Policies | Mahan Yoga

MAHAN YOGA.com

Evolutionary Guidance for Soul Freedom

In effort to create and maintain a safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment whether in-person or online, in alignment with our own philosophies and in compliance with Yoga AllianceTM standards, we have established the following policies regarding working, teaching, and enrollment and participation in our yoga classes, workshops, events and trainings.

We appreciate your cooperation.

Program Policies

1. Code of Conduct

2. Anti-Harassment

3. Grievances

4. Anti-Retaliation

5. Attendance

6. Tuition and Refunds

1. Code of Conduct (CoC)

Purpose Statement:

We are deeply committed to holding high ethical standards for our yoga teachers. We believe that it is the responsibility of a teacher to ensure a safe nurturing environment in which our students can grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Students are looking for guidance from teachers with authenticity, experience, and wisdom. Our Code of Conduct was developed to protect our students in this potentially vulnerable relationship with their teachers and to uphold the highest professional standards.

Financial Practices:

Teachers will be honest, straightforward, fair, and conscientious in conducting all of their business affairs.

Teachers will manage their business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices in addition to complying with any other legal and business requirements that apply to their business.

Teachers will discuss all fees and financial arrangements in a straightforward professional manner.

Teachers will seek opportunities to render service to individuals or groups who are underserved by the broader yoga community on a pro bono basis.

Teachers will ensure all advertisements relating to the benefits of yoga are accurate, fair, and not misleading.

Teachers will treat employees, assistants, students, colleagues, and other wellness businesses fairly, transparently and honestly in the course of all business dealings.

Teachers will follow sound environmental and sustainable practices in their professional and personal lives.

Professional Growth/Continuing Education:

Teachers will maintain a daily personal practice (Sadhana) in addition to continuing education in order to exemplify and maintain the integrity of these teachings and practice.

Teacher/Student Relationships:

Teachers are committed to acknowledging Spirit in all their students, fellow teachers and staff.

Teachers shall treat their students with fairness and respect in regard to their individuality, dignity, and privacy.

Teachers shall remain committed to promoting the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of all of their students in a sensitive and equitable manner.

Teachers shall demonstrate high regard for the moral, social, and religious standards of their students. Teachers shall avoid imposing their personal beliefs on their students, although they may express them when appropriate in the class and in a sensitive and careful manner.

Teachers recognize the trust placed in them by students and the unique power of the student-teacher relationship. Teachers shall avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of students in any capacity avoiding dual relationships with students (e.g., business, close personal or sexual relationships) that may impair their judgment, compromise the integrity of the teachings and/or use the relationship for their personal gain.

Teachers shall not engage in any type of harassment toward anyone, including but not limited to abusive words or actions, exploitation or that which is otherwise outlined in the “Anti-Harassment” section of these policies.

Teachers recognize that the teacher-student relationship involves a power imbalance and shall exercise caution if the teacher chooses to get into any type of personal relationship with a student.

Teachers shall practice good communication with their students. Teachers should exhibit attentive listening while respecting their student’s point of view, beliefs, and culture.

Teachers should not allow their beliefs and values to adversely influence their relationship with their students and shall avoid imposing their personal beliefs on their students.

Teachers shall create and maintain an accessible, safe, clean, comfortable physical environment for the practice of yoga.

Integrity:

Teachers shall uphold the highest of moral standards all times while continually striving to ensure that their intentions, actions, and speech are based on honesty, compassion, selflessness, trustworthiness, authenticity, and transparency.

Teachers are committed to promoting the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of their students.

Teachers are committed to practicing yoga as a way of life, including a daily Sadhana, adopting the fundamental moral principles of yoga and making their lifestyle environmentally sustainable.

Teachers recognize that the process of learning is never complete, and they shall avoid portraying themselves as “enlightened” or “spiritually advanced.” Teachers shall remain humble yet diligent in their commitment to teach and embody the practice and lifestyle of yoga.

