Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct
We are committed to holding high ethical standards for our yoga teachers. We believe that it is the responsibility of a teacher to ensure a safe environment in which our students can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Students are looking for guidance from teachers with authenticity, experience, and wisdom. Our Code of Conduct was developed to protect our students in this potentially vulnerable relationship with their teachers and to uphold the highest professional standards.
Financial Practices
Teachers will seek to:
- comply with all legal and business requirements that apply to their business;
- ensure all advertisements relating to the benefits of yoga are accurate, fair, and not misleading;
- treat employees, assistants, students, colleagues, and other wellness businesses fairly, transparently and honestly in the course of all business dealings; and
- follow sound environmental and sustainable practices in their professional and personal lives.
Professional Growth/ Continuing Education
Teachers shall maintain and improve their professional knowledge and competence, strive for professional excellence through regular assessment of their personal and professional strengths and weaknesses, and through continued education and training. Teachers shall stay current with new developments in yoga through practice and study.
Teacher-Student Relationships
Teachers recognize the trust placed in them by their students and the power imbalance of the student-teacher relationship. Teachers shall avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of students. Teachers shall hold themselves out as stewards of safe and sacred spaces by maintaining clear personal and professional boundaries.
Teachers will continually be aware of their position of power and influence in their relationship with their students. Teachers will be mindful not to project their own agendas, perceptions, and outcomes on their students. Teachers will not seek to fulfill their personal needs at their students’ expense. Teachers shall maintain professional boundaries in relationships with students and avoid any relationships that may exploit trust between the student and teacher.
Teachers recognize that their purpose is to serve their student’s personal exploration and growth. Teachers will avoid any activity or influence that is in conflict with the best interests of their students or that may be solely for their own personal gain or gratification.
Integrity
Teachers are committed to maintaining impeccable standards of professional competence and integrity. Teachers shall strive to ensure that their intentions, actions, and speech are based on honesty, compassion, selflessness, trustworthiness, and transparency. Teachers shall dedicate themselves to studying, teaching, and promoting the art, science and philosophy of yoga.
Teachers recognize that the process of learning is never complete, and they shall avoid portraying themselves as “enlightened” or “spiritually advanced.” Teachers recognize that they are walking on the spiritual path along with their fellow teachers and students. Teachers shall cultivate an attitude of humanity in their teaching and dedicate their work to something greater than themselves.
Teachers are committed to practicing yoga as a way of life, which includes adopting the fundamental moral principles of yoga and making their lifestyle environmentally sustainable.
Scope of Practice
Teachers shall represent their qualifications honestly and provide only the services they are qualified and certified to perform. Teachers shall not give medical advice. Teachers shall not recommend treatment, diagnose a condition, or suggest that a student disregard medical advice. Teachers shall refer their students to medical doctors or complimentary licensed professionals when appropriate.
Confidential Information
Teachers shall keep all personal information disclosed by their students or clients strictly confidential. All discussions among teachers concerning students shall be conducted in secure, non-public environments.
A teacher who receives personal information from a student or client may not disclose such information unless it obtains the written consent of the student or client. However, a teacher may disclose private information about a student or client without obtaining consent in the following situations: (a) to comply with the law or the order of a court; (b) to prevent bodily harm or danger to the student or client or to others; or (c) where the information has already been disclosed to the public.
Inter-Professional Relationships
Teachers are part of the health care and well-being community and should strive to develop and maintain relationships within the community for the benefit of their students and their professional development. Teachers shall conduct themselves in an honorable manner in their relations with their fellow yoga teachers and other wellness practitioners. Teachers shall work to build the unity of their community by embracing diversity, collaboration and commitment the benefit of all.
Teachers shall practice tolerance and acceptance toward other yoga teachers, schools and traditions. Teachers shall not openly criticize practices followed by other yoga schools or teachers. However, teachers recognize that differences of opinion are to be expected, and they may be discussed in a sensitive and compassionate manner. When criticism must be made, it should be done with fairness and discretion.
Advertising and Public Communications
Teachers shall provide students and colleagues with factual information about their professional qualifications, the services they provide and their teaching arrangements. Teachers shall put students first, preserve their trust and maintain the professionalism of the yoga community. Teachers shall not misrepresent their professional qualifications and affiliations or falsely imply sponsorship or certification by any organization or group.
Yoga Equity
Teachers will welcome, accept, and support all students regardless of religion, gender, sexual orientation, language, nationality, political, or cultural background.
Teachers will embrace yoga equity. Teachers shall seek to have an awareness and a commitment to making yoga more equitable, inclusive, accessible and diverse. This encompasses diversity, inclusion and accessibility in yoga. Teachers will make the conscious decision to address each of these issues thoughtfully and intentionally throughout their work in restoring equity to the yoga community. It also includes making classes welcoming to everyone, and approaching students in a trauma-informed way.
Teachers will emphasize the importance of learning, teaching, and practicing yoga honestly, which means promoting equity, reducing harm, honoring and leveraging cultural differences, and fostering diversity and inclusion in all areas of yoga while honoring the integrity of yoga’s cultural and historical roots.
