Exploitation of any kind in yoga couldn’t be farther from the intended goals of the practice. Yet unsavory headlines calling attention to teachers’ moral lapses have prompted yogis and students alike to question where things went wrong. Whatever the causes, one thing is certain: The thought of yoga heading down anything less than a spiritual path has stirred the winds of change in the community. Yoga associations are revisiting the topic of ethics in earnest, clearly defining their beliefs and emphasizing ethical training of instructors. National organizations, schools, and studio owners have begun drafting behavioral codes, compiling structured grievance procedures, and soliciting the help of legal advisers to factor in the applicable laws.
Amid all of this activity, a larger question has surfaced: If ethical violations are really to be reduced, has the time come for all yoga teachers in the United States to abide by a single code of ethics? And if it has, can everyone agree on one (or even the idea of one), or would creating such a code cause more problems than it would solve? How the community ultimately works through these issues will have a profound impact on the future of yoga in America.
Ref: Stuart Bradford
