La Casa Shambala
Community Standards & Policies
Last updated: February 2026
La Casa Shambala is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and transformative environment for all students, staff, and guests. This page sets out the standards and values that guide everything we do — from how we welcome students into our community to how we respond when something goes wrong.
1. Our Commitment to Yoga Alliance Standards
La Casa Shambala is a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga School (RYS). All of our lead instructors are Registered Yoga Teachers (RYT) in good standing with Yoga Alliance. As a condition of membership, every instructor is bound by the Yoga Alliance Code of Conduct, Scope of Practice, Anti-Harassment Policy, and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
We expect all students attending our programmes to familiarise themselves with the Yoga Alliance Code of Conduct, which sets the professional and ethical standards of the global yoga community. By attending a La Casa Shambala course, you agree to uphold these standards alongside your fellow students and our teaching team.
Yoga Alliance Policies — Key Links The following policies apply to all La Casa Shambala instructors and inform our community standards: |
Yoga Alliance Code of Conduct — Professional and ethical standards for all YA members
Yoga Alliance Scope of Practice — Defines the boundaries of competent yoga teaching
Yoga Alliance Anti-Harassment Policy — Covers all forms of harassment in professional yoga settings
Yoga Alliance Sexual Misconduct Policy — Addresses sexual harm and misconduct in the yoga profession
2. Inclusion, Equity & Anti-Discrimination
2.1 Our Commitment
La Casa Shambala is committed to creating a genuinely welcoming space for everyone. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, body type, physical or mental ability, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic. We hold a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind.
We go beyond non-discrimination to actively seek inclusion. Our curriculum includes posture variations and foundational anatomy work to support students of all abilities and body types. We regularly review our teaching practices to ensure that no student is inadvertently marginalised or overlooked.
2.2 A Non-Dogmatic, Inclusive Approach
Our Teacher Training Courses are open to practitioners of all backgrounds and belief systems. Students are never required to conform to a particular spiritual, religious, or philosophical tradition. We celebrate the diversity of perspectives that students bring to the training, and we actively create space for all voices to be heard — particularly in group discussions and shared practices.
2.3 LGBTQIA+ Inclusion
La Casa Shambala is an affirming and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ students and staff. We do not ask students about their sexual orientation, gender identity, or relationship status. All students are free to share or withhold personal information as they choose. Accommodation is allocated without assumptions about identity, and same-sex or single-occupancy rooms can be requested at the time of booking.
2.4 Privilege, Bias & Group Dynamics
We recognise that privilege and bias — whether related to race, gender, class, or other factors — can shape group dynamics in ways that are not always visible. Our teaching team is trained to notice and address these dynamics sensitively. Where they arise, we facilitate open dialogue and, where necessary, intervene to ensure the psychological safety of all students.
Yoga’s core teachings of unity, connection, and equality guide how we approach these conversations. We encourage all students to engage in honest self-reflection about the ways their own background and privilege may inform their experience of the training.
2.5 Global Reach
Through collaborations such as the Africa Yoga Project, La Casa Shambala extends its Teacher Training programmes to communities where yoga is underrepresented. We are committed to empowering local teachers and bringing inclusive, high-quality training to diverse regions around the world.
2.6 Reporting Discrimination
If you experience or witness any form of discrimination during a La Casa Shambala programme, please report it immediately to your Course Manager or by emailing [email protected]. All reports will be taken seriously, handled in confidence, and investigated promptly. You will be protected from any form of retaliation for raising a concern in good faith.
3. Sexual Harassment & Professional Conduct
La Casa Shambala has a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and any conduct that causes a person to feel unsafe, humiliated, or violated. This policy applies to all students, staff, instructors, and visiting facilitators — in formal course settings and in all shared spaces.
