Standards of British Wheel of Yoga Teachers

Maintaining and raising the standard of yoga teaching is one of the constitutional aims of the BWY. The teachers you will find on this website have had to meet the standards described here to gain and keep their inclusion on this listing. At the same time the BWY is very proud of its diversity and individual teaching styles vary greatly. It is good to check beforehand with a teacher to gain confidence their class will meet your needs.

Before beginning to train as a teacher a minimum of 2 years of yoga practice with a recognized teacher is required, evidenced by a document signed by that teacher. This attendance at class must be continued throughout teacher training on the BWY Diploma Course.

Optionally a certificate of attendance and completion of a BWY Foundation Course to show this additional level of knowledge and commitment.

Regular attendance (normally for 2 or 3 years) on the Diploma Course of the BWY, taught by a recognized Tutor (DCT) whose own training has been supervised by a tutor approved by the BWY Education Committee. This comprises :-

• 36 essays, all subject to review by the DCT and covering every aspect of yoga and its teaching.
• 12 pieces of practical work, teaching aspects of yoga to fellow students on the course, under the observation of the DCT.
• Teaching two public classes under the observation of an established BWY teacher who then reviews my performance and signs the appropriate document
• The signed approval the DCT that the students is suitable to teach
• The signed approval of another Diploma Course Tutor, after watching the student teach a public class to a suitable standard..
• The signed approval of a Course Verifier, appointed by the BWY Education Committee who has checked the written work presented and the correct performance of the various elements listed above.

During and after the completion of the Diploma course there is compulsory teaching insurance included with this level of membership of the BWY, so that £10 million of cover is available if any student comes to harm due to an error by the teacher.

After qualifying as a teacher, training must be sustained by Continuing Professional Development up to 15 points per annum, normally 15 hours of study plus up-to-date training for Emergency First Aid at Work, to the standard set by the Health and Safety Executive.

For teaching under 18 year olds in the absence of their parents or guardians there is an up-to-date criminal record check and a Child Protection policy that is available on the BWY web-site.

If there is any type of complaint against a BWY teacher there is a complaints procedure documented on the BWY web-site for full transparency. The Central Office of the BWY in Sleaford, Lincolnshire maintains comprehensive long-term records showing compliance with all the requirements above. This is all done for a primary objective of the BWY—set out in its Constitution—To maintain and improve the standard of teaching of yoga.