A group of yoga professionals from the Rio Grande Valley is pressing state lawmakers to keep government regulation out of their business. Flexibility, strength and posture are some of the many benefits that yoga enthusiasts said they get from regularly practicing the craft. "Immediately I felt a difference while joining yoga," said yoga enthusiast Gabriella Nunnary. Mily Villegas said she agrees.
"Not only physically, but internally you're emotionally more stable-relaxed all day," said Villegas. Although yoga can destress, pressure is what some programs that train yoga instructors are feeling these days. The debate isn't on whether yoga provides benefits but as to whether programs that train yoga instructors whould be regulated by the Texas state government.
For the past year and a half, the Texas Workforce Commission has been sending letters to programs that train yoga instructors advising them to get certified to operate as a career school or college.
"We became aware within the last couple of years of some yoga schools that offer teacher training programs and this meets the definition of a career school, so they were notified that they may fall under the agencies regulatory authority," said Lisa Givens, spokeswoman for the Texas Workforce Commission.
Certification costs around $1,000 dollars to $3,000 dollars, and if the programs do not comply, they could be penalized $1,000 dollars a day.
House Bills 1839 and 2167, which deal with instructors for yoga, Pilates, karate and other recreational activities, are currently before the Texas Legislature. The two bills would exclude schools that train instructors in yoga and other recreational activities from the state's definition of a career school or college, if they do not lead to an educational credential.
Yoga instructor Sean Kennedy doesn't think the state should regulate them. "They have no business imposing regulations," said Kennedy. But not all yoga professionals agree with Kennedy. Those in favor of the state regulating the yoga training programs said regulation could bring more credibility to the therapeutic value of the practice.