Metta Bhav School of Yoga, Ayurveda and Thai Massage Policies
Harassment Against Members of a Protected Class
We do not permit managers, employees, teachers, independent contractors, students, or others in the workplace to harass any other person because of age, gender (including pregnancy), race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, genetic information, or any other basis proscribed by law. Harassment is unwelcome verbal or non-verbal conduct, based upon a person’s protected characteristic, that (i) denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward the person because of the characteristic and which affects their employment opportunities or benefits; (ii) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with their work performance; (iii) enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment; or (iv) has the purpose or effect of creating a work environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive. Harassment includes epithets, slurs, name-calling, negative stereotyping, insults, intimidation, ridicule, threatening, intimidating or hostile acts, denigrating jokes, and display in the workplace of written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group based on their protected characteristic. Petty slights, annoyances, and isolated minor incidents may not rise to the level of harassment.
Retaliation Policy
We will not retaliate against any person for having reported or threatened to report violations
of our Code of Conduct or policies, or for participating in an investigation into any of the foregoing.
Anyone who retaliates against a person will be subjected to disciplinary action, up to and
including termination of employment.
We encourage any person-including employees, non-employees, and students-who believe
they have been subject to retaliation to inform a supervisor or manager.
Sexual Harassment
Teachers must maintain professional relationships with their students. This includes appropriate social and sexual boundaries. Teachers must create and maintain a safe environment that engenders trust and mutual respect with the students. Teachers shall not initiate or engage in any sexual conduct, sexual activities, or sexualizing behavior involving a student even if the student attempts to create a sexual relationship. All forms of sexual involvement with students are unethical and constitute sexual misconduct. Teachers shall not invite, respond to, or allow any sexual or romantic conduct with a student during the period of the teacher-student relationship.
Verbal Harassment • Unwanted sexual teasing, stories, jokes, remarks, or questions • Sexual comments, stories or innuendo • Turning work discussions to sexual topics • Asking about sexual fantasies, preferences, or history • Asking personal questions about social or sexual life • Sexual comments about a person’s clothing, anatomy, or looks • Telling lies or spreading rumors about a person’s personal sex life. • Referring to an individual as a doll, babe, sweetheart, honey, or similar term • Repeatedly asking a person out on dates who is not interested • Unwanted letters, telephone calls, or sending materials of a sexual nature • Stalking on social media • Unwanted pressure for sexual favors Non-Verbal Harassment • Blocking a person’s path or following • Giving unwelcome personal gifts • Displaying sexually suggestive materials • Making sexual gestures with hands or through body movements • Unwanted sexual looks or gestures Physical Harassment • Hugging, kissing, patting, or stroking • Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person • Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering, or pinching • Giving an un-wanted massage • Sexually oriented asana adjustments or touch • Promising enlightenment or special teachings or status in exchange for sexual favors • Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault
Attendance Policy
We require 100% attendance to graduate and receive a certificate of completion from our program. Class attendance will be taken throughout the training. In the case of any emergency absences, please notify the program director immediately. If a student has planned absences that conflict with attendance in the program, please contact the program director to discuss options. Each student is responsible for scheduling make-up time with the program director. Students must pay an additional cost for private make-up sessions with a teacher. Each student is expected to be at each session 5 minutes before the start time in order to set up so that the training may start on time. If the student is late more than 3 times, this will result in a deduction of 1 hour from their total contact hours. A leave of absence from the program will be granted due to medical disability or other extraordinary circumstances at the discretion of the program director. In this case, our refund policy will apply to unused tuition and the student must reapply for the next available session and pay the difference, if any, of any remaining tuition and/or any related administrative fees. If tuition is increased for the next available session, the student must pay the higher rate.
Withdrawal Policy: If a student wishes to withdraw from our program for any reason, they must first contact the program director to discuss their reasons for withdrawal. Refunds will be given in accordance with the program’s refund policy.
