Changes to BWY Modules September 2007

Changes to BWY Modules by Tara Fraser Modules Officer

This article appeared in Spectrum magazine Autumn 2007.

The BWY offers more diverse post-diploma training than any other yoga organisation in the country, drawing upon the expertise and skills of our teaching members and reaching out to thousands of yoga practitioners nationwide.

Since their instigation the reputation of these courses has spread throughout the UK yoga community. When I took over the role of special developments officer from Mikki Marks last year it was clear that we were on the cusp of some important changes to allow even greater access to this specialist teaching. I’d like to thank Mikki for her excellent work in developing this post and announce that, as the role is now principally involved with the introduction and management of BWY modular courses, we have changed the name to modules officer.

After considerable discussion and petitioning from teachers and students alike it has been decided to substantially change the way the BWY runs modules, as from 1 July 2007. These changes, which are set out below, allow greater access to the knowledge and skills of tutors specialising in particular areas of yoga and related subjects.

• Modular courses will now be split into two types: Personal Development Modules (PD) and Teacher Training (TT) modules.
  It was felt that there was no reason to insist on a suitably experienced yoga student having a Diploma before they could, for example, do a meditation or pranayama module. However, some modules deal directly with teaching special groups of students or acquiring specific teaching skills (e.g. pregnancy, children, cancer) and these will be reserved for suitably qualified teachers.
• Personal Development Modules will now be open to any student wishing to undertake them, at the tutor’s discretion.
  For example, anyone wishing to do a module may now apply for a place on the course and providing the tutor feels they meet their own criteria for acceptance will be offered a place. You no longer need to be a BWY diploma holder to do these courses, they are open to all.
• Teacher Training Modules will be open to any person who has an approved teaching qualification, BWY or other. Once again, acceptance on the course is at the discretion of the individual tutor.
• Anyone enrolling on a BWY module course must be a member of the BWY.
• These changes make the BWY Short Courses obsolete so these can now be integrated into the module system as either PD or TT Module courses.

Improving standards
I would like to emphasise that these changes in no way represent a slipping of standards - quite the reverse. Modular courses represent the very highest standards of teaching and will be regulated by the BWY. These courses represent a substantial undertaking in terms of study and a higher level of training in yoga. Each one will contain a minimum of 40 tutor contact hours with a minimum 20 hours of personal study by the student required – many courses significantly exceed these minimum standards. Tutors will not accept students onto modules who do not meet their exacting criteria. The assessment procedures for Teacher Training Modules are robust, open and fair and will provide excellent quality control for these courses, ensuring that the reputation of BWY Modules will be a gold standard in yoga training.

Why do a Module?
If you have never done a module then now is the time to sign up for one! Modules are a superb way to develop and sustain your practice, offering a range of new experiences and in-depth study with like-minded people. Modules are designed to provide students with challenges and a new perspective on yoga, either in their personal practice or in their teaching.

Listed below are the existing modules under their new headings of PD and TT. New modules are in the pipeline and I hope to hear from potential tutors about courses they might wish to develop.

Personal development modules
Meditation
Yoga Philosophy
Pranayama
Yoga Sutra
Ayurveda
Proposed modules in preparation:
Tantra
Chant
Anatomy

Teacher training modules
Yoga for people living with Cancer
Yoga for Pregnancy
Yoga for Children
Post-natal Yoga
Yoga for the Third Age
Proposed modules in preparation:
Yoga for Sport
Yoga for Dancers
Baby Yoga

See what Modules are running in your area!

If you are interested in one of these modules please contact your regional officer so they can then invite the tutors to consider running a course in your area. A new set of operating procedures for modular courses is now in place and if you are interested in running a module please do contact me for a copy. It is hoped that these are just the first of a range of measures that will encourage open access to excellent quality yoga teaching throughout the country. With the energy and expertise of BWY teachers I look forward to seeing this important aspect of the BWY’s work going from strength to strength.

I can be contacted by email: modules@bwy.org.uk (preferred) or at Yoga Junction by telephone: 020 7263 3113. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Tara Fraser, BWY Modules Officer