An oasis of calm in the heart of London for gay, bi and trans men.
“This group is unique and is valuable for men who just drop in occasionally or attend regularly. It provides a reasonable ‘compromise’ for those who are new to meditation as well as those who are more experienced meditators. The group is led in a wise and thoughtful way bearing in mind it is for a diverse mix of guys.”
- meet with a group of friendly men
- start the week in a calming your mind
- learn skills to help you let go of stress and worry
- learn tools to deal with addictions and compulsive behaviour
- improve you sense of self worth and confidence
- make new friends
The group is now in its 10th year and attracts a diverse range of men. The evening starts with some mindful movement, to bring awareness into the body, and then a guided body awareness meditation and mindfulness practice. There is a 25 minute tea break mid evening offering the opportunity to socialise, or there is the option to listen to a talk or music in a smaller group if you want to stay in a quieter space. After the tea break there is a short reflection on a topic relating to mindfulness or gay men’s wellbeing. We then finish with a guided meditation on self-care, the Loving Kindness meditation.
No prior experience of meditation is needed as full instructions are given and you are guided into the meditation. We sit on chairs, but there are mats and cushions available if you are used to sitting on the floor, or would like to lie down.
“Last thing at night, I sit on the edge of the bed and meditate for five to ten minutes. I then have the best sleep I have had for weeks. This happened after only two weeks of classes with Nick. I normally sleep very well but am now on a recently released drug for COPD. Side effects might include disturbed sleep patterns but the meditation has helped alleviate this!” Ken
Meetings every Monday except Bank Holidays
Venue:
Friends Meeting House
52 St Martin's Lane
London
WC2N 4EA
Nearest tube: Leicester Square or Charring Cross
Time:
7.30 – 9.15 pm
Please note, we start at 7.30 so please arrive a little before to have time to settle in.
Cost:
Try the group out for a reduced rate of £10 for your first visit or pay £5 concession rate for students and unemployed.
As a special offer once you have attended one session you will then receive five sessions at this reduced fee with your sixth session being free. Collect your voucher from Nick at your first session.
The regular price for the class after this special offer is:
£15 full price
£12 reduced full price
£8 concessions (students and unwaged)
Please choose what you are able to afford within this range.
Payment is on the door by cash or card.
Asked why they enjoyed attending the group, members replied by saying:
“Sense of community. I’ve made some very good friends through the group.”
“The sense of community, the caring atmosphere, the fact it is a spiritual queer space”
“Being together with a group of gay men in stillness and meditation”
“Relaxed, non-judgmental. Puts me in a good frame of mind for the week ahead.”
“The feeling of being connected to something larger than myself”
“Two hours of peace and calm in a frantic city. The meditation sessions have helped me cope with anxiety and depression.”
For more information on mindfulness and its benefits and courses I'm running please visit my website: http://evolvingminds.org.uk