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The Code of Conduct

THE CODE OF CONDUCT

Overview

The Yoga Association USA school’s Code of Conduct is a comprehensive policy to develop and maintain a standard of operation, procedure, and behavior that is acceptable to our school. 

  • Purpose Statement 
  • Financial Practices 
  • Professional Growth/Continuing Education 
  • Teacher/Student Relationships 
  • Integrity 
  • Scope of Practice 
  • Confidential Information 
  • Inter-Professional Relationships 
  • Advertising and Public Communications 
  • Yoga Equity 

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Yoga Association USA Code of Conduct is to help our teachers serve in their purest spirit and to protect our students and community. 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. 

The Yoga Association USA Code of Conduct was developed to protect our students in this potentially vulnerable relationship with their teachers and to uphold the highest professional standards.

The Yoga Association USA Code of Conduct is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by our yoga teachers. Its primary goal is the welfare and protection of our students, teachers, yoga community, and the public. It articulates the ethical standards that our teachers must follow. The Code of Conduct is intended to elevate the professionalism and integrity of our yoga teachers by adopting uniform standards for behavior while recognizing the diversity of the many traditions of the teaching and practice of yoga. 

Yoga Association USA believes that it is the responsibility of our teachers to ensure a safe and protected environment in which a student can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. We believe our teachers must aspire to and express the highest possible standards of conduct as set forth in our Code of Conduct. Our Code of Conduct embodies the yamas and niyamas of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which are rules of ethical conduct that apply to all practitioners of yoga.

Financial Practices

Yoga Association USA Teachers will discuss all fees and financial arrangements in a straightforward, professional manner. Teachers will manage their business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices. Teachers are encouraged to render services to individuals or groups in need without regard to financial remuneration. Teachers will neither receive nor pay a commission for the referral of a student. Yoga Association USA Teachers will manage their business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices. We discourage teachers from any kind of financial involvement with students. This includes loans, gifts, and business relationships. If teachers have any questions about conducting their business affairs or potential financial involvement with students, they should contact the Ethics Committee or school leadership for guidance. 

Yoga Association USA Teachers will be honest, straightforward, fair, and conscientious in conducting all their business affairs. Teachers will manage their business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices. Teachers will discuss all fees and financial arrangements in a straightforward, professional manner. 

Yoga Association USA will seek to: i. comply with all legal and business requirements that apply to their business; ii. ensure all advertisements relating to the benefits of yoga are accurate, fair, and not misleading; iii. treat employees, assistants, students, colleagues, and other wellness businesses fairly, transparently and honestly in the course of all business dealings; iv. follow sound environmental and sustainable practices in their professional and personal lives.

Professional Growth/Continuing Education 

Yoga Association USA Teachers shall dedicate themselves to the continuing study and practice of yoga, including asana, meditation, and theory. Yoga Association USA Teachers shall maintain the integrity, competency, and high standards of the yoga profession by continuously striving to improve their skills through keeping current in new developments in yoga practice and by participating in continuing educational programs. 

Teachers shall maintain regular yoga practice that includes asana and meditation. Yoga Association USA Teachers shall commit to the continuous improvement of their professional knowledge and skills. Yoga Association USA 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 continue education and training. Yoga Association USA Teachers shall stay current with new developments in yoga through practice and study. 

Teacher-Student Relationships

Yoga Association USA Teachers shall demonstrate high regard for the moral, social, and religious standards of their students. Teachers should avoid imposing their personal beliefs on their students, although they may express them when appropriate in the class and in a sensitive and careful manner. 

Yoga Association USA Teachers recognize the trust placed in them by students and the unique power of the student-teacher relationship. Teachers shall avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of students. Teachers shall avoid dual relationships with students (e.g., business, close personal, or sexual relationships) that may impair their judgment, compromise the integrity of the teachings, and/or use the relationship for their personal gain. Teachers should not engage in harassment, abusive words or actions, or exploit students. 

Yoga Association USA Teachers recognize that the teacher-student relationship involves a power imbalance and shall exercise caution if the teacher chooses to get into a personal relationship with a student. 

Yoga Association USA The relationship between a yoga teacher and a student is based on trust. To establish and maintain that trust, teachers must be polite, considerate, and honest in their interactions with their students. 

Yoga Association USA Teachers should practice good communication with their students. Teachers should listen attentively to their students, respect their point of view, beliefs, and culture, and should not allow their beliefs and values to adversely influence their relationship with their students. Teachers should avoid imposing their personal beliefs on their students. 

Yoga Association USA Teachers shall treat their students with respect. Teachers should never force their own opinions on students but rather recognize that every student is entitled to his or her worldview, ideas, and beliefs. However, teachers must communicate to their students that the authentic practice of yoga involves a transformation of the human personality, including attitudes and ideas. 

Yoga Teachers must maintain their relationships with students on a professional basis. Teachers recognize the trust placed in them by their students and the unique power of the student-teacher relationship. Teachers shall avoid dual relationships with students (e.g., business, close personal, or sexual relationships) that may impair their judgment, compromise the integrity of the teachings, and/or use the relationship for their personal gain. 

Yoga teachers recognize that their teaching may lead to physical contact with students. Touch will be used only with the students’ consent and with their well-being in mind. Touch shall be free of any personal or sexual motive. 

Yoga teachers should not engage in behavior, comments, or humor that is offensive to their students because of its sexual content or reference to gender or sexual orientation. 

Yoga Teachers should commit to promoting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of their students. Teachers shall cause no harm to their students, shall commit to practicing ahimsa, and shall strive to alleviate the suffering of all beings. 

