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Welcome to the aYs website!

The Association for Yoga Studies (aYs) is a community of Yoga teachers, therapists and yoga students at all levels. Our members share a common approach to yoga, namely an interest in the techniques of “viniyoga”. Our teachers offer one to one teaching, group classes, workshops and retreats.
To find your nearest teacher you can use the 'Find teachers' button on the sidebar at the left. Yoga retreats and workshops can be found in the aYs Events menu.

Want to know more?

What is “viniyoga”?

Viniyoga is the name given to a collection of yoga techniques drawn from the yoga teachings of T Krishnamacharya and his son TKV Desikachar, as received from both Krishnamacharya and Desikachar, and from their students. Key viniyoga features are:

  • practices geared to the individual needs of students
  • breathing techniques including a precise use of the breath in asana (postures), and the use of meditational breathing techniques (pranayama)
  • adaptation & modification of practice to meet personal therapeutic needs where these arise
  • study of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, an ancient text of philosophical & psychological wisdom, which can be applied to everyday life
  • the use of chanting as a meditational tool
  • the value of the relationship between student & teacher

It is important to understand that “viniyoga” is NOT a “style” of yoga, and NOT just another way of doing asana, but the application of a wide range of yoga techniques to suit individual needs.

One to one teaching and therapy

This is one of the hallmarks of aYs teaching. As part of their training, aYs registered teachers are qualified to teach individual students. They learn how to plan and teach practices precisely tailored to the needs of each student. Those teachers marked as “trainee” on the website are still undergoing training in these techniques. Yoga therapy is offered in one-to-one sessions, and can help:

  • alleviate back pain, muscular & joint problems
  • manage chronic disorders such as arthritis, asthma, digestive and circulatory problems, hypertension and insomnia
  • reduce stress & anxiety
  • alleviate depression
  • reduce dependence in areas such as drugs & overeating

Yoga classes, workshops and retreats

All our registered teachers and trainees offer regular classes, and may advertise these classes on the aYs website. Many also offer one-off seminars and retreats, including our Introductory Workshops and Foundation Course. Events are listed by Region / Country and give details of what is on offer, date(s), venue, aYs Teacher(s), contact details, & any prerequisites in terms of level of experience etc. Details of the content of our Introductory Workshops and Foundation Course can be found in the Courses Forum.

Convention/Sanga

Every two years we organise a Convention which is open to all those interested in Yoga. The fourth Convention will take place in July 2008. Details are available on the Convention page. In alternate years we arrange a Sanga, also in July, for Members of the Association. (Non-members may attend, simply by adding the price of membership to their booking.)

Membership

Membership of aYs is open to all people interested in these teachings.
Ordinary membership currently costs £15 per annum.
Student membership is available to any student currently following an aYs-endorsed teacher training programme, and currently is £20 per annum.
Teacher membership is available to all teachers who have followed a course of teaching and therapy training which meets the aYs requirements for such courses. Teacher membership currently costs £35 per annum.

We have a teacher recognition scheme for those teachers who work within the Krishnamacharya/Desikachar tradition, but have followed a study course other than those currently approved by aYs. Any such teacher who would like to join us, should write in the first instance to our committee, using the contact email address.

Benefits of membership include:

  • The aYs Journal : This is usually published twice yearly, and is packed with interesting and informative articles written by our members or other interested people. Articles from back numbers can be found here.
  • Website discussion forums: Some of our discussion forums can be viewed by anyone. Some are visible only to members. All members are able to contribute to the forums, book reviews, polls and blogs. One of the regular features in the Members’ Discussion Forum is “Sutra of the Week”. Each Friday a sutra or verse from one of the classic yoga texts is posted, and members are able to contribute to the discussion.
  • Reduced charges : Members are eligible for reduced price entry to certain aYs-organised events.
  • In-Service Training: Ordinary members of the Association who are also qualified teachers are eligible to attend our IST training days. Details of this year’s IST can be found in the Members' Forum.
  • Advertising on the Website: All teacher members and trainees can advertise their classes and other events on this aYs website. (Contact us via the email address for more information.)
  • Documentation: Various documents such as Student Info sheets, and the bank of handouts for teaching Workshops etc will soon be available for practitioners to download on the Members’ Downloads page.
  • Up to Date Information about Committee work: Minutes of Committee meetings and telephone conferences are posted regularly in the Members’ Discussion Forum.

Vedic Chanting

Vedavalli is a group within aYs dedicated to the practice and teaching of Vedic chanting. Click the link on the left hand side bar to learn more.

More about aYs

The Association was originally founded as Viniyoga Britain in 1981 to develop study and training options for yoga students in the UK and Ireland who were interested in furthering their knowledge of the teachings of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar. Its name was changed to Association for Yoga Studies (aYs) in 2003. A copy of the Constitution of the Association is available for inspection in the General section of the Website Forum. Details of the current Committee are in the News Forum.
All aYs teachers have completed a minimum of 4 years training and are required to continue their studies through regular in-service training. Their qualification is recognised by the British Wheel of Yoga, the governing body for Yoga in the UK.
Most aYs teachers were trained on the original aYs/Viniyoga Britain Training Programme. The Association also has a recognition scheme whereby we endorse other teacher training courses as having equal status. At the moment we recognise the Sadhana Mala Teacher Training Course run by Dave Charlton and Ranju Roy (www.sadhanamala.com). It consists of a minimum of 450 contact hours over 3 years. Completion of the course leads to certification as a Practitioner with the Association for Yoga Studies and the award of an accredited Teaching Diploma from the British Wheel of Yoga, the UK governing body.

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