This Tiny Tree is Just Beginning to Grow

—Reflections on my first solo Teacher Training course by Tomoko Gregory—

I completed conducting my first solo Knoff Yoga Discovery, Chair and Foundation

Teacher Training courses in August 2026. Last year, I took over the Teacher Training

course at short notice after Nicky had broken one of her arms just before the

commencement of the course. I didn’t have any time to think about it and just did it

on the spur of the moment. Nicky and James decided to retire, officially, after that

and I committed myself to conduct future Teacher Training courses on my own, with

Nicky and James’ support. This was a daunting feeling due to the responsibility and

commitment of taking over the reins from the founders of this unique programme of

yoga. If someone asked me, “Do you feel any pressure or not?” my answer would

be, “Of course I do!”—Nicky is such a famous and experienced Master teacher,

worldwide. Then, I think to myself that nobody can possibly be Nicky anyway, so I

just do whatever I can do. I figured that my role is to continue passing on their

wisdom to others. I still felt, however, like I was about to carry something huge.

During the last week of teaching the Foundation course I was practicing yoga in early

morning, a lucid vision popped into my mind—a massive tree with many healthy

green leaves and so many fruits. This tree is the representation of Nicky and James’

cultivation of Knoff Yoga. Underneath this massive tree is a tiny sapling just starting

to grow. That sapling is me. The massive tree smiles and protects the sapling.

I used to believe that my responsibility was to look after this massive tree by myself,

yielding the same bounty as the original tree. I realised that this was the cause of all

the pressure I felt. I realised

, though, that although I was simply a sapling, I shared

the same land as the huge tree. The seeds from Nicky and James’ fruits fell under

this massive tree and germinated. Over time, the seed received lot of nutrition from

the rich soil under the tree. This tiny spout was protected by the shade from the tree.

Now the tiny tree is starting to grow, bit by bit, steady, steady…as long as the tiny

tree becomes a big tree and continues to create more seeds, there will be more tiny

trees and, eventually, a big forest.

I understand, now, that I am not taking over the one, massive tree. I am caretaking a

growing forest, called Knoff Yoga. This forest lies beneath the canopy of an even

larger forest, called Yoga. I am resolved to continue growing my tiny tree by

practising and teaching yoga. I am convinced that this will eventually result in a big

forest.

After this realisation, I began to feel much lighter and my mind became clearer.

During this particular Teacher Training, I felt the sapling growing a lot as it

experienced and learned from all the teacher trainees. I always feel confident,

comfortable and safe as I know the massive tree always towers above me.

Once again, I am grateful to Nicky, James, Nicola, my yoga students, yoga friends

and all the teacher trainees who made this Teacher Training course happen.