A gentle, guided shamatha (calm abiding) meditation practise.
These 45 minute online sessions have been running since 2020 and are for both new students and more established ones.
Feel free to join us whenever you are able to.
Teacher
Jonathan Hayward is a UK-based teacher and volunteer for Rigpa UK. He has a background in classical music and talking therapy, and lives in the Sussex countryside.
Joining
The Zoom details are included in the confirmation email so please save these.
Please join the meeting with the name you registered with.
FREE to join
Ticket sales for each session close 1 minutes before the start time.
We warmly invite you to join our drop-in meditation sessions, open to all, held weekly on Tuesdays from 6.30pm to 8pm with our experienced instructors in our London Centre at 330 Caledonian Road, London N1 1BB.
Should a drop-in session need to be cancelled we’ll let you know via eventbrite booking cancellation and here. Please check on this page before coming each week if you haven’t booked through eventbrite.
Take a moment at the end of your day to pause, breathe, and reconnect.
These 50-minute online meditation sessions have been running since 2022, offering a simple and supportive space for both complete beginners and more experienced practitioners.
Rooted in Tibetan Buddhist meditation, the sessions are presented in a clear and accessible way, making it easy to explore your mind and gently deepen your practice—whatever your level.
Each session includes:
A short warm-up practice to connect with our motivation
A guided main meditation
A final period of quieter practice, where you can explore your own meditation method
Together, we cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and awareness – qualities that can help bring more clarity, balance, and ease into everyday life.
You’ll also be joining a friendly and welcoming group of people who share an interest in understanding the mind and living with greater presence.
These online sessions are hosted by Rigpa, our meditation centre in central London, where we offer in-person teachings, courses, and a supportive community for study and practice.
Instructor
Simon McVay is a UK-based meditation instructor and volunteer for Rigpa UK. He worked as a therapist in the NHS for 24 years, leading mindfulness meditation groups for staff and patients during this time. He lives in Chelmsford, Essex.
Joining
This session is free to attend. Please register via Eventbrite to receive the online link.
Donations are optional and very welcome – they help support our centre and allow us to continue offering these sessions.
The Zoom details are included in the confirmation email so please save these.
Please join the meeting with the name you registered with.
Harmonize the flow of Qi, Balancing Qi, Enhances Circulation, Health & Healing, Longevity & Vitality, Mental Clarity, Spiritual Growth, Breathing Techniques, Flexibility, Meditation, Mindfulness, Pain Management, Self-Cultivation, Stress Reduction,
The Purpose of Qi-Gong
Qi-Gong (or Qigong) is a holistic practice rooted in Chinese tradition that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques, and mental focus to cultivate and balance Qi (life energy). Its purposes are multifaceted, addressing body, mind, and spirit:
Health and Healing
Balancing Qi: Aims to unblock and harmonize the flow of Qi, believed to prevent or alleviate illness in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Physical Benefits: Enhances circulation, flexibility, immune function, and pain management. Often used in preventative healthcare and recovery.
Stress Reduction
Combining slow movements, deep breathing, and meditation can induce relaxation, reduce anxiety, and promote emotional stability.
Spiritual Growth
Fosters a connection with the self, nature, or the Dao (Tao), encouraging inner peace and spiritual enlightenment through mindful cultivation of energy.
Martial Arts Enhancement
Develops internal power (neijin) for martial artists, improving strength, stamina, and resilience by harnessing Qi.
Mental Clarity and Focus
Enhances concentration, discipline, and mental discipline through meditative practices and intentional movement.
Longevity and Vitality
Promotes longevity by maintaining energetic balance and physical health, aligning with TCM’s emphasis on preventive care.
Self-Cultivation
Encourages personal growth, patience, and ethical development, fostering harmony within oneself and with others.
Relax and calm your mind with our monthly community yoga sessions. These yoga sessions incorporate yoga practices from Hatha yoga tradition and apply mindfulness to each breath and movement. This brings awareness and presence to the practice and helps to calm down our nervous system. The practice typically begins with breathing meditation to bring us to a calm and relaxed state before going into movement. All abilities welcome.
What to bring: Yoga mat, shawl for breathing meditation if desired.
Dates and time: Thursdays once a month-18:30-19:45
£8 suggested donation, minimum £5 donation please
Please note: if we ever need to cancel a session we will let you know through eventbrite and you will receive a refund. We will also post it on this page.
