Videos- VA Yoga

Teaching is Not a Crime: Challenging Virginia's Unconstitutional Regulation of Yoga Teacher Training

Anyone in Virginia can do yoga, and anyone can teach yoga. But, incredibly, it is illegal to teach people to teach yoga. Yoga-teacher training is just the latest target of vocational school licensing laws that require countless entrepreneurs to ask the governments permission before opening their mouths.

Vocational-school licensing burdens both economic liberty and freedom of speech. The cost of compliance is typically thousands of dollars and over a week of full-time administrative work. For owners of small schools, these costs can make the difference between viability and closing down. Read more about this case

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Freedom Flix

The Institute for Justice is always looking for new ways to promote the message of freedom.

To that end, IJ produced the following videos in-house to tell the stories of our clients and their fight for individual liberty.

None of this — the cases or these videos — would be possible without the continued generosity of our donors.

We hope you enjoy them and share them with those who need a little inspiration.

	Where does the alphabet end? (0:32) The Institute for Justice believes that parents, not bureaucrats should choose what school kids attend.
	Free the Monks & Free Enterprise (2:39) Under Louisiana law, it is a crime for anyone but a licensed funeral director to sell “funeral merchandise,” which includes caskets. To sell caskets legally, the monks of Saint Joseph Abbey would have to abandon their calling for one full year to apprentice at a licensed funeral home, learn unnecessary skills and take a funeral industry test.
	Citizens United Debate Trailer (1:17) On 6-24-10, IJ's Steve Simpson and Cato's Ilya Shapiro debated Loyola's Richard Hasen and AU's Jamin Raskin at the American University Washington College of Law. They discussed various aspects of the Citizens United decision.
	Kelo: Five Years Later (3:51) Kelo was the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that became the property rights shot heard 'round the world. Wednesday marks its fifth anniversary.
	Freeing Small Farms: Minnesota Farms Fight Protectionism (2:48) If police suspect that you committed a crime, they can arrest you and put you on trial. But if police suspect your car was involved in a crime, they can take it, sell it and, in most places, pocket the proceeds to pad their budgets.
	Civil Forfeiture Abuse with John Stossel (6:50) On 4-22-10, IJ's Scott Bullock spoke to John Stossel about our recent report on civil forfeiture abuse
	Policing for Profit - The Abuse of Civil Asset Forfeiture (2:30) If police suspect that you committed a crime, they can arrest you and put you on trial. But if police suspect your car was involved in a crime, they can take it, sell it and, in most places, pocket the proceeds to pad their budgets.
	Mandated Licensing With John Stossel (9:57) IJ President Chip Mellor talks with John Stossel about pointless goverment-mandated licensing requirements for florists, yoga teachers and other harmless professions.
	Dallas Sign Ban (0:53) Under a Dallas law enacted in 2008, businesses are prohibited from putting signs in the upper two-thirds of any window or glass door, and no more than 15 percent of any window or glass door may be covered by signs.
	The Campaign Finance Bait & Switch (1:12) The same special interests who for decades have called for government-funded political campaigns are again pushing something called the Fair Elections Now Act . . . a proposal that would create anything but fair elections.
	Hanging by a Thread (2:29) Eyebrow threading is a booming industry in Texas. But state bureaucrats are making it impossible to continue practicing this ancient art.
	Teaching is Not a Crime (3:05) Anyone in Virginia can do yoga, and anyone can teach yoga. But, incredibly, it is illegal to teach people to teach yoga. Yoga-teacher training is just the latest target of vocational school licensing laws that require countless entrepreneurs to ask the governments permission before opening their mouths.
	Saving Lives (2:49) Every year, 1,000 Americans die because they cannot find a matching bone marrow donor. Minorities are hit especially hard. Common sense suggests that offering modest incentives to attract more bone marrow donors would be worth pursuing, but federal law makes that a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
	Free to Design (3:27) A small group of well-funded industry insiders led by the American Society of Interior Designers has been relentless in its pursuit of ever more restrictive laws. Studies have shown that interior design regulations result in higher prices, less variety, and fewer employment opportunities, especially for minorities and older mid-career switchers.
	San Tan Flat & The Fight Against Arbitrary Government Power (3:07) How arbitrary has government power grown? Take a listen to the Saga of San Tan Flat—the Arizona steakhouse where the government tried to ban outdoor dancing.
	Andrea Weck & School Choice (3:51) Why is school choice important? Let school choice mom and IJ client Andrea Weck tell you in her own words
	Karen Sampson & Free Speech (3:56) Think you have a right to speak out freely in elections? As IJ client Karen Sampson will tell you, you better think again!
	Lori Ann Vendetti & Property Rights (4:29) Your home is your castle, right? Well, maybe not, as IJ client Lori Ann Vendetti explains.
	The Story of Susette Kelo (11:00) Let us briefly take you through IJ client Susette Kelo's historic fight against eminent domain abuse.
	The Story of Randy Bailey (9:10) Wanna cheer for a regular guy who became a national champion for freedom? Watch brakeshop owner and IJ client Randy Bailey fight for his (and all of our) property rights.