The Spring’s Code of Ethics was adapted, with gratitude, from the California Yoga Teachers Association Code of Conduct and Mahasoma’s Teacher Code of Ethics.

Teacher Commitments

We acknowledge that, regardless of our experience as meditators and teachers, we are human beings with human personalities and also limitations. As teachers, we commit to:

  1. Being self-aware, open, and humble about the limitations of our knowledge and experience.

  2. Managing our personal lives in a healthy fashion and seeking appropriate assistance for our own personal problems or conflicts.

  3. Staying abreast of new developments in the field of meditation and yoga through educational activity and study.

  4. Cultivating an attitude of humanity in our teaching and dedicating our work to something greater than ourselves.

Student-Teacher Relationship

We recognize the sensitive nature of the student-teacher relationship and believe it is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure a safe and protected environment in which students can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. In order to protect the student in this potentially vulnerable relationship, as well as to uphold the highest professional standards for our teachers, we agree and commit to the following principles:

  1. We do not discriminate against or refuse professional help to anyone on the basis of age, race, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, ability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, religion, immigration status, or national origin.

  2. We do not abandon or neglect students. If we are unable, or unwilling for appropriate reasons, to provide professional help or continue a professional relationship with a student, every reasonable effort is made to arrange for continuation of instruction with another teacher.

  3. We show sensitive regard for the moral, social, and religious standards of students and groups. We avoid imposing our belief on others, although we may express them when appropriate.

  4. Our intention as teachers is to foster autonomy, empowerment, self-sufficiency, and emotional maturity in our students. We do not condone practices that create dependency between a teacher and a student.

  5. We recognize the trust placed in, and the unique power of, the student-teacher relationship. While acknowledging the complexity of this relationship, we avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of students. We avoid those dual relationships with students (e.g., business, close personal, or sexual) that could impair our professional judgment, compromise the integrity of our instruction, and/or use the relationship for our gain.

  6. We do not engage in harassment, abusive words or actions, or exploitive coercion of students or former students.

  7. All forms of sexual behavior or harassment with students are unethical, even when a student invites or consents to such behavior. Sexual behavior is defined as, but not limited to, all forms of overt and covert seductive speech, gestures, and behaviors as well as physical contact of a sexual nature; harassment is defined as, but not limited to, repeated comments, gestures, or physical contact.

  8. We do not harass or dismiss a student who has acted in a reasonable, responsible, and ethical manner to protect or intervene on behalf of another student.

  9. We recognize that the teacher-student relationship involves a power imbalance, the residual effects of which can remain after the student is no longer studying with the teacher. Therefore, we suggest extreme caution if a teacher chooses to enter into a personal relationship with a former student.

  10. We acknowledge and respect the rights of a student to make a complaint or express concern and will take all steps necessary to resolve any conflict that arises.

  11. We are accountable to each other and have internal processes to support this commitment. We encourage feedback about our methods and behavior, and take that feedback seriously.

Professional Practices

In order to ensure the integrity of our business, we commit to the following professional practices and teaching procedures:

  1. We extend all of The Spring’s offerings for the benefit of the people and community we serve and not to secure unfair personal advantage.

  2. We provide instruction only for those problems or issues that are within the reasonable boundaries of our competence.

  3. Fees and financial arrangements, as with all contractual matters, are always discussed without hesitation or equivocation at the onset and are established in a straightforward, professional manner.

  4. At times we may render service to individuals or groups in need without regard to financial remuneration.

  5. We conduct our fiscal affairs with due regard to recognized business and accounting procedures.

Confidentiality

We respect the right of every person to share their story and have it be kept private. As such, we commit to the following practices:

  1. We treat all communication from, and information provided by, students as confidential.

  2. We respect the integrity and protect the welfare of all persons with whom we are working and have an obligation to safeguard information about them that has been obtained in the course of the instruction process.

  3. We do not disclose student confidences to anyone except as mandated by law, to prevent a clear and immediate danger to someone, in the course of a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from the instruction where the teacher is a defendant, or by previously obtained written permission.

  4. All records kept on a student are stored or disposed of in a manner that assures security and confidentiality.

  5. When consulting with other teachers, we use only the first names of our students, except in those situations where the identity of the student is necessary to the understanding of the situation. It is our responsibility to convey the importance of confidentiality to the other teacher.

  6. We obtain student consent before photographing or audio and/or video recording or permitting third party observation of their sessions.

  7. When current or former students are referred to in a publication, while teaching, or in a public presentation, their identity is thoroughly disguised, unless consent to disclose their identity has been obtained.
                                                                                       

Collegial and Employee Relationships

We have an ethical concern for the welfare of our colleagues and employees and we maintain these relationships on a professional basis. We recognize our influential position with regard to current and former colleagues and employees, and we avoid exploiting their trust and dependency by committing to the following:

  1. We do not engage in sexual or other harassment of colleagues or employees.

  2. We avoid dual relationships (e.g., business, close personal, or sexual) with our colleagues and employees that could impair our judgment or increase the risk of personal and or financial exploitation.

  3. We advise our colleagues and employees against offering, engaging in, or representing themselves as competent to engage in professional services beyond their experience and/or competence.

  4. We do not harass or dismiss a colleague or employee who has acted in a reasonable, responsible, and ethical manner to protect or intervene on behalf of another colleague, employee, or student.

Interprofessional Relationships

We are part of a network of wellness professionals and are expected to develop and maintain interdisciplinary and interprofessional relationships. As we relate and cooperate with other professionals, we commit to the following:

  1. We actively seek out and engage in collegial relationships, recognizing that isolation can lead to a loss of perspective and judgment.

  2. We do not knowingly solicit another teacher's student.

  3. Speaking of other teachers with disrespect is unethical. We do not malign colleagues or other professionals.

 

Advertising

Any advertisement, including announcements, public statements, and promotional activities done by us or for us, is undertaken for the purpose of helping the public make informed judgment and choices. To that end, we commit to the following practices:

  1. Materials promoting our services describe them with accuracy and dignity. We make only realistic statements regarding the benefits of meditation and yoga.

  2. We are careful to represent facts truthfully regarding our professional qualifications, affiliations, credentials, and certifications. We will correct any misrepresentation of our professional qualifications, affiliations, credentials, and/or certifications.

  3. We do not make public statements which contain any of the following:

    • False, fraudulent, misleading, deceptive, or unfair statements

    • False representations of fact or a statement likely to mislead or deceive because it makes only a partial disclosure of relevant facts

    • A statement implying unusual, unique, or one-of-a-kind abilities, including misrepresentation through sensationalism or exaggeration

  4. Advertising and/or announcements are to give the purpose and a clear description of the experience/offering, and the qualifications of the provider involved are to be appropriately specified.

Any feedback or questions about The Spring’s Code of Ethics, our methods, or behavior may be sent to info@thespringmeditation.com.