Arizona Yoga Co.
Teacher Training Policies
As part of the yoga teacher training you will attending with our studio, it is important to recognize the following policies that Arizona Yoga Co. and our training have in place:
Anti-Harassment Policy
Attendance Policy
Code of Conduct for AYC
Grievance Policy
Refund Policy
Retaliation Policy
Anti-Harassment Policy
Overview
Harassment is a legal term that means unwelcome verbal and non-verbal conduct directed against someone in a protected class.
Protected class is a class of people protected from discrimination based on the individual's: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, and genetic information (including family medical history).
Sexual harassment is a legal term that means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature in the workplace.
Sexual misconduct is a non-legal term used informally to describe a broad range of behaviors which may or may not involve harassment.
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.
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.
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
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.
Examples of sexual harassment include unwanted and unnecessary physical contact; offensive remarks (including unwelcome comments about appearance); obscene jokes or other inappropriate use of sexually offensive language; the display in the studio of sexually suggestive objects or pictures; and unwelcome sexual advances by teachers, students, customers, clients, or other visitors to a studio. Non-physical gesture, behavior, unnecessary physical contact, verbal suggestion, or innuendo may constitute sexual harassment.
Sexual Misconduct
We prohibit sexual misconduct in our studio. Sexual misconduct is any unsolicited and unwelcome sexual advance 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.
Sexual misconduct also arises if a teacher engages in conduct that has the purpose or result of requiring a student to submit to such conduct to obtain any benefit or privilege relating to the study or teaching of yoga.
Teachers must maintain professional relationships with their students. This will be important when you are teaching in a variety of studios and it includes having appropriate social and sexual boundaries. Teachers must create and maintain a safe environment that engenders trust and mutual respect with the students. Teachers shall not initiate or engage in any sexual conduct, sexual activities, or sexualizing behavior involving a student even if the student attempts to create a sexual relationship. All forms of sexual involvement with students are unethical and constitute sexual misconduct.
Romantic Relationships Between Teachers and Students
Teachers shall avoid getting into personal or sexual relationships with students that may result in the impairment of their professional judgment or that may compromise the integrity of their teaching. If a relationship begins to develop, the teacher should bring it to AYC management.
Teachers should avoid acting on, responding to, or allowing sexual contact or romantic attraction with a student even if the student initiates the relationship. Teachers should ensure that their relationships with students are always professional, and not open to misunderstanding or misinterpretation.
However, if a romantic attraction does begin to develop with a student, teachers should seek guidance from AYC management before acting on the attraction. AYC management will then decide how it wishes to handle the relationship. For example, it may bless the relationship, but establish boundaries to prevent conflicts of interest and other problems. It may also decide that either the teacher or student should leave the school.
If a teacher has a pre-existing relationship with a student that did not arise from the teacher-student relationship, it should be brought to the attention of AYC management so that it can guide the couple in maintaining high ethical standards.
Attendance Policy
Students are encouraged to have 100% attendance and graduation from our program requires the student’s attendance at all training sessions or they will be required to make up the absence. Should extenuating circumstances impact attendance, students are permitted to miss class, provided they work with the program director to make up any missed hours. Students are responsible for rescheduling missed hours to make up any course material they have missed.
Any absence must be approved in advance by our program director. In the case of any emergency absences, please notify the program director immediately. If a student has planned absences that conflict with attendance in the program, please contact the program director to discuss options.
If a student needs to miss any training session, he or she must speak to the program director before the beginning of the session. A maximum of 10 hours may be missed if arranged in advance and approved by the program director, but these hours need to be rescheduled. We will arrange for a make-up session totaling 10 hours included in the price of tuition. We do not accept unapproved absences and they may result in dismissal from the program.
Graduation will be at the sole discretion of the program director.
Withdrawal Policy
If a student wishes to withdrawal from our program for any reason, they must first contact the program director to discuss their reasons for withdrawal. Refunds will be given in accordance with the program’s refund policy.
Code of Conduct
Purpose Statement:
Our Code of Conduct is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by our yoga teachers. Its primary goal is the welfare and protection of our students, teachers, yoga community, and the public. It articulates the ethical standards that our teachers must follow. The Code of Conduct is intended to elevate the professionalism and integrity of our yoga teachers by adopting standards for behavior yet recognizing the diversity of the many traditions of the teaching and practice of yoga.
Be committed to active inclusivity and anti-racism practices. Arizona Yoga Co. does not tolerate discrimination against a student or fellow teacher based on their age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, marital or parental status, veteran's status or physical and mental ability.