Every Friday evening from 6.30-7.30pm starting 17th January 2025 at our London centre we will be guided on a “Touch Down” journey to land back in our bodies after a busy week. During this one-hour session, we will experience how Kum Nye can be both a very effective gateway to meditation, and a means to deepen our current practice. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, Kum Nye’s simple movement and breathing exercises restore the body’s natural rhythms and calm the mind.
BIOGRAPHY Daniel has been practicing meditation for the last 24 years and Kum Nye for four years. He has completed the Nyingma Centrum (check) Kum Nye teacher training course and is a keen advocate of mind-body connection to heal and restore health.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Tara represents compassion, protection, and healing. Rather than something distant or abstract, Tara can be understood as a way of connecting with our own inner strength, care, and wisdom. This practice is both simple and profound. During these two evening teachings, we will be guided through meditation, visualisation, and heartfelt intention, and begin to open to these qualities within ourselves. It can feel as though we are drawing on something beyond our usual worries-while at the same time discovering a deeper confidence and resilience within.
We all visualise naturally-replaying conversations, imagining the future, or worrying about what might happen. Tara practice gently guides this natural ability in a positive and healing direction. Instead of feeding anxiety, we learn to connect with compassion, courage, and clarity.
Traditionally, Tara is described as a source of healing and protection. By connecting with her through sincere intention, we can begin to overcome obstacles and create more supportive conditions in our lives. Over time, this practice becomes less about seeking help from something outside, and more about recognising and embodying these qualities ourselves.
This can be especially meaningful when life feels difficult. When someone we love is struggling-through illness, loss, or emotional pain-it’s natural to feel powerless. Tara practice offers a way to respond. By holding others in mind with kindness and sincerity, we can gently support them, helping to ease fear, anxiety, and distress.
Summary of the Practice –
The practice of Tara (or Sadhana) involves chanting her mantra, visualizing her form, and meditating on her qualities to transform one’s own mind. It is a foundational yet profound Vajrayana practice that moves from outer devotion to inner identification.
This is a path of transformation-gentle, powerful, and human. A way of becoming a source of healing, for ourselves and for others. In this way, Tara becomes both a source of support and a path of transformation-for ourselves and for others.
Teacher
Marcia lived at the feet of one of the greatest Tibetan Masters of meditation for 17 years at the epicenter of unfolding events of Dharma that crossed many oceans. – Tulku Thondup Rinpoche
Marcia [Dechen Wangmo] has followed many great lamas, some of the best of this century. Her experience as an American amidst this older generation of Lamas is quite important for Dharma students from the West. – Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Marcia Dechen Wangmo, AKA Marcia Binder Schmidt is a renowned Buddhist translator, editor, writer, and teacher. Together with Erik Pema Kunsang, she established Rangjung Yeshe Institute that has been dedicated to offering educational and practice support for practitioners and scholars of Tibetan Buddhism in 1981. In 1986 as an offshoot of this Institute, Erik and she created Rangjung Yeshe Publications. (www.rangjung.com) www.lotustreasure.com.
They have translated and produced over sixty-two titles that have been translated into thirteen different languages.
Marcia has helped to develop retreat centers and study groups all over the world and has been teaching in recent years, sharing her humor and human approach to traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice, all over the world.
How to participate
This event will be held in person and online.
* Online Zoom details for online attendees will be in the eventbrite reminder emails 2 days and 2 hours before the event.
Cost
Full price l £40 Concessions l £20 Under 25’s l Free Donate what you can l Contact [email protected] if finances prevent you from coming
Your donation will cover the costs of running the event and enable someone else to attend. You can cancel and receive an automatic refund through Eventbrite up to 24 hours before the event.
Linklater Pavilion, Railway Lane, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2FG
💰 Fee:
£40 standard / £25 concession (suggested donation)
Combining three profound ways of meditating: finding ease of body, harnessing the power of voice, leading to peace and clarity of mind.
What we’ll be doing…
On this day, we’ll focus on a practice that brings together three of the best-known methods of meditation from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and combines them into one practice. These three methods are:
using an image,
chanting a mantra, and
resting with the breath.
Each one is a complete method in its own right, however, by bringing them together they affect all three aspects of body, energy and mind – bringing us stability, clarity and presence.
