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.

Serendipity Yoga and Wellness Code of Conduct

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

CODE OF CONDUCT

Harassment Against Members of Protected Class | We do not permit managers, employees, teachers, independent contractors, students, or others in the workplace to harass any other person because of age, gender (including pregnancy), race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, genetic information, or any other basis proscribed by law.

Definition of Harassment | Harassment is unwelcome verbal or non-verbal conduct, based upon a person’s protected characteristic, that (i) denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward the person because of the characteristic and which affects their employment opportunities or benefits; (ii) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with their work performance, (iii) enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment; or (iv) has the purpose or effect of creating a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Harassment includes epithets, slurs, name-calling, negative stereotyping, insults, intimidation, ridicule, threatening, intimidating or hostile acts, denigrating jokes, and display in the workplace of written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group based on their protected characteristic. Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated minor incidents may not rise to the level of harassment.

Sexual Harassment | We do not tolerate sexual harassment in our studio. Sexual harassment refers to any unwelcome sexual attention, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature when the conduct harms the person’s employment or working environment.

Sexual Misconduct | We prohibit sexual misconduct in our studio. Sexual misconduct is any unsolicited and unwelcome sexual advances, including requests for sexual favors, sexual touching, and verbal, visual, or physical conduct that creates a sexually hostile environment in a yoga class or studio. While it is not possible to list all the circumstances that may constitute sexual misconduct, the following are examples of misconduct:
● Sexual advances, whether they involve physical touching or not
● Sexual epithets, jokes, written or verbal references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life, comments on an individual’s body, sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess;
● Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons;
● Unwelcome leering, whistling, brushing against the body, sexual gestures, suggestive or insulting comments;
● Comments or conjecture about a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity;
● Inquiries into one’s sexual activities;
● Sexually oriented asana adjustments or touch; and
● Discussion of one’s sexual activities.

Teachers recognize the unique power and imbalance of the student-teacher relationship. While acknowledging the complexity of yoga relationships, teachers shall not exploit students' trust and dependence. Teachers shall avoid any dual relationships with students (e.g., business, personal, or sexual relationships) that could impair their professional judgment, compromise the integrity of their instruction, and/or use the relationship for their gain. Teachers understand that a yoga studio is a place of deep spiritual work and transformation. Teachers shall not make comments, gestures, or physical contact of a sexual nature with their students, even if the student invites such conduct. Sexual misconduct will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Relationships Between Teachers and Students | Teachers shall not invite, respond to, or allow any sexual or romantic conduct with a student during the period of the teacher-student relationship. Sexual or romantic interactions that occur during the teacher-student relationship constitute sexual misconduct and are unethical. Sexual or romantic interactions detract from the goals of the teaching relationship, may exploit the student's vulnerability, may obscure the teacher’s judgment regarding the student, may be detrimental to the student’s well-being, and may damage the reputation of the yoga community. Yoga teachers must maintain professional boundaries in their relationships with students to serve students' best interests. The teacher's interest is irrelevant: the art of teaching yoga is focused on serving the student's spiritual needs. The teacher-student relationship involves an imbalance of power, and any appearance that this imbalance has been exploited for the sexual purposes of the teacher is unethical. Even if the relationship is initiated by the student, the teacher must still avoid it. If a teacher is becoming romantically involved with a student, the teacher should end the teaching relationship. The teacher must ensure that any behavior when dealing with students is always professional and free from misunderstanding or misinterpretation. If a relationship begins to develop, the teacher should seek the guidance of school management.

Retaliation Policy | 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.

Code of Conduct | We have adopted our Code of Conduct, which applies to all our teachers and trainees. We believe that it is the responsibility of our instructors and trainees to ensure a safe and protected environment in which a student can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. We believe we must aspire to and express the highest possible standards of conduct as outlined in this agreement and Code of Conduct. Our Code of Conduct embodies the Yamas and Niyamas of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the rules of ethical conduct that apply to all yoga practitioners.