Commentary

While state licensing for doctors and pharmacists may be necessary, it is ridiculous to have them for yoga instructors. Granted, some may be injured doing yoga, but this is an industry based on pillows and slow hand movement while sitting down. State licensing clearly is not needed. But Virginia state legislators think otherwise:

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia recently declared that studios offering yoga teacher instruction must be certified. That involves a $2,500 fee, audits, annual charges of at least $500 and a pile of paperwork.

What could compel state legislators to impose such heavy operating fees on the industry? Predictably, government greed for more money from hard-working people is at hand:

In Virginia, yoga teacher training first hit the state’s radar late last year after a state employee conducting school audits happened upon an advertisement, said Linda Woodley, the higher education council’s director of private and out-of-state postsecondary education. Before that, Woodley said, ‘I was not aware they existed, and they were not aware we existed.’

Yes, pity the state auditor. So little money around for subsidies for the arts and corporate welfare. Must find new sources of funds!!!

Moreover, although this may not be the case here, entrenched yoga instructors could have also lobbied for such heavy costs to entry. Quiet often, entrenched business will lobby state legislators to pass new and costly licensing laws so as to limit competition. A small-business aspirant seeking to start a, say, dog-washing business will be less likely to do so if the costs to entry involve thousands of dollars and enrolling in a months-long course. Entrenched businesses are grandfathered and although they may have to pay annual charges, they do not have to pay the costs to entry. Entrenched businesses win and get to charge higher prices, and consumers lose. You may be assured that this takes place, and could even be at play here; but find the idea of the state even licensing dog-washing to be an absurd hypothetical. It is, unfortunately, not so. The state of Virginia is citing none other than dog grooming to justify the new law:

Studios can teach lotus poses to as many clients as they like, state officials said. But teacher training programs, which the state views as similar to dog grooming, massage therapy or other classes intended to prepare someone for a job, must be certified under state law. (For instance, Simply Ballroom Dance Teachers Academy, Danny Ward Horseshoeing School and Jiggers Bartending School are certified.)

But consumers who will now have to pay more for yoga can take heart. After all, the government is not greedy for hard-earned money but innocently has the consumer’s best interest at heart:

Woodley said it’s also about ensuring that students who plunk down cash for training programs that can run a few thousand dollars are getting their money’s worth. Plus, she said, being listed on the government registry will give schools a marketing tool, like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

Right. And if there is one great judge of customer service and efficiency it is the government.

Source: The Washington Post.