As a 501(c)(6) professional society, YA+ will be able to serve the yoga community in ways that go beyond the scope of Yoga Alliance’s charter as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The creation of YA+ for the purposes of voluntary teacher certification, public policy lobbying and other related activities is consistent with YA’s broader purpose of supporting Yoga.

YA+ is devoted to the professionalization of the teaching of Yoga and the promotion of the teaching of Yoga by credentialed individuals. Possible activities of YA+ include: affinity programs, creation of a recognition program for yoga studios that meet certain professional standards, community organizing, grassroots lobbying and legislative lobbying. As a professional society, YA+ will be able to offer credentials such as voluntary teacher certification. A certification program will promote the status of individual yoga teachers, improve the overall quality of Yoga teachings and work to protect public health and safety.

Members of YA+ will have exclusive access to the online YA+ community, forums and state caucuses. This private community of yoga professionals and those that train or employ yoga professionals facilitates communication, allowing members to share personal experiences and gain feedback and advice from other YA+ members. Another important benefit of membership is the ability to share opinions regarding emerging issues in the yoga community with the Board of Directors and leadership of YA+ through the YA+ House of Delegates.

As YA+ develops, members will be eligible for other benefits as well. YA+ Affinity Partner programs are currently under development. YA+ intends to make liability insurance available to its members before the end of the year. YA+ members will also enjoy reduced prices on any YA+ services or products made available to the public. If you are interested in becoming an YA+ Affinity Partner, please fill out an application.

YA+ will support the teaching of Yoga by credentialed individuals in the interest of public health and safety and the development of the professionalization of yoga teachings. Yoga is an emerging industry, and YA+ membership shows commitment and dedication to the growing yoga community.

All YA+ members will automatically be enrolled in a caucus based on their geographic location. There will be caucuses for members in all U.S. states and territories as well as for all international members. From these caucuses, the President of YA+ will select delegates to represent their caucus’s voice on matters of importance, such as state regulation. These delegates will make up the YA+ House of Delegates and will meet once a year to discuss needs of the professional society. This year’s meeting will take place at the first annual Leadership Conference in Indian Wells, California.

Check out the State Caucus Charter

State Caucus Members

Membership in each State Caucus will be granted automatically to each individual member in good standing of YA+.

State Delegations and the House of Delegates

The President of YA+ will select a small number of delegates from each State Caucus to serve as that state’s State Delegation. All of the State Delegations will together make up the House of Delegates. The House of Delegates will serve as the primary advisory body to the President and, through the President, to the Board of YA+. The number of Delegates selected from each state will be determined by the total number of caucus members in that state, with each state providing up to a maximum of one delegate for each 100 caucus members or portion of 100. Delegates will serve as organizers and leaders of their respective State Caucus. Delegates will be expected to participate actively in their State Caucus and to attend an annual House of Delegates meeting that YA+ will organize.

YA+ will organize and support the work of the caucuses, delegations, and the House of Delegates, subject to budget and programmatic priorities.

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Review the State Delegate Selection Process

Selection Process

Delegates are selected by the President from interested applicants. A delegate position may be filled at any time for a term of one year, measured from the date of appointment. A delegate’s appointment may be renewed for additional terms, at the sole discretion of the President. A delegate may resign at any time by providing written notice to the President. The President may remove a delegate at any time by providing written notice of the removal and the basis for the removal.

Any individual YA+ member in active status may apply to become a delegate, please consider the following selection criteria:

Selection Criteria

• The applicant must have demonstrated leadership, preferably within the yoga community in their state.
• The applicant must support the work of YA+.
• The applicant must be able to work well in diverse groups and be respectful and supportive of other delegates and of others with whom they work when serving as a delegate.
• Because delegates will be privy to the development of YA+ initiatives, the applicant must sign a confidentiality agreement as a condition of service.
• The applicant must attend the YA+ House of Delegates Meeting at the annual Leadership Conference, and attend at their expense if a subsidy is not available.
• The applicant must serve as leader and organizer, with their fellow delegates, of their state caucus.
• The applicant must participate online in forums on the YA+ Community, and serve when asked on advisory bodies organized by YA+ on topics of interest to the yoga community.

To apply the registrant must submit an application. The President will contact the applicant within ten business days to acknowledge receiving the application, and will review the application and notify the applicant of the decision as soon as possible thereafter.

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