Yoga Well’s Student Code of Conduct

Yoga Well is committed to helping students get the most out of their educational investment in Yoga Therapist Training. We believe students have a right to access a high-quality education and study opportunity in a clean, safe and respectful environment free from harassment. We recognize that students also bear responsibility for co-creating the educational environment. So it is everyone’s responsibility to be respectful of the environment, faculty, staff, and each other, both inside and out of the classroom. Accordingly, students must adhere to Yoga Well’s Code of Conduct. 

Compliance and Accountability 

Yoga is a process of self-awareness, self-empowerment, and self-regulation. The process of yoga should result in an increasing awareness of oneself and one’s needs and an increasing trust of one’s inner guidance. All faculty, mentors, staff & students must take responsibility for their own experience. 

• Support each other, but do not try to be each other’s caregiver, parent or therapist. 
• Commit to using “I” statements when communicating or sharing with one another. 
• Communicate with faculty, staff and the other students directly, honestly and appropriately. 

If a student has a concern in regards to the behavior of any other participant, faculty or staff, promptly communicate that concern to the Student Liaison , the Program Director and/or a faculty member. 

Attendance

We expect students to attend at least 80% of all modules and online classes live at the time they are held. The attendance policy applies to both residential modules and online sessions. Students must be present at the time of the class to receive credit for attendance. Online attendance is tracked using the Zoom attendance registry for each individual class. In person attendance is tracked via a daily sign in sheet.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are logged into all online sessions with their full name in Zoom so they may be accurately counted present. After each online class or module we will pull the attendance (either via Zoom or physical sign in sheet) and record participation in the attendance record. 

Be punctual. Specifically, be physically present in the classroom (physical or online) and ready for the class to start five minutes prior to the scheduled starting time. 

During online classes or modules it may be appropriate to have your camera off however, the expectation is that you are still present and engaged. Even with your camera off it is possible that you will be called on and/or sent to break out rooms where your participation is expected. Failure to participate, without a specific request to not participate, or answer when called upon may result in your attendance for that session being revoked.

Competence and Productivity 

Come prepared to learn with an open and fresh mind, and a kind and curious attitude. Come to class with appropriate materials: comfortable attire, something to take notes in and with, books, completed homework and having read the assigned readings.

Programs and courses must be completed within the allocated time unless arrangements are made with the Program Director beforehand. Assessments may be retaken to give a student the opportunity to achieve a passing grade. To satisfy the Certification Requirement, students must complete all assessments with a passing grade. Completion of the training program and credit for the class hours is based on a Pass / Fail system. 

Students must maintain a passing status assessed through daily personal practice, attendance at modules and online lessons, class participation in modules and online, completion of homework assignments, passing grades on assessments, and completion of all practicum requirements.

Absences beyond 20%, incomplete homework assignments, failing to pass two or more assessments and/or obvious discontinuation of one’s personal practice will be cause for a student review with the Program Director and may result in being placed on academic probation or removal from the program. 

Students who are falling short of meeting the criteria will be asked to have a consultation session with the Program Director for the purpose of clarifying expectations and/or being placed on academic probation. Except during in-person training modules, students on academic probation may meet with the Program Director upon request for progress reports at any time during the program. 

Lawful and Honest Conduct 

Integrity is a core value in Yoga and we consider it to be of the utmost importance. All students are expected to conduct themself honestly and lawfully both within and outside the program.

All work submitted for the purpose of the program must be entirely the student’s own. Students are not permitted to copy or distribute their lecture notes including selling or giving them in whole or in part to anyone outside of their Yoga Well Institute cohort. This includes using Yoga Well handouts for delivering content as a teacher outside of Yoga Well programming.

Misrepresentation of one’s work, or unlawful activity of any kind, is grounds for immediate dismissal. 

Confidentiality and Privacy 

Honor confidentiality. Confidentiality is required of all practicing Yoga Therapists and is an important part of the training process. Anything of a personal nature shared in the course of the training by other participants, faculty or clients is expected to be held in complete confidence and not be discussed outside the context of the situation in which it was shared. Period. 

Confidentiality is also required in regard to clients and case studies and in the internship process. Client’s personal information should never be shared. It is expected that when clients share this information with their Student Yoga Therapist, it will be treated with due discretion and not shared.

Personal audio and video recording of lectures, practicum and practices is not permitted. 

Care and Maintenance of Property 

Maintaining a clean classroom environment is important.
No food or any beverage other than water is allowed in the classroom. All property should be treated with respect.

Appropriate Behavior and Conduct 

All students are expected to act maturely, cooperate and show respect for other students, faculty and staff at all times.

• Raise your hand if you have questions and allow the Faculty Member/Facilitator to moderate the flow of the discussion. Give others a fair opportunity to participate in the discussion
• Refrain from interrupting Faculty Members/Facilitators and classmates.
• Limit your questions and comments to what is directly being presented in class.

Compliance with Laws  

All participants, faculty & students are expected to abide by all Local, State & Federal laws.

Non-impairment 

No weapons, illegal drugs or alcohol are allowed at any time during any of the modules or classes. Intoxication of any sort during the live classes is never appropriate and can result in immediate expulsion from the class and/or program.

Conflict of Interest 

We strongly discourage dual relationships.  Where there is a student-teacher relationship, there should not also be business, close personal or physically intimate relationships. Dual relationships can easily impair professional judgment, compromise the integrity of the program and/or become a means for personal gain. Additionally, the trust placed by the student in the teacher and the power that gives the teacher makes horizontal relationships impossible. 

We ask students to avoid committing to enrolling in other long-form educational content during the duration of their Yoga Therapist Training. 

