YAA Be A Teacher FAQ

YAA Teacher Training and Certification Program

The full details of both programs are documented in YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Syllabus and Guidelines and Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification Requirements and Guidelines. Page references in the following information refer to this document. This document may be downloaded in full or by section in the Forms & Further Information section of the Be A Teacher page.

1. How do I register for the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program?

In order to register in the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program, a yoga practitioner must submit the YAA Teacher Training Program Application Form with payment to the Yoga Association of Alberta office at Percy Page Centre, 11759 – Groat Road, Edmonton, Alberta, T5M 3K6. A letter of reference from a yoga teacher with whom you have taken classes is also required, attesting to your two years of experience in formal hatha yoga classes, your familiarity with the Level I syllabus (see question #3), and your readiness to enter a teacher training program. All other fees must be paid by the TTP student to the organizer or teacher of the classes and workshops attended. The processing of an application takes up to 4 weeks.

2. When can I enter the program?

A yoga practitioner can apply to enter the program anytime during the year. It takes up to 4 weeks to process any application.

3. Do I qualify for the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program?

In order to qualify for the YAA Teacher Training Program, the applicant:

must be at least 18 years old,

must be a full member of the YAA,

must be an Alberta resident,

must provide a letter of recommendation / introduction from a yoga teacher with evidence of at least 2 years of recent formal classes in hatha yoga. A rural applicant without two years of hatha yoga training must submit a letter proposing how he / she could upgrade to the 2-year requirement (e.g. weekend workshops, a week of classes in major centre / month, etc.),

must be familiar with the following Level One required practices:

Asana:
Tadasana
Uttanasana
Virabhadrasana I and II
Utthita Trikonasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Ardha Chandrasana
Parsvottanasana
Prasarita Padottanasana
Vrksasana
Utthita Parsvakonasana
Padangusthasana
Utkatasana
Parighasana
Virasana
Urdhva Prasarita Padasana
Baddha Konasana
Gomukhasana

Dandasana
Paschimottanasana
Janu Sirsasana
Supta Padangusthasana
Sukhasana
Savasana
Ustrasana
Bhujangasana
Dhanurasana
Setu Bandhasana
Salabhasana
Marichyasana I & III
Pasasana
Bharadvajasana I
Salamba Sarvangasana
Viparita Karani
Halasana

Pranayama:
complete breath
Ujjayi (stages 1,2,3, 4)
Viloma (stages 1 & 2)

4 . Can I begin taking classes and workshops before I apply to the YAA Teacher Training Program?

Classes and workshops can be taken before a student enters the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program. However, attendance in these practice sessions is credited towards the pre-requisite requirement for being accepted into the program and is not credited towards the teacher training requirements for certification.

5. I am taking a workshop this month, but my application hasn’t been approved yet. Can I get credit for this workshop?

Applicants can receive credit for attendance in workshops up to a month prior to being accepted into the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program.

6. Can I get credit for previous teacher training that I have done?

If an applicant has a certification from a non-YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program, he / she may get credit for the training he / she did. However, to receive YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Certification, the training from another institution must meet the 2 year pre-requisite of the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program. In order to receive any credit, the student must fulfill the remaining requirements for YAA Certification while registered in the YAA Teacher Training Program under the mentorship of a YAA Certified Senior Teacher.

To apply to the YAA-TTP and receive credit for previous training, submit an Application for the YAA-TTP and include a formal request to the TTP Committee outlining the details of your previous training in the Summary Spreasheet (Appendix G-2). Include a copy of your Certificate(s), your teachers' names and credentials, and the program syllabus, if available. The YAA Teacher Training & Certification Committee will review your completed requirements and advise you as to what credit you will receive towards YAA Certification requirements.

7. I am registering in a non-YAA workshop or studio-based teacher training program and wish to ensure I later receive credit towards YAA Certification. Is this possible?

There are two routes available to students in studio-based programs who wish to apply for YAA Certification. The first option is to enter the YAA-TTP at the start of their studio-based program. This provides the student with direct guidance from the YAA on the administration of their program from the start. The student can be assured that the hours of training they are taking qualify for and are being applied towards their 300-hour YAA Certification requirements. If there are any special requests for advanced credit, alternate class arrangements, etc., this route is recommended, as the TTP & Certification Committee can be consulted and the decision kept on the student’s file for reference at time of certification.

