About 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)

  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.