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.

Yoga Center of Columbia Code of Conduct

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

Code of Conduct Policy
Purpose Statement of Code of Conduct
The purpose of our Code of Conduct is to help our teachers serve in their purest spirit and to protect our students and community. At Yoga Center of Columbia, we are committed to holding high ethical standards for all of our 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 at the Yoga Center of Columbia and the studio itself will seek to comply with all legal and business requirements that apply to our business; ensure all advertisements relating to the benefits of yoga, Pilates, meditation, and qigong 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 our professional and personal lives.

Professional Growth and Continuing Education
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, Pilates, meditation, and qigong practice and by participating in continuing educational programs.

Teacher - Student Relationships
Teachers shall 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 strive to alleviate the suffering of all beings.
Teachers shall maintain professional relationships with their students. Teachers recognize that the teacher-student relationship involves a power imbalance. Teachers shall avoid any relationship with a student that exploits the student in any way or that may be used for the teacher’s personal benefit. Teachers shall not engage in harassment, abusive words or actions, or exploit students.
The relationship between a yoga, Pilates, meditation, or qigong 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.
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 shall avoid imposing their personal beliefs on their students.

Integrity
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 competence and integrity. Teachers are committed to promoting the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of their students. 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
Yoga Center of Columbia 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.
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 they obtain the written consent of the student or client.

Inter-Professional Relationships
Teachers are part of a network of healthcare 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 not openly criticize practices followed by other yoga schools or teachers.

Marketing and Public Communications
Yoga Center of Columbia will not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements or advertisements concerning the training, experience, or competence of our teachers; their institutional or association affiliations; or their services, including classes, workshops, and teacher trainings. Our teachers 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 in compliance with legal guidelines for appropriate representation of our services.

Yoga Equality
Yoga Center of Columbia and our 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.
Our studio and teachers will emphasize the importance of learning, teaching, and practicing yoga honestly, which means promoting equality, 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.