These Standards describe Yoga Alliance’s requirements for a Registered Yoga School that offers a 200-hour training. Topics for a RYS teacher training must be relevant to Yoga Alliance’s five Educational Categories as defined below. Purnam Yogashala RYS provides a minimum number of hours of study in each educational category, and to make up the total 200 required hours, also provides additional hours of study relevant to these categories, which may be distributed according to the school’s chosen emphasis. Purnam Yogashala with a 200-hour training (RYS 200) adequately prepares trainees to teach a general adult population and incorporates training hours in the following Educational Categories:


1.*Techniques, Training and Practice: *
2. Topics in this category could include, but are not limited to: asanas, pranayama, kriyas, chanting,
mantra, meditation, and other traditional yoga techniques. These hours must be a mix between:
1 analytical training in how to teach and practice the techniques, and
2 guided practices of the
techniques themselves. Both areas must receive substantial emphasis.
3. *Teaching Methodology:*
Topics in this category could include, but are not limited to:
* Communication skills such as group dynamics, time management, and the establishment
of priorities and boundaries.
*How to address the specific needs of individuals and special populations, to the degree
possible in a group setting.
* Principles of demonstration, observation, assisting and correcting.
*Teaching styles.
*Qualities of a teacher.
* The student learning process.
* Business aspects of teaching yoga (including marketing and legal).
The Teaching Methodology category covers a broad overview and analysis of teaching methods, rather
than how to practice or teach specific techniques. See the example topics below to help clarify the
differences between the Techniques, Training and Practice category and the Teaching Methodology
category:
*Example Techniques, Training and Practice Topics*
The Five Categories of Asana: The trainee will practice and learn the key poses in each category of asana (standing poses, forward bends, backbends, twists, and inversions) and will begin to develop a relationship to both the form and the function of these different categories. Maps of Alignment: Trainees will achieve comprehension of the alignment maps for each of the five categories of asanas through observation and experience of how the poses in each category share a common foundation, and how to build upon this foundation.
*Example teaching methodology topics*
Principles of Demonstrating Asanas: Discuss how effective demonstrations in class can help emphasize an alignment or other focus for the specific pose or sequence of poses. Learning Modalities: identifying your dominant style, and learning how to teach based on others’ learning styles. Use of Language and Voice: Lecture and discussion on active vs. passive language and the effective use of each; positive and conscious communication, and habitual speech and communication patterns.

*Anatomy and Physiology:*
Topics in this category could include, but are not limited to: human physical anatomy and physiology
(bodily systems, organs, etc.) and may also include energy anatomy and physiology (chakras, nadis, etc.).
Includes both the study of anatomy and physiology along with its application to yoga practice (benefits,
contraindications, healthy movement patterns, etc.).
Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers:
Topics in this category could include, but are not limited to:
The study of yoga philosophies and traditional texts (such as the Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika or
Bhagavad Gita)
Yoga lifestyle, such as the precept of non-violence (ahimsa), and the concepts of dharma and karma.
Ethics for yoga teachers, such as those involving teacher – student relationships and community.
Understanding the value of teaching yoga as a service and being of service to others through yoga (seva).
Practicum:
Topics in this category include:
Practice teaching (does not include assisting, observing, or giving feedback).
Receiving and giving feedback.
Observing others teaching
Techniques,
Asana
Historical context
Poses specific to RYS's lineage—must include sukhasana and savasana
Complete sequencing (asana, pranayama, meditation) to achieve particular effect safely
Shared anatomical and alignment principles plus contraindications
Pranayama & Subtle Body
Historical context
Effects of pranayama on anatomy and subtle body
Complete sequencing of pranayama safely, including alternatives and adaptations Ujjayi, Nadi Shodhana,
Kapalabhati, among others
Koshas, kleshas, chakras, nadis and prana vayus
Meditation
Key meditation terms
Meditation methods by lineage
Ability to practice school's chosen meditation practice
Chanting, mantras, and mudras
Anatomy and physiology:
Anatomy
Skeletal system, incl.:
* Major bones
* Types of joints
* Major muscles involved in asana
* Types of muscle contraction
Physiology
Nervous system, incl.:
* ‘fight, flight, freeze’ stress response, vagal theory, overall mind-body connection
* Cardiovascular/circulatory, endocrine, digestive systems as they relate to yoga practice
* Respiratory system, incl. muscles that affect breathing, involuntary vs voluntary breath, how air
enters and leaves body
Biomechanics
* Types of joint movements
* Joint stabilization
* Safe movement as it pertains to balancing, stretching, awareness, and physical limitations
* Contraindications, misalignments, adaptations
Yoga humanities
History
* Term ‘yoga’
* School’s lineage, style, and methodology
* Dates and key ideas such as the Vedas, Vedanta, Hatha, Colonial, Modern
Philosophy
* Definition of yoga and key terms
* Relationship between asana, pranayama, meditation per school’s approach
* Familiarity w/ major yogic texts (i.e., Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Hatha Yoga
    Pradipika
* Self-reflection on how philosophy relates to practice
*Ethics*
* Awareness of Yoga Sutras or similar yogic ethical precepts
* Relationship to Yoga Alliance Ethical Commitment including Scope of Practice, Code of Conduct,
   and Equity Position Statement
*Comprehension of and responsibility to increase equity in yoga
* Accountability measures
* Self-reflection on how yoga ethics relate to practice and teaching
   Yoga essentials
   Teaching Methodology
    Sequencing
     Pace
Environment Cueing (verbal, visual, physical)
Class management
Professional Development
Yoga-related professional organizations, including the Yoga Alliance credentialing process
Ethical Commitment, including Scope of Practice, Code of Conduct and Equity Position Statement
Lifetime of learning and continuing education
General professionalism, including timeliness, consistency, cleanliness
Marketing and promotion
Practicum (Practice Teaching)