The British Wheel of Yoga was founded in 1965 by Wilfred Clark (1898 – 1981) and began life as The Wheel of British Yoga but this was changed in 1969 to The Western Yoga Federation, which produced a draft constitution in 1972 and registered as a charity in 1973. The name was changed to The British Wheel of Yoga in 1974.

 

The British Wheel of Yoga is recognised by “Sport England” and “The Sport & Recreation Alliance” (formally the CCPR) as the National Governing Body for Yoga in England.

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The Wheel aims to encourage and help all persons to a greater knowledge and understanding of all aspects of yoga and its practice, by provision of study, education and training, and to maintain and improve the standard of teaching of yoga.

 

The first BWY Teaching Course was run in 1971 by Ken Thompson. Other courses soon followed. The Diploma Teacher Training Syllabus was totally rewritten in 1995 in response to ongoing evaluation and development. 

 

Ken Simmons (Satya Prem) was my BWY Diploma teacher and was the founder of MADYA (Manchester and District Yoga Association).  He was also the Chairman of the British Wheel of Yoga for a time and  had been involved with the Wheel since its inception.   But with MADYA his vision was for a regional Yoga association that would attract nationally and internationally recognised experts to present reasonably priced seminars for teachers & students wishing to extend their knowledge and deepen their practice.  I am personally indebted to him for his commitment and backing as I would not be exposed to the calibre of experts I came to know.

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