Coming Full Circle: Yoga Sports Science® and the British Wheel of Yoga

Originally published 2017 · Written by YSS Founder, Hayley Winter

Editor's Note | Looking Back from 2026

When I wrote this article in 2017, I had no idea how much further the Yoga Sports Science® journey would take me.

Since then, my work has received recognition by the Olympic Channel, and I've been invited to contribute to the Yoga Alliance's Online Standards Committee.

Yet this moment with the British Wheel of Yoga remains particularly special. It brings me back to where my teaching journey began and to the wonderful teacher, Mikki Marks, who first encouraged me to teach.

I remember the day I decided to do my yoga teacher training with the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY).

I was rolling up my mat at the end of a practice when my wonderful teacher, Mikki Marks, asked me if I felt ready to teach.

I had been practising with Mikki for several years and greatly admired her. She had been a long-time member of the British Wheel of Yoga and was highly respected within the organisation.

My first response was to say no. I didn't feel ready.

Even though I had been practising yoga since my late teens, it had never occurred to me to teach. I didn't see myself as a teacher, but the thought of immersing myself in the ancient texts, studying the philosophy and exploring the repertoire of postures was very appealing.

After Mikki shared more of the syllabus with me and explained that she would be one of the teachers on the three-year diploma course, I agreed.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

My yoga practice and journey with yoga have given me extraordinary resources and led me towards a life of science and inquiry, enabling me to explore the space where yoga and sport meet.

Taking a Virtual Leap

The process of becoming a yoga teacher twenty years ago was very different from today.

Online yoga training wasn't an option, and the 200-hour yoga teacher training model wasn't as prevalent as it is today.

Back in 2008, one of the biggest challenges I faced when I started developing the Yoga Sports Science® syllabus online was working out how to translate such an embodied subject into a meaningful digital learning experience for professional training.

I set out to create a dynamic online environment that would enable students to feel deeply connected to their studies and tutors, while giving them skills that could enhance their professional development and the freedom to study from anywhere in the world.

My vision was to create a global network of teachers and Yoga Sports Coaches™ who could support athletes through sport-specific applications of yoga, with an ongoing professional network to support them once they had graduated.

Almost 10 years later, at the time of writing this article, that vision had grown to more than 150 students worldwide, teaching across 13 countries.

Honouring the Wisdom of My Yoga Teacher

During the process of designing the online courses, I would often refer back to conversations I'd had with Mikki over the years about the art and science of teaching and the qualities it takes to support different types of learners.

Every student cohort that has trained with us has been an invaluable contributor to the high standards we continue to set for our online and live courses.

And as the world of yoga continues to evolve, so too does yoga education.

Members of the British Wheel of Yoga can now join other yoga teachers, healthcare professionals and fitness professionals training with us to develop the skills needed to bridge the gap between yoga and sport.

I am personally delighted and professionally honoured that the Institute of Yoga Sports Science® has been approved as a Recognised Yoga Centre with the British Wheel of Yoga.

But this moment also brings me back to where my own teaching journey began.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my yoga teacher, Mikki Marks, for seeing something in me that I didn't see in myself, and for her guidance in helping me become the teacher I am today.