This Code of Conduct aims to protect the welfare and protection of our students, teachers, yoga community, and the public. It provides a common core of standards for behaviour by trainers, trainees and graduates in order to elevate the professionalism and integrity of our teaching while honouring our diversity.

Financial Practices:

We will comply with all legal and business requirements that apply to our work; ensure all advertisements relating to the benefits of yoga are accurate and fair, treat employees, assistants, students, colleagues, and other wellness businesses fairly; and follow sound environmental and sustainable practices where possible.

Professional Growth & Continuing Education:

We will maintain and improve our professional knowledge and competence, strive for professional excellence through self-reflection, education and practice, and stay current with new developments in yoga research and practice.

Student-Teacher Relationships:

We will maintain professional relationships with our students. We recognize that the teacher-student relationship involves a power imbalance, and will avoid any relationship with a student that exploits or harms the student. We will not exploit the trust of students and their potential dependency but rather, encourage students to find greater inner freedom.

The relationship between a yoga teacher and a student is based on trust. To establish and maintain this, we will be polite, considerate, and honest in their interactions with our students. We will also listen attentively to their students, respecting their point of view, beliefs and culture. However, if a student’s opinions seriously impede the process of receiving yoga, then we may end the teaching relationship respectfully.

Integrity:

We will strive to ensure that our intentions, actions, and speech are based on honesty, compassion, selflessness, trustworthiness, and transparency. We recognize that we are walking on the spiritual path along with our fellow teachers and students, and will cultivate an attitude of humility in our teaching even when offering from a place of expertise.

Scope of Practice:

We will represent our qualifications honestly and provide only the services we are qualified and certified to perform. We will not recommend treatment, diagnose a condition, or suggest that a student disregard medical advice. We will refer students to medical doctors or complimentary licensed professionals when appropriate.

Confidential Information:

We will keep all personal information disclosed by our students or clients strictly confidential. We will not disclose personal information belonging to a student or client except (a) to comply with the law or the order of a court; (b) to prevent bodily harm or danger to the client or to others; or (c) where the information has already been disclosed to the public. We will obtain the consent of students before audio or video recording in class.

Yoga Equity:

We will welcome, accept, and support all students regardless of religion, gender, sexual orientation, language, nationality, or cultural background. We commit to making yoga more equitable, inclusive, accessible and diverse. We 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.