Obtain consent before physically adjusting students in their yoga practice. Silence or lack of resistance in and of itself does not demonstrate consent. Consent should be clearly and freely communicated. If you are unsure, do not provide the adjustment.
Actively engage in your own practice and study of yoga, including continuing education. Commit to teaching a minimum of two classes per month unless discussed privately with management. Any instructors that are inactive for more than six months will be removed from our active teaching roster, unless privately discussed with management.
Respect the studio space. Use the space as intended during intended hours of practice. Create and maintain a safe, clean, and conducive environment for the practice of yoga.
Respect the boundaries of your fellow teachers. Remember that not everyone has the same comfort discussing personal issues and with personal space. Make sure you get verbal consent before asking that someone hold space for you or engage in physical touch.
Follow the yogic practice of ahimsa; Non-violence towards yourself and others. No weapons, fighting, verbal attacks or threats of violence.
Minimize the impact of alcohol and/or other substances that affect others in the space. Teachers are entrusted with the responsibility of creating a respectful environment for all members of our community by reducing the risk of harm caused by alcohol and/or other substances. Examples of behaviors that violate this community standard include possessing an open container of alcohol inside the space, causing an odor of substance, vapor, or smoke to enter the space, or showing up to the space intoxicated by alcohol and/or other substances.
Do not enter a new romantic or sexual relationship with a student or trainee. If feelings do develop and parties mutually agree to move forward with a relationship, immediately inform management. However, we encourage you to examine the inherent power dynamics in a student/teacher relationship.
If you are unable to maintain these standards, please reach out to management for support. In the event of a violation of community norms, you may be asked to take a leave of absence from or leave the studio teaching until these standards can be maintained.
Yoga Equity:
Teachers shall welcome all students regardless of age, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and perceived gender expression), sexual orientation, color, race, national origin, marital status, parental status, veteran’s status, religion, or physical or mental disability, provided that the teacher has appropriate expertise. We will not discriminate in the workplace.
Teachers will embrace yoga equity. Teachers shall seek to have an awareness and a commitment to making yoga more equitable, inclusive, accessible and diverse. This encompasses diversity, inclusion and accessibility in yoga.
Teacher-Student Relationship:
Teachers shall treat their students with respect. Teachers should never force their own opinions on students but rather recognize that every student is entitled to his or her worldview, ideas, and beliefs. However, teachers should communicate to their students that the authentic practice of yoga involves transformation, including attitudes, personalities and ideas.
Teachers shall not exploit the trust of students and their potential dependency but rather, encourage students to find greater inner freedom.
Integrity:
Teachers should strive to adhere to the traditional yoga principles as delineated in the yamas and niyamas. Teachers are committed to maintaining impeccable standards of professional integrity and to promoting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of their students. Teachers recognize the inherent imbalance in the teacher-student relationship and that relationships with students have the potential of exploiting the trust of students, creating dependent relationships, and compromising the integrity of the teacher. Teachers shall avoid getting into close personal or sexual relationships with students that may result in the impairment of their professional judgment or that may compromise the integrity of their teaching.
Scope of Practice:
Teachers shall represent their qualifications honestly and provide only the services they are qualified and certified to perform. Teachers shall not give medical advice. Teachers shall not recommend any specific treatment, diagnose a condition, or suggest that a student disregard medical advice. Teachers shall refer their students to medical doctors or complimentary licensed professionals when appropriate.
Confidential Information:
Our studio will maintain the confidentiality of all private information disclosed by our teachers, students and clients. We will maintain commercially reasonable policies and procedures to protect the confidentiality of all private information disclosed by our teachers, students, and clients.
Financial Statement:
Teachers will be honest, straightforward, fair, and conscientious in conducting all of the studio's business affairs. Teachers will manage the studio's business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices. Teachers will discuss all fees and financial arrangements in a straightforward professional manner.
Professional Relationships:
Teachers are part of a network of health care and well-being professionals and shall seek to develop interdisciplinary relationships. Teachers shall seek to collaborate with other professionals to protect and enhance the wellbeing of the yoga community and the public generally.
Advertising and Public Communications:
Our studio will not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements or advertisements concerning: 1. The training, experience, or competence of our teachers; 2. The academic degrees or credentials of our teachers; 3. Their institutional or association affiliations; 4. Their services, including classes, workshops, and teacher trainings; 5. The scientific or clinical basis for or results or degree of success of, their services; 6. Our fees; 7. Unusual or unique abilities of our teachers, including statements involving sensationalism or exaggeration; or 8. An intent to exploit a student’s fears, anxieties or emotions, or to create unjustified claims of results
Grievance Policy
Reporting of Policy Violations:
We encourage anyone who has been the subject of sexual misconduct or any other action that violates our policies and Code of Conduct to report the incident to AYC management immediately.
