The National M.E. Centre - Caring for People with CFS / ME

Conference Room at Long Term Conditions Centre (LTCC) is no longer available

NEW VENUE: St Peter's Church in the 'Common Room' on the 2nd floor of the church rooms. The entrance is down the slope to right of main church building.

Address: St. Peter's Church, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, Essex RM3 0QA

Directions: Left at the mini roundabout, from Squirrels Heath Road into Gubbins Lane. St Peter's church building is on the right next door to the Neighbourhood Centre.
Please park in Ingrebourne Centre car park - opposite church.
There is a zebra crossing.
There is limited disabled parking in the church car park, to the right of the main church building.

There is disabled access to the building and all floors.
Reception (on the ground floor) will direct you to the Common Room

Dates for 2013:

January - No meeting
6 February
6 March
3 April
1 May
5 June
3 July
7 August
4 September
2 October
6 November
4 December (Lounge 1st floor - Quiz and food)

Contacts:

Adult Support Group Co-ordinators - Steve and Eileen at The National ME Centre, Long Term Conditions Centre, The Drive, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, Essex RM3 0AR

Stretch and Relax Sessions

The group has been meeting monthly since January 2004. The sessions are facilitated by Specialist Support Worker and qualified Hatha Yoga Tutor, Sue Chadwick. There is a nominal charge of £4 paid on attendance only. Before attending a new participant must complete a questionnaire and disclaimer and receive a General Advice sheet. This is available from Eileen, Support Group Co-ordinator or Sue Chadwick through the NMEC.

Blankets, cushions and mats are provided. Most stretches and movements are lying on the floor, some are seated on a chair and some standing. The session always begins with a short relaxation and ends with 'breathing practice', followed by a longer period of relaxation.

Some attend regularly but others due to the fluctuating nature of CFS/ME find regular attendance difficult. Both needs can be accommodated within the group.

The benefits that some have mentioned are:

1. Generally regaining confidence in using their body. (Something that some individuals hadn't realised they'd lost!!)

2. Improvement in the range of movements, muscle strength and tone.

3. Improvement in concentration and co-ordination

4. Awareness of poor posture.

5. Awareness of areas of held tension and poor breathing habits

6. Awareness of how anxiety and breathing patterns are linked

A facilitator seems to be appreciated to limit and guide individuals so that they are less likely to overdo things! A better quality and depth of relaxation occurs in these sessions for most individuals, perhaps because they are out of their own environment.

These sessions are on the fourth Thursday beginning at 2.00-3.15 pm. As from January 2013 the group will meet at St Peter's Church Centre, Gubbins Lane, Harold Wood, RM3 0QA in the Lounge from 1.30 - 3.30 pm. This allows time each side of the hour for socialising. For detailed access information to the church centre see the Support Group section. NB The Conference Room at the LTCC is no longer available

Download: Registration Form | General Advice

Dates for 2013:

24 January
28 February
28 March
25 April
23 May
27 June
25 July
22 August
26 Sept
24 October
28 November
No meeting in December