London Shambhala Meditation Centre

02/06/2026

✨ Day Retreat: Virya — The Paramita of Energy & (Right) Effort ✨

🗓️ June 6, 2026
🕤 9:30am – 5:00pm

How do we use our energy wisely?

We all experience periods of restlessness, fatigue, resistance, or simply losing heart. In Buddhist teachings, Virya (energy or right effort) invites us to explore a different approach: one that combines courage with gentleness, diligence with ease, and vigour with equanimity.

This practical and engaging day retreat will explore our relationship with energy — on the meditation cushion and in daily life. Together, we’ll investigate:

✨ Our energetic habits and patterns
✨ How we work with restlessness, unwillingness, or weariness
✨ What genuine rest looks like
✨ How to bring balance and sustainability to our efforts
✨ The connection between wakefulness, compassion, and courageous action

Through meditation, movement practices, discussion, and reflection, we’ll explore how to cultivate a more balanced and sustainable relationship with our energy and effort.

🧘 Open to all levels of experience.

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👤 About the Teacher

Pete is a long-standing member of the Shambhala Bristol and South West community. A 7th Dan Aikido practitioner and teacher, he brings decades of experience working with body, mind, and energy.

An Oxford graduate and former lecturer in drama at the University of Bristol, Pete spent 15 years as a professional actor and movement director in television, theatre, and opera. Today, he runs VOX Coaching, helping people develop communication and leadership skills across education, business, government, and healthcare.

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🕤 Arrival from 9:30am
🧘 Sitting begins at 10:00am
✨ Retreat concludes at 5:00pm

03/05/2026

🌿 Meet the Instructor: Richard Danum 🌿

We’re delighted to introduce Richard Danum, one of our dedicated Meditation Instructors and an emerging Dharma Teacher at the London Shambhala Meditation Centre.

Richard first came to Shambhala in 2010, and his path has been anything but conventional. He read law at Cambridge University and qualified at a Magic Circle firm before following a creative calling into professional acting, starring in British independent films and television.

Over the past decade, Richard has specialised as an executive coach and facilitator, supporting high-profile clients worldwide. He also founded The Mindful Group, bringing Mind Training and mindfulness practices into organisations, and is a qualified Co-Active Coach.

Richard’s teaching is shaped by a rich tapestry of experiences — combining meditation, mindfulness, and real-world practice — helping students meet life with clarity, awareness, and compassion.

✨ Stay tuned as we continue to introduce more of our teaching team.

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26/04/2026

✨ Day Retreat: The Paramita of Patience ✨
🗓️ May 10, 2026
🕤 9:30am – 5:00pm

Patience isn’t just “gritting your teeth” or “being nice.” 🌿 It’s not about forcing calm when you don’t feel it.

In Buddhist practice, patience (kshanti) is something deeper: the ability to meet discomfort, uncertainty, or strong emotions without immediately tightening, blaming, or checking out.

This retreat offers a spacious, supportive container to explore patience as a practice of dignity, openness, and presence. Through guided and unguided meditation, short teachings, and structured conversations, we’ll reflect on questions like:
• How do I respond internally to difficulty?
• How do I relate to waiting, frustration, or not-knowing?
• What are realistic ways to practise patience in daily life?

✨ All levels of experience are welcome.

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👤 About the instructor
Richard read law at Cambridge and worked at Linklaters before moving into acting, executive coaching, and facilitation. Since discovering Shambhala in 2010, he has become a Meditation Instructor and is beginning his journey as a Dharma Teacher. Richard also runs The Mindful Group, bringing mindfulness and mind training to organisations worldwide.

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🔗 visit our website to secure your spot
🕤 Arrival: 9:30am | Sitting starts: 10:00am | Close: 5:00pm

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20/04/2026

✨ Zen Enso Painting Workshop ✨
🗓️ May 9, 2026
🕐 1:15pm – 5:30pm

Join us for a special afternoon of mindful movement and creative expression with artist Adele ().

We’ll begin with gentle Qigong and Tai Chi-inspired warm-ups, followed by walking and standing meditation — settling into presence through body, breath, and awareness.

From this grounded place, we’ll move into the practice of Zen Enso painting: using brush and ink to express a single moment of awareness through the circle.

Traditionally, the enso reflects the artist’s breath and state of mind — each one completely unique.

🎨 What to expect:
• Gentle movement and meditation practices
• Introduction to Zen Enso painting
• Time to create your own ink circle artworks
• A calm, supportive and creative space

All materials are provided — just bring yourself and wear something comfortable.
No experience needed.

✨ Swipe to see moments from previous workshops →

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👩‍🎨 About the teacher
Adele Cloony () is a London-based artist trained in both visual and internal martial arts. Her work is deeply influenced by Taoist and Buddhist philosophy, exploring the connection between movement, meditation, and creative expression.

“They are both forms of moving meditation… connecting mind, body and breath, becoming one with all things.”

