Over 8,000 yoga professionals register with QCI in one year

PANAJI: The certification course introduced by Quality Council of India (QCI) since last one year has got 8,000 registrations from yoga professionals vying to be instructors or teachers in this ancient field.

"In alliance with the Ministry of AYUSH, QCI is ensuring authentic and legitimate practice of this age-old Indian tradition. Certification from such established authorities will ensure that yoga is recognised as a trusted Indian brand across the world," QCI Chairman Adil Zainulbhai told PTI today.

As per QCI records, in a span of just one year, the scheme has received about 8,000 registrations from yoga professionals across India.

The council has roped in eminent yoga personalities like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, H R Nagendra and O P Tiwari, who helped design the scheme to ensure that even a basic trainer evolves into a guru.

"With these towering personalities on board, as well as collaborations with health and fitness leaders across India, this initiative will not only bring about positive change in the lives of the people, but will popularise yoga as per the ancient text, as a result establish the required discipline and fool-proof methods, and help it flourish into a well-defined practice," a QCI spokesman said.

QCI secretary general Dr R P Singh said, "World renowned yoga stalwarts and gurus have laid a philosophy based on Patanjali sutras for the world to follow and practice.

"The common protocol, which is the bedrock for all professionals getting certified in the scheme promoted by Ministry of AYUSH and developed by QCI, will ensure homogeneity and excellence amongst practising yogis," he said.

"It is a matter of great celebration that institutions and organisations have adopted this certification with open arms and have made it a preferred qualification for all job roles as an instructor or a teacher," he said.

QCI confirmed that so far schemes designed for this sector are applicable to yoga professionals, yoga schools, AYUSH hospitals and institutions and wellness centres.

"The focus of the Voluntary Yoga Professional Certification Scheme is to certify the competence of yoga professionals. The competence standard was prepared by constituting a group of experts as the multi-stakeholder committee having knowledge on different schools of yoga," the QCI spokesman said.

This scheme for yoga professionals will evaluate levels of competency, including instructor, teacher, master and acharya.

"The certification will provide overseas and local employment opportunities across government schools, colleges, yoga institutions and other government recruitments in yoga stream. Preference is given to certified candidates in yoga teacher recruitments in India as well as opportunities abroad," he said.

"Successful candidates who wish to travel overseas for yoga promotion will get a boost from the Ministry of External Affairs as their visa fee will be exempted and their applications will be fast-tracked," the QCI said.

QCI official stated that not only in India, the scheme has received a roaring reception around the world, including countries like Japan and Belgium.

QCI has already conducted yoga certification examination in Japan which was attended by close to 25 yoga professionals.