About
The research is clear...
In study after study, the practice of Modern Yoga has been shown to be not only one of the most effective forms of preventative medicine known to humankind, but also one of the best ways to cultivate and maintain good health—both mental as well as physical.
Among the many benefits of a regular yoga practice are:
- Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
- Reduced cholesterol
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Reduced stress
- Reduced inflammation
- Easing of chronic pain
- Effective management of anxiety and depression
- Effective management of PTSD
- Increased strength and flexibility
- Improved cognitive function and memory
- Improved immune function
- Improved digestion
- Improved quality of sleep
- Improved bone density
- Improved sexual function
- Higher reported overall quality of life
The AYP Mission
The mission of The Association of Yoga Professionals is simple: to raise the bar for yoga.
By upholding the highest standards in yoga education and practice, we aspire to help as many people as possible live happier, healthier, more fulfilling lives.
We believe in both modern science, as well as the centuries of personal experience shared by millions of practitioners, which together affirm that yoga—when taught and practiced skillfully—can profoundly enhance physical, mental and emotional well-being for people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs.
At the same time, we recognize that modern science and personal experience also affirm that if not adapted to the needs of the individual, yoga may bring little to no benefit at all—or even cause harm.
To address this, The AYP is committed to:
• Certifying yoga teachers with the skills, knowledge and experience required to meet diverse student needs;
• Supporting teachers in continually expanding their expertise and professionalism;
• Connecting students of yoga with the teachers best qualified to serve their needs.
By setting clear standards of excellence and accountability, providing resources for teachers to grow their craft and business, and maintaining a directory of Certified Yoga Teachers and Member Studios and Schools, The AYP is working to raise the bar for both teachers and students of yoga alike.
The Story of The AYP
The Association of Yoga Professionals was born in 2019 out of a growing concern within the global yoga community that standards for becoming a yoga teacher were both too low and too poorly enforced, and that too often this was resulting in students receiving instruction that was either unsafe, ineffective or both.
As a longtime lover of both yoga and problem solving, I couldn’t help but feel like we could do better. With a small group of dedicated colleagues, we formed a Board of Directors, established The AYP as a registered 501(c)(6) non-profit, and consulted with many veteran teachers to design higher standards and a stronger system of accountability.
Then we launched—in early March of 2020—exactly two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic caused every yoga studio on earth to close its doors, in many cases permanently.
It was hardly the start we envisioned. But the mission was still very much alive, so we adapted. For the next several years, we continued to operate on a small scale, hosting outdoor events and teacher trainings while refining our mission and building resources to serve a rapidly changing yoga landscape.
Now that the dust from the pandemic has largely settled, it is clear that yoga is still very much in demand. With more and more people all around the world turning to it for help with a wide variety of physical and mental health conditions, qualified yoga teachers are needed now more than ever.
The AYP is here to meet that need. By offering a comprehensive Certification Exam, a peer-reviewed application process and mandatory ethics course, as well as a growing library of resources, we are committed to helping teachers excel and students thrive— keeping the torch of yoga burning bright for generations to come.
This work is our dharma and our seva, our duty and our service to the yoga community. If it calls to you, we hope you will join our movement!
With Gratitude & Great Hope for the Future,
Brent Laffoon (Founder and Board Member)