The retreat day will give ample time for practice sessions. Alongside this, there’ll be time for questions, and relaxation.
The retreat day is open to all
Whether you’re brand new to meditation or have experience, this retreat day offers the chance to explore and/or deepen your practice with the guidance of experienced Buddhist meditation teachers, and in a setting that naturally supports meditation. Retreat means to step away from the noise of everyday life and create a space for something different. This one-day event is a chance to do exactly that – to take some time out from the demands of our busy lives and reconnect with a deeper sense of presence, perspective and peace within ourselves.
“I arrived with the intention of finding a moment of peaceful presence. I left with my intention fulfilled. Thank you.”
The day will be held by our experienced teachers who’ll lead us through the stages of the practice, based on understandings and instructions found in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Practical information
Sunday 26th July 2026
The retreat day starts at 10.30am and finishes at 4pm. Doors open at 10.15am.
Open to all (18+)
No experience needed.
Under 18s need to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Venue
Linklater Pavilion, Railway Lane, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2FG
The Linklater Pavilion is nestled in the peaceful surroundings of the Railway Land nature reserve in Lewes.
Lewes is highly accessible: a direct 55–70 minute train from London Victoria/Lewes (regular Southern/Southern services), easy A27/A26 road links from Brighton and the M25 for drivers, frequent regional buses connecting nearby towns and the coast, plus convenient cycling and walking routes for short-distance arrivals.
For information about the Linklater Pavilion and the Railway Land, see their website here.
For more information on how to get to the venue, see our map here
There is disabled access at the Linklater Pavilion.
If you have specific access requirements, please make sure to let us know in the Eventbrite registration process.
Parking
Please note: the Linklater Pavilion does not have onsite parking.
Information on nearby car parks can be found on our venue map here.
Food
Refreshments will be provided in the break. Please make sure to let us know if you have any dietary restrictions (within the Eventbrite registration process).
Lunch: there are a variety of cafes, restaurants, and eateries within walking distance from the venue – or bring your own picnic!
What to Bring
A meditation cushion or bench if you wish (chairs will be provided)
A shawl or blanket for comfort
Water bottle and any personal items for the day
Notebook (optional) for reflections
Picnic, if wished!
Suggested donation: £40 standard / £25 concession
Financial hardship: if the above suggested amount is not feasible for you, please donate an amount that is affordable. All donations are gratefully received as they enable us to continue to run events.
Tickets are limited – advance booking is required.
This course is an in-person only event, and will not be accessible online.
Registration for this course is only valid through Eventbrite. Please do not book through allevents.in
Rigpa South Downs Lewes holds Meditation Retreat Days throughout the year
The retreat is hosted by Rigpa South Downs, part of Rigpa UK. We are based in Lewes, and have been offering Buddhist meditation courses, events and retreats in Lewes and the local area since 1996. For more details on our local programme, see our online events calendar here and our website here.
Light Body – Bright Mind! Movement & breathing exercises, followed by the stillness of meditation to refresh our body & calm our mind
During this weekend we will be practising Kum Nye, a relaxation method from the Tibetan tradition, which is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Kum Nye integrates and balances physical and psychological approaches to harmonize the energies of body and mind. The deep relaxation produced releases a vibrant, intense flow of feeling that renders all experience richer, healthier, and more beautiful.
For beginners it is a gateway to meditation, while for more seasoned practitioners it is a way to deepen our practice.
Join us this weekend to experience Kum Nye – a gentle Tibetan relaxation practice suitable for all ages and fitness levels. Blending movement, breath, and awareness, Kum Nye helps release tension, balance energy, and awaken a deep sense of calm and vitality. Ideal for beginners as a gateway to meditation, and for seasoned practitioners to deepen their inner experience and presence.
How to join the event
In-person only
Registration closes Thursday 5th Nov at 5pm
Suggested donation –
Full rate| £100 Concessions l £50 Under 25’s l Free Financial hardship l Donate whatever you can
Contact [email protected] if you are unable to make a donation of any amount at this time and we will register you.
*Dharma teachings are always offered free of charge. We do not turn anyone away on financial grounds. Your financial contribution is used towards centre running costs, staff salaries, equipment etc. Thank you for your support.
**You can cancel and receive an automatic refund through Eventbrite up to 24 hours before the event.
