Constitution

Constitution of TSYP

I Introduction 

  1. The Society of Yoga Practitioners Ltd. (‘TSYP’) is a Company Limited by Guarantee (‘CLG’) registered at Companies House under Number 13056032.  It is legally made up of 3 or more Directors and a number of (legal) Members.  Together, these form what would have been known as the Executive Committee.  The formal running of the organisation is done by the Directors.  The Members are those who are  Advisors.   Together these form what is called the Board. 
  1. The organisation holds a register of Yoga Teachers, Yoga Therapists, Vedic Chant Teachers, Teachers in Training and Practitioners (formerly known as Friends).
  1. This Constitution governs the internal workings of the organisation. Should there be a conflict between the Constitution and the Articles of Association the Articles of Association take precedence.  The Articles of Association are found on the website https://www.tsyp.yoga/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/TSYP_Articles1.pdf

II Aims and Objectives:

The purpose of the organisation is set out in the Articles of Association, namely: 

‘To advance the education of the public in the practice and philosophy of the teachings of Professor Krishnamacharya and Sri TKV Desikachar by facilitating the research, study, practice and teaching of yoga, Vedic chant and yoga therapy and supporting the study and education of its practitioners and the professional activities of its teachers and therapists.’

III Teachers’ Obligations

Teachers must:

  1. Agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of the organisation
  2. Pay their subscription fee as required
  3. Ensure that they fulfil the organisation’s requirements for Continuous Professional Development (‘CPD’)
  4. Have appropriate Safeguarding Training in line with any Policy of the organisation 
  5. Hold First Aid training as required

IV Management of the Organisation

  1. There will be a maximum of three Patrons of the organisation. Their role is to provide advice and support to the organisation without having any management commitment.
  2. Day-to-day management and delivery of TSYP’s aims and objectives is vested in the Directors who are volunteers from the organisation’s Register of Teachers, Teachers in Training and Practitioners. A majority of the Directors should be from the Teacher register. 
  3. Members of the Company made up of Senior Advisors guide the Directors, set the strategic direction of the organisation and hold the Directors to account in delivering the agreed aims and objectives of the organisation as set out above.
  4. There shall be two official positions: Chair and Treasurer. Both roles will be appointed by the Directors at a General Meeting (‘GM’). 
  5. Directors shall serve for a period of three (3) years renewable once, with a maximum period of six (6) years. In exceptional circumstances a further term of 3 years (to make nine years) is permitted.  
  6. Director roles may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Vice Chair
    2. Head of Governance
    3. Membership Secretary
    4. Head of IT 
    5. Head of Communications 
    6. Head of Events 
    7. Head of Education
    8. Head of Chanting 
    9. Head of Yoga Therapy
  1. The Directors have the power to appoint other roles to the list of Directors should they deem it necessary and helpful.
  2. There will also be a Secretary to the Directors. 
  3. Good practice dictates that Directors will retire in rotation, serving a period of between three and six years.
  4. Provision for the removal of Directors are set out in the Articles of Association 
  5. Provision of management of meetings is also set out in the Articles of Association
  6. Meetings will be chaired by the Chair and in their absence the Vice-Chair.
  7. Advice can also be sought from additional practitioners or external companies or people who possess relevant knowledge and experience.
  8. There will be between 3 and 6 GMs per year and one Annual General Meeting for the Board.  One of these meetings will focus on the organisation’s strategy. There may also be ad hoc Directors meetings. 

V Annual Gatherings 

1 TSYP will hold an Annual Gathering (‘AG’) every year.  

2 This will be to provide an opportunity for: 

  1. the Directors to inform practitioners of the last year’s activities 
  2. receive the Accounts from the previous year from the Treasurer
  3. be informed of and review the planned activities for the forthcoming year
  4. ensure that an opportunity is given for practitioners to ask questions of the Directors 
  5. Review and comment on the strategy of the organisation.

3 AG Formalities 

  1. A minimum notice period of 30 days will be given for AG
  2. The AG is to be documented, Minutes of the previous year’s AG will be distributed to the TSYP Directors,  Members  and all those on the TSYP register of Practitioners.  These minutes shall be distributed to the attending membership at least one week prior to the following AG.  

VI Finance and Funding 

  1. All those on the register held by TSYP will be asked to pay a subscription to help fulfil the aims and objectives of the organisation.
  2. The subscription fees will be reviewed by the Directors and Advisors annually and practitioners will be notified by email on renewal. 
  3. All financial matters will be governed by the financial policies put in place by the Directors. 
  4. All accounts will be filed in accordance with UK legislation as applicable to Companies and if appropriate to Charities.
  5. All accounts will be shared with practitioners at the Annual Gathering
VersionFinal
AuthorBea Teuten
Ratified byTSYP General Meeting
Date Ratified24 June 2021
Date issued24 June 2021
Date to be reviewedAnnually