Comments on: Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy

By: Yoga For NY Benefit Party Jan 21: Get Your Drink On, Win Prizes, Support Yoga

Yoga For NY Benefit Party Jan 21: Get Your Drink On, Win Prizes, Support Yoga — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:35:21 +0000

[...] Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy [...]

By: Updates: Missouri Tax, VA State Licensing, Yoga and Religion in America

Updates: Missouri Tax, VA State Licensing, Yoga and Religion in America — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:30:50 +0000

[...] Earlier…Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy [...]

By: Robert Frommer

Robert Frommer — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:26:38 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUrxaukGzQw

By: Robert Frommer

Robert Frommer — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:26:20 +0000

For a great video that explains the theory of the case in more detail, check out

By: Liz2

Liz2 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:13:16 +0000

Hmmm. I don’t fully understand this issue, but I’m not as dead-set against regulation as some people are. Saying “it’s up to the students to decide if you are a competent teacher” is a stretch. Why not simply allow patients to decide who is a competent doctor? Or lawyer? These regulations are in place to protect the consumer.
The glut of teacher training programs out there is really discouraging. There are simply too many teachers being churned out, because these programs are cash-cows for studios.
On the other hand, the taxes will be oppressive enough to keep all but the larger corporate studios from having programs, so that can’t be a solution either….
I don’t know. Maybe I’m missing something.

By: Bob Weisenberg

Bob Weisenberg — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:32:37 +0000

This issue popped up on Yoga Journal’s “Yoga Buzz” today. I referred readers to YogaDork for in-depth coverage. Here’s what I wrote there;

“I haven’t been following this issue closely enough to know the answer to your question, “Do you think this argument will hold up?”. But anyone interested in this issue should definitely read the YogaDork blog:

“Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy”
http://bit.ly/8qifam

There are lots of links there to previous YogaDork coverage and other outside resources.

I thought the most curious thing in the YogaDork coverage was that the Yoga Alliance is neutral about licensing. Must be some really interesting politics behind that. Or perhaps just a difference of opinion.

The problem with the free speech argument is that many Yoga programs really are 99% exercise programs. If other exercise programs are regulated, it would be hard to argue these Yoga programs should be exempt.

But those Yoga programs that include a heavy dose of spirituality and philosophy would probably fit the free speech argument to a tee.

I can see how the regulators would be confused because Yoga is much more diverse than the average business they’re regulating. But then, wouldn’t this be an strong argument in itself NOT to regulate it?

Just thinking out loud here. I don’t know enough to speak with any authority on the subject. I just feel for my many Yoga teacher friends who are afraid of what if would mean for their businesses.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

By: Siouxsie Law

Siouxsie Law — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:42:22 +0000

Even if regulating certain yoga studios is a bad idea, it seems like a stretch (pun intended) to argue that it violates free speech to do so. I look forward to reading the complaint as soon as I can track it down. It does seem a little weird though to see yoga instructors teaming up with the country’s leading gun-rights lawyer. It should be an interesting case.

By: Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy at Flash Media

Yoga Teachers Sue VA State: Licensing Debate Gets Hairy at Flash Media — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:47:20 +0000

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