F. A. Q. on Teacher Training Courses & Providers
Q: Can any yoga school or teacher deliver a Certificate or Diploma for Yoga teachers?
A: No. Here is what is required:
1. The Qualifications for Teacher Training
Qualifications such as Certificate 1,2,3,4, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelor, Masters, Doctor are Australian government protected words to indicate a certain standard of educational qualification, equal for all training. It is illegal to offer such qualifications unless registered with the government. Providers of such qualifications have had to provide initial and then ongoing rigorous evidence of educational, ethical, academic and business standards. When accepted they are granted registration numbers and listed on the Government website for all to see. A standardisation process, such as one that has had this scrutiny allows you and your qualification national recognition, across any field or industry.
Within the yoga fraternity there are a few teachers and organisations claiming to offer such qualifications, without being government accredited. They are in breach of the law, and in breach of yamas and niyamas, the universal ethical principles upon which yoga is based. At the end of the day, these qualifications are not bone fide. One would generally not expect yoga people to be dishonest. This jeapodises the credibility of all yoga providers and places the profession in disrepute. This also provides fuel and ammunition for those who are anit-yoga and are yoga's detractors.
This can happen because there are currently no regulations or licensing requirements to teach yoga anywhere. Popular yoga associations provide membership to yoga teachers and schools, for an appropriate fee, to those who comply with their standards of education. However, these associations have often been initiated, run and supported by those teachers who who seek validation for their classes and courses without appropriate training and qualifications themselves. Additionally, break-away associations spring up. These glean many members from bona fide associations who have strict requirements for full teaching memberships. Thus various schools and institutes provide "certification" to students who have completed their yoga training programs.
The requirements for certification rest solely with each individual yoga school or institute, and may or may not meet the same standards required by another school, yoga association, and are not necessarily in par with an equivalent qualification in any other discipline. The Health Institute offers nationally recognised courses that match industry standards and are suitable for articulation in higher education.
2. Registered Training Organisation, R.T.O.
RTO stands for a Registered Training Organisation, which is by definition, an Australian Government recognised college. It protects the fair rights of students, such as student fees, disputes, refunds etc. Additionally students are eligible for government funding and support, such as austudy, rent assistance etc.
The Health Institute is a government registered training organisation no. 30834
3. The Trainers
The trainer must be qualified by having at least done the course itself or equivalent, also from a government recognised training organisation. This must be documented and certified.
All our trainers for yoga and ayurveda have done our courses.
Additionally THI has visiting Ayurvedic doctors, who have completed their training in India to deliver our courses.
4. The Course itself
To be registered, the course must be submitted for scrutiny and approval, or it can be purchased from another RTO in the Yoga industry who has met the critea for approval of their course/s. If you love your yoga, you will appreciate what a dis-service it is to our industry and profession when the qualifications offered (dishonestly) slip under the radar as a fitness, massage or even an Ayurvedic qualification, as compatible and complimentary as such qualifications are to a yoga teacher.
Our accredited course codes for Yoga are:
Certificate IV in Yoga and Life Education (Accredited Code: 30847)
Diploma of Yoga Teaching (Accredited Code: 30848)
Advanced Diploma of Yoga (Accredited Code: 30849)
THI courses and resources are value packed. They have been written by yoga professionals and contextualised for ultimate relevance. They have been tried, tested and refined and are currently, successfully implemented at all Shanti Yoga centres. They can be stand alone, or nestled; build progressively and are updated and augmented on-goingly. Small groups are more cohesive and supportive for study. At your training, the student-teacher ratio is high, so students receive quality, personalised attention. You also get to know your fellow trainees well.
5. The Facilities
The facilities of an RTO are also scrutinised. The big advantage of having our dedicated training facilities is that everything is designed for yoga, both in town and at retreat, where everything is systematised. We make the food, provide the linen, yoga mats, and so on. it's easy to focus when you're well taken care of. Everything is so conducive to the study of yoga and ayurveda.
6. The Assessor
The assessor must have current qualifications in Cert IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Yoga and qualifications in workplace and assessment and training to be capable of assessing and qualifying the students at that particular level.
All our assessors have these qualifications.
7. Industry Recognition
Industry recognition is usually provided from a yoga association. Membership in these associations remain voluntary. In the interest of self regulating the industry, some yoga associations register teacher training courses and providers for a higher fee than regular membership fees. This does not mean that their students get the same protection and benefits as they do from government registered training college, such as ours.
Our association is Shanti Yoga Teacher's Association (SYTA)
Shanti Yoga teachers instruct yoga along the methods set forth by Shanti Gowans. They demonstrate a commitment to maintaining the purity, excellence and high standards, without mixing in other styles or disciplines. They maintain a regular, personal practice, continue their training with senior teachers or by travelling to the Shanti Yoga Health Institute on the Gold Coast in Australia. Students can be confident of the quality, authenticity and safety of the yoga being taught.
8. Overseas Students
Further registration and strict rules apply to supply overseas students because such registration enables the organisation to issue Australian government student visas for the intending student. Educational Institutions which provide courses for international students are legally required to register on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) and to comply with the Educational services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS), which is principally designed as consumer protection for overseas students. The Health Institute offers overseas students study for upto three years for Advanced Diploma in Ayurveda. Courses
The Health Institute Cricos Provider code is: 03098E