Teachers shall honor that they are walking on the spiritual path along with their fellow teachers and students by working to cultivate an attitude of humanity in their teaching by dedicating their work to something greater than themselves.

Teachers shall ensure that their behavior does not give even the appearance of professional impropriety. Any actions which may benefit the teacher to the detriment of the yoga community, or an individual student must be avoided to not erode the public trust in the integrity of yoga.

Teachers shall maintain impeccable standards of professional competence and integrity by dedicating themselves to studying, teaching, and promoting the art, science and philosophy of yoga.

Teachers shall commit to the highest standards of professional and personal conduct overall.

Scope of Practice

Teachers shall represent their qualifications honestly and provide only the services they are qualified and certified to perform.

Teachers shall not diagnose their student’s physical or psychological condition.

Teachers shall not give medical advice or engage in the unauthorized practice of medicine.

Teachers shall not prescribe a treatment or suggest rejecting a physician’s advice.

Teachers shall avoid giving any personal advice concerning a student’s personal life.

Teachers shall refer their students to medical doctors or complimentary licensed professionals when appropriate.

Teachers shall not abandon or neglect their students. If a teacher is unable (or unwilling for appropriate reasons) to provide professional help or continue a professional relationship, they should make every reasonable effort to arrange for instruction for that student with another teacher.

Confidential Information

Teachers shall respect and protect the welfare of all of their students or clients.

In respect of privacy, all discussions among teachers concerning students or clients shall be conducted in secure, non-public environments.

Teachers shall keep all personal information disclosed by their students or clients strictly confidential with the following exceptions (a) to comply with the law or the order of a court; (b) to prevent bodily harm or danger to the client or to others; or (c) where the information has already been disclosed to the public.

Teachers will obtain the consent of students before audio or video recording in class or make such notices of recording clear prior to program.

Inter-Professional Relationships

Teachers are part of the health care and well-being community and should strive to develop and maintain relationships within the community for the benefit of their students and their professional development.

Teachers shall conduct themselves in an honorable manner in their relations with their fellow yoga teachers and other wellness practitioners while working to build unity of their community through embracing diversity, collaboration and commitment the benefit of all.

Teachers shall practice tolerance and acceptance toward other yoga teachers, schools and traditions. Teachers shall not openly criticize practices followed by other yoga schools or teachers.

Teachers shall hold space for fellow teachers and students to discuss differences of opinion in a sensitive and compassionate manner. When criticism must be made, it should be done with fairness, discretion and with a focus on the facts.

Advertising and Public Communications

Teachers shall provide students and colleagues with good quality and factual information about their professional qualifications, the services they provide and their teaching arrangements.

Teachers shall not make false, deceptive, or fraudulent statements or advertisements concerning: (i) their training, experience, or competence; (ii) their academic degrees or credentials; (iii) their institutional affiliations; (iv) their classes, workshops, and teacher trainings; (v) the scientific or clinical basis for the success of their services; (vi) their fees; or (vii) statements involving sensationalism, exaggeration or superficiality; or (viii) an intent to exploit a student’s fears or emotions or to create unjustified expectations for cures or results.

Teachers shall refrain from making public statements on the benefits of yoga that are not supported by science or the generally accepted experience of the yoga community.

Advertisements in any form promoting workshops, clinics, seminars or similar events must have a clear statement of the purpose of the event, the audience for which it is intended and its educational objectives in addition to the accurate disclosure of the teacher’s education, training, and experience.

Advertisements shall be made with dignity and integrity and shall not include exaggerated claims about the benefits of yoga.

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.

Teachers are encouraged to have an awareness and a commitment to making yoga more equitable, inclusive, accessible, and diverse. This includes not just the ways that yoga practice can be modified to suit students with disabilities, physical challenges, chronic illness, seniors, and anyone who may not feel comfortable in a regular class but also to those facing economic hardships limiting their access to class.

