About Yoga Alliance

Yoga Alliance was formed in 1999, establishing a national Yoga Teachers' Registry to recognize and promote teachers with training guidelines that meet minimum standards of competence and comprehensive experience. Teachers who meet these standards are eligible to register as Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT®s). In 2005, in conjunction with enhanced and revised standards for registration, we began recognizing and registering teachers with significant teaching experience in addition to training. These teachers can register as Experienced Registered Yoga Teachers (E-RYTs).

Yoga Alliance also maintains a Registry of Yoga Schools to recognize yoga teacher training programs that meet our 200-Hour and 500-Hour standards. A school whose curriculum satisfies or exceeds our minimum training standards may apply to register as a Registered Yoga School (RYS®). Once a school is registered, all graduates of a RYS are automatically eligible to register with us as RYTs.

Mark Stephens is registered with Yoga Alliance at its advanced level, E–RYT 500, and operates a Registered Yoga School offering 200–Hour and 500–Hour Yoga Teacher Certification.