Himalaya Yoga Valley Teacher Training Inclusion Policy
Himalaya Yoga Valley (Himalaya Yoga Valley) is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment for all students and faculty in our teacher training programs. We believe that yoga is a practice for everyone, regardless of race, caste, ethnicity, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, socioeconomic status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law and driven by our fundamental value of Ahimsa (Non Violence through thought, speech or action). We aim to live this policy through our behaviours and to improve the diversity of yoga spaces and communities. We encourage our graduates to bring these values home with them to their own communities when they graduate.
Our Commitment to Inclusion:
- Diversity & Equity: We actively seek to create a diverse student body that reflects the richness of the global yoga community, with a particular focus on uplifting and empowering historically marginalized groups.
- Scholarship Program: We offer a dedicated scholarship program to support aspiring yoga teachers from underprivileged backgrounds, especially focusing on Indian female scholars with limited financial resources. This program aims to amplify the voices and perspectives of those who have traditionally been underrepresented in yoga scholarship and leadership.
- Accessibility: We strive to make our programs accessible to students with disabilities and those with varying financial backgrounds. We encourage applicants to communicate their accessibility and financial aid needs during the application process to allow Himalaya Yoga Valley to provide reasonable accommodations and explore scholarship opportunities.
- Indigenous Representation: We are committed to promoting the voices and perspectives of indigenous yoga lineages and traditions within our curriculum and learning environment. We believe that honoring the origins of yoga practice is essential for creating a truly inclusive space.
- Respectful Environment: We expect all participants in our programs to treat each other with courtesy, respect, and empathy. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, or bullying.
- Open Communication: We encourage open communication and feedback from our students. Himalaya Yoga Valley is committed to continually improving our programs to ensure they are inclusive and meet the needs of all learners.
Our Responsibilities:
- Himalaya Yoga Valley will provide all applicants and students with clear information about our inclusion policy and expectations for respectful behavior.
- We have a process in place for addressing any concerns or complaints of discrimination or harassment which is clearly outlined during orientation.
- Himalaya Yoga Valley faculty and staff will be trained on creating an inclusive learning environment, with a focus on cultural competency and unconscious bias.
- We will review and update this inclusion policy on a regular basis.
- We will stay open to having this policy improved upon by people who are impacted by exclusion by taking their suggestions with an open heart and mind.
Student Responsibilities:
- Students are expected to read and understand this inclusion policy.
- Students are expected to participate in the program in a respectful and inclusive manner.
- Students are encouraged to report any concerns or complaints of discrimination or harassment to Himalaya Yoga Valley staff immediately.
- Students are expected to uphold an inclusive learning environment.
We believe that yoga is a powerful tool for personal transformation and social change. By creating a diverse and inclusive learning environment, Himalaya Yoga Valley can empower future yoga teachers to share the practice with integrity, compassion, and a deep understanding of its rich history and diverse lineages and bring these values back to their own communities.
