Setting up an IY(UK) Member Group, Julian Lindars

Setting up an IY(UK) Member Group

Julian Lindars, Membership Secretary

Everyone who joins IY(UK), whether they are a teacher or not, is given the option to join as a 'Member Group member' rather than as an 'Individual member' of the organisation. Around 82% of our members choose to join via a Member Group.

In a recent survey, we asked those who had joined as Individual members what the reasons were for their choice. Some said it was because they felt an affiliation with a local yoga centre that was not itself a Member Group (Iyengar Yoga Maida Vale for example). Others gave the reason that there was no Member Group active in their area.

It is true that there are large parts of the country without a local Member Group. Members in these areas are of course free to join a group further afield – for example my local group Avon Iyengar Yoga, has a few members who live in South Wales.

This article seeks to clarify what Member Groups are, what roles they perform, and to give information and encouragement to anyone who might be considering setting up a Member Group in their area.

Some history

IY(UK), as we know it today, came into being in 2003 as an amalgamation of two existing organisations. The BKS Iyengar Yoga Teachers’ Association was the national association that was in charge of the training, certification, and support of Iyengar Yoga teachers in the UK. The Light on Yoga Association was an affiliation of a number of Iyengar yoga “institutes” that had been set up by teachers across the country. Members could join LOYA by joining an affiliated Institute, or could join as individual members. The amalgamation of the two organisations was at the behest of Guruji who wanted to see his teaching represented by a single approved body in each country. BKSIYTA and LOYA worked together on a unification plan in which the structures and various functions of each organisation were preserved, giving us the IY(UK) that we know and love today. Some institutes that had previously been affiliated to LOYA decided not to join as member institutes of IY(UK) and established themselves independently. Some of these became affiliated centres of IY(UK).

A further change came late in 2018, when we were informed by Companies House that business use of the term “Institute” needed special permission from them and that any continued usage by IY(UK) was not legal. All of our member institutes became Member Groups – a change that probably helped to clarify their role and purpose.

What do Member Groups do?

MemberGroups are local not-for-profit associations of Iyengar yoga practitioners – teachers, students and supporters, established to further the following objectives (taken from IY(UK)’s model constitution for Member Groups): • Promote public understanding of the principles of yoga established by Yogacharya BKS Iyengar (Iyengar yoga) • Co-ordinate, throughout the area, classes for the instruction and training of the public in the principles of Iyengar yoga, and to arrange and provide for the holding of demonstrations, meetings, lectures and classes • Foster a friendly community spirit and encourage harmony and unity amongst members.

• Member Groups exist in a wide variety of community settings, so the ways in which they will attempt to fulfill these objectives may vary considerably from place to place. Factors might include the number of Iyengar yoga practitioners in the area, or the presence (or absence) of an established privately-run Iyengar yoga centre locally.

Member Groups may find themselves organising classes and arranging visits by international teachers. However some may not wish to duplicate or compete with the work of a local centre, and may concentrate instead on other work. For example, this could include taking yoga into new communities, perhaps making yoga more accessible to those on low incomes, or those with special needs or circumstances. Across the country Member Groups and private centres are encouraged to work together in a co-operative and mutually supportive way.

Teachers and students may wish to try an establish a Member Group in an area that does not have many practitioners. In this case, the role of the group would be to try and build a community by bringing in teachers from outside the region, promoting events in schools and colleges, fitness centres etc.

As part of the IY(UK) organisational structure, Member Groups can draw upon the practical and financial support of the wider organisation to help them fulfill their objectives. Groups with 50 or more members have the right to elect a representative to sit on the Executive Council of IY(UK).

Setting up a member group

The recommended way to set up an Iyengar yoga Member Group is to start small, by setting up an informal group of interested parties that has no formal connection to IY(UK). Groups like this can commence activities and carry on for a number of years without applying for member group status, although they should seek permission if they wish to use the Iyengar name. If they then decide that they would like to work towards Member Group status, the group should proceed through the following stages:

1. Call an open meeting of all who may be

interested. The meeting should be advertised widely within the local area, and be open to all members of IY(UK) and other students of Iyengar yoga.

2. This meeting sets up an interim committee

consisting of, at least, Chairperson, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and Secretary. 3. The interim committee drafts a constitution, based on a model constitution provided by IY(UK), which should conform to Iyengar yoga Member Group requirements.

4. The interim committee starts recruiting members

and sets up a membership database in accordance with appropriate data protection legislation. To become a Member Group of IY(UK), there must be at least 12 members.

5. The interim committee invites nominations for

committee and holds elections if necessary, following the procedures of the draft constitution.

6. An inaugural meeting, open to all members, is

called by the interim committee to ratify the draft constitution and to announce the members of the new committee.

7. The constitution and the membership database

are sent to the IY(UK) Secretary.

8. The IY Finance and Membership office process

the new member group’s application.

Once this is complete, the application is sent to the IY(UK) Executive Council for approval and the IY(UK) formally accepts the group as a Member Group.

We are here to help!

The officers of IY(UK) are keen to assist anyone who feels that they would like to set up a Member Group in their area. We can offer advice, and practical support in the form of mailing lists and a model constitution, for example. Member Groups are highly valued by IY(UK) as one of the main means through which the practice of Iyengar yoga can grow throughout our communities. Now that we are starting to emerge from the world of lockdown and social distancing, many of us will welcome the opportunities they provide for companionship and mutual support on our yoga journeys. 