The Original Hot Yoga Association is a private trade association that sets teacher standards for the Original Hot 26&2 method. It can define what a trained teacher must do. It cannot change the method itself: the 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises stay the same whoever certifies the teacher.
Table of Contents
That split is the most useful way to read any association in this space. This guide explains what an association can and cannot change, lays out the published standards of the Original Hot Yoga Association (OHYA) as public records show them, and gives you seven questions to ask before you choose any training.
Original Hot Yoga Association: The Short Version
Associations get confusing because three different things share one name: the method, the teacher standards, and the certificate. Separating them takes about two minutes and saves a lot of second-guessing later.
| Layer | Who decides it | Can an association change it? |
|---|---|---|
| The method (26 postures, 2 breathing exercises, fixed order) | The method itself, unchanged for decades | No |
| The class dialogue and conditions | The method (scripted dialogue, about 40 degrees) | No |
| Teacher training standards (hours, trainer level, content) | Each association or school | Yes |
| Teacher levels and renewal | Each association | Yes |
| Legal recognition of a title | Governments, where it applies | No |
| Which teacher you trust | You | Never |
This layered view is original to this article. It is a way of reading the landscape, not an official classification.
If you want the basics of the method itself first, start with what 26 and 2 yoga is.
What the Original Hot Yoga Association Is
The Original Hot Yoga Association is a US-based non-profit trade association. Public records show an IRS determination letter dated 5 February 2019, classing it as a 501(c)(6) organisation. OHYA itself says it was formed in 2016. Yoga Alliance has the same legal category, which is a useful reminder that "association" describes a structure, not a government role.
What it says it does
By its own description, OHYA keeps a shared floor of standards for studios and teachers that teach the Original Hot 26&2 sequence. It also keeps a directory of member studios (about 120 at the time of our review) and runs an annual continuing-education intensive.
What it does not do
An association like this does not own the sequence. In 2015 the US Ninth Circuit held that the Bikram yoga sequence is not copyrightable subject matter. In plain terms, the sequence itself cannot be copyrighted. The United States also does not license yoga teachers at all, so any teacher title is a private credential.
This section is based on public records retrieved in October 2026 for the YogaFX Research Report R1a. It describes, and does not criticise.
Original Hot Yoga Association Standards at a Glance
This is the part most students want: what do the published standards actually say? We have collected the numbers into one place.
How the Original Hot Yoga Association Approves a Training
The association's approval route has a few moving parts. Reading them together shows what the standard is trying to protect.
- A host studio. An approved training needs an association member studio as host.
- A qualified lead trainer. The lead trainer must hold OHYA Level 2 or higher.
- Pure content. The syllabus must be 100% Original Hot 26&2.
- Contact hours. At least 240 hours, split across posture lab and teaching skills, practice and professional development.
- A one-off application. The application fee is $299 per approved training.
None of these rules touch the postures themselves. They govern who teaches, where, and for how long. That is the right place for an association to operate.
The teacher levels
After training, graduates join as Interns and work toward Level 1 through a self-recorded log of 75 classes. Level 2 and Level 3 are experience levels, built on years and class counts rather than exams. A teacher renews with 30 hours of continuing education every three years.
What an Association Cannot Change
Here is the other half of the answer. Whatever a body decides, the practice in the room stays the same: the same 26 postures, the same 2 breathing exercises, the same order. That consistency is what makes the method testable.
Researchers rely on it. A 2020 trial in the International Journal of Exercise Science (Lambert et al.) had 16 experienced practitioners complete the same Bikram sequence twice, once heated (about 40.5 degrees Celsius) and once at room temperature. A 2014 University of Wisconsin study (Porcari et al.) measured a standard 90-minute class in the same way. Both studies depend on a fixed protocol.
| Question a student asks | What a standards body can answer | What it cannot answer |
|---|---|---|
| Is this trainer experienced? | Trainer level and years | Whether the trainer suits you |
| Is the syllabus pure? | Content requirement | How well it is taught |
| How long is the training? | Minimum contact hours | Whether you will learn in that time |
| Is the title recognised? | Whether members recognise it | Whether a government or federation does |
| Is the sequence authentic? | Nothing: the sequence is fixed | Nothing |
What the levels mean in practice
Here's a simple way to picture the path. Because the levels rest on years and class counts rather than exams, they describe experience more than a test score. That's a fair design for a method that is learned by repetition.
| Stage | What the standards ask for | Rough timing |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher training | At least 240 contact hours in an approved training | One intensive or several blocks |
| Intern | 75 self-recorded classes | 6 months to 2 years |
| Level 1 | Completed internship | After the internship |
| Level 2 | 5 years of teaching and 1,000 classes | About 5 years |
| Level 3 | 10 years of teaching and 2,000 classes | About 10 years |
| Renewal | 30 hours of continuing education | Every 3 years |
Figures are from the association's published materials as collated in YogaFX Research Report R1a (October 2026). Fees and rules can change, so confirm with the association.
OHYA Yoga, OHYA Teacher Training and OHYA Certification: Reading the Terms
These three phrases get used as if they meant the same thing. They don't, so it helps to separate them.
- OHYA yoga usually means classes at a member studio that follows the Original Hot 26&2 sequence.
- OHYA teacher training means a teacher training that the association has approved against its standards.
- OHYA certification means the credential and level a teacher holds inside the association, not a government licence.
Seen this way, the question "is OHYA certification worth it?" turns into three smaller questions. Do I want to teach at member studios? Do I value a method-specific level system? And do the ongoing costs make sense for my plans? Only you can answer those.
