Registered Prenatal Yoga School (RPYS) Standards

Last Updated: July 19, 2023

Following are Yoga Alliance’s Standards for a Registered Yoga School that offers a Prenatal Yoga training. Topics for RPYS’s teacher trainings must be relevant to Yoga Alliance’s five Educational Categories as defined below. Additionally, RPYS curriculum includes Requirements related to: ‘General Background in the Specialty Area’.

1. General Background in the Specialty Area: 5 Hours
   
   Minimum Contact Hours: 5 hours
   Minimum Contact Hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 0 hours
   
   Understanding the yoga teacher’s relationship with health care professionals. Knowing when to suggest that the student consult a health care professional regarding pregnancy issues. Understanding of psychological considerations during pregnancy and how to differentiate between high-risk and non-high-risk pregnancy.


2. Techniques, Training and Practice: 25 Hours
   
   Minimum Contact Hours: 25 hours
   Minimum Contact Hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 18 hours
   
   Includes yoga techniques specialized to the needs of the pregnant person, including practice and teaching skills for trimester-specific yoga techniques. Techniques include: alignment for the expectant parent, appropriate yoga techniques for each trimester, how to practice yoga techniques safely and relaxation and stress management techniques.


3. Teaching Methodology: 10 Hours
   
   Minimum Contact Hours: 10 hours
   Minimum Contact Hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 6 hours
   
   Includes design of lesson plans for the beginning and/or advanced student during each trimester.


4. Anatomy and Physiology: 10 Hours
   
   Minimum Contact Hours: 10 hours
   Minimum Contact Hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 0 hours
   
   Human anatomy and physiology (both physical and subtle body) related specifically to considerations during pregnancy. Topics include but are not limited to: overview of what is normal anatomy and physiology during pregnancy, how organs function during pregnancy, overview of the complications, including miscarriage, premature labor, hypertension, preeclampsia and body mechanics.


5. Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle and Ethics for Yoga Teachers: 5 Hours
   
   Minimum Contact Hours: 5 hours
   Minimum Contact Hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 0 hours
   
   Includes traditional yoga philosophy as it may apply to lifestyle and well-being during pregnancy.


6. Practicum: 20 Hours
   
   Minimum Contact Hours: 20 hours
   Minimum Contact Hours w/ Lead Trainer(s): 12 hours
   
   Practicum hours are divided between hours spent observing a specialty class and hours spent teaching a specialty class. A portion of each type of hours need to be with the Lead Trainer(s).
   
   Observing teaching, Contact Hours: 10 hours (6 hours of these must be with Lead Trainer(s)).
   
   These hours must be spent observing another teacher leading a prenatal yoga class. A portion of these hours must be spent with Lead Trainer(s).
   
   Teaching, Contact Hours: 10 hours (6 hours of these must be with Lead Trainer(s) and at least 4 hours of the 6 hours must be as lead teacher).
   
   These hours must be spent teaching a prenatal yoga class. A portion of these hours must be spent with Lead Trainers and as lead teacher of the class.


7. Elective Hours: 10 Hours
   
   Elective hours (10 hours) to be distributed among Educational Categories according to the school’s chosen emphasis (may be Contact or Non-Contact Hours).


8. Total Hours: 85 Hours
   
   Total minimum Contact Hours: 75 hours
   Total minimum Contact Hours with Lead Trainer(s): 36 hours


9. Distance Learning
   
   RPYS programs can offer training programs in multiple formats, including 100% in-person, 100% distance learning, or a mix of both.
   
   RYSs utilizing 100% distance learning are required to deliver a minimum of 15% of the program hours in a synchronous format (teachers and students gather online at the same to interact in real-time). For the RPYS training, this means a minimum of 13 hours.