The second option is for the student to apply for YAA membership at the beginning of their studio-based program, with the applicable fees, and indicate their enrolment in a studio-based teacher training program. YAA office staff will record their program, start date, and add their name to our TTP mailing list as a non-YAA TTP student. This will ensure that they are informed should there be any updates or changes made to YAA Certification requirements. When the student completes their studio-based program, they will have the choice as to whether they officially enter the YAA-TTP 300-hour program at that point, and complete all YAA Certification requirements still remaining. If a student has already completed a 200-hour program they may still apply to the YAA-TTP, although it is recommended that the student register their name at the beginning of their program to officially record their start date and to ensure their program qualifies.

8. Can I get credit for Anatomy that I have taken before registering in the Yoga Association of Alberta Teacher Training Program?

Under special circumstances and with written permission, an applicant can receive credit for an Anatomy course that he / she has taken before. For example, an applicant may be able to receive credit for University and College Anatomy courses. A formal request must be made to the YAA Teacher Training & Certification Committee upon Application to the TTP.

9. I am from out of town. What special consideration do I get?

A rural student is defined as someone for whom the distance from his / her home and a YAA Certified Senior Teacher is greater than 80 kilometers.

A student in this circumstance still requires a YAA Certified Senior Teacher with whom to apprentice and from whom to receive guidance about his / her training. However, he / she can meet the 100 hours of weekly hatha yoga classes requirement by attending classes with a YAA Certified Training Teacher (see question #11 for information on Senior & Training Teachers). If this is not possible, a formal proposal but be submitted to the YAA Teacher Training & Certification Committee for approval.

Also, a rural applicant without two years of previous hatha yoga training before applying to the YAA Hatha Yoga Certification Program must submit a letter to the YAA Teacher Training & Certification Committee for approval proposing how he/she could upgrade to the 2-year requirement (e.g. weekend workshops, a week of classes in major centre / month, etc.).

10. How much does the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course cost?

The YAA-TTP is geared to mature students who will take responsibility to complete the hours required and who have the time and finances to do so.

There is an initial $125.00 Application fee for the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program, which the applicant pays at the time of submitting his / her application. Once all requirements have been fulfilled, there is a $75 Initial Certification fee.

The full cost of the Program depends on the overall number of classes and workshops attended for which payment is made at the time of the classes and workshops. The approximate minimal cost is $3,000.00, the payment of which is spread over the time that the student is in the Teacher Training Program. These costs are paid directly to the teachers or organizations offering the classes and workshops.

11. How do I find / choose a Senior and Training Teacher?

There is a list of YAA Certified Senior and Training Teachers in Appendix I. Contact information can be found on the Find a Teacher page. Please contact teachers directly for class details before making a selection. The choice of a Senior Teacher is based upon the style of yoga a student teacher chooses to practice and teach. If a student teacher has difficulty in choosing a Senior Teacher, he / she may consult with the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and Certification Program Coordinator. Letters of Agreement for Senior and Training Teachers can be found in Appendix F. A student teacher has four months from admission into the program to choose a Senior Teacher.

A Training Teacher is not required as long as the student can access classes offered by their Senior Teacher. However, a student may also choose a YAA Certified Training Teacher if their classes are more convenient. Classes offered by YAA Certified Training Teachers may be credited towards the required 100 hours of Senior/Training teacher classes, however, they may not be credited towards the required 40 hours of Apprenticeship training. A YAA Certified Senior Teacher is required to sign off on all documentation for Initial Certification for YAA-TTP students. For more information on required hours see Appendix G-3.

12. Which instructors fall under the categories of Senior Teacher, Training Teacher and International Teacher?

Characteristics and definitions of Senior and Training Teachers can be found in Section IV of the Syllabus & Guidelines. Lists of YAA Certified Senior and Training Teachers can be found in Appendix I.

The YAA-TTP also requires a minimum of three complete weekend-long workshops (10 or more hours) given by different International Hatha Yoga Teachers who are not local to your community.

An International Hatha Yoga Teacher is defined as:

an instructor who has been invited to give a workshop and is not local or near to the community hosting that workshop. This teacher is recognized within his / her chosen yoga tradition as having a level of expertise beyond that of the senior instructors local to that community. In this way students can be exposed to different styles, directions and expertise beyond the level in their community.

Inquiries regarding qualifications of specific teachers can be directed to the Coordinator.

13. How long is the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course?

The YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training course is a 300-hour program. It may be completed in a minimum of two years providing the student fulfills all requirements. If a TTP student is in the program for longer than five years, his / her status will be reviewed by the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and Certification Committee.

14. Can I apply for certification if I finish the 300 hours before two years are up?

No, a student can not apply for certification until he / she has studied for at least two years, even if he / she has completed the 300 hours in less than two years. The two years of study gives the mimimal time needed for the integration of knowledge into a student’s own practice and his / her chosen yoga style of teaching.

15. I have a Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from another training institution. Can I apply for YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification?