Yoga Teachers shall create and maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and positive environment for the practice of yoga. Teachers should practice good communication with their students. Teachers should listen attentively to students, respect their point of view, beliefs, and culture, and should not allow their beliefs and values to adversely influence their relationship with their students. Teachers should hold themselves out as stewards of safe and sacred spaces by maintaining clear personal and professional boundaries. 

Yoga teachers recognize that their purpose is to serve their student’s personal exploration and growth. Teachers will avoid any activity or influence that is against the best interests of their students or that may be solely for their own personal gain or gratification.

Integrity

Yoga teachers should uphold the highest moral standards. Teachers shall strive to ensure that their intentions, actions, and speech are based on honesty, compassion, selflessness, trustworthiness, and transparency. 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. Yoga teachers shall cultivate an attitude of humanity in their teaching and dedicate their work to something greater than themselves. Yoga teachers are committed to maintaining impeccable standards of professional competence and integrity. Teachers are committed to promoting the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of their students. Yoga 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. 

Yoga teachers shall strive to adhere to the traditional yoga principles as delineated in the yamas and niyamas. Teachers are committed to maintaining impeccable standards of professional integrity and to promoting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of their students. 

Yoga Teachers should commit to the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. Teachers should ensure that their behavior does not give even the appearance of professional impropriety. Any actions that may benefit the teacher to the detriment of the yoga community or an individual student must be avoided to not erode the public trust in the integrity of yoga. Teachers should dedicate themselves to studying, teaching, and promoting the art, science, and philosophy of yoga and to maintaining high standards of professional competence and integrity. 

Scope of Practice

Yoga Teachers should not abandon or neglect their students.  If teachers are unable (or unwilling for appropriate reasons) to provide professional help or continue a professional relationship, they should make every reasonable effort to arrange for instruction for that student with another teacher. Teachers should avoid giving any personal advice concerning a student’s personal life. 

Yoga Teachers should not give medical advice. Teachers should not prescribe a treatment or suggest rejecting a physician’s advice. Teachers shall refer their students to medical doctors or complimentary licensed professionals when appropriate. Teachers shall represent their qualifications honestly and provide only the services they are qualified and certified to perform. Teachers should 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

Yoga teachers shall keep all personal information disclosed by their students or clients strictly confidential. 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. Teachers shall 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. 
  • (c) where the information has already been disclosed to the public. Teachers will obtain the consent of students before audio or video recording in class. Yoga Association USA will maintain the confidentiality of all private information disclosed by our teachers, students, and clients. We will maintain commercially reasonable policies and procedures to protect the confidentiality of all private information disclosed by our teachers, students, and clients.

Inter-Professional Relationships 

Yoga Teachers are part of a network of health care and well-being professionals and shall seek to develop interdisciplinary relationships. Teachers shall conduct themselves in an honorable manner in their relations with their colleagues and other wellness practitioners. 

Teachers shall practice tolerance and acceptance toward other yoga teachers, schools, and traditions. Teachers should 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, discretion, and a focus on the facts.

Teachers are part of the well-being community and should strive to develop and maintain relationships within the community for the benefit of their students and their own professional development. Teachers shall practice tolerance towards other teachers, schools, and traditions. Teachers shall not undermine a student’s trust in teachings they have received from other traditions, schools, or teachers by criticizing such teachings without reasonable cause. If a teacher hears such criticism being made by students or colleagues, he or she must act with the utmost discretion and professionalism in voicing their view on the matter. 

Advertising and Public Com

The yoga teacher shall accurately represent his or her professional qualifications and certifications along with his or her affiliations with any organization(s). Announcements and brochures promoting classes or workshops shall describe them with accuracy and grace. These principles are designed to uphold the quality of our teachings and shall be following legal guidelines for appropriate representation of our services. 

Yoga teachers shall not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements or advertisements concerning their training, experience, or competence; 

  • their academic degrees or credentials. 
  • (iii) their institutional affiliations. 
  • (iv) their classes, workshops, and teacher training. 
  • (v) the scientific or clinical basis for the success of their services. 
  • (vi) their fees. 
  • (vii) statements involving sensationalism, exaggeration, or superficiality. 
  • (viii) an intent to exploit a student’s fears or emotions or to create unjustified expectations for cures or results. 

Template C 

Teachers should provide students and colleagues with good quality and 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

Yoga teachers shall welcome all students regardless of age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and perceived gender expression), sexual orientation, color, race, national origin, marital status, parental status, veteran’s status, religion, or physical or mental disability, provided that the teacher has appropriate expertise. 

Teachers will welcome, accept, and support all students regardless of religion, gender, sexual orientation, language, nationality, political, or cultural background.

Yoga 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.

Yoga 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.

Yoga Teachers are encouraged to make yoga accessible and available to everyone. Teachers are encouraged to create integrated, accessible yoga classes where all students can practice together. Teachers are encouraged to have an awareness and a commitment to making yoga more equitable, inclusive, accessible, and diverse. This includes the ways that yoga practice can be modified to suit students with disabilities, physical challenges, chronic illnesses, seniors, and anyone who may not feel comfortable in a regular class. It also includes making classes welcoming to everyone and approaching students in a trauma-informed way.

Yoga teachers are encouraged to obtain appropriate training to offer accessible yoga classes.

Template D  

  • Teachers shall commit to a shared responsibility for awareness of and commitment to changing the inequities that exist within yoga that result in many people feeling excluded and underrepresented. These may be people who feel excluded due to their body composition and/or physical ability. 
  • Yoga teachers are encouraged to take proactive steps to promote inclusion in yoga to: (1) promote equity; 
  • (2) reduce harm to students. 
  • (3) honor and leverage cultural differences. 
  • (4) Expand diversity and accessibility in all areas of yoga while honoring the integrity of yoga’s cultural and historical roots.