Leeds Mindfulness, Well-being, & Spirituality Centre


  • Secular Mindfulness
  • Emotional Well-being
  • Positive Emotion Enhancement
  • Interfaith Exploration
  • Psycho-spiritual Integration
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LEEDS MINDFULNESS FESTIVAL

At Kirkstall Abbey’s Gatehouse (the old cafe site) in October 2024
For further information and booking – spaces are Pay As You Feel

Mindfullness at the museum

Tuesdays at 2.30pm till 3.30pm
The Venue is the Old Gatehouse opposite Kirkstall Abbey.
This is a regular event – open to everyone who has an interest.
We cover awareness of the body, the breath, loving kindness, and just sitting in spaciousness
Donations are asked for to cover the costs – thank you

 

Kirkstall Abbey Interfaith Week

 

Tues 12 Nov 2.30pm
“Light Upon Light : A Comparative Appreciation of Light in the World’s Mystical Traditions” with Steve Hart at the Gatehouse (old cafe site) opposite Kirkstall Abbey  – Donations welcome
A lecture on the significance on the universal motif of light as found in different spiritual traditions across the world – notably Christianity, Sufism, Buddhism and Saivism
Thursday 14th Nov 2.30pm
“Exploring Grace: Establishing the Conditions for Receiving the Eternal’s Presence” with Steve Hart at the Gatehouse (see above)
Whether we call it saktipat (Hinduism), baraka (sufism) adhisthana (Buddhism) or grace (Christianity) we deep down all wish for the presence of the Eternal. In this meditation session we will be establishing the conditions for our receptivity to grace and the encouragement to set up a regular practise of such receptivity. Donations welcome
Sunday 17th Nov – 2.30pm
Light for Leeds : An Interfaith day at Kirkstall Abbey – email Steve nearer the time for more information. A celebration of different traditions with music and stalls and readings. Free – donations welcome

Loving Kindness and the Integration of the Shadow

Date: Saturday 9th November, 2024

Held in November at the Insight for Wellbeing Meditation House, the bottom of the garden at 11c Allerton Park, Chapel Allerton, LS7
11am-4pm   £30 bring lunch to share
Mindfulness training asks us to deeply accept whatever arises in our consciousness and the loving kindness practise orientates us towards loving whatever arises also.

This doesn’t mean that we become “doormats” and just accepting of situations which require boundaries. However, through the loving kindness practise we can change our relationship to judgements, “stories”, projections internalised difficulties and obstacles so that we feel freer and more loving.

In this retreat we will look at ways of being in a creative relationship with such difficulties drawing on sources as diverse as Zen, Byron Katie, Tara Brach and Lama Tsultrim Allione. This retreat will require a willingness to share how we are working with such obstacles to happiness.

 

Rumi at the Museum

Tuesday 17th December 2.30pm at the Gatehouse opposite Kirkstall Abbey
Time: 2.30pm – 4.30pm
On this day we will be celebrating the Urs of Jallaludin Rumi – the great Islamic sufi mystic and poet. The Urs is the remembrance of Rumi’s “wedding night” where on his death he reunited with Allah. We will recite Rumi’s poetry and chant a sufi zhikir invoking God’s names.
Donation. We will also stroll round the Abbey’s grpounds and grab a coffee.

“Winter & the Sacred Feminine”

Sat 14th Dec – 11am-4pm at the Insight for Meditation Wellbeing House, 11c Allerton Park, Chapel Allerton, LS7 4ND
As we move closer to the winter solstice we celebrate the longer night as a space ripe for the rich inner imagination of dream life and visualisation in meditation – particularly exploring the dakini archetype and principle.

Steve’s Availabiltiy and More!

