Keep the Pressure On, Colorado!

Have you been following recent media coverage on Yoga Alliance®’s and Colorado yoga community’s opposition to the Division of Private Occupational Schools’ (DPOS) efforts to impose burdensome and expensive requirements on yoga teacher training programs (YTTs)? The Denver Post has been covering this issue extensively, and its Editorial Board supports our cause! You can view their articles detailing our progress here, here, and here.

Over the past few weeks, Yoga Alliance has been contacting Colorado regulators and legislators on behalf on the yoga community, organizing meet-ups, attending DPOS meetings and marching the halls of the State Capitol. Our efforts have been effective so far; the DPOS has temporarily suspended its efforts to enforce new requirements on YTTs until late March, but we need to keep the pressure on!

We have to show Colorado’s lawmakers that the yoga community is a strong, united group that will continue to work to preserve the diversity and integrity of our beloved practice. If you oppose the unnecessary and harmful regulation of YTTs in Colorado, there are many ways to get involved. You can:

1. Send more letters! Our elected officials are getting your letters and they are listening, but we need more!  Model letters for the Governor, Lt. Governor and state legislators as well as instructions on how to send are available here. Just print, sign and send – and ask your friends to do it too! This is by far the easiest and quickest way to help us keep momentum going.
   
   
2. Prep for Meetings with Legislators. Over the coming weeks there will likely be opportunities for you to share your story to state legislators. If you have not already done so, but would like to be involved with these efforts directly, shoot us an email at info@yogaalliance.org. 
   
   
3. Sign the Petition! Tell government regulators why burdening YTTs is unnecessary and harmful. Over 1,000 yogis have already added their names; have you?
   
   
4. Speak Out on Social Media. Using the hashtag #ProtectColoradoYoga, share why you oppose DPOS’ harmful regulations. You can also share and retweet our messages to help get the word out.  Don’t forget to include Governor Hickenlooper (@hickforco), Lt. Governor Lynne (@LtGovofCO), and your state representatives in your messages

Thank you to the many of you who have already written letters, volunteered to attend hearings and meetings, and organized and participated in demonstrations to further our cause.  Your support and enthusiasm is inspiring, and we look forward to continuing our work to protect Colorado yoga.