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.

Soul Society School of Yoga Code of Conduct

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

Guiding how we teach, lead, and care for our community.
Preamble
At Soul Society Yoga, we believe that being a yoga teacher is a practice of integrity — not
perfection, but honest effort. This code of conduct reflects who we are as a school and how we
choose to show up for our students and one another.
This Code of Conduct aims to:
• Align our actions with the values we teach
• Empower teachers to develop their own ethical compass
• Create transparency for the wider community
• Hold us accountable
1. Commitment to Legal and Ethical Teaching
As yoga teachers, we carry a responsibility to protect the physical and emotional wellbeing of the
students who trust us. A basic part of that responsibility is teaching within the laws and
professional standards of our region.
While Soul Society Yoga does not oversee the style or lineage you choose to teach, any behavior
that causes harm or violates civil or criminal law will result in a serious review and potential
removal from our program or teaching community, and potentially from American Yoga Council.
We will support appropriate action when harm has occurred.
I commit to teaching in alignment with the laws, regulations, and safety standards of my
area.
2. Living Our Core Values
Being part of the Soul Society Yoga School means teaching in a way that reflects our highest
values. These values guide the culture of our school and influence every interaction we have —
with students, colleagues, and ourselves.
Generosity & Collaboration
I will teach from an abundant mindset, honoring the exchange of knowledge and supporting a
culture where teachers lift each other up rather than compete.
Honesty & Clarity
I will present my training, background, experience, and offerings accurately. I will communicate
openly about what I know, what I’m learning, and what is outside my scope.
Right Use of Skills

I will teach within my training and seek support, mentorship, or referral when a student’s needs
require expertise I do not have.
Respectful, Boundaried Relationships
I will create a classroom environment rooted in respect, consent, and care. I will honor each
student’s autonomy, maintain healthy boundaries, and foster connections that uphold dignity for
all.
3. Your Personal Ethical Code
Every great yoga teacher has an inner compass — a personally chosen framework that shapes
how they move through the world on and off the mat.
We invite each teacher-in-training to craft a personal code of conduct inspired by:
• Yogic ethics such as the yamas and niyamas
• Other spiritual or philosophical systems
• Personal lived values and life experience
• The kind of teacher and human you aspire to be
This personal code should express who you are at your core and the standards you hold yourself
to as you teach.
I commit to living and teaching by the personal code of conduct I create, rooted in my own
study, practice, and understanding.