Updated 10/5/24
Online yoga teacher training has gained popularity in recent years. More and more people are looking to explore this discipline in a flexible and adaptable way. With so many schools and certifications available, it can be challenging to determine which is the best fit for you. That’s why it’s important to understand the role of Yoga Alliance in providing certification for online yoga teacher training. Knowing this will help you choose the best online YTT program that is Yoga Alliance Certified.
What is Yoga Alliance?
Yoga Alliance is a nonprofit organization that represents the yoga community. With over 7,000 Registered Yoga Schools (RYS) and more than 100,000 Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT). The organization is committed to ensuring high-quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga teaching. It does so through the creation of quantitative standards, establishing ethical commitments, and fostering accountability.
The Yoga Alliance certification is considered the benchmark for yoga training and is highly respected within the industry. Many fitness facilities, gyms, and studios require teachers to become certified with a Yoga Alliance-approved program. To receive the certification, you need to complete a 200-hour program, with a minimum of 200 hours of educational training.
Selecting the best Yoga Alliance Certified Online YTT
When selecting an online yoga teacher training certification, it’s essential to weigh your options carefully. You need to choose the school that is right for you. Yoga Alliance’s certification provides a benchmark of quality and ensures that you receive a high-quality education in yoga.
The Yoga Alliance Social Credentialing system requires students who have completed a teacher training program with a Registered Yoga School to review and provide feedback. Feedback content is on the school and their training experience. The reviews from these trainees serve as a valuable source of information. It helps future yoga teachers when selecting the right training program.
To collect these reviews, Yoga Alliance requires all trainees to participate in a survey during the RYT application process. The survey asks for feedback on: the syllabus, the training’s alignment with its learning objectives, the amount of lead teacher contact hours, and whether the trainee would recommend the training. Trainees also have the option to leave general comments.
Yoga schools receive ratings on a scale of one to five stars, based on the experiences of their past alumni. These ratings are publicly available on the Yoga Alliance directory. Schools can choose to publish the reviews left by their former trainees. If a school decides not to make its reviews public, it may be a red flag.
What is Net Promotor Score on Yoga Alliance?
The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a common metric in the business world that gauges the loyalty and enthusiasm of customers or trainees. Unlike the Overall School Rating, which reflects the quality of a teacher training program, the NPS provides insight into how likely trainees who have completed the training would be to recommend it to others in the yoga community.
To calculate the NPS, trainees are asked the question “How likely are you to recommend this teacher training to a friend?” Their answers are categorized into three groups: promoters (9-10), passives (7-8), and detractors (6 or less). By subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters, you calculate the NPS.
A yoga school can choose whether or not to display its NPS on its public profile. However, if it’s not displayed, it could raise a red flag for potential trainees. If a school chooses to hide its NPS, it raises the question of why it would choose to keep this information from the yoga community.
Overall School Rating and the Best Online YTT on Yoga Alliance
The Overall School Rating for each Registered Yoga School (RYS) is publicly displayed on their profile through the Yoga Alliance. The rating is based on trainees’ responses to a question of how likely they would recommend the teacher training program on a scale of 0-10. It is then transformed into a five-star rating. While the Overall School Rating is always public, the schools have the option to reveal additional information regarding their teacher training program, such as:
- Ratings and feedback on the training content
- Ratings and feedback on the knowledge and teaching abilities of the staff
- Net Promoter Score (NPS)
- General comments from trainees.
In our search for advice and information, the internet has become a go-to resource. However, many teacher training programs have ratings and reviews on websites that have affiliations with links that can compromise objectivity. For instance, these links may generate income for the blogger when purchases are made through their site. This creates a conflict of interest. The blogger’s financial gain takes precedence over the best interests of yoga and those who make a living teaching it.
Social Credentialing System and Online YTT
Yoga Alliance’s Social Credentialing System offers a meaningful alternative. Its primary focus is to serve the yoga community and preserve the integrity of both the practice and profession of yoga. It offers a credible and reliable source of information, as opposed to unverified and sometimes biased ratings found on consumer websites and blogs.
Social Credentialing brings transparency and credibility to the yoga community by combining feedback from trainees with established educational and training standards. This expands the Yoga Alliance credentialing process to a more open and dynamic exchange among members of the yoga community.
The system offers benefits to both schools and potential trainees. Schools can use the feedback to improve their yoga teacher training programs, while potential trainees can make informed decisions when choosing a program. It also promotes transparency in training content and encourages self-regulation within the community to ensure compliance with Yoga Alliance Standards.
Four Factors for Choosing your best Online YTT
To ensure a successful yoga teacher career, it’s important to pursue internationally recognized training, such as that approved by Yoga Alliance. Investing in the right online YTT program that is Yoga Alliance certified can lead to long-term success and make you a more knowledgeable and effective teacher. When choosing a school, consider these four factors:
- The school has a current registration with Yoga Alliance
- The school has published authentic reviews on its public profile within Yoga Alliance
- The school has a high Net Promoter Score (ratings of 9 – 10)
- The school has its own Yoga Alliance recognized certificates
Before making a decision, always visit the Yoga Alliance website to review these important factors. If the name of the school is different from the name on the certificate, take caution. Seek out resources to help guide your research.
To start your search you can see the reviews of Soma Yoga Institute on Yoga Alliance. With over 500 graduates and comments from nearly each one, grab yourself a cup of tea to learn about the school from direct from it’s graduates.
OR learn more about Soma Yoga Institute Online YTT and CE? Or find our LIVE Trainings HERE.