The lead facilitator, Steve Hart is available for one to one meditation and mindfulness tuition and guidance ( for about 30 hours per week). Please email Steve at leeds.mindfulness@gmail.comCorporate and Business sessions can also be arranged.
CREATIVITY & WELLBEING WEEK AT KIRKSTALL ABBEY
May 2024 – see above – email Steve for more information
FREE RETREAT SPACES FOR THIRD SECTOR VOLUNTEERS
We are offering free retreat spaces for third sector volunteers to help build creative reserves, regrouping and resilience. email Steve for more information
MINDFULNESS & POSITIVE EMOTION ENHANCEMENT RETREATS
Throughout the Spring and Summer these are to be held in Chapel Allerton, Horsforth, Kirkstall Abbey and West Leeds, as well as REVOLUTION OF LOVING KINDNESS sessions in Leeds City Centre. email Steve for more information We will also be holding the Leeds Mindfulness Festival in Kirkstall Abbey in October.
CHAPEL ALLERTON MINDFULNESS FESTIVAL
This will be held in July and will include sessions on secular mindfulness, positive emotion enhancement and higher states of consciousness in Buddhism. We will also feature an introductory session on Tantra by Zeenat Cameron of Rajeshwari Tantra.
TANTRA
For the benefit of those people seeking an interest in Tantra – there will be sessions throughout the year in Chapel Allerton – email zeenat@rajeshwaritantra.co.uk
BUDDHISM
Steve has practised with many of the Buddhist communities in Leeds. For recommendations of access to these communities email Steve for an informal chat about what sangha might suit you.
CONNECT BY FACEBOOK

Details of all these events will all be published on our new website nearer the time, or keep in touch via Facebook.

ONE TO ONE MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION SESSIONS
Steve is available for 1 to 1 telephone or in person training and development in meditation, self help coaching and spirituality orientation.” (up to 30 hours each week)
Ring 0799 9218450 for more information.

ON LINE MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION & SELF HELP ACTIVITIES

A safer way of learning mindfulness, meditation and self help
Using Zoom; paying by paypal (You will need to download Zoom to participate in the events and register with Steve so you secure your space)
Dates & times to be negotiated with participants – please email Steve Hart leeds.mindfulness@gmail.com for more information

Drop in Meditation Group  – online

Here we will be meditating in Zoom  ; consolidating our meditation skills or learning breath anchor, bodyscan, self nurturing meditation and loving kindness practise. This will be a weekly event – you will need to book a space. The drop in space is a friendly skills sharing activity.

Cost £6 per session.

We are delighted to offer the following mini courses

SELF CARE, SELF ESTEEM, SELF COMPASSION ON-LINE (Zoom)

A 2 week workshop exploring how we nurture ourselves, trust our heart space with self compassion and build better self esteem We will be drawing on resources and skills from Compassion Studies and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Resilience Building. £18 (2 weeks 4 hours)

THE CONFIDENCE JOURNEY & MEDITATON

What is confidence and how to do we attain it ? An exploration of our values which underpin confidence building and looking at the relationship between self-compassion meditation and the confidence journey. £18 (2 weeks) 4 hours

HEARTFELT COMMUNICATION, NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION AND ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING

Do we often feel we have difficulties with communication , boundaries and establishing win-win situations with ourselves and others ? In these workshops we will explore our usual styles of communication and how to respond to aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive people. There will be some self compassion/loving kindness meditation from which to draw on creative reserves. £18 (2 weeks) 4 hours

MINDFULNESS : A Secular Exploration

An introduction to mindfulness and meditation for stress reduction, pain management and better wellbeing. We will be learning breath anchor, bodyscan and loving kindness ways into meditation. ( 2 weeks) 4 hours £18

ENHANCING POSITIVE EMOTION

A thorough exploration of loving kindness meditation and other dimensions of positive emotion spectrum practises including self compassion, compassion for others, sympathetic happiness (or empathetic joy), equanimity and generosity. (5 weeks) 10 hours £36

MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION

A deep exploration of traditional mindfulness and meditation from different Buddhist traditions. Cultivate a calm abiding presence in meditation and learn spiritual methods and theories that underpin the practises. (5 weeks) 10 hours £36

Our Future Online Courses

We are currently planning the following retreats/courses/workshops. Please email Steve for further information. 

MEDITATION & HEALING

MEDITATION & DEATH

MINDFULNESS, ACCEPTANCE & ANXIETY

THE FIVE BUDDHA WISDOMS AND THEIR SACRED FEMININE EXPRESSION

TARA & THE SACRED FEMININE
SUFI EVENTS
Our sufi events are on-line in Zoom. Please email Steve for more information

ZEN PEACEMAKER
These will be on-line in the autumn. Please email Steve for more information. 


