Jeff
"I am so grateful to be able to come to class with Wendy and other people who welcome me with open arms. I get to smile and feel good doing something that I know will at least, would help me feel better at the moment. I always leave feeling uplifted and happy."
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because, without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”
― Maya Angelou
“Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.”– William Ellery Channing
Rindy
"Knowing that I could come to class is what got me out of bed...whether I felt well enough to take the class - or not. My day was better because I had something to look forward to!
Wendy's Story
Wendy McBride, the founder of Living Tree Yoga has experienced first hand the devastation the diagnosis of cancer brings to not just the patient, but everyone who loves that person. Her mother Kitty, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1992. Kitty was given 3 months to get her affairs in order. However, the doctors did not realize the fight Kitty had in her! She loved her family and fiercely and in order to get as much time as possible with them, decided to offer herself to a clinical trial. Gratefully, this tactic paid off and she was able to extend 3 months to 2 ½ years. At the time, Wendy was already an established fitness professional not yet well versed with yoga but she knew that it would benefit her mother. However, the closest place they could take a class was more than 45 minutes away. It was too far…they were never able to make it to a class.
Fast forward several years. Wendy became a certified yoga instructor and saw first hand the benefits that practicing yoga offer class participants. She soon discovered that people undergoing cancer treatment also experienced these same benefits. When Wendy's dear friend Rindy was diagnosed with breast cancer, the vision of Living Tree Yoga was planted. With Rindy as Living Tree Yoga's first participant, Wendy realized the value these yoga classes brought to Rindy's daily life. Together, they discovered that having a yoga class to look forward to added a level of companionship, socialization, personal development, and a great way to manifest a positive mental attitude. The invitation to attend class helped Rindy heal mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Happy, positive memories were being made! With the successes of Rindy as her catalyst, Wendy decided to offer these free classes to others in her community who were also experiencing cancer treatments. Again, she saw these students light up during their time in class and knew this idea of Living Tree Yoga must move forward. This desire developed into the vision for Living Tree Yoga to provide, in a collective way, the space for healing for the cancer survivor and be able to share it with a loved one at no charge.
