Celebrating 60 Years of the BWY

From our beginnings as The Wheel, run by a small team of three in Birmingham, BWY has grown to become Britain’s leading yoga charity. Founded in 1965 by Wilfred Clark, BWY was a pioneer in the popularisation of yoga in Britain and one of the first to formalise yoga teacher training. Wilfred’s dream was to create a national yoga community, connecting groups and individuals – and that vision continues to thrive today. Sixty years on, BWY remains led by a vibrant network of volunteers, renowned for our world-class teacher training and CPD, dedicated to creating opportunities for yoga to be accessible to all. Here’s a few highlights from our past six decades:

1965 – The birth of the Wheel

The seeds of BWY were planted in 1961 when Wilfred Clark (1898–1981) delivered a lecture on yoga that sparked widespread interest. His subsequent yoga classes in Birmingham quickly gained a dedicated following and The Wheel was born – a yoga community that would grow to have a lasting impact on yoga in Britain

1967 – First leaders and National Congress

In the early days, BWY was led by three Midlands-based coordinators: Wilfred Clark, Margaret Ward, and Catherine Pruggmayer. Margaret Ward became the first elected Chair and in May 1967, the Wheel held their first one-day national Congress at Birmingham’s Market Hotel. This event brought together yoga enthusiasts to connect, share knowledge, and inspire one another – setting the stage for what would become a national community.

1971 – Launch of the first Teacher Training Diploma

The first BWY Diploma course, created by Chris Stevens, marked a key moment in the formalisation of yoga education. The course was first taught by Ken Thompson at The Hermitage in Essex, setting the foundation for future generations of yoga teachers and establishing BWY as a leader in yoga teacher training.

1973 – Becoming a charity

BWY officially became a registered charity, promoted by Wilfred Clark as the “only national coordinating body for yoga groups and individuals in the country”. That same year, eight regional branches were established, supporting the goal to make yoga more accessible to communities across the country.

1976 – Expanding connections with Europe

BWY’s influence spread beyond Britain when it became a member of the European Union of National Yoga Federations (EUFNY) in 1976. This was a significant step in building relationships with yoga organisations overseas.

1995 – Recognised as the National Governing Body for yoga

After years of advocacy and discussions on teaching qualifications, BWY was officially awarded National Governing Body status by the Sports Council (now Sport England). This milestone was rooted in the vision outlined in 1973 by Chris Stevens, former BWY General Secretary, who played a key role in overseeing BWY’s first teacher training course. Stevens reported to the BWY Management Committee that achieving this recognition would help establish clear standards for yoga education.

2000 – Celebrating the millennium

As the year 2000 dawned, BWY’s role in sports and recreation was further cemented when it joined the Sports & Recreation Alliance (formerly the Central Council for Physical Recreation). That year, BWY participated in the Festival of Dance and Movement at the Royal Albert Hall, a major celebration that brought the sport and recreation activities and volunteers together.

2009 – Creating a higher standard for yoga teaching

In 2009, BWY’s Teaching Diploma became a Level 4 qualification, equivalent to the first year of university undergraduate degree. It remains the only yoga teaching qualification in Britain at this level, reflecting BWY’s commitment to high standards in yoga education.

The next chapter

As we celebrate 60 years, we honour our past while looking forward to the next 60. Our members are the heart of our story, and together, we hope to grow as a united community, sharing the transformative power of yoga for generations to come. Why not join us or volunteer to help continue our journey and amplify our impact even further?