Who Gets the Most From an Association
Different people use an association in different ways, and that's worth knowing before you pay anything.
Students choosing a class
A student gets a directory. It's a shortcut for finding studios that say they teach the method as written. It doesn't replace a trial class, though, so go and feel the room yourself.
Teachers building a career
A teacher gets a level, a profile in a directory and a community. If you plan to work at member studios, those things can open doors. If you plan to teach privately or online, they may matter less.
Studio owners
An owner gets a shared standard to point to when hiring. A common label saves time when you're reading a CV. Still, a label can't tell you whether a teacher is kind, clear and safe, and that takes a demo class.
Common Misunderstandings About Associations
A few ideas come up again and again in questions we receive. Clearing them up helps you judge any association fairly.
- "An association owns the method." It doesn't. The sequence is a public practice, and the 2015 court ruling above concerned exactly that point.
- "A higher level means a better teacher." Levels count years and classes. They're a useful signal, but not a guarantee.
- "A certificate is a licence." In the United States teaching yoga needs no licence, so every title is a private credential.
- "Joining an association changes the class." The class is set by the method. Membership changes who can say they're approved.
- "More hours always means better training." Hours matter, but so do trainer quality, practice teaching and feedback.
If a claim sounds bigger than these facts, ask where it comes from. A good answer is easy to give.
For example, if someone tells you a title is "internationally recognised," ask which organisation recognises it and where that recognition is written down. Because there's no government register for yoga teachers in the United States, recognition always comes from a private body, a studio or an employer. That doesn't make it worthless. It just means you should know who is doing the recognising before you rely on it.
So what should you do with all this? Start from your goal. If you want to teach the fixed sequence in studios that value a method-specific level system, an association with clear standards is worth a close look. If you want a broad registry credential, check that route too. Either way, compare the real hours, the real trainer and the real cost, because those decide what you get.
Does Independence Matter?
YogaFX is independent of OHYA. We hold Yoga Alliance RYS 200 registration, which we have had since February 2018, and our graduates receive dual certification: Yoga Alliance RYT 200 plus the Bikram Hot 26&2 200-hour International Yoga Certification.
Independence is neither better nor worse. It is a choice about which standards you want attached to your certificate. Some teachers want a method-specific association's level system. Others want the broader registry. Many hold both.
For a full side-by-side look at the association, see the original hot yoga association breakdown on our teacher training site.
Seven Questions to Ask Any Association or Training
Use this list before you commit to any teacher training, ours included.
- What exactly will I be certified in? Ask for the certificate name and the number of hours.
- Who is the lead trainer? Ask about their years teaching and their own training lineage.
- How many hours is contact time? Contact time means hours with a trainer, not self-study.
- What do I get after the course? Ask about the practicum, mentoring and feedback.
- Is the title recognised by anyone outside the association? Be specific about who.
- What are the ongoing costs? Ask about renewals, directory fees and continuing education.
- Can I speak to graduates? Public reviews and video testimonials are a good start.
A good school answers all seven without hesitation. A school that hesitates is giving you information too.
What Students Say About Training With Us
Reviews are one way to answer the "can I speak to graduates" question. Anika wrote a Google review in 2025 that sums up the mood in our room:
"A life changing experience thank you Mr Ian and your incredible team... This training is NOT for the faint hearted. It is for those passionate about the BIKRAM Lineage."
Anika, Google review, 2025
Jilly shared her experience on video in 2019, and the video is still on our channel.
Our current numbers are 150 Google reviews, 50 Yoga Alliance reviews and 357 YouTube testimonials.
Learn the Method From Mr. Ian Terry
Mr. Ian Terry holds E-RYT 500 status and has taught for 12,000+ hours. He spent five years (2014-2019) training alongside the founder of the method. Since 2017 he has trained 1,500+ teachers from 80+ countries. Read more on our teacher's page.
The next batch checks in on Sunday 24 January 2027 and checks out on Friday 29 January 2027 at Soham Wellness Center in Seminyak. The Early Bird price is US$1,899 (normal price US$1,999), and payment plans start from US$250 a month, interest-free. See the teacher training and course dates pages for the full details.
FAQ: Original Hot Yoga Association Questions Answered
What is the Original Hot Yoga Association?
The Original Hot Yoga Association (OHYA) is a private US non-profit trade association for studios and teachers of the Original Hot 26&2 method. It sets teacher training standards, keeps a member directory and runs continuing education. It does not own or change the 26 and 2 sequence.
Does the Original Hot Yoga Association change the 26 and 2 method?
No. The method is a fixed sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, and an association cannot alter it. What an association can set is the standard for training teachers: hours, trainer level, content and renewal. The postures in the room stay the same.
Is OHYA certification recognised by Yoga Alliance?
OHYA and Yoga Alliance are separate private organisations with separate standards. Teachers can hold both, and many do. If recognition matters to you, ask each body directly what it recognises, because policies change. The United States does not licence yoga teachers.
How many hours does an approved OHYA training need?
According to the association's published standards, an approved teacher training needs at least 240 contact hours: 150 for posture lab and teaching skills, 80 for practice and 10 for professional development. The content must be 100% Original Hot 26&2. Check the association's site for current figures.
Do I need an association to teach 26 and 2 yoga?
No law requires it, because teaching titles are private credentials. Association levels and registrations can help with studio hiring and credibility, so many teachers choose one or more. Pick the standards that match the studios where you want to teach, and confirm each body's current rules.