Code of Conduct

A few honest words on how I teach, and what you can expect from me.

I trained under the Yoga Alliance ethical commitment framework, and my own teaching is grounded in the yamas and niyamas - the first two limbs of the eight limbs of yoga. Yamas and Niyamas are guidance on how to treat other people and yourself with integrity. I don't believe a code of conduct needs to be full of small print. So here's mine, in my own words, human to human.

My classes are mainly the practice of asana and pranayama - movement and breath - with philosophy woven in when it's useful, not lectured at you. I try to honour the ancient texts yoga comes from, because they are still relevant for our lives and practice today. I will also sometimes use Sanskrit - the ancient South Asian language - in sessions, but I will also provide the English translation.

Honesty (Satya)

I'll never pretend a pose is something it isn't, or that yoga is a fix-all. If something isn't right for your body on a given day, I'll say so — and I'd rather you trust what I tell you than have to guess. Same goes the other way: if you're struggling, tell me. I can only adapt to what I actually know.

Non-harm (Ahimsa)

Your body, your call, always. I'll offer hands-on adjustments only with your consent, and I'll never push you further than you want to go. This includes being honest with yourself, yoga isn't about grinding through pain to prove something. A safe space means feeling able to rest, modify, or stop, without it being a big deal. This is your practice.

Non-harm goes both ways, too. I encourage kindness to yourself on the mat - no self-criticism, no comparing your practice to anyone else's and kindness to others in the room.

We're all just moving through our own practice, and life, side by side.

Non-stealing (Asteya)

I won't take credit for teachings, sequences, or philosophy that aren't mine to claim, and I'll always be clear about my own training and experience level. I also won't take more of your time, energy, or trust than you've offered.

Moderation (Brahmacharya)

I keep clear, appropriate boundaries as a teacher, with touch, with attention, and with the student-teacher relationship generally. This is your practice, not an extension of mine.

Non-attachment (Aparigraha)

There's no "correct" body, outcome, or endpoint I'm steering you towards. I'm not attached to how a class should look. If a version of a pose works for you and not for the person next to you, that's not a 'failure' that's just two different bodies, two different moments in time, two different people on their unique yoga journey.

Cleanliness / clarity (Saucha)

I'll keep the space clear, considered, and free of clutter, so you can focus on what you're there for.

Contentment (Santosha)

I won't sell you the idea that you need to look, move, or breathe a certain way to be "good" at this. Contentment is the practice, in the moment, not the reward at the end of it.

Self-discipline (Tapas)

I show up prepared, on time, and fully present for every session, whether that's one person or twenty, a studio floor or a hillside.

Self-study (Svadhyaya)

I'm still learning, always. I'll never claim to have arrived at some finished version of "teacher." Being a 'Yogi' is a way of life, not a 9-5 job.

Trust in something bigger (Ishvara Pranidhana)

However you interpret this one, nature, breath, the mountains we practice under, or nothing in particular. I hold space for it without asking you to believe what I believe. To quote Daniel Simpson in his book 'The Truth of Yoga'

'Ultimately, Yoga is a system of practice, not belief. No leap of faith is required at the outset, beyond trusting that it might be worth trying'

Agency and your inner voice

I'll guide, cue, and offer adaptations, but you're in charge of your own body, every time you step onto the mat with me. If something I say doesn't feel right for you today, I want you to trust your own instinct over my instruction. That's not you doing yoga "wrong." That's the practice working.

Community and curiosity

Sonder is a word for the realisation that everyone around you is living a life just as complex as your own and that's really what I want a class with me to feel like. Ask questions. Stay curious. Speak to each other. Yoga has been evolving for thousands of years and it'll keep evolving through every person who practises it, including you. Nobody's experience of it is identical, and it shouldn't be.

In plain terms, here's what this means for you:

Accessible — I will create a space where every body feels welcome, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation.
Adaptable — every offer I make comes with an easier option and a harder option. There's no "advanced" version you have to earn your way into.
Safe — what happens on the mat (or in conversation before and after) stays confidential. No judgment, no performance.
Open — questions are always welcome, including "why are we doing this pose?" or "can I just lie down instead?"
Yours — your body, your agency, your inner voice leads. I'm there to guide, not to instruct.