At Circle Yoga Shala, our mission has always been to provide high-quality, transformative yoga therapy education that remains deeply rooted in tradition while evolving with the needs of our students and the communities they serve. We have been an accredited yoga therapy school with the International Association of Yoga Therapy, IAYT, since 2019. Our current accreditation is valid through 2029. However, after careful consideration, we have chosen to transition away from IAYT accreditation to embrace a more flexible and accessible approach to yoga therapy education.

Why This Change?

First, we partnered with the IAYT because they were concerned for rigorous standards defining what yoga therapy is, how it is to be practiced, and the means and methods by which it is to be taught to aspiring students. It took several years to assemble our program and document its nuances per the IAYT's original parameters. We started that process before 2017. Since then, we have witnessed the IAYT's willingness to dilute, or simply not enforce, the original standards. Here's a short list of things that raised the alarm bell for us:

• Reduced In-Person Training Requirements: The process of assessing a client in depth cannot be taught primarily through visual means. In particular, modalities like learning the Ayurvedic pulse techniques require contact and repeated practice, as well as setting up conditions for screening movement, and adapting those conditions to different individuals.

• Use of words like 'patient' and 'diagnosis' by IAYT staff, which the schools are not allowed to use while teaching the program: yoga therapists do not have "patients" and are not qualified to "diagnose".

• Consideration of a 300-hour program for Qualified Healthcare Practitioners, which would have competed with our own 800-hour program, and other accredited schools. They used a 300YTT Yoga Alliance recognized program as a case study. Yoga Alliance schools are not yoga therapy schools and cannot use therapeutic language in the marketing of their programs. This was a conflict on many levels. Thankfully, that initiative failed.

• A mis-use of the word "Yoga" to only mean asana, as evident in the certification exam questions, which misleads teachers and the public with regard to the depth and breadth of the great traditions, and as a consequence, generates a myopic view of what real healing entails.

• An ongoing extension of the original grand-parenting process, which was renamed Portfolio Review, that certifies Yoga Therapists who have not graduated from an accredited program, which competes with the accredited schools. "Certification” means nothing if those who have not met the original standards get the stamp. 

• A hyperfocus on standardization of student assessments over depth of study.

• A continued increase in school fees, which are already exorbitant.

Due to examples like these, we see a worrying trend of diluting or not enforcing the quality standards that initially attracted us to the organization. As we move forward, our standards will surpass existing IAYT requirements without compromising accessibility.

Second, as a small school, we recognize that accreditation comes with significant administrative and financial requirements that ultimately shape the structure and accessibility of our programs. By stepping away from these constraints, we can:

• Expand Our Curriculum to integrate a broader range of healing modalities.

• Increase Accessibility by reducing costs and offering more flexible learning paths, including self-paced and hybrid options.

• Remain True to Our Vision by focusing on a holistic, lineage-based, and student-centered approach rather than conforming to external standardization.

What This Means for You

• Our Commitment to Excellence Remains Unchanged. Our faculty, curriculum, and dedication to high standards continue as always.

• Students Will Receive a Recognized Certification. While we are no longer IAYT-accredited, we will offer an independent certification backed by our school’s expertise and reputation.

• Continued Career & Community Support. We remain committed to helping our graduates succeed by providing mentorship, networking opportunities, and guidance on professional pathways.

This transition allows us to serve more students, offer more adaptable training, and uphold the integrity of yoga therapy in accordance with our values. We sincerely appreciate your trust and support as we pursue this vision.

With a continued commitment to excellence,

Matt & Holly

Here are highlights of the timeline exchanges with the IAYT during our last re-accreditation process, which took a full year despite the initial accreditation process. This shows that their instructions and processes change frequently, and we're expected to comply.