stat regs:
From: yogaunion
Subject: MEETING TO DISCUSS NY STATE LICENSING OF YOGA TEACHER TRAININGS JUNE 2 2:00 PM
Greetings all!
The meeting for all Yoga teachers, studio owners and anyone with an interest in the matter of NY State Licensing Yoga Teacher Trainings will take place on June 2 @ 2:00 PM at:
> OM FACTORY
> (with thanks to FaraMarz)
> 265 West 37th Street @ 8th Avenue
> 17th Floor
> New York, NY 10018
To help us get an idea of how many people plan to come, please RSVP (acceptances only) to this email address, made available to us through the generosity of Yoga City NYC:
> rsvp@yogacitynyc.com
If you have any questions, please email me at yogaunionnyc@gmail.com
Please forward to others who might not be on our lists.
Submitted by Oliver on 05.20.09 at 12:30.
Having a job that requires a atate license, my state typically grandfathers in or makes allowances for the people who have been practicing prior to the change in the law. For my profession, they grandfathered in PTA's and made changes in continuing ed rules to ensure they were staying current.
I would think that yoga instructors have a professional organization that should be included in the process
Submitted by mindyse on 05.21.09 at 11:50.
Background information on the yoga licensing issue as it unfolds in New York - http://www.yogaforawareness.org/yogaregulation.htm.
Submitted by Jo Brill on 06.04.09 at 06:37.