The British Wheel of Yoga Bursary helps bring Yoga to more people
The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) is delighted to award the Wilfred Clark Bursary to Linda Soutar, supporting her continued training and voluntary work teaching yoga to adults with learning disabilities at Sunnyside Rural Trust in Hertfordshire.
The bursary will help fund Linda’s training as a Chair Yoga teacher, enabling her to make her fortnightly classes even more accessible for people with a wide range of needs, including neurodivergence, sensory impairment and limited mobility.
“Classes often need visual demonstration, simpler language, one-to-one support and adjustments for balance, coordination and emotional regulation,” she explained. “Some people don’t like lying next to anyone else, and some do not like to be touched. I want to be able to help these people and offer modifications.”
Linda’s commitment to inclusive yoga has deep roots. As a former nurse, health lead and carer for her daughter with learning difficulties, she trained in Special Yoga more than fifteen years ago. That experience opened the door to volunteering at Sunnyside Rural Trust, where she now teaches yoga to adults with learning disabilities on a fortnightly basis.
Sunnyside Rural Trust provides skills-based opportunities for vulnerable people across Hertfordshire, including horticulture, landscaping, beekeeping, gardening, a social café and produce sales. Linda’s classes are one part of a wider community offer that helps people build confidence, independence and life skills.
BWY said it was proud to support Linda’s work through the Wilfred Clark Bursary, which helps teachers and trainees expand access to yoga in their communities.
“Linda is a wonderful example of yoga in action,” said Diana O’Reilly, Chair of BWY. “Her compassion, commitment and practical approach are helping to make yoga more inclusive for people who might otherwise be excluded.”
For Linda, the bursary is not just a personal opportunity, but something that will benefit her students directly.
“If we put a little in, everyone benefits,” she said. “I get a lot out of it too.”