AFTER four years of battling against the debilitating condition myalgic encephalomyelitis, commonly known as ME, Olivia Rigby is now helping others overcome the illness: through yoga

Former primary school teacher Olivia (31), of Peel Brow, Ramsbottom, gives up her time to hold special weekly classes for sufferers of ME and CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) after it helped her to manage the incurable condition.

ME or CFS sufferers are left feeling constantly exhausted and find it hard to perform the simplest of tasks.

She explained: "Yoga has made a huge difference to the quality of my life. I still have chronic fatigue syndrome, a form of ME, but doing yoga has helped me slowly get my life back.

"Now I want to pass on the benefits to others who have the condition."

The former Bury Grammar pupil believes she contracted the illness after suffering from severe bouts of common illnesses, such as tonsilitis and flu-like viruses, soon after she started working as a primary teacher in the kindergarten department of her old school.

"After recovering from the viruses, I could not shake of the feeling of tiredness. Even after the long summer holidays I would feel extremely run down.

"I thought it was due to the stress of the job because the doctors could not find anything wrong with me," said Olivia, who in the end quit her job in 1999 and started work in the Co-op Bank, Manchester. "But I still felt exhausted. Sometimes I would find myself crawling up the stairs to get to bed. I was that tired.

"This time I knew something was wrong, because the job I was doing was not at all stressful," she said.

It was only after she was referred to the company doctor, after being on long-term sick leave following contracting glandular fever, that the condition was finally diagnosed. She was sent to North Manchester General Hospital for a series of tests and when all other possible illnesses were ruled out, Olivia was diagnosed as having chronic fatigue syndrome.

Olivia said: "It was such a relief when it was diagnosed. Everything was becoming such hard work,

"I could not even at that time cope with travelling to Manchester. And I had to give up my job."

Olivia joined the Bury/Bolton ME/CFS Support Group and started finding out more information about the illness.

"I started making little changes to my life including becoming a vegetarian because you use more energy digesting meat!

"It was completely by chance that I discovered yoga. I saw a poster on a bus shelter. I couldn't exercise in the normal way and thought I would give it a go. It really did help me to cope with my condition.

"I now use yoga techniques through the day when I start to feel stressed. It relaxes both the mind and the body," she said.

Olivia is a member of The British Wheel of Yoga, through which she qualified as a instructor.

She said: "The illness changes your life completely. I can't ever imagine having a nine-to-five job again. My priorities have changed.

"I now have to listen to what my body says, otherwise I could end up like I was before: not being able to get out bed or even switch the television channels."

"For the first time in a long time I felt that yoga was something I could do. I understand that many people with ME or CFS would be afraid of attempting any exercise. But the class is designed to be very gentle.

"Those who have attended the class have come out feeling very positive. One lady was buzzing after the class. It is also very rewarding for me to be able to do this."

Yoga classes for people with ME of CFS are held at the Jubilee Centre, Halliwell, Bolton. For more information ring 01706-829488.