Student, Practioner & Teacher Code of Conduct & Ethics Agreement:
I recognize that it is my responsibility and privilege to support the physical, mental, and spiritual welfare of my students and clients; and to uphold the dignity and integrity of the yoga teachings. Therefore, I agree to abide by the following ethical code:
As Yoga Therapists, we are examples to our clients. We should strive to exemplify the change we wish to see in the world. We can best achieve this goal by conducting ourselves in a way that fosters peace, harmony and integrity.
By adhering to the following guidelines and principles, Yoga Therapists, students and teachers manifest an environment and a presence that is conducive to deep meaningful healing:
1. Conduct all interactions with integrity and in a professional and conscientious manner.
2. Show only the highest regard for my students’ personal beliefs, values and privacy.
3. Honestly represent skills and scope of practice and if necessary, refer clients to seek alternative advice or treatment.
4. When indicated, work collaboratively with medical and health care providers (ex. MDs, NPs, PAs, NDs, PTs, DCs, Massage Therapists, etc.)
5. Take continuing education in yoga therapy on a regular basis.
6. Be honest, straightforward, fair, and conscientious in all business dealings.
7. Provide a safe, clean and holistic environment where all clients regardless of age, physical limitations, race, creed, gender, ethnicity, religion affiliation, or sexual orientation feel welcome.
8. Respect the privacy of all clients and treat them in a dignified manner at all times.
9. Maintain safe boundaries – do not sexually, verbally or physically harass any student, teacher or client.
10. Follow all applicable laws pertaining to the business of yoga.
11. Honor client privacy by not sharing client information with third parties for any reason without the client’s permission.
12. Abide by yogic ethics as set forth in Patanjali’s Yamas and Niyamas, as follows:
-Yama
The Yama’s are behavioral restraints. They guide our interactions with humans, non-humans and our interactions with the world we inhabit.
- Ahimsa. Avoid violence or unkindness in word, deed and thought.
- Satya. Exercise honesty in words, deeds and thought. Create an authenticity of ourselves while promoting others to be authentic by not concealing truth nor downplaying or exaggerating abilities and accomplishments.
- Asteya. Non-stealing, of what is not yours. This includes physical items as well as ideas, identities, and experience. Do not act out of jealousy.
- Brahmacharya. Acting from a place of unconditional love, true joy for others, and treating all with integrity. This includes practicing moderation in all practices and allowing only pure motivations to be acted upon.
- Aparigraha. Non-clinging and seeking to live simply. Do not accumulate things needlessly. Do not hoard and do not give material objects, status or greed priority over that which enhances truth and harmony.
-Niyama
The Niyama’s guide our inner relationship with self and our practices.
- Sauca. Purity or Cleanliness. This creates balance and clarity.
- Santosha. To seek contentment with yourself, with others and with the events of your life.
- Tapas. The fire of self-discipline. This is the willpower to follow through.
- Svadhyaya. Study of the Self, through self-inquiry, mindfulness, and the study of scriptures and chanting. Svadhyaya opens us to our own divine nature.
- Ishvara Pranidhana. Devotion or surrender to the Divine. This is about being open-hearted all possibilities.