Comments on: VA Licensing Update: Yogis Rally Rebuttal, Open Avocation vs. A Vocation Debate

By: Senate Bill Passed! VA Yoga Freed from State Regulation

Senate Bill Passed! VA Yoga Freed from State Regulation — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:45:38 +0000

[...] right to freedom of speech VA yoga teachers beat the gov for exemption from regulation and from falling under the terms of “vocation” in VA State. In the same way NY yogis have been fighting to stay out from under the [...]

By: Veronica Braun

Veronica Braun — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:57:34 +0000

Hi Julia,
Dance teachers are not licensed by the state but our teacher training program is required to be. I agree, it doesn’t make any sense to require one but not the other. I am all for consumer protection but I think there needs to be a different (lesser) fee and less burdensome regulations for our type of schools. I am a very small school (only 6 students), and the financial and regulatory issues are a huge burden. The state lumps us all in the same category as private schools like Strayer University, Bryant and Stratton college, etc. That said, however, I have found having a certification from SCHEV gives us alot of benefits. It sets our program apart from other non-licensed schools. Students can get scholarships and some other financial aid, and it makes your program appear more professinal and attract a higher quality (more serious) student. Also the state promotes us along with other vocational schools in their liturature, career fairs, etc. The licensing process forced us to put down all our policies (including refund policies) in writing which protects you as a school owner in case of a dispute with a student. Yes, it is an expensive and burdensome process, but for me, the benefits have out-weighed the negatives.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:09:36 +0000

Massage therapists are different BECAUSE they are licensed by the state. Yoga teachers are not – therefore it doesn’t make any sense to license the teacher training programs.

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:09:19 +0000

“Are we going to add massage therapists into the mix here?”

in my state massage therapists are most definitely regulated by the state — they need to be licensed.

By: Veronica Braun

Veronica Braun — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:15:50 +0000

Just found your blog, very interesting. One person commented “what’s next dance teacher training being regulated?”. Well, YES. I own a ballroom dance teacher training program in Virginia and we are required to be certified by SCHEV (State Council of Higher Ed. for Virginia). But we are the only one in Virginia that is certified. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of ballroom teacher training programs in Virginia that are not required to be certified. They get around it by calling their programs “apprenticeship” or “employee training”. The name of your program apparently does matter. Either that, or I have been unfairly singled out.

By: Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy

Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:37:35 +0000

[...] The licensing battle of VA Yoga studios VS. the State is getting hairy – Three yoga teachers have moved to sue! Operating on the defense that regulating [...]

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:09:12 +0000

I hope that YA realizes that if regulation is passed by the states they set themselves up to become irrelevant and disappear. Once the states set precedence of regulation and fees, they will want to take over the standards organization and corner any funds they might be generating as well.

By: Bob Weisenberg

Bob Weisenberg — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:26:43 +0000

I can see a realitiy show in the making here, Svasti.

By: Svasti

Svasti — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:08:09 +0000

Haha, have to meet said sugar daddy first!
And if there’s a brother, I’ll be advertising his availability on Yoga Dork, hehe…

By: Bob Weisenberg

Bob Weisenberg — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:17:49 +0000

Good thoughts, Svasti. I enjoyed discovering your blog site.

Bob