Principle 1
Adhere To Applicable Law
Members MUST abide by all local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations applicable in their location(s).
Principle 2
Follow The Yoga Alliance Scope Of Practice
Members MUST attest that they have read, understand, and agree to the SOP. The SOP sets out acceptable, recommended, required, and prohibited practices by which members agree to conduct themselves while teaching yoga.
Principle 3
Follow The Yoga Alliance Anti-Harassment Policy
Members MUST NOT harass students, trainees, employees, peers, and other members, other teachers, registered yoga schools, other schools, studios, or members of the public, in person or through online activities, now known or unknown, such as trolling, stalking, using hate speech, threatening, intimidating, reporting of false grievances, manipulating, or otherwise harassing in any form or manner.
Principle 4
Follow The Yoga Alliance Sexual Misconduct Policy
Members MUST NOT intentionally or negligently cause sexual harm – verbally, physically, or otherwise – to students, trainees, employees, peers, other members, other teachers, or members of the public through any action, including but not limited to: actions proscribed by local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations.
Principle 5
Do No Harm
Members MUST attest that they will take reasonable steps to do no harm and will not intentionally or negligently cause harm to students, trainees, employees, peers, other members, other teachers, or members of the public through any action or inaction, including but not limited to actions proscribed by local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations.
Principle 6
Actively Include All Individuals
Members MUST NOT discriminate against and SHOULD actively include all individuals. Members are expected to go beyond legal prohibitions against discrimination and, within their scope of practice, actively include, accommodate, and welcome all who wish to be included in the practice of yoga.
Principle 7
Respect Student-Teacher Relationships
Members MUST obtain explicit and informed consent before physically adjusting students and trainees in yoga practices.
Members SHOULD NOT enter into a new romantic and/or sexual relationship with a student or trainee during the course of an RYS, other school, conference, workshop, retreat, class, or other such events at which the member is perceived to be the teacher.
Members MUST abide by local governing agencies, including but not limited to: local, state, provincial, national, and federal laws and regulations.
Members MUST NOT photograph, record video, or capture any other imagery in any other medium, nor use such imagery or such person’s likeness, without the express consent of the students, trainees, or members of the public who are included in such photography, video, and imagery.
Principle 8
Maintain Honesty In Communications
Members MUST NOT falsely represent their professional yoga history (education, training, experience, credentials).
Members MUST NOT plagiarize copyrighted material and MUST disclose the source of any teaching, writing, or resource that’s not their own.
Members SHOULD acknowledge their teachers or mentors when sharing a teaching related to that relationship.
Members MUST NOT make unsupported or exaggerated claims regarding the effects of yoga.
Members MUST NOT provide advice or services in locations where they are not currently and properly licensed during or resulting from any program.
Members SHOULD educate and inform themselves about the history and genesis of yoga and proactively inform students and trainees of the origin and practices from the lineage, style or methodology being taught.
Members SHOULD establish an individual and personalized structure for periodic and ongoing peer mentoring, support, and advice as well as self-reflection, especially around yoga and yoga teaching issues they find challenging.