Launch of the Ethical Commitment and a Strengthened Era of Accountability > The Ethical Commitment > Scope of Practice
Scope of Practice
Last Updated: February 27, 2020
The first-ever Yoga Alliance Scope of Practice (SOP) clearly defines the role of a yoga teacher, including responsibilities, limitations, and boundaries, such as advising and teaching according to credentials, experience, or abilities.
The SOP applies to every Yoga Alliance member and provides a clear, responsible, and non-lineage-specific description of yoga teaching, practice standards, and professional responsibilities for all Yoga Alliance members. The SOP sets out acceptable, recommended, required, and prohibited practices by which members agree to conduct themselves, and members must adhere to the SOP while teaching yoga. It is based upon core values intrinsic to the practice of yoga.
The SOP is an integral part of the overall Ethical Commitment to which a Member must agree, along with Yoga Alliance’s Code of Conduct, position on equity, and all other Yoga Alliance policies.
In addition to the creation of relevant and useful tools and resources, Yoga Alliance will also host member conversations about the new Scope of Practice. These dialogues will help to increase shared accountability amongst this voluntary community and advance our goal of fostering high quality, safe, accessible, and equitable yoga teaching.
Purpose
Extracted from the Scope of Practice.
Yoga Alliance™ and the Yoga Alliance Foundation™ envision a world in which access to high quality teaching and practicing of yoga is equitable for all and elevates collective wellbeing and human consciousness. The purpose of the SOP and the overall Ethical Commitment is to foster safe and respectful guidelines for the Business of yoga and to assure that Yoga Alliance members maintain a high level of teaching ability and accountability.
By defining and requiring high standards of professional and ethical conduct, Yoga Alliance seeks to promote confidence and respect for members throughout yoga communities and the public at large. This includes: (a) broadening the public understanding of the role of the RYT; (b) ensuring and upholding professional behavior within the Yoga Alliance community; (c) developing and encouraging high standards of professional conduct; and (d) promoting and protecting the interests of the profession of yoga teaching and of the Yoga Alliance members we serve.