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BWY Official Response to NY Times Article "The Dangers of Yoga"
Following a recent article in the New York Times that claimed yoga is bad for your health, the BWY has responded with the following letter and a pdf downloadable version is also available on this link NYT Response
Sirs,
The recent New York Times article on the “dangers” of yoga, adapted from a book by William J. Broad on The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards, is heavy on anecdote and slim on science. It is full of physiological inaccuracies and confines itself to the most sensationalistic aspects of yoga-related injury, cherry picking a few extreme examples to implicate the entire practice.
A more balanced article would acknowledge that it is problematic to produce accurate figures on injuries directly causally linked solely to the practice of yoga. Injuries can result from physical activity whether or not we are taking risks. This is not to say that yoga practice is without risk of injuries, which might occur due to the over enthusiasm of a student who wants to achieve more extreme postures and ignores the guidance of the teacher. It could also be that a student has an underlying health issue which they haven’t shared with the teacher – a problem with can be exacerbated in very full classes in gyms etc.
Mr Black – the yoga teacher interviewed by Broad - is quoted as saying that he has no formal training for determining which yoga poses are good for a student and which may be problematic, preferring to rely on his “ ton of experience.” At the British Wheel of Yoga (the National Governing Body for Yoga), we do not rely solely on experience. Our teachers complete a rigorous diploma course (the only yoga teaching qualification in the UK equivalent to the first year of undergraduate study), which includes modules on physiology and anatomy, and gives advice and guidance of ways in which postures can be modified so that people with underlying health issues can practice safely. All our teachers have professional indemnity insurance and BWY members benefit from insurance that covers them against injury.
Anyone can practice yoga, regardless of age, sex or ability. As well as stretching and strengthening the body yoga improves posture, promotes feelings of relaxation and has been linked to improved concentration, better quality sleep and a reduction of anxiety and depression. The British Wheel of Yoga, in conjunction with Sheffield University, is about to publish a research report into the therapeutic effects of yoga for health and wellbeing and, if Mr Broad’s experience is anything to go by, we look forward to the comment and debate which we hope will be stimulated by our research. Maybe the biggest benefit for him is that, after the publication of his extremely inflammatory article in the NY Times his book shot to the top of yoga category on Amazon.
Pierre Bibby
CEO
The British Wheel of Yoga
The National Governing Body for Yoga
Emergency First Aid at Work for 15 Sept 2012 - Leicestershire
Venue and Date Change
Details are found Here
Congratulations to ....
Module Passers in August:
Sharon Mayfield
Module: AT
Tutor - Mandala Yoga Ashram
NVQ Level 4 Teaching Qualification Comes to East Midlands
The BWY Diploma Course was introduced in 1975 and has developed over the last thirty six years from the original twenty written questions. The last of these courses ran in 2000. Attendance was over two years, with another two years allowed to complete the assignments. There were inevitably some waifs and strays, because momentum was lost after the tutorial sessions when tutor and group support was missing as the students completed their assignments.
This course was replaced in 2000 by the four unit course, and this has proved to be very popular because of the inclusion of practical assignments. The course was now completed and Diploma received on the final day of the course.
The new BWYQ course has been developed over the last three years to include more professional aspects of teaching. The Course now includes PTLLS (preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector) and CTLLS (certificate to teach in the lifelong learning sector) and is on the QCF (qualifications credit framework) at level four. The main difference between the four unit and the BWYQ course is this inclusion of these professional aspects of teaching, with an Anatomy and Physiology online module, which should be completed, before the course commences. The new course is in three parts, again allowing for transfers for various reasons, including moving areas and illness etc. Four pilot courses began in 2010 in different areas of the country, with very positive feedback already from Tutors and students.
DCTs who wish to teach the new BWYQ Diploma Course will be expected to commit to undertaking BWYQ Assessor training within the next few years. Verifiers who wish to Verifier the new BWYQ Diploma have to undertake the BWYQ Verifier training. The BWYQ will also provide External Verifiers to ensure that the course is up to the standard required by a level four Diploma on the Qualifications Credit Framework.
For more details of the NVQ Level 4 course that will start in January 2012 please see the BWY Teaching Diploma / NVQ Level 4 Course page for details.
Teachers Please Re-Register Your Classes
From February, classes that have not been re-registered will no longer be displayed on the website.
The website Yoga classes page now displays some 500 classes and some of these were registered over 2 years ago and have never been amended including references to dates in 2008 or 2009! It is important that the website displays up-to-date information, so please access the Register/update a class page in the Information for Teachers section of the BWY East Midlands website Members only section and re-register your classes, making amendments where necessary.
To re-register a class, click the Update a class button at the top right of the registration page to access the list of your classes. Click the EDIT link on the right of each class to open an editing form where you may amend your class details. Even if no change is needed, you must then click the update button to re-register your class.
Booking Events
For all event enquiries and bookings, please contact the organising county rep or deputy county rep, not the tutor. It is always advisable to contact the organiser, prior to the event, to find out if places are still available. Although you can turn up on the day to any event, if it is full, you may not be able to stay as some tutors put a restriction on numbers attending. This is especially important for IST and First Aid events, where strict limits on numbers apply and certificates are printed prior to the day.
Note that, even where places are available, there is a cost increment for those who have not booked: full day £3 extra, half day £2 extra. Remember also that we cannot let you know that an event is cancelled if we don’t know you are coming!
EM-pori-OM
Advertisement rates for BWY East Midlands Newsletter
BWY members, non-members and corporate advertisers are welcome to submit copy for inclusion in the Newsletter which is currently published 3 times a year. Advertisement rates and copy deadlines may be found in the Advertisement rates downloadable PDF file.