Our charity offers a traditional approach to the practice of Yoga, Meditation and Philosophy, promoting both inner peace and spiritual growth.
Our charity offers a traditional approach to the practice of Yoga, Meditation and Philosophy, promoting both inner peace and spiritual growth.
Our charity offers a traditional approach to the practice of Yoga, Meditation and Philosophy, promoting both inner peace and spiritual growth.
Our charity offers a traditional approach to the practice of Yoga, Meditation and Philosophy, promoting both inner peace and spiritual growth.
Our charity offers a traditional approach to the practice of Yoga, Meditation and Philosophy, promoting both inner peace and spiritual growth.
Who am I?
What is Creation?
What is my relationship to Creation?
Who has not asked these questions?
Our weekly classes, study days and retreats explore these fundamentals with an emphasis on how the practical applications of diverse traditions can illuminate and enhance the quality of our daily lives.
Sources and inspiration may include Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Upanishads, Plato, the Buddha, Shakespeare, Eckhart Tolle, and numerous others! and other texts.
As well as the group discussions, practical work will be included such as meditation, breathing and mindfulness exercises. We explore how loving, considered and skilful actions can be naturally expressed in practice.
Typically our mind is restless and confused, jumping from one thought to another making it difficult to find balance and rest. Meditation is a systematic and methodical practice that, even from the beginning, helps us find stability and calmness.
Meditation can improve your health, your relationships, and the skill and love with which you engage with life. Meditation is suitable for everyone.
With regular meditation you can realistically expect to find new levels of energy, relaxation, calmness, and relief from stress. Ultimately it will lead to realisation of one’s true self.
Meditation involves a type of inner attention that is quiet, concentrated, and at the same time relaxed. The word used in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is “Dhyana”. It is defined as “the liberation of the mind from all disturbing and distracting emotions, thoughts and desires.”
Yoga means ‘to yoke’ or ‘to join’. Through knowledge and skilful practice hatha yoga aims to harmoniously unify body, breath and mind in such a way that the body becomes an instrument for treading the path to enlightenment.
Hatha refers to the relationship between the differing energies in our body, breath and mind. Ha and tha are symbolic syllables used to indicate the flow of breath in the right and left nostrils. Hatha yoga exercises are designed to awaken and harmonise the energies of our internal states.
The term ‘Hatha Yoga’ is a generic one, and it covers all styles of physical yoga such as Astanga, Viniyoga, Iyengar, and Sivananda Yoga.
Yoga postures are a remedy for the whole person. They promote health and energy. There is no achievement level or competition. Each person works within their own capacity, and it is for this reason that yoga is beneficial to all regardless of age, gender, body shape or previous experience.
Pranayama is a practice relating to the control and regulation of the breath through specific breathing techniques and exercises. Pranayama exercises help us to clear physical and emotional blocks or obstacles in the body so that the breath, and prana, can flow freely.
The Sanskrit word Pranayama comes from Prana (life energy) and Ayama (to extend, draw out). The practice of Pranayama dates back to ancient India and the origins of yoga, said to be around sixth and fifth centuries BCE.
“When we practise Pranayama the veil is gradually drawn away from the mind and there is growing clarity. The mind becomes ready for deep meditation” (yoga sutra 2.52).
Guided Relaxation practices such as ’61 points’ and ‘Yoga Nidra’, led by our experienced teachers, provide body and mind with the opportunity for deep and nourishing rest beyond the conventional notions of ‘relaxing’, enabling stillness and clarity to be established, as a preparation for meditation.
Sufism is the mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes a direct, personal experience of God through spiritual purification, asceticism, and devotion. It is practised within both Sunni and Shia traditions and focuses on a path to spiritual refinement through practices like dhikr (the invocation of God’s name), meditation, and detaching from worldly distractions to achieve divine love.
Key aspects of Sufism
Mystical Experience:
The core goal is to achieve a direct, personal experience of God and attain divine love.
Spiritual Path:
Sufis follow a path of spiritual purification, striving for a selfless life that focuses on presence and love, and seeking the “annihilation of the ego” in God.
Practices:
Common practices include:
Dhikr: Chanting or invoking the names of God, which can be done individually or in groups.
Meditation: Engaging in spiritual reflection and practices like the “Whirling Dervishes” which combine dancing, music, and prayer.
Asceticism: Following a path of spiritual refinement that includes renouncing materialism.
Connection to Islam:
Sufism is considered an integral part of Islam, with adherents practicing the core observances like daily prayers, fasting, and charity.
Influence:
Sufism has profoundly influenced Islamic art, literature (such as the poetry of Rumi), and the spread of Islam across the world.
“Stations” of the Path:
Sufis may follow a series of “stations” on their spiritual journey, which can include stages of repentance, sincerity, humility, and gratitude, ultimately leading toward a state of divine union.
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy that originated in India around 2,500 years ago, based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the Buddha or “enlightened one”. It focuses on personal spiritual development and the attainment of enlightenment (nirvana) to escape the cycle of suffering and rebirth (samsara) through the practice of morality, meditation, and wisdom. Key tenets include the Four Noble Truths, which state that suffering exists, craving causes it, suffering can end, and the Eightfold Path is the way to end it.
Core beliefs and concepts :
Practice and Philosophy
History and Spread
Modern numbers: It is one of the world’s largest religions, with hundreds of millions of followers worldwide.
Daoism, or Taoism, is an ancient Chinese religion and philosophy that emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao, or “the Way”. It focuses on naturalness, balance (often represented by the yin and yang concept), and achieving a state of effortless action by following the universe’s natural flow. Key aspects include the foundational text the Daodejing, a deep connection to nature, and practices like meditation.
Core Concepts
Origins and History
Practices and Beliefs
Christianity is the world’s largest monotheistic religion, centred on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God whose death and resurrection provide salvation from sin. Core beliefs include the Trinity (God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and salvation through faith in Jesus.
Core Beliefs
Key Aspects
Diversity: Christianity is a diverse religion with many different denominations, such as Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox.
Vedanta is an ancient Hindu philosophical and spiritual tradition, which means “the end of the Vedas”. The philosophy focuses on knowledge and self-realization based on sacred texts like the Upanishads.
Philosophical and Spiritual Tradition