Mindfulness, Meditation and Interfaith Practices

Through disciplines of Mindfulness and Interafith Practice, we can relate to others, the world and ourselves in a rich and deep way – finding understanding in what it is to be truely alive. 

Mindfulness and Meditation

Learn how to meditate and practise mindfulness, emphasising stress reduction, pain management, self nurturing and loving kindness practises. Regular drop ins and classes will also explore relaxation, concentration, self compassion and mindfulness in relation to self care, self esteem and self confidence……..

Dates and venues to be announced in the early summer 2020.

Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Community (Leeds)

We meet monthly.  There is led facilitation from Nur Sefer Sahil Warsi and Suleiman Salaam. We enjoy a short reading from Shaykha Fariha’s “Invitation to Union” and participate in the communal chanting of the remembrance of God, or “zhikir”. This is a friendly space and everyone is welcome.

Details of venue, dates, to follow…..

Zen Peacemakers

A sociocratic and egalitarian expression of spirituality and meditation practise. We participate in  training in spirituality and socially engaged approaches and meet in Chapel Allerton on a monthly basis.

Our new programme will be announced in the early Summer 2020.

Contact us

You are welcome to call for more information, or to email Steve at:

leeds.mindfulness@gmail.com   


One to One Support

Steve has a background in counselling skills, transpersonal approaches to depth psychology and Peer Support. One to one work can include a synthesis of these approaches together with mindfulness and meditation skills. 

Lectures & Workshops

Steve has taught mindfulness, meditation in  secular environments such as businesses, Universities, colleges, leisure spaces, etc. for many years and is available to facilitate such sessions at competitive rates. Steve also lectures in depth interfaith encounter and various spirituality approaches, including Zen, Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Kabbalah, Christian mysticism, Hinduism, shamanism, etc. 

About the Organiser/Facilitator

Lead Facilitator, Steve Hart (Suleiman Salaam, Shinchi Daishin)

  • Steve Hart is the lead facilitator for Leeds Mindfulness, Wellbeing & Spirituality Centre.
  • Steve has a lengthy history of meditation experience and has trained in many Buddhist communities in the UK and was a dharma holder, vision holder and steward in the Zen Peacemaker tradition and a community organiser in the Nur Ashki Jerrahi sufi community.
  • Steve is an active dharma and vision holder in the UK Zen Peacemaker Circles and was a dervish and community organiser in the UK Nur Ashki Jerrahi community scene
  • Steve co-organises the Kirkstall Abbey Mindfulness and wellbeing festivals  and is involved in third sector social outreach projects.
  • Steve has lived experience of mental health conditions and pain management experience.
  • Steve has been teaching meditation for over 20 years including 20 years of positive emotion and loving kindness practises

Interested in more about the facilitator, Steve?

Thanks for reading on. This section offers some background to Steve’s journey and the richness of his experiences.

Steve Hart has taught mindfulness and meditation since 2010 in secular business, educational, community, health, arts and third sector environments. Mainly the approach here is to share a non-religious grounding in experiencing stress reduction, better wellbeing, optimum mood and positive emotion enhancement as expressed in loving kindness, self compassion and compassion for others, empathetic happiness and equanimity. A particular passion Steve has is empowering people with mental health difficulties through sharing such practises. Steve also is available for one to one therapeutic work drawing on a variety of related disciplines stemming from mindfulness and heart-centric approaches.  

Steve also teaches in faith and spirituality settings and defines himself as an Inter-Religious practitioner and has a heartfelt connection with a plethora of faiths and their spiritual technology – Buddhism, Sufism, Hinduism, shamanism, Christian mysticism and more. Steve is a Dharma and Vision Holder in the global Zen Peacemaker community in the lineage of Roshi Bernie Glassman. (The Zen circle is a sociocratic and egalitarian expression of different dimensions of spirituality) Also Steve is a community organiser and dervish in the Nur Aski Jerrahi Sufi community directed by Sheikha Fariha based in New York. Both the Zen and Sufi communities meet in Leeds (see “events”). Steve also organises and delivers at the annual Kirkstall Abbey Mindfulness, Wellbeing & Spirituality Festival in October and is the guest speaker for the Abbey’s Western Mysteries lectures (see “events”). 

Steve is available for lectures, retreats, residentials or workshops on any of the above.