Tantra Yoga Teacher Code of Conduct

Limitations and Scope of Practice

Somananda Tantra School’s Tantra Yoga Teacher Training Course (YTTC) is designed specifically to prepare you to become a Tantra Yoga teacher.

Upon completion of this course, you will have:

• Clear guidelines on the extent and scope of your teaching boundaries and limits
• Approved content that you are spiritually authorized and permitted to share and teach under the Somananda TMTTC program and teacher initiation
• Empowerment invocation from a self-realized yogi who carries the blessing and experience of a lineage

Therefore, as a YTTC graduate, you are a Tantra Yoga teacher and NOT a Tantra teacher, Tantra Massage teacher, or Meditation teacher. This is an important distinction and one we hope you will honor and respect feverishly.

To become an authentic teacher in other disciplines of the Tantra system requires that you complete the designated Teacher Training Course of that discipline. 

You need always to be in integrity with your level of competency and achievement and avoid stepping outside of your scope of practice and terms of your “licensure”. By doing so you will not only be successful in your teaching endeavors but remain faithful to the guru-disciple tradition.

Teacher Ethics

Regular Personal Practice

A true yoga teacher is unable to be powerful and influential unless they have a consistent daily spiritual practice of their own. He or she will never be able to broadcast the high truths that they are sharing without making yoga a part of their everyday life. Even 15 minutes a day of meditation or Hatha Yoga, or both, would be beneficial. 45-60 minutes per day, however, is highly recommended and encouraged. This is an absolute must! A good teacher is a good practitioner and student himself.

Continued Formal Study and Self-study

A certified Yoga teacher should always prioritize expanding their spiritual knowledge base, evolution, and personal development via self-study methods as well as formal spiritual education. Examples of self-study methods include regular spiritual practice, scheduled meditation retreats throughout the year, and reading ancient and authentic tantric and yogic texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shiva Samhita, Gerandha Samhita, Baghavad Gita, etc. It is highly recommended and even vital to continue progressing through the 24 Yoga levels that STS offers as well. This is classified as “formal spiritual education”. Remember that being a Yoga teacher in our lineage is a spiritual path and continued education should be a lifetime endeavor. 

Teaching with Passion

A yoga teacher should never teach with carelessness or apathy. Contrarily, he or she should teach to their maximum capacity and full potential. A teacher should always teach with passion and excitement.

Professionalisms

A Somananda Tantra Yoga teacher should never allow him or herself to be improper or negligent, distracted or unfocused, or excessively “chummy” with students in classes or courses. This is not to say a teacher needs to be cold or strict. He or she can still be very warm and friendly to students while maintaining professionalism and respectability.

Upholding the Level of a Teacher

Clear, established boundaries should be upheld between the Somananda Tantra Yoga teacher and the student. The teacher should be the spiritual focal point and a positive example for the group – not for arrogance but simply because the teacher is a channel of divine energy and the emitter of sacred knowledge. A teacher should never allow him or herself to behave on the same level as the students. 

Polite Manners

A Somananda Tantra Yoga teacher should always speak politely. Avoid cursing or using vulgar or obscene language as this can diminish the quality of the class or course and reduce the energetic resonance that the teacher has established.

Purity and Virtue

Where sexuality is concerned a yoga teacher should always maintain an appearance of purity and virtue. At no time should a teacher be sexually forward with students, flirtatious, advancing, or seducing in any way. There should be no sexual innuendos of any kind or any low-grade behavior that gives the impression that he or she is sleazy, horny, or trashy.

Humbleness

A Somananda Tantra Yoga teacher must remain pure and humble at all times – these are the virtues that bring value to a teacher.

No Abuse of Power

By completing the YTTC and through continued personal practice, your mind and energetic powers will develop strongly and become enhanced. Certain mental and paranormal powers may become accessible to you as a teacher. It is important to maintain humbleness and not to use these powers in a negative or manipulative way.

Detachment

A Somananda Tantra Yoga teacher must never insult a student – even if a student has treated you badly, insulted you, teased you, embarrassed you, or was negative in any way. A teacher must always be able to absorb these situations and circumstances and behave in a professional and detached way.

Avoiding Confrontation

Never prompt, initiate, or participate in an argument or disagreement. Due to modern times, many students who attend yoga classes or courses come with many issues, agendas, problems, impurities, anger, and agitation and it can be directed to you as the teacher. Absorb, redirect, and avoid confrontation.

Purity on all Levels

Maintain an image of a pure individual physically, mentally, emotionally, sexually, and spiritually. Always wear clean clothes, shower regularly, and uphold a nice, clean and physically aesthetic appearance. 

Improvisation

Do not deviate or stray from the original teachings as learned through Somananda Tantra School. Avoid improvisation of the teachings. Do not modernize or personalize the teachings and always pass on the knowledge in its original format.

Accepting Limitations of Your Knowledge

If at any time a specific question is beyond your scope of understanding or knowledge then remain humble and simply tell the student you will need to consult with your teachers to be able to accurately answer that specific question.

Obstacles on the Teaching Path
Obstacles on the teaching path are unavoidable and in fact necessary in order to grow as a teacher. When challenges present themselves, it is considered a sign of progress. Usually, the challenges will be catered to the teacher’s unique weak areas or areas where there is room for growth and improvement. While these spiritual tests are necessary, they are not always easy. It is important to face these tests with dignity, spiritual heroism (the attitude of a Vira), and humbleness. If the tests become too trying for you, remember you can always reach out to your trusted teachers for support and advice. You are not alone. 

Loyalty to Your Teachers

Be loyal to your teachers and acknowledge their input in your personal development as a yoga teacher. Give credit where credit is due. When a person presents teachings or knowledge as his or her own, this is an act of the ego. By doing this, your empowerment will be weakened and can even diminish completely.

By signing this document I confirm that I have understood and will comply with all of the above statements and requirements. I recognize that my failure to do so may result in withdrawal of my Tantra Yoga Teacher Certificate and initiation.