Yoga Philosophy and Ethics for Wellness Instructors
Core philosophical vocabulary
Candidates must handle the five citta-vrittis (pramana, viparyaya, vikalpa, nidra, smriti), the five kleshas (avidya, asmita, raga, dvesha, abhinivesha, with avidya as the root), and the twin engines of practice: abhyasa (sustained effort) and vairagya (non-attachment). The yamas are ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha; the niyamas are shaucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya and ishvarapranidhana. Ahimsa in a teaching context covers speech and thought, not just physical harm.
Ethics in practice
A wellness instructor works within a defined scope: teach yoga, do not diagnose, do not prescribe medication or therapeutic diets, do not promise cures, and refer when a complaint exceeds training. Obtain informed consent before any physical contact, explain what an adjustment will involve, and offer a verbal alternative first. Maintain confidentiality of health information, keep professional boundaries, avoid dual relationships, advertise honestly without medical claims, keep adequate insurance, and pursue continuing education. Respect autonomy: a student may decline a posture, a prop, or a touch without explanation.
Traps
Questions routinely swap yama and niyama items - satya and aparigraha are yamas, svadhyaya and santosha are niyamas. Another trap treats satya as licence for bluntness; classical ethics subordinate truth-speaking to non-harming. Watch for options that let an instructor 'advise stopping medication' or 'diagnose from symptoms' - both are always wrong.
Rule of thumb
If a student's question requires a diagnosis, a drug, or a prescribed diet, the correct answer is referral, not advice.