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💷 £40 (all materials included)
🕐 Arrival from 1:15pm | Start 1:30pm | Finish 5:30pm

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10/04/2026

🌼 Meet the Instructor: Jez Taylor 🌼

We’re excited to introduce Jez Taylor, a long-standing member of the Shambhala community and one of our dedicated meditation instructors here in London.

Jez first encountered the Shambhala teachings in 2002 and has been deeply involved ever since — supporting the community in many roles, including Meditation Instructor, Way of Shambhala Coordinator, and Centre Manager since 2012.

With a background that spans everything from maths and finance to design, hypnotherapy, and counselling, Jez brings a rich, grounded, and human perspective to meditation practice.

His approach is shaped by decades of study and practice in Buddhism, alongside his work as a qualified counsellor and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

✨ Jez is particularly interested in how meditation supports us in working with our inner world — and how greater awareness can lead to a more meaningful and balanced life.

Stay tuned as we continue to introduce more of our teaching team 💛

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Mindfulness BuddhistPractice WellbeingLondon ConsciousLiving MeditationLife InnerWork CommunitySpotlight SpiritualPractice PersonalGrowth

06/04/2026

🌿 Day Retreat: Living with Clarity & Confidence 🌿
🗓️ April 11, 2026
🕤 9:30am – 5:00pm

How do we meet life with more clarity, confidence, and compassion?

The Buddhist teachings offer a powerful “map” for working with the challenges of being human — not as rigid rules, but as a way of living that brings together heart and mind. 💭❤️

This day retreat is an invitation to gently explore how our thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected — and how meditation can help us relate to them with more ease and understanding.

✨ What to expect:
• Guided meditation and exploration of how we relate to ourselves
• Talks and contemplation practices
• Space for discussion and community connection

Together, we’ll reflect on how we may contribute to our own suffering — and how we can begin to act with more awareness, bravery, and kindness.

👤 Led by Jez Taylor, a long-time practitioner and teacher within the Shambhala community, bringing over 20 years of experience in meditation, teaching, and contemplative practice.

🧘‍♂️ Open to all — whether you’re new to meditation or deepening your path.

05/04/2026

05/04/2026

Lighter nights and longer days are upon us and we have lots going on at the Centre this Spring! Whether it’s mindfulness through movement, Shambhala teachings or simply sitting, there is a cushion for everyone 🧡

✨ Apr 11th: Living with Clarity and Confidence with Jez Taylor
✨ May 01: Cosy Fridays Yoga with
✨ May 09: Synchronising Body and Mind with Jim, Jonathon or Julien
✨ May 09: Zen Enso Painting with
✨ May 10th: The Paramita of Patience with Richard Danum
✨ May 16-17th: Contentment in Everyday Life with Rachel O’Dowd and Richard Knott
✨ June 06th: Day Retreat with Peter Bailie
✨ June 27-28th: Releasing the Knot of the Mind with Anam Thubten
✨ Drop in meditation every Wednesday ✨

🔗 link in bio for more details and to reserve your spot

16/03/2026

Reflecting on the wonderful Day Retreat ‘From Scarcity to Spaciousness’ with instructor Rachel Cheang last weekend.

We often think generosity involves giving money, time, or effort — things we already feel short of. But generosity also shows up in much quieter, everyday ways: how we listen, how we respond, how we treat ourselves when things don’t go to plan.

✨ Are you interested in attending one of our day retreats? ✨ Check out our website for upcoming dates. There is a cushion for everyone 🙏

03/03/2026

🌟🧘 C O S Y F R I D A Y S 🧘‍♀️🌟

🗓️ Date: March 6, 2026
🕖 Time: 7:20 PM - 9:00 PM

Join us for our monthly class, combining a gentle, Shamatha yoga-inspired sequence with the spaciousness of heaven, the groundedness of earth, and the open-heartedness of the warrior.

✨ Experience Yoga Nidra: A guided relaxation supported by Tibetan singing bowls to enhance sleep and promote deep restoration. Plus, simple breath practices, including coherent breathing with chimes to slow your breath and deepen your relaxation.

Studies show that practicing Yoga Nidra can improve sleep quality and support mental well-being, especially for those dealing with PTSD, pain, or stress. 🌈

💖 This session may include the Circle of Protectors, rooted in the Tibetan shamanic lineage of Bön, perfect for easing pre-sleep anxiety.

📀 A recording of the Yoga Nidra will be shared post-session for continued practice at home—anytime, day or night.

🧘‍♀️ Everyone is welcome! No prior experience needed. Options are offered throughout.

👩‍🏫 Meet Your Teacher: Jules Bath —yoga teacher with over a decade of experience, specializing in Yoga Nidra with a focus on accessible practices for inner exploration. She’s also a meditation instructor, Reiki practitioner, and art therapy enthusiast, influenced by prominent figures like Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Charlie Morley.

🕒 Timings:
 Arrival: 7:20 PM
 Start: 7:45 PM
 Finish: 9:00 PM

💰 Cost: £12.50
💖 Concession: £7

Join us for a transformative evening of rest and rejuvenation! 🙏✨