Teachers shall make classes welcoming to everyone, and respectfully approach students in a trauma-informed way.

Teachers shall commit to a shared responsibility for awareness of and commitment to change the inequities that exist within yoga that result in many people feeling excluded and underrepresented such as people who may feel excluded due to their body composition and/or physical ability.

Teachers are encouraged to take proactive steps to promote inclusion in yoga to: (1) promote equity; (2) reduce harm to students; (3) honor and leverage cultural differences; and (4) expand diversity and accessibility in all areas of yoga while honoring the integrity of yoga’s cultural and historical roots.

Teachers are encouraged to obtain appropriate training to offer accessible yoga classes.

2. Anti-Harassment

We care deeply about our staff and student’s wellbeing and work to develop an environment that serves everyone involved in the magic and community we create. While harassment is never a fun topic to discuss, we feel it’s important to have these policies in place to create awareness so that one day we may fully live in the consciousness we are free of such behaviors. If you experience any type of harassment while in our school or participating in our programs, do not hesitate to report it. We take every report seriously while handling with respect and dignity. See Grievances for more.

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.

Harassment includes epithets, slurs, name calling, negative stereotyping, insults, intimidation, ridicule, threatening, intimidating or hostile acts, denigrating jokes, and display in the workplace of written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group based on their protected characteristic. Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated minor incidents may not rise to the level of harassment.

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:

(a) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment;

(b) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual;

(d) such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive 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 all forms in all of our yoga classes, workshops, events and trainings. 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, in person or online.

Teachers and students may not use sexually suggestive language (including sexual jokes and degrading comments), gestures, movements, or images in their classes, in their studios, on their websites, or in their social media platform. Teachers and students should avoid making comments on their students’ appearance that could be perceived as sexually oriented or suggesting an attraction. Body type and image ideation is also prohibited. If a student tells a teacher, a student tells a student, or a Teacher tells a student that any behavior is unwelcome and the offender repeats the behavior, it may be considered harassment.

Romantic Relationships Between Teachers and Students:

Teachers recognize the unique power and imbalance of the student-teacher relationship. While acknowledging the complexity of yoga relationships, teachers shall not exploit the trust and dependency of students.

Teachers shall not invite, initiate or engage in, respond to or allow any sexual conduct, sexual activities, or sexualizing behavior involving a student even if the student attempts to create a sexual relationship, during the period of the teacher-student relationship. All forms of sexual involvement with students are unethical and constitute sexual misconduct.

Additional Examples of Unacceptable Forms of Harassment:

This list is not comprehensive or exhaustive.

Verbal Harassment; Unwanted sexual teasing, stories, jokes, remarks, or questions / Sexual comments, stories or innuendo / Turning work discussions to sexual topics / Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history / Asking personal questions about social or sexual life / Sexual comments about a person’s clothing, anatomy, or looks / Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s personal [sex] life / Referring to an individual as a doll, babe, sweetheart, honey, or similar term / Repeatedly asking a person out on dates who is not interested / Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or sending materials of a sexual nature / Stalking on social media / Unwanted pressure for sexual favors

Non-Verbal Harassment; Blocking a person’s path or following / Giving unwelcome personal gifts / Displaying sexually suggestive materials / Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements / Unwanted sexual looks or gestures

Physical Harassment; Hugging, kissing, patting, or stroking / Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person / Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching / Giving an unwanted massage / Sexually oriented asana adjustments or touch / Promising enlightenment or special teachings or status in exchange for sexual favors / Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault

3. Grievances

We strive to maintain an atmosphere of nurture, support and respect for all throughout all of our programming as set forth in our Code of Conduct and Policies. We have these rules and guidances in place to cultivate a safe environment not just for learning about the practice of yoga, but also living it in real time. We are here to listen and help should you experience any violation of these standards. Your experience and your voice matters.

