We question the logic of endorsing the medical model for yoga. Of course we do. We invite you to read and consider the perspectives presented on this site and make your own decision. Yoga Freedom believes in and supports ethics, education, training and certifications relating to specific disciplines. Certifications serve the yoga consumer well in helping select a school or teacher.
Certifications illustrate a teacher's dedication to a particular discipline.
Do ethics statements have value when they simply consist of platitudes developed by a committee and are thrust upon those who only sign in order to get or keep their livelihood. It seeks to uphold the integrity of Yoga, establish voluntary national standards for yoga teachers, and provide support for yoga professionals in the United States. Rather, membership in this voluntary organization's national yoga teacher registry is being promoted to the public, fitness providers, medical community and insurance companies as the litmus test for teacher competency. Such funding is also used by standards organizations to lobby for licensing and other regulatory legislation though we have not yet seen any initiative taken at the Yoga Alliance. Existing commercial yoga publications must understandably be considerate of the desires of their most important advertisers, who have a strong financial interest in standardization and licensure.