By Sarah Berry
(First Published in Network Fitness Magazine, 2011)

The fitness industry leads the charge. Now some say that it’s time for yoga in Australia to follow suit and acquire government-accredited regulation.

The Certificate IV in Yoga Teaching is setting these wheels in motion, enthuses Byron Yoga Centre’s Director, John Ogilvie. “The Certificate IV which we offer at Byron Yoga Centre is a nationally approved, government-created course that is a really important development in bettering the profession and quality of teaching as a whole,” says John.

Yoga, within Australia, is currently self-regulated with recommended guidelines in place and many teacher training courses registered with the YTAA (Yoga Teachers Association of Australia). However, adhering to the set protocols is not compulsory and there is no shortage of teachers who have completed non-YTAA approved courses.

“The YTAA does a great job, but they have limited resources with which to monitor and maintain safe industry standards across the board,” John reveals. “Currently, there are teacher training courses where the operator only completed their own training 6 months prior. There are also far too many graduates who might have theoretical knowledge, but who have never taught a single posture. It isn’t enough just to be able to “do” the posture, we need to know how to teach them safely to others, especially beginners. ”

The introduction of the government and VETAB (Vocational Education and Training Board) approved Certificate IV in yoga, is a big step in the right direction, he says.

“Before the fitness industry was regulated, problems arose from people training others who weren’t properly trained themselves and who didn’t have the appropriate background and knowledge,” he explains. “And although it was a painful process for some very skilled trainers who had decades of experience and still had to go and get certified, the fitness industry is now so much stronger and healthier as a result of being regulated. I believe that regulation of the yoga profession is important for the same reasons. We ensure a minimum standard is maintained and that all teachers achieve a proper qualification.”

As one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in Australia (the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed, in 2003, that yoga had taken over Aussie Rules Football in popularity), the importance of instructors being correctly trained is paramount.

“Most people’s first introduction to yoga is through their local gym or health centre,” says Fitness educator and Head of Development for Byron Yoga Centre, Liz Dene. “And when you consider the fact that gyms attract a hugely diverse mix of people, abilities and injuries, you really want to ensure the teacher knows what they’re doing and how to help people modify postures as necessary.”

With a government accredited course, such as the Certificate IV, aspiring teachers can be confident in the quality and relevance of the teaching they’ll receive and health clubs and yoga studio employers alike can trust that they are engaging thoroughly trained teachers.

“The process of obtaining a license to teach a Certificate IV is rigorous,” John says. “The school is reviewed by a panel of experts, whose purpose is to ensure that our instructions can be adaptable to various styles of yoga, but have a very strong focus on postural alignment, safe adjustments, correct practices and OH&S. This course is setting a whole new standard for the profession.”

Liz Dene agrees. “VETAB changed the fitness industry. Now, the Cert IV is upgrading the quality of yoga course available, which is really exciting,” she says. “This is particularly important as yoga becomes more and more mainstream. It’s long been recognised that yoga reduces stress levels and helps to improve balance, range of motion and performance. But, some still considered it ‘airy fairy’. The Cert IV is looked over by independent bodies and experts in various fields which gives it that scientific backing and endorsement.”

In addition to providing students with a comprehensive and high-calibre understanding of yoga pillars including asana, philosophy, meditation and pranyama, the Cert IV equips trainees with the necessary practical skills to take their learning out into the real world.

“They also get their first aid certificate, learn marketing and business skills, so that they can run effectively as a contractor or run their own studio,” John says. “This helps new teachers optimize the time they invest and understand the hidden costs so their income adequately meets expenses. Our vision is to help prepare people adequately so that we can bring the joy of yoga to everyone.”

As one of only a handful of schools in Australia authorized to teach the Certificate IV, Byron Yoga Centre is at the forefront of these significant developments within the profession.

“Yoga is here to stay,” Liz says. “And as people become more aware of the holistic benefits - that it works to calm their whole nervous system, helps their breathing and is complementary to other forms of exercise - we are seeing yoga take peak time-slots in gyms and health clubs all over the country. So, we’re thrilled that our courses are at the cutting edge of improving industry standards.”

Byron Yoga Centre’s next Certificate IV starts on July 25th. Click here for more information.