COMMUNITY
The sun is shining and it’s Picnic Time
Picnic 
The Tree Of Yoga Community have been enjoying our annual picnic for about 10 years and this is the first time, I have been unable to set a date.
With so many messages asking when, I woke to the sun shinning and a date in mind , Friday 5th August 12:30 Under the trees by the new Playground area Wanstead Park off the High Street.
Food to share, babies, children, students across the ages,laughter, community and LOVE.
A Students Journey
My Yoga Journey
I feel as though yoga has been part of my life forever! I’ve been practising on and off for about 30 years and, of course, each class you do with a different teacher has a specific feel to it and seems to fulfil a different need relevant to that time. It also takes time to find a class – the teacher and their style just have to feel right. I recall doing a lovely pregnancy class in South London way back in the early 90s - I was practising at home when my waters broke! I had a natural birth at home and I’m sure it went so well because I was able to put into practice yogic breathing and because my body had been helped to prepare for giving birth during my yoga class.
I continued to practice with several different yoga teachers once my son was born, changing teachers as I moved from south to east London in the late 90s. After years working in the corporate world I began re-training as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist in 2009, qualifying in 2013. I love my job but it involves helping people who are in a lot of pain and listening to some very distressing stories. My body is hugely important in my work. Therapists are trained to stay attuned to what is happening in their own bodies when they are with their clients. This can be just as important as our emotional or cognitive response to what is being said to us. After all, everything that has ever happened to us is stored as memories within our physical bodies. With sometimes as many as 13 clients a week, that’s a lot of other people’s ‘stuff’ to hold both psychologically and physically. The more I look after myself. The better I can look after others. Yoga enables me to re-connect with me. How am I feeling? What do I need, what is my body saying to me?
I was in my previous yoga class for 8 years and it was wonderfully restorative and relaxing. I found it hard to leave because I had so much respect and fondness for my teacher - but I intuitively knew I needed something different. Maxine’s class was a revelation – I felt like a complete newbie and wondered whether I would be able to ‘do’ all the postures! I hadn’t realised how unconfident I was in my body or how little strength I had. Over the course of the last year working with Maxine, my body feels like it has entered a different phase and actually looks different. I turned 50 last year but feel stronger and more confident in my body than I have in years; I also feel more present and connected with myself and others. All of this helps both my work and my home life.
I truly can’t imagine my life without yoga!
Deb Spraggon
Thank you for allowing us to read your journey. We are a community and I would love to hear from others.
Its is Summer time
A time to play, to take time out , to see the colours around us, to smell,to share and to have energy. ENJOY
| 
