Teaching yoga is a responsibility. People come to class with their bodies, their stories and often their wounds. That’s why Omshanti’s teacher training devotes time to ethics.
Relationships between equals
The teacher isn’t above the student. She shares what she has learned and accompanies, but each person is the teacher of their own path. We avoid creating dependence and encourage students to develop their own practice and judgement.
Yamas and niyamas in the classroom
- Ahimsa: never force, with hands or with words.
- Satya: be honest about what we know and what we don’t.
- Asteya: respect students’ time and acknowledge where our knowledge comes from.
- Brahmacharya: clear boundaries in relationships with students.
- Svadhyaya: keep studying and practising, always.
The teacher as therapist?
Sometimes students share personal things. Listening respectfully matters, but so does recognising the limits of our role and, when needed, suggesting professional support.
Ethics isn’t a list of prohibitions: it’s how we care for the trust people place in us.