3.1 Prohibited Conduct
The following behaviours are strictly prohibited:
- Unwanted physical contact, touching, or inappropriate proximity
- Sexual comments, advances, innuendo, or jokes
- Sharing or displaying sexually explicit or suggestive material
- Use of touch in yoga instruction without explicit, informed, and ongoing consent
- Any conduct that causes a person to feel intimidated, threatened, or unsafe
- Romantic or sexual pursuit of a student or trainee by an instructor during the course of a programme
3.2 Consent in Yoga Instruction
Where hands-on adjustment is offered during classes, explicit verbal consent must be sought and received before any physical contact is made. Students have the right to decline any adjustment at any time, without explanation. Previous consent does not imply future permission. Instructors must respect any withdrawal of consent immediately and without question.
3.3 Reporting
If you experience or witness sexual harassment or misconduct, please report it using one of the following channels:
- Speak directly to your Course Manager
- Email confidentially: [email protected]
- Request contact with a senior member of the La Casa Shambala leadership team if you are not comfortable with either option above
All reports will be handled with care, sensitivity, and full confidentiality. We are committed to protecting those who come forward from any form of retaliation.
3.4 Consequences
Any person found to have engaged in sexual harassment or misconduct will be required to leave the programme immediately, with no entitlement to a refund. Where required by law, incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities.
For our full Sexual Harassment & Misconduct Policy, including the detailed investigation process, support available to all parties, and your right to appeal, please see our Sexual Harassment & Misconduct Policy.
4. Suitability: Pregnancy
La Casa Shambala warmly welcomes students at all stages of life. However, after careful consideration of the physical demands of our programmes and the safety of all participants, we are not currently able to accommodate pregnant students on our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training.
Our 200-hour TTC is not suitable for pregnant women This decision is made with care and is based on the following: The programme involves up to 8 hours of physical practice per day over 18 days, including postures such as chaturanga, inversions, backbends, and twists that require significant modification or avoidance during pregnancy. Our current curriculum does not include the specialist training needed to safely guide pregnant students through comprehensive modifications, and we do not wish to compromise either your safety or your learning experience. The locations where we hold our trainings — including Koh Phangan, Cádiz, and Monchique — do not have immediate access to specialist obstetric care, which means that in the unlikely event of a complication, appropriate medical support may not be quickly available. If you discover you are pregnant after booking, please contact us at [email protected]. We will work with you to transfer your place to a future date. |
We are exploring the development of a specialist online Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training for those who wish to deepen their practice or learn to teach yoga to pregnant students safely. Please contact us if this is something you would be interested in.
5. Suitability: Mental Health & Wellbeing
Our Teacher Training programmes are designed to be transformative — and with that comes intensity. Long days, breathwork, physical challenge, and deep self-enquiry are all part of the experience. For many students, this process is profoundly positive. For some, however, particularly those navigating active mental health challenges, the demands of an immersive residential programme can be difficult to manage without additional support.
If you are currently receiving treatment or support for a mental health condition We strongly encourage you to consult your doctor or mental health professional before booking and before attending. Please also inform your Course Manager of any relevant conditions so that we can ensure appropriate support is in place and discuss whether the timing and format of the training is right for you. La Casa Shambala is not a clinical or therapeutic environment. While our team is trained to support student wellbeing, we are not a substitute for professional mental health care. |
We are committed to being as inclusive as possible and to supporting every student’s wellbeing throughout their training. If you have questions about whether our programme is right for you, please reach out before booking — we are always happy to have an honest conversation.
6. Support & Referral Resources
In line with Yoga Alliance guidance, La Casa Shambala maintains the following referral resources for students who may need additional support during or after a programme. Please do not hesitate to ask your Course Manager for assistance accessing any of these.
Mental Health Support
- International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/
- Crisis Text Line (US/UK/Canada/Ireland): Text HOME to 741741
- Befrienders Worldwide (global crisis support): https://www.befrienders.org
Sexual Abuse & Harassment Support
- RAINN (US): https://www.rainn.org / 1-800-656-4673
- Rape Crisis England & Wales: https://rapecrisis.org.uk / 0808 500 2222
- OSEA (One Stop Crisis Centre, Thailand): 1300
Yoga Alliance
- File a complaint or concern with Yoga Alliance: https://help.yogaalliance.org/s/contactsupport
La Casa Shambala
- Course Manager (on-site support during all programmes)
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Moo 4 63/2 Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, 84280 Thailand