Professional Guidelines for IYC Yoga Teachers

IYC tradition finds its roots in Patanjali Yoga Sutras. Patanjali, the father of yoga offers a remedy for the eradication of life's emotional pains that can lead to physiological distress. In second and third chapter of the Sutras, he gives the eightfold path for the elimination of the contractive emotions or thought waves that produce turbulence in the mind and hence, in our life.

The Yamas and Niyamas are universal guidelines for living a yogic life, and IYC upholds this ancient tradition, asking each teacher to incorporate these principles into their daily life. The following are in-depth guidelines for integrating ancient teachings into a life of integrity on every level.

As an IYC teacher, we aspire to:

Ahimsa
     · practice physical, mental and verbal non-violence,

       within ourselves and our relationships with others.
     · cultivate the spirit of non-judgment and

       forgiveness in all phases of life, studies and teachings.

     · reduce, and strive to eliminate criticism and

       projections onto others.
     · develop non-violence as a positive, dynamic quality

       of universal love as well as an attitude of negating

       harm to others.

Satya
     · express truthfulness in alignment of our thoughts,

       words and actions.
     · follow through on our commitments, not saying

       one thing and meaning another or saying one thing to

       one person and making a contradictory statement to

       another, either to their face or behind the back.
     · take responsibility for our actions as well as judgments

       of the actions of others by looking to the source of

       our own projections.
     · allow our teachings to be an in-depth expression of

       our own experiences.
     · express the thoughts and words that heal rather than

       wound the hearts of others.

Asteya & Aparigraha
     · develop non-covetousness or non-envy toward the

       qualities and accomplishments of others.
     · release feelings of competition with other

       teachers and systems.
     · remember when we are fulfilled within ourselves, there

       is no need to compete, criticize or gossip about others

       or make ourselves feel superior.
     · delight in the joys and successes of others as we

       would our own.
     · reach out to other teachers in an effort of

       collaboration and cooperation rather than competition.
     · create a feeling of non-covetousness and to create

       a feeling of nonattachment.
     · release envy of other teachers or students which

       can lead to territorialism and competition.

Brahmacharya & Saucha
     · refine cleanliness of body as well as mind and

       thoughts.
     · radiate health on every level of our being as an

       example of our teachings
     · avoid alcohol, drugs (legal & illegal) and other

       addictive substances and behavior patterns.
     · purify motives through continual evaluation of our

       underlying agendas for teaching and practicing yoga.

Santosha
     · achieve equanimity both in praise or blame, success or

       failure.
     · develop equanimity in all situations in order to find a

       point of peace in the midst of any or all conditions of

       life.
     · be the model of our teachings of yoga in every way

       possible.

Tapas
     · commit to regular personal practice and its integration

       into daily life.
     · maintain a personal practice more than one teaches, to

       avoid teacher “burn out”.
     · periodically change the patterns of practice to enrich

       the freshness of the teachings.
     · allow our own inner evolution to be expressed in our

       teachings.
     · trust one's own creativity and intuition.
     · be inspired in learning; to be inspired in teaching.

Swadhyaya
     · study the lives and writings of inspirational role models

       who have incorporated the principles of non-

       violence, love, compassion and forgiveness into their

       daily lives.
     · remember their lives during our own challenges and

       the “dark nights of the soul”.
     · hold the remembrance of those who have shed light

       on the darkened corners of mind and heart in life's

       most difficult hours.
     · continue our education in the field of yoga to maintain

       as well-rounded and wholistic a background as

       possible.
     · plumb the depths of yoga as much as possible in

       our own educational choices and our own practice.

Ishwarapranidhana
     · remember the eternal cosmic vibration and the

       “Divine Self” in all life's actions and interactions,

       whatever our beliefs or non-beliefs.

     · develop growing sensitivity to hearing the inner

       voice that leads to the defenseless endeavor to

       dwell in the “Higher Self”.
     · hold the remembrance of the oneness or unity that

       is yoga in our postures and in our life.
     · serve the Divine by serving humanity.

Professional Conduct

An IYC Teacher:
     · is integrative in their teaching methodologies.  They

       have studied a variety of traditions, finding the core of

       oneness in those teachings and integrating them into

       their own experiential understanding.
     · augments a student's wellness practices rather than

       attempting to replace the student's current treatment

       plan.
     · is known for their integration of the alignment of

       asana, breathing and yoga philosophy.
     · does not parrot the teachings of others but explores,

       integrates, and assimilates materials and teaching

       techniques before presenting them to their class.
     · offers teachings that are an outgrowth of their own

       experiences and practice.
     · continues satsang and communes with yoga teachers

       from every path.

Professional Practices
    · To be honest, straightforward, fair and conscientious in

      all personal & professional practices, including fees and

      financial arrangements.

     · To manage business finances according to socially

       responsible business and accounting practices.

Advertising
In brochures, advertising and other descriptions of services, IYC teachers will:
     · represent training, qualifications, abilities and

       affiliations accurately and unambiguously.
     · make no false or exaggerated claims of personal

       qualifications, abilities and affiliations.
     · refrain from falsely implied sponsorship by

       representation of or endorsement by IYC or Affiliates.
     · refrain from overzealousness in recruiting students,

       remembering the numbers are not important. When

       the teacher is ready. . .the students appear.
     · graduate teachers of the International Yoga College

       are asked to remember that the teachings of yoga

       were originally not considered to be a business, not

       even a profession. . .but a privilege. . .a “calling”.

If a teacher appears to be out of alignment with the above standards, IYC will provide a support team whose function is to assist the teacher in a process of realignment with the Professional Guidelines.  The promulgation of these guidelines is intended to assist teachers and does not create any liability on the part of the International Yoga College.

The International Yoga College Ethical Standards are based upon the Yoga Sutras.  We believe that if a teacher truly practices the teachings, the ethical, moral and professional standards will be an organic outgrowth of the process. We believe that yoga is a continual refinement of one's own evolutionary unfoldment.  If the practice is not changing our life to bring us into greater alignment of thought, words and actions, then, we believe, we need to evaluate the practice.