Reporting of Policy Violations:

We maintain an open door policy and encourage anyone who has been the subject of sexual misconduct or any other action that violates our Code of Conduct and Policies to report the incident to either or both the Lead Teacher and Studio Director as considered appropriate.

All reports must be made in a timely manner (no more than 30 days of incident) and in good faith based on information the person reporting the incident reasonably believes to be accurate.

Anyone requiring, may make a report in person or via phone call [verbal], email or written letter. All reports are handled confidentially and managed on a case by case basis appropriate to the type of violation as outlined by our Code of Conduct and Policies. Depending on the gravity and sensitivity of the report, a verbal report may be requested to be put in writing for purposes of documentation and further investigation of the report.

All reports should contain the following. We may request additional information if necessary.

Your full name, preferred method of contact and alternate (if written)
Name of the person who the grievance is against
A description of the alleged CoC or Policy violation
The date and location of the incident(s)
Names and contact information of any witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the situation if applicable
Any other credible evidence that is available to support the grievance
Communication of proposed solution

In the interest of fairness and privacy, all reports must be made by the person who has personally experienced the misconduct. Third-party reports will only be investigated if failure to investigate may result in further harm to the parties named. For example, if someone’s life may be in danger. In such an instance we will reach out to the named and check-in before making any determinations.

We will take appropriate action as warranted to ensure compliance with our policies. All actions are conducted in good faith with goal of fairness and resolution for all involved.

Every report is given due consideration and any actions that may be taken in response to a report will also be confidential.

Retaliation aimed toward someone making, submitting information to, or handling a report is not allowed. Period.

4. Anti-Retaliation

In our effort to create and maintain an emotionally healthy community, we take retaliation in all forms very seriously. It is a direct violation of the safe space we work to provide and is counter productive in resolving any problems that are being addressed or investigated. While harassment as listed and otherwise defined is also not tolerated, we know misunderstandings or even blatant violations can sometimes happen. Our goal is to work to resolve any issue in the best interest and favor of the parties involved. Retaliation is like pouring gas on the fire and is unacceptable in the effort toward resolution.

We maintain a zero-tolerance position regarding retaliation against anyone for reporting a violation of our Code of Conduct or other Policies, or for participating in an investigation relating to an alleged violation. Actions will be taken immediately in consideration of and appropriate to the offense.

We also do not tolerate victim blaming or shaming. It is seen as a form of retaliation.

Retaliation is a form of harassment and will be handled as such by the appropriate managing body.

We encourage any person, employees, non-employees, and students — who believe they have been subject to retaliation to inform the Lead Teacher or Studio Director as appropriate. See Grievances for reporting guidelines.

5. Attendance

Our classes, workshops, and trainings are jam packed with loads of vital information. This is why we require 100% attendance to graduate and receive a certificate of completion from our program. To ensure accountability, class attendance will be taken throughout the training, including break times.

While we do expect every student to attend every class, we do also understand life happens. In the unfortunate event of an emergency absence, please notify the Lead Teacher or program director (whichever is appropriate) immediately. Each incident will be handled on a case by case basis to the favor of aiding a student in achieving course completion and certification. If it is no longer possible, student’s will be made aware of their options to re-enroll and complete their training in another session.

If a student has planned absences that conflict with attendance in the program, please contact the Lead Teacher and/or program director as appropriate.

Following an absence of any variety, each student is responsible for coordinating with the Lead Teacher and scheduling the appropriate make-up time. Private make-up sessions are not guaranteed to, but may incur an additional charge.

Each student is expected to be at each session 5 - 10 minutes before the start time in order to set up and so that the training may start on time. Tardiness is unacceptable and will be handled on a case by case basis. Excessive tardiness may result in loss of contact hours leading to incompletion of the program.

A leave of absence from the program will be granted due to medical disability or other extraordinary circumstances at the discretion of the Designated Lead Teacher or program director. In this case our refund policy will apply to unused tuition and the student must reapply for the next available session and pay any remaining tuition and/or any related administrative fees. If tuition is increased by more than 20% for the next available session, the student must pay the higher rate.