Dress Code and Hygiene 

Do not wear perfumes, bath oils, strong smelling shampoos, lotions, aromatherapy or fragrances. Always wear sufficient clothing to appropriately cover the body.

Acceptable Use  

We request that all cellphones are put away and turned off during class sessions. Checking devices is acceptable during breaks. If it is necessary for work or family reasons to have your device on and with you please ensure it is on silent and let the Faculty/Facilitator know. 

Reporting Violations & Disciplinary Actions 

Probation and Dismissal 

Yoga Well reserves all rights related to participation in its training programs. Any violation of school policies or significant disruption of Yoga Well’s training program may result in the student being placed on probation or immediately dismissed from the training. 

This includes: 

• Any significant disturbance of a class 
• Any significantly inappropriate behavior 
• A breach of the Code of Conduct 
• Any other violation of the policies and guidelines set forth in our Student Handbook that cannot be resolved through the Student Grievance Process 

In the unlikely event that a student is placed on probation, the Program Director will discuss the situation with the Lead Faculty , Offerings Manager, the student’s Program Mentor, and an appropriate Student Liaison if needed as well as the student before considering the circumstances and deciding whether or not to place the student on probation. All meetings reflecting a student’s participation in the program will be documented and will include the decisions and/or conditions of continued participation in the program. These decisions will be communicated to the student in writing. 

A second offense while on probation will likely result in immediate dismissal from the training. In the unlikely event that Yoga Well begins to consider dismissing a student from the program, the Program Director will notify the student in writing. Then, after consulting with the Student Liaison, the student’s Program Mentor and the student, the Program Director will consider the circumstances and make a decision. The Program Director’s decision is final. 

Support Request and Grievance Procedure 

Yoga Well is committed to providing a safe and secure educational environment for all of its faculty, students, and staff members. We hold that clear, honest, and open communication is one of the most important foundations of any relationship, especially one centered on learning and mentoring. Filing a grievance will not affect, in any way, shape or form, the student’s treatment by the  Yoga Well Institute Faculty or Staff nor their ability to continue in the training and achieve the certification. 

We created the role of a Student Liaison to support both students, faculty and assistants navigate difficulties that may arise during the course of the training. Though this type of support is most often the role of the mentor, the Student Liaison has an experienced purview of the training program as well as the ability to connect multiple people to resolve any issues. It is our goal to ensure comprehensive support for all involved in our training and allow for anonymous comments. All requests for support or grievance made with the Student Liaison and Program Director are confidential. 

The Student Liaison is available to support when someone is

• unsure of how to proceed with a concern
• wants to address a matter with someone and is looking to discuss or get clear on how to best initiate that interaction
• needs a space to be heard anonymously
• has a complicated matter to work through 
• desires a safe space other than their mentor or the Program Director

If a student or staff member has a grievance with any person affiliated with the Yoga Well Yoga Therapist Training, as a preferred first step, we ask that the student address the grievance directly to the individual or individuals involved. We recognize that there are instances where this is not comfortable, appropriate, or possible. If the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved at this initial level or it is not comfortable, appropriate, or possible to address the grievance directly with the appropriate party, the grievance should be communicated to the Program Director directly (in person, via phone, or via email) or submitted via the Student Liaison and Support Request Form. The Program Director or the Student Liaison will receive the student’s grievance and mediate a course of action to resolve the grievance. 

The Student Liaison and Support Request Form resides in the Faculty & Student Contact Info and Networking Directory, Ryver, and the Student Portal. All responses submitted via the Form are confidential and only accessible by the Student Liaison. In the event that an individual affiliated with the Yoga Therapist Training wishes to report a concern anonymously it is possible to do so through the Student Liaison and Support Request Form.

Potential resources for any grievance or support request are: the Program Director, Program Faculty and Assistants, the Offerings Manager, and Student Liaisons. The Student Liaison is a licensed therapist and certified Yoga Therapist from the Yoga Well Institute community with the experience and skill sets necessary to navigate many interpersonal situations. They are contracted by the Yoga Well Institute and provided by the Yoga Well Institute at no cost to those who receive their services. Current Student Liaisons are listed in the staff portion of the Student Handbook and in the Student Portal. 

Once the Student Liaison and Support Request Form has been submitted the individual making the submission can expect: 

1. Confirmation of receipt within 2 business days.  
2. Connection or Contact by the Student Liaison within 4 business days. 
3. If needed, a period of investigation/fact finding, the terms of which will be communicated by the person handling the request. This period may include interviewing other students, faculty members, and Yoga Well staff aside from the parties directly involved. If the circumstances include the Program Director, then the Director will be excluded from participating in any decisions by the Yoga Well administration.
4. Recommendation for Action between all involved parties with an appropriate timeline and oversight established. 
5. Documentation of the process, resolution plan of action, and outcome. 
6. The Yoga Well Institute will keep a record of grievances filed so that long-term patterns can be recognized, and appropriate actions taken if necessary. 
7. This process will repeat until the person who has submitted the original request feels an appropriate resolution has been reached. 

Participant Mentor Grievance Consideration

Student concerns regarding their program mentor should be addressed immediately to the Program Director or the Student Liaison. If the student files a Grievance against their Program Mentor, Yoga Well will help the student establish a relationship with a new Program Mentor. This new Program Mentor relationship may be temporary or permanent depending upon the circumstances and the desire of the student. 

If Yoga Well suspects that an inappropriate relationship is developing between a student and their Program Mentor, Yoga Well reserves the right to require the reassignment of the student with a new Program Mentor.