The report should contain the following information:
Your full name
Your contact information
The name of the person who the grievance is against
A description of the grievance or the alleged policy violation
The date and location the grievance or policy violation occurred
Names and contact information for any witnesses
Any other creditable evidence available to support the grievance
In the interest of fairness and privacy, all reports must be made by the person who has personally experienced the misconduct. We will not investigate a matter based upon a third-party report of misconduct.
All reports must be made in good faith based on information the person reporting the incident reasonably believes to be accurate.
We may request additional information from the person reporting the incident throughout the course of review of the report.
We will take appropriate action to ensure compliance with our policies. AYC management will impose any sanctions that it feels are fair, just, and reasonable under all circumstances.
We will not allow anyone to retaliate against any person for making a report in good faith or providing information in connection with an investigation into an alleged violation.
Any information provided during a grievance report review will be treated on a confidential basis. Similarly, any actions that the taken in response to the report will also be confidential.
Refund Policy
Upon acceptance into the Arizona Yoga Co. Teacher Training program, the applicant must pay a deposit of $500 to hold their place in the program.
Notice of Cancellation
The program requires that any notice of cancellation or withdrawal by a student must be provided in writing, either hand-delivered or by email.
Admission Denials
An applicant who is denied admission into the program is entitled to a full refund of all money paid by said applicant.
Three (3) Day Cancellation
An applicant who submits written notice of cancellation within three (3) business days after signing the training agreement is entitled to a refund of all money paid. The refund will be paid within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice of cancellation.
Cancellations After Three (3) Days but Before Program Start Date
An applicant who submits written notice of cancellation of the program more than three business days after signing the training agreement but before the program begins is entitled to a refund of all money paid less the $500 deposit. There may be a possibility of transferring the deposit to an upcoming teacher training, but this option is not guaranteed and depends on availability of the next program.
Cancellations Within the First Week of Training
For an applicant requesting cancellation within the first week of training, the tuition retained by the program shall not exceed 10% of the contract price of the course plus the $500 deposit but in no event would the total amount retained be more than $900.
After the First Week and Additional Periods
For a student terminating training after one week but within the first 25% of the course, the tuition retained by the program will equal 25% of the contract price of the course plus the $500 deposit.
For a student terminating training after completing over 25% but less than 50% of the course, the tuition retained by the program will equal 50% of the contract price of the course plus the $500 deposit.
A student completing more than 50% of the course is not entitled to a refund of any tuition.
Special Cases
In case a student needs to withdraw from the program due to illness, accident, death in the family, or other circumstances that make it impractical for the student to complete the course, the program will provide either a reasonable and fair refund or it will work with the student to transfer the deposit and the amount paid for the teacher training to an upcoming teacher training, based on availability.
Bad Conduct
No refunds will be given if the program removes a student from the program for bad conduct. Bad conduct is violation of the Code of Conduct, harassment, bullying, or any other behavior that is inappropriate or disruptive to the welfare of the program or to fellow students.
Cancellation
The program reserves the right to cancel any training before it begins. In that case any payments applicants have made will be refunded in full.
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.
What Is Retaliation?
Retaliation means taking an “adverse action” against any person for having reported or threatened to report harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or violations of our Code of Conduct, or for participating in an investigation into a complaint of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation or violations of our Code of Conduct.
In the case of employees, retaliation is an adverse employment action taken against an individual for having reported or threatened to report harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, or for participating in an investigation into a complaint of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.
For an action to qualify as retaliation, an employee or supervisor’s actions must be harmful to the point that they may dissuade a reasonable employee from making a charge of discrimination or must take place after such a report of discrimination in made. Some examples of adverse actions are refusal to hire, denial of job benefits, suspension, and discharge. Other types of adverse actions include threats, reprimands, negative evaluations, harassment, or other adverse treatment.
Reporting Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct
We have a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment or sexual misconduct. We encourage anyone who has been experienced an incident to report to Arizona Yoga Co. management. We need to know what’s going on so we can act on it. We will do everything possible to stop sexual harassment and sexual misconduct from happening. We will not permit anyone to retaliate against you for filing a report of sexual misconduct.