American Yoga Council Code of Conduct

v1.0, last updated 18 September 2025

Preamble

A Code of Conduct is a difficult document to write. In theory, it sets out your responsibilities as members in good standing, and what we, as a community, expect of each other.

In practice, it’s easy for a Code of Conduct to be so generic it is of little use, and for there to be next-to-no consequences for violating it. So we’re taking a different approach, with a few specific aims in mind:

  • We want the Code of Conduct to be more adaptable to your own ethics as a teacher or school in good standing.
  • We want the public to easily be able to see a School's code in order to hold them accountable to it.
  • We want our Code of Conduct to reflect our values as an organization.
  • And we want this Code of Conduct to be a key tool in holding ourselves to account as a community.

We expect this document to evolve, with your help, and we’re excited to figure out together what real accountability might look like in yoga teaching.

The American Yoga Council Code of Conduct

1. Follow the Law

This sounds obvious, but it's also the most enforceable clause to have in a Code of Conduct. We expect AYC members to teach in accordance with all appropriate legislation in your jurisdiction when teaching yoga. We’re not going to police your practice, but if your behaviour towards your students and colleagues violates civil or criminal law, we will recommend and support legal action. Unethical behaviour of a legal nature could result in expulsion from AYC.

  • I will teach in accordance with all appropriate legislation in my jurisdiction.

2. Uphold AYC Core Values

Secondly, to be a member in good standing, we expect you to teach in accordance with the following values, which reflect the core values of AYC as an organization.

  • Following the core value of Generosity, I will share my teachings in the spirit of collaboration rather than competition, and conduct my financial dealings fairly with others.
  • Following the core value of Transparency, I will represent my yoga education, background, and the content of my teaching honestly and accurately.
  • Following the core value of Right Livelihood, I will teach to the scope of practice of my training and experience.
  • Following the core value of Embodied Relationships, I will teach with respect for the value of ethical human to human connections.

3. Creating a Personal Code

Lastly, to be an effective and ethical yoga teacher, we believe it is vital to have considered your own personal code of conduct. You might reflect on Patanjali’s yamas and niyamas, on the five Buddhist Precepts for right living, on the lay Jain code, or on any other philosophical sources. We would like you to describe that code of conduct in your own words.

  • In accordance with my own practice and understanding of yogic philosophy, I commit to teach and live by the personal code of conduct written below.

Meko Yoga & Wellness Code of Conduct

Additionally, this school has established a specific code of conduct that must be upheld:

Code of Conduct

Purpose
We are committed to holding high ethical standards for our trainers and graduates. We believe that it is the responsibility of a trainer to ensure a safe environment in which our trainees can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Trainees are looking for guidance from trainers with authenticity, experience, and wisdom. Our Code of Conduct was developed to protect our trainees in this potentially vulnerable relationship with their trainers and to uphold as well as model the highest professional standards.

Financial Practices
The school and its trainers will be honest, straightforward, fair, and conscientious in conducting all of their business affairs. The School and its trainers will manage their business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices. The School and its trainers will discuss all fees and financial arrangements in a straightforward professional manner.

Professional Growth and Continuing Education
Trainers 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.

Trainer-Trainee Relationships
Trainers shall treat their trainees with respect and with regards to their individuality, dignity, and privacy. Trainers shall maintain professional relationships with their trainees. Trainers recognize that the trainer-trainee relationship involves a power imbalance. Trainers shall avoid any relationship with a trainee that exploits the trainee in any way or that may be used for the trainer’s personal benefit. Trainers shall not engage in harassment, abusive words or actions, or exploit trainees. The relationship between a yoga trainer and a trainee is based on trust. To establish and maintain that trust, trainers must be polite, considerate, and honest in their interactions with their trainees. Trainers should practice good communication with their trainees. Trainers should listen attentively to their trainees, respect their point of view, beliefs and culture, and should not allow their beliefs and values to adversely influence their relationship with their trainees. Trainers shall avoid imposing their personal beliefs on their trainees.

Romance:
Trainers shall not invite, respond to, or allow any sexual or romantic conduct with a trainee during the period of the trainer-trainee relationship, nor for six months after the trainee’s graduation from that relationship.

Integrity
Trainers shall uphold the highest of moral standards. Trainers shall strive to ensure that their intentions, actions, and speech are based on honesty, compassion, selflessness, trustworthiness, and transparency. Trainers recognize that the process of learning is never complete, and they shall avoid portraying themselves as “enlightened” or “spiritually advanced.” Trainers recognize that they are walking on the spiritual path along with their fellow trainers and trainees. Trainers shall cultivate an attitude of humanity in their teaching and dedicate their work to something greater than themselves.

Scope of Practice
Trainers shall represent their qualifications honestly and provide only the services they are qualified and certified to perform. Trainers shall not give medical advice. Trainers shall not recommend treatment, diagnose a condition, or suggest that a trainee disregard medical advice. Trainers shall refer their trainees to medical doctors or complementary licensed professionals when appropriate.

Confidential Information
Trainers shall keep all personal information disclosed by their trainees or clients strictly confidential. A trainer who receives any private information from a trainee or client may not disclose such information unless it obtains the written consent of the trainee or client. However, a trainer may disclose private information about a trainee or client without obtaining consent in the following situations:
● to comply with the law or the order of a court;
● to prevent bodily harm or danger to the trainee or client or to others
● where the information has already been disclosed to the public. Inter-

Professional Relationships
Trainers are part of a network of healthcare and well-being professionals and shall seek to develop interdisciplinary relationships. Trainers shall seek to collaborate with other professionals to protect and enhance the wellbeing of the yoga community and the public generally.

Yoga Equity
Trainers shall welcome all trainees 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 trainer has appropriate expertise.

Grievance Policy
We encourage anyone who has been the subject of sexual misconduct or any other action that violates our policies and Code of Conduct to report the incident to the program director (henceforth referred to as the “reviewing body”). The trainee may also apply to the Reviewing Body if they feel they have been unjustly failed from an Assessment. The report should contain the following information:
● Your full name
● Your email and phone number
● The name of the person who the grievance is against
● A description of the alleged policy violation
● The date and location of the policy violation
● Names and contact information of any witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the situation; and
● Any other credible evidence that is available to support the grievance.

In the interest of fairness and privacy, all reports must be made by the person who has personally experienced the misconduct. We will not investigate a matter based upon a third-party report of misconduct.
● All reports must be made in good faith based on information the person reporting the incident reasonably believes to be accurate.
● Due to the time sensitive nature of these matters, all reports must be made within 14 days of the incident in question.
● We may request additional information from the person reporting the incident throughout the course of review of the report.
● We will take appropriate action to ensure compliance with our policies.

The reviewing body will impose any sanctions that it feels are fair, just, and reasonable under all circumstances. The reviewing body will work most as expeditiously as possible to resolve the manner in a fair and thorough manner. We will not allow anyone to retaliate against any person for making a report in good faith or providing information in connection with an investigation into an alleged violation. Any information provided during a grievance report review will be treated on a confidential basis. Similarly, any actions that are taken in response to the report will also be confidential. Anti-Retaliation We prohibit retaliation against anyone for reporting a violation of our Code of Conduct or other policies, or for participating in an investigation relating to a violation of our Code of Conduct or other policies.