Termination from Program: The program may decide to terminate any student’s participation in the program if: (1) false information was used in the admission process that materially affects the program; (2) a student missed more than 10% of any subject category; (3) a student is absent for more than 2 consecutive days without contacting the program director; (4) the student fails to make timely payments of tuition; or (5) the student is unable to pass a test after being given 3 attempts. If the program decides to end the student’s participation in the program, the student is not entitled to any prior payments or fees. All prior payments and fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Termination from Program: Bad Conduct No refunds will be given if the program removes a student from the program for bad conduct. Bad conduct is a violation of the Code of Conduct, gossip, harassment, bullying, or any other behavior that is inappropriate or disruptive to the welfare of the program or to fellow students.
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by our yoga teachers. Its primary goal is the welfare and protection of our students, teachers, yoga community, and the public. It articulates the ethical standards that our teachers must follow. The Code of Conduct is intended to elevate the professionalism and integrity of our yoga teachers by adopting uniform standards for behavior yet recognizing the diversity of the many traditions of the teaching and practice of yoga.
Financial Policies
Teachers will be honest, straightforward, fair, and conscientious in conducting all of their business affairs. Teachers will manage their business affairs according to recognized standard business and accounting practices. Teachers will discuss all fees and financial arrangements in a straightforward professional manner. Teachers will seek opportunities to render service to individuals or groups who are underserved by the broader yoga community on a pro bono basis.
Grievance Policy
Reporting of Policy Violations
We encourage anyone who has been the subject of sexual misconduct or any other action that violates our policies and Code of Conduct to report the incident to school management (henceforth referred to as the “reviewing body”). The report should contain the following information: • Your full name; • Your email and phone number; • The name of the person who the grievance is against; A description of the alleged policy violation; • The date and location of the policy violation; • Names and contact information of any witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the situation; and, • Any other credible evidence that is available to support the grievance. In the interest of fairness and privacy, all reports must be made by the person who has personally experienced the misconduct. We will not investigate a matter based upon a third-party report of misconduct. All reports must be made in good faith based on information the person reporting the incident reasonably believes to be accurate. We may request additional information from the person reporting the incident throughout the course of review of the report. We will take appropriate action to ensure compliance with our policies. The reviewing body will impose any sanctions that it feels are fair, just, and reasonable under all circumstances. We will not allow anyone to retaliate against any person for making a report in good faith or providing information in connection with an investigation into an alleged violation. Any information provided during a grievance report review will be treated on a confidential basis. Similarly, any actions that the taken in response to the report will also be confidential.
Tuition and Refund Policy
Upon receiving an acceptance email, the applicant will be charged a deposit of $500 on their credit card. Final invoices will be emailed 4 weeks before the start date of the training. The deadline to pay in full is 2 weeks prior to the start date of the training. If the applicant withdraws from the program after acceptance, but before the program starts, $150 from the applicant’s deposit amount will be retained by the program. However, such an amount can be applied to a future training program. The program will not give any refunds or credits after the training starts. The program reserves the right to cancel any training before it begins. In that case, any payments applicants have made will be refunded in full.
Cancellation Policy
Standard and virtual registrants who need to cancel must do so at least 30 days before the training program date. Cancellations made at least 30 days before the workshop, will receive a refund minus a 15 percent administrative fee. Cancellations made less than 30 days before the training program, will not receive a refund.
ADA Policy
Metta Bhav School Of Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda, and Thai Massage is committed to maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment across all of its campuses. Ensuring that all members of the community have access to practices, information, and information technology associated with programs and activities is critical to our educational mission and is among its highest priorities. We will provide reasonable accommodations and modifications to policies, practices, or procedures in order to make its services, programs, and activities accessible to qualified individuals with disabilities unless the modification would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity. These accommodations and adjustments must be made in a timely manner and on an individualized and flexible basis.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Metta Bhav School recognizes the importance of providing a framework in which conflicts of interest are identified, disclosed, and managed appr
opriately. The School is committed to building an environment that is free from fraud or corruption or the perception of fraud or corruption. This policy has been developed because conflicts of interest may arise, and do not need to present a problem to staff or the School if they are openly and effectively managed. For these reasons, it is important that all employees share a responsibility for strengthening this commitment to identify, disclose and manage conflicts of interest appropriately.