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.

School Yoga Institute Code of Conduct

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

Code of Conduct

We love and welcome every single part of you. There is nothing you need to do, change, or improve to belong and be accepted in this training. Everything we do is an invitation for you to explore. The following guidelines help our yoga teacher trainings to run as smoothly as possible so that we can live harmoniously together.

Be on time - Many activities cannot begin until everyone has arrived. Being on time respects the time of your fellow students and teachers.

Attend every class - You are expected to attend every session. If you are missing class for any reason, please inform a facilitator ahead of time.

Sacred Space - Please respect our spaces by keeping them clean and tidying up after yourself and others. Take your shoes off when entering.

Sattvic Diet - We follow a sattvic diet of healthy, fresh, vegetarian foods, that emphasizes no caffeine, tobacco, cannabis, vaping, drugs (including plant medicine), or alcohol. Please follow these guidelines on your off days as well.

Quiet hours - Please respect quiet hours (typically between 9pm-6am), especially in your rooms, to help your roommates and those living nearby have the quiet time they need.

Self-care - Take care of your energy levels throughout the course. Utilize the break times and days off to nourish yourself, and be sure to get enough sleep every night to be present for lessons.

Consent - No activity is mandatory. We do encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone and explore new and sometimes scary things, but it is always up to you how much you want to participate. You can always step out and simply watch an activity, read or take notes in the background, or abstain completely and practice self study elsewhere.

Communication - Living in a community is wonderful, and not always easy. Please keep your communication loving, mindful, and kind. Avoid gossiping, insulting others, or talking behind another’s back. Speak to your own experience during exercises.

Mindful Listening - Sometimes throughout the training we will share vulnerable things. During those personal shares in front of the group, we ask that you others to listen without judgment. Avoid interrupting others when they share, even if you think it might add to the conversation.

Honesty and Transparency - Every student agrees to be honest and transparent about any and all pre-existing health and wellness conditions that may affect one’s ability to complete this course.

Assumed confidentiality - Everything we share in sacred space is not to be shared elsewhere without explicit permission.

Silent days - There will be times in this training where we will participate in the sacred practice of silence. Please try your best to hold this special container, even in your rooms. Typically, silence means not using technology, including typing, texting, or listening to music.

SYI reserves the right to remove a student from the course who is untruthful or misleading when filling out the required forms.