Proposed yoga regulations have some taking warrior position

ASSOCIATED PRESS

reported the Denver Post. 

A spokeswoman told the paper that Lorna Candler, director of the Division of Private Occupational Schools, signed a conflict of interest form and handed over day-to-day tasks to avoid "even any perception of a conflict."

The Denver Post editorial board called that "fairly stunning" and a conflict of interest.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education said in a statement to The Denver Post that Candler "handed the day-to-day oversight of the issue to her deputy" in order "to avoid any perception of a conflict."

Really? When did that handoff occur? Apparently not before she talked to journalists in recent weeks, defending her agency's move against the other studios without disclosing her own, um, expertise in the area. 

Across the internet, the proposal has sparked equally dubious reactions:

Why do yoga studios need state licensing? Are we being victimized by a sinister yoga black market? @victoriap2012 http://t.co/15Wkvq3mT9

— Sam Bieler (@sdbieler) February 12, 2015

Colorado regulator charged to punishing unlicensed yoga teachers is a state-licensed yoga teacher. No conflict there. http://t.co/Z0M4XheFDZ

— Popehat (@Popehat) February 12, 2015

Colorado will legalize weed but requires a license to teach yoga?

— Lord Platypus (@Lord_Platypus) February 12, 2015

And some yoga studios and teachers are gearing up for a battle. A Facebook group called "Colorado Yogis Against DPOS Regulation" has accumulated over 600 members in less than 48 hours.

​The state began issuing letters to uncertified teachers in December after another teacher complained about uncertified teacher, according to the Denver Post. Smaller studios say that regulation is prohibitively expensive. 

The division has put the regulation process on hold until its board meeting March 24.