Yes, a certified teacher from a Non-YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program can apply for YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification. In order to receive YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification, a student / teacher must have met the YAA teacher training / certification requirements. For example: the YAA requires completion of a pre-requisite of 2 years of attending formal Hatha Yoga classes prior to entering any teacher training program, and is a 300-hour program with a minimum of two years of teacher training. Full details can be found in Section III-3 of the Syllabus and Guidelines. Hours may be combined from more than one certificate.

If a teacher, who has been certified with a Non-YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program, wishes to apply for YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification, he / she needs to

Submit the requirements he /she completed during teacher training using the YAA Initial Certification forms in the document mentioned above. (All forms in Appendix G.) If possible, the senior teacher from that program should verify by signing the completed Summary Spreadsheet, assignment list and class topics sheet, and initialing beside each component completed.

If applicable, submit a record of all teaching / employment hours as well as a record of all of classes and workshops taken since the initial teacher training certification. Please use the Recertification worksheets for this purpose. (Appendix H-2 & H-3.)

The YAA Teacher Training & Certification Committee will review your completed requirements and advise you as to whether you meet the YAA Initial Certification requirements.

Please note if there are requirements missing, the applicant may be considered for partial credit towards the YAA Teacher Training Program. In order to receive any credit, the student must fulfill the remaining requirements while registered in the YAA Teacher Training Program under the mentorship of a YAA Certified Senior Teacher. (See question #11 above on finding and choosing a Senior Teacher.)

16. I have a workshop based Teacher Training Certificate from another training institution that does not fulfill all of the YAA Certification requirements. Can I still apply for YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification?

If the student does not meet the YAA Certification requirements, he / she may be considered for partial credit towards the YAA Teacher Training Program. In order to receive any credit, the student must fulfill the remaining requirements while registered in the YAA Teacher Training Program under the mentorship of a YAA Certified Senior Teacher. The YAA TTP may also be taken concurrently with workshop based teacher training programs (see Question #7). See the Be A Teacher page for more information on the YAA Teacher Training Program or dowload the Syllabus and Guidelines.

17. How can I get insurance? I have a Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from another training institution. What qualifications are required for insurance?

Only YAA Certified Teachers may obtain insurance under the umbrella of the YAA's insurance policy. To apply for YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification see question #15 above.

18. How long does YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification last?

YAA Certified Hatha Yoga Teachers meet professional upgrading standards and recertify every three years, maintaining attendance in both classes/workshops and teaching hours. YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Recertification requires attendance at 300 hours of Hatha Yoga Classes and Workshops every three years. There is a minimum of 150 hours required as attendance as a student, and a minimum of 50 required hours of teaching. For more details on YAA Recertification requirements, see Section III-4 of the Syllabus & Guidelines and Appendix H for required documentation.

19. I am a longstanding member of the Yoga Association of Alberta and have been a certified teacher for many years. Is there automatic certification renewal or permanent certification available?

The YAA no longer grants permanent certificates. As well, certifications are not automatically renewed. The YAA takes the responsibility of reminding certified teachers when it is time for them to recertify and the teachers, in turn, are responsible for applying for recertification. Automatic renewal of certification is not granted to any certified teacher.

20. If a yoga teacher is a member of the Yoga Association of Alberta does this mean that he / she is also a YAA Certified Teacher?

No. There are yoga teachers, who are members of the YAA, but who are not certified through the YAA.

There are three distinct categories in the Yoga Association of Alberta – YAA Membership; YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training and YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification. Their distinguishing features are as follows:

YAA Membership – YAA Full, Associate and Lifetime Members fall under this category. Anyone can be a member of the Yoga Association of Alberta (e.g. yoga practitioners, yoga teachers, and individuals from the general public).

YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training – Only YAA members who are registered in the YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program fall under this category. For more information about YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Program visit the Be A Teacher page or download the Syllabus and Guidelines.

YAA Hatha Yoga Certification – Only Yoga Association of Alberta Certified Hatha Yoga Teachers fall under this category. In order to qualify for Certification, a yoga teacher must be a full member of the YAA; must have met the YAA Certification requirements through the YAA Teacher Training Program or through a non-YAA Teacher Training Program; and must have applied and been approved for YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification by the YAA Teacher Training and Certification Committee and the YAA Executive. For more information about YAA Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification visit the visit the Be A Teacher page or download the Syllabus and Guidelines.

21. What if I have additional questions regarding YAA Teacher Training and Certification?

The Coordinator for the YAA Teacher Training and Certification Program can be contacted at yaa.cert@telus.net.

For information on other programs and services offered by the YAA, see the About YAA page.