Keeping Student and Teacher Relationships Professional in Yoga

By Eleanor Bartel

While yoga teachers have dozens of students in all their classes, students may only have one or two teachers. This means that as an instructor, you hold a prominent position in the lives of your students. Students may want to develop a deeper relationship with you outside of the studio. It will be your responsibility to maintain a professional relationship with them. As a teacher, it is important to keep all relationships with students professional and focused on the practice. Inappropriate relationships between teachers and students can not only effect the healing practice, but it can also lead to legal and ethical issues in the studio.

Respecting the Practice

When your students are in your class, they should be totally focused on their own practice and their body and mind. Starting a personal relationship with a student can lead to awkwardness in class and a distraction from the actual yoga. In order to allow your students to focus on what is truly important - the yoga - you should always remember that your primary, most important role in the studio is that of a teacher. Your students look to you for guidance throughout the practice, and by creating personal relationships with students, you may make it difficult for them to trust and respect you wholly in the studio. This can cause your students to have a negative experience with yoga, leading them to give up the beneficial practice. If you truly feel as though you want to have a relationship with a student outside of class, it is best to suggest that the student find another teacher first. This way, the practice of yoga will still be the most important aspect of the student's sessions.

Legal Repercussions

Because of sexual harassment issues in yoga studios lately, it is never a good idea to start a romantic relationship with a student. Even if you feel a deep connection with a student and want to date, it is always best to first find them another class with a different teacher. This is because even if things start out well, a relationship can always go south. When you end a personal relationship with a student, it can affect far more then just your personal life. An angry student can make accusations about your relationship that can harm your reputation and lead to legal repercussions. In order to protect yourself, it is best to always keep your personal and professional lives separate, even when your professional career involves something as personal as the practice of yoga.

Ethical Dilemmas

As a yoga teacher, you hold a position of power in your studio. Often times, you are a role model and inspiration to your students. This can lead to students becoming attracted to you or having a crush. It will be your responsibility to handle this common issue professionally. Never take advantage of the situation by using a student's attraction to you as a means for personal gain. Remind your students that your role in their lives in one of a teacher, and treat all your students equally and fairly.

The relationship between a yoga teacher and student has often been compared to the relationship between a therapist or doctor and their client - a sacred, safe relationship that needs to remain professional in order to preserve the integrity of the work. As a trained yoga instructor, it will be your responsibility to maintain the sanctity of the practice by always remaining professional and respectful. Make it a priority of your own ethics to remain focused on the yoga, and make sure your students understand the reasoning of your position.

© Copyright 2014 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division