Ashram Code of Conduct

Effective for all batches from January 2026

Om Yoga International operates as a residential ashram environment. The Code of Conduct is not a list of restrictions — it is the framework that makes deep learning possible. When everyone in the batch honours these principles, the training becomes a genuine immersion rather than a classroom course. We ask all students to read and agree to this code before arrival.

1. Respect for the Ashram Environment

• Treat the campus, yoga hall, rooms and shared spaces with care and cleanliness.
• Remove footwear before entering the yoga hall and meditation room.
• Keep your room tidy and hand it back in the condition you received it.
• No noise after 9:30 PM. The campus observes a quiet period from 9:30 PM to 6:00 AM.
• Conserve water and electricity — both are shared resources on campus.

2. Dietary & Substance Rules

• The campus is strictly vegetarian. No non-vegetarian food is permitted on campus or in rooms at any time.
• Alcohol and recreational drugs are strictly prohibited on campus and during the programme. Violation results in immediate expulsion without refund.
• Smoking is not permitted inside any campus building. A designated outdoor area is available.
• Sattvic meals are provided three times daily. Outside food brought on campus must be vegetarian.

3. Conduct Toward Fellow Students & Faculty

• Treat all students, faculty and campus staff with respect, kindness and patience.
• No harassment, discrimination or disrespectful behaviour of any kind will be tolerated.
• Avoid gossip, comparison and competitive behaviour — the ashram is a community of equals.
• Physical or verbal confrontation will result in immediate removal from the programme.
• Consent and personal boundaries must be respected at all times.

4. Attendance & Punctuality

• A minimum of 90% attendance across all scheduled sessions is required for certification.
• Arrive on time for all sessions. Late arrival disrupts the group and disrespects the teacher.
• If you are unwell and must miss a session, notify a faculty member before it begins — not after.
• Morning practices begin at 6:30 AM. The discipline of early rising is part of the training.

5. Mobile Phones & Devices

• Phones must be switched to silent or airplane mode during all sessions.
• Photography and video recording during classes is not permitted without faculty permission.
• A designated "digital detox" period — typically one day per week — may be observed by the batch. Participation is encouraged.
• Social media use during sessions, meals and meditation hours is discouraged.

6. Off-Campus Activities

• Students are free to explore Rishikesh during free time. Inform a staff member if you will be absent from campus at meal times.
• The school recommends returning to campus by 9:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 PM on weekends.
• Students are responsible for their own safety off-campus. The school is not liable for off-campus incidents.
• Organised excursions are part of the programme. Independent excursions during scheduled session time are not permitted.

7. Yoga Practice & the Spiritual Environment

• Approach all practice — asana, pranayama, meditation — with sincerity and an open mind.
• The yoga hall is a sacred space. Enter with humility and leave with gratitude.
• Do not compete with fellow students in asana practice. Honour your own body and its limitations.
• Follow the guidance of faculty. If you disagree with an instruction, raise it respectfully after the session, not during.

8. Consequences of Violation

Violation of the Code of Conduct — particularly rules relating to alcohol, drugs, harassment or physical confrontation — will result in immediate expulsion from the programme. No refund of fees paid will be provided in such circumstances. The school reserves the right to make this decision at its sole discretion and without formal notice.

9. Spirit of the Rules

These rules exist to protect the learning environment for the entire group. They reflect the lived traditions of ashram life in Rishikesh, where discipline, simplicity and mutual respect are understood as foundations of practice — not constraints on freedom. Students who embrace this spirit tend to have the most transformative experience.

If you have questions about any of these guidelines, please contact admissions before arrival.