6. Tuition and Refund

All Programs:

All major credit cards, PayPal and Venmo accepted for payment.

Payment plans are available on a case by case basis in consideration of economic hardships.

An applicant who is denied admission due to inability to meet minimum program requirements is entitled to a full refund of all money paid by said applicant, including deposits.

In the event of a cancellation of a class, workshop, event, or training made by the Studio, responsible Director or Lead Teacher, all appropriate refunds will be issued to students in a timely manner.

In the event of a rescheduling of a class, workshop, event, or training made by the Studio, responsible Director or Lead Teacher, students will be notified in a timely manner and provided the option to receive a refund or credit as agreed or appropriate.

Any student earned credits, credentials or certificates will remain property of Mahan Yoga until all related fee and tuition balances are paid in full. Payments must be complete by program end unless otherwise approved by the appropriate managing body.

No refunds or credits are given for any reason related to expulsion from any program for misconduct as defined by the CoC and the aforementioned Policies.

Any questions about, or appeals to our Tuition and Refund Policies not answered here may be made in writing to the responsible Program Director. All inquiries will be handled in a timely and respectful manner.

Classes:

Fees for all classes must be paid in full before each class.

Classes are available either individually or through monthly membership packages.

All classes are non-refundable unless otherwise arranged and approved at time of enrollment.

Classes will not be pro-rated and are not refundable or transferable for partial attendance.

Membership packages for classes will not be pro-rated and are not extendable or refundable for lack of use.

Upon request, single class absences and cancellations made by the student may receive credit toward future services at the discretion of the Teacher or responsible Program Director.

Workshops:

Fees for all workshops must be paid in full before the workshop begins.

Multi-day workshops may offer payment plans. See workshop information for details and availability.

All workshops are non-refundable unless otherwise arranged and approved at time of enrollment.

Workshops will not be pro-rated and are not refundable or transferable due to partial attendance.

Upon written request, workshop absences and cancellations by the student, may receive but are not guaranteed to receive credit toward future services minus any used tuition and a $25 administrative fee per occurrence.

Events:

Fees for all events must be paid in full before the event begins.

Multi-day events may offer payment plans. See event information for details and availability.

All events are non-refundable unless otherwise arranged and approved at time of enrollment.

Events will not be pro-rated and are not refundable or transferable due to partial attendance.

Upon written request, event absences and cancellations made by the student, may but are not guaranteed to receive credit toward future services minus any used tuition and a $25 administrative fee per occurrence.

Trainings:

A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $300 is required to confirm enrollment in any training program.

Refund of deposit is only applicable for people who are ineligible for a specific training, for reasons beyond their control and deposit was effectively made in error.

Tuition for all trainings may be paid in full or divided into monthly installments minus the initial $300 deposit. See specific training for more details and availability.

All financed tuition balances must be paid in full by the final day of training. Outstanding balances remaining beyond graduation day will incur a 2% fee, not to exceed $10, weekly until paid in full.

Trainings will not be pro-rated and are not refundable or transferable due to partial attendance.

Withdrawal from a Training Program for any reason requires written notice to Mahan Yoga or the responsible Program Director / managing body at least 2 weeks prior to expected departure date or full [total] tuition is still due. Following a completed withdrawal: If paying by installment - all outstanding tuition balances minus 50% of the unused tuition will be charged to the credit card on file (or invoiced). In the event initial tuition payment was made in full - a refund will be issued in the amount of 50% of the remaining unused tuition.

Students needing to withdraw from a training, but intend to return or participate in a better suited program may request, in writing, a credit toward any programs offered versus a refund. Credits will be issued in the amount of 60% of the remaining unused tuition.

Any Student with outstanding, past due tuition will not receive earned credentialing or certificates and will not be permitted to attend any other programs until balance is paid in full.