Thank you for taking the time to visit the Mid Atlantic Yoga Association's (MAYA) website.

Maya, a non-profit, tax exempt corporation, provides its members with a forum to encourage the study and practice of yoga. Members of MAYA include professionals who have written articles and books about yoga and who teach nationally and internationally, instructors who have studied with some of the best known teachers in the world, and students who simply want to bring peace and good health into their lives.

Different approaches to yoga abound. MAYA, non-discriminatory and ecumenical in nature, embraces any path that follows the basic tenets of yoga: non-violence, truthfulness, practice, tolerance, friendliness and compassion. All who are interested in yoga, teachers and students alike, are invited to join us and participate in the many activities and services we make available to our members and the yoga community as a whole.

Virginia Yoga Week – June 6 to 13, 2010

June 9, 2010 -- To all of our Virginia Yoga Week sponsoring organizations. Love Your Body and Northern Virginia Yoga and Wellness Day was a marvelous opening event and great news continues to come in about the free, $5, and charity classes.

Yogis for Positive Change, MAYA, Yoga Alliance, and the Virginia Yoga Community are pleased to announce Virginia Yoga Week, June 6-13, 2010. The 3rd annual Virginia Yoga Week will kick off with "Love Your Body", Northern Virginia Yoga and Wellness Day, Sunday, June 6th at the Reston Town Center, and concludes with an afternoon of Yoga in Fresh Air in Historic Old Town Alexandria, Sunday June 13th. The closing event will feature a guest appearance from Alexandria Mayor, Bill Euille. This fun filled celebration is open to yogis of all ages and levels.

During Virginia Yoga Week Yoga Studios and Independent Yoga Teachers will offer free and five dollar classes as well as Seva Events to benefit the charities of their choice. Studios and independent teachers interested in participating in Virginia Yoga Week are encouraged to contact Margaret Townsend, Chairperson, Virginia Yoga Week at virginiayogaweek@yahoo.com or 571.218.2161.

For more information about about Virginia Yoga Week, please visit www.ashtangadancer.com/VA_yogaweek/index.html.

Recently there has been much debate over whether the Virginia State Council for Higher Education (SCHEV) should regulate yoga teacher training programs as "higher education".

Companion bills sponsored by State Senator Mark Herring (D-Loudon), SB 598 and Delegate David Bulova (D-Fairfax), HB 703, were introduced during the 2010 legislative session. They create an exemption for instructional programs intended solely for recreation, enjoyment, personal interest, or as a hobby, or courses or programs of instruction that prepare individuals to teach such pursuits. The merged bills passed both houses. The final bill was signed by the Governor on March 9, 2010. The legislation is intended to exempt teacher training programs in areas such as yoga, Pilates, and karate from regulation by the SCHEV.

For more information, refer to this article: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/03/virginia_yogis_still_will_be_r.html