An evening of movement and stillness
Wednesday 2nd April, 8pm to 9.30pm

We will use gentle yoga-based movements to explore how an awareness of the body, the spine and the breath can feed into the stillness of our sitting practice. We will also use some simple therapeutic touch to see how we can support each other in finding ease and lightness in the body. This will be followed by a deep relaxation and we will finish with a short seated meditation and some time to share our experiences.

All activities will be accessible for everyone, even if you have health challenges or have never tried yoga before. The challenge for this evening is not how physically flexible you are but how fully you can inhabit the body!

Please wear comfortable clothing that you can move in. You may also want to bring some socks and something to cover up with so that you can stay warm during the relaxation. Bring your own yoga mat if you wish to or there will be some available to borrow.

Compassionate Action in Society
Wednesday 18th March, 8pm to 9.30pm

 “Words and thoughts concerning compassionate action that are not put into practice are like  beautiful flowers that are colourful but have no fragrance.”

 Thich Nhat Hanh, “Creating True Peace”, 2012

Join us for a talk and open discussion on  how we can build a more compassionate society through our everyday actions. The evening will  begin with a guided meditation, then, drawing from different sources,  the talk will explore how some of the key themes from Thay’s writings on citizenship, creating true peace and engaged Buddism can be seen in different models of activism – from civil society initiatives, to grassroots diplomacy and public interest advocacy.

Join us for a talk and open discussion on  how we can build a more compassionate society through our everyday actions. The evening will  begin with a guided meditation, then, drawing from different sources,  the talk will explore how some of the key themes from Thay’s writings on citizenship, creating true peace and engaged Buddism can be seen in different models of activism – from civil society initiatives, to grassroots diplomacy and public interest advocacy.

After the talk we’ll open up into a discussion and sharing circle on how we feel we in the Sangha community, through individual and group actions, can contribute to a more compassionate society.

Playfulness in Life
Wednesday 5th March, 8pm to 9.30pm

• Is it possible to remain playful about ourselves, our life and the things happening in it?
• Can playfulness grant a certain perspective that helps to sustain inner peace?

Moving Together, Supporting Each Other
Wednesday 5th February 2014
8pm to 9.30pm

We will begin with a warm-up to awaken our bodies and settle our minds, followed by several exercises to open our senses to the space and each other. We’ll then spend time exploring what it is to be with and support each other with improvised movement. The whole contents of the class is suitable for everyone – both experienced and not-experienced movers, and builds confidence and freedom to be both natural and expressive. It’ll be a lot of fun too! We’ll also make time for a short sharing circle at the end.

Deepening and Nourishing our Aspirations
Wednesday 19th February 2014

In our first session of Wake Up: Engaged we will have the precious opportunity to contemplate and clarify our future aspirations with the help of the collective energy and support of the community. The activities will guide us in deeply exploring our dreams and intentions through meditation and sharings. We’ll also consider how we relate to our aspirations and how to take care of ourselves on the journey.