Zen Yoga - The Paramitas

The first class focuses on Dana / generosity, the first of the six paramitas. Dana underpins the entire series through inviting us to show up and be exactly as we are. Through mindful posture and movement, practitioners are invited to step out of the fast pace of daily demands and offer themselves the generosity of time, care and attention. Ultimately, this lesson establishes a physical and mental "generosity of space" within and around the body, demonstrating that cultivating kindness toward oneself is a profound offering that naturally expands to benefit everyone we encounter in our lives.

The second class focuses on Sila / ethics, exploring how the physical practice of yoga can become a direct laboratory for ethical living. At its root, Buddhist ethics is centered on the principle of non-harming. In this class, practitioners are guided to listen closely to their body's true signals, avoiding force and practicing total honesty about their boundaries. By weaving the physical sequences around the law of Karma (cause and effect) and the traditional Zen precepts - not killing (your enthusiasm), not lying (to oneself), not stealing (from one's own needs), and letting go of anger - the mat becomes a sacred space to experience the consequences of intentional choices. Ultimately, these qualities naturally become who we are when we step back out into the world.

The third lesson focuses on Ksanti / patience, tolerance, acceptance - the ultimate attitude of kindness toward oneself. The class introduces the mat as an intimate space to encounter discomfort, highlighting the subtle but crucial distinction between exercising good judgment (knowing when a stretch is unsafe) and being judgmental (labelling an experience as strictly better or worse). By learning to tolerate minor physical discomforts and accept ourselves exactly as we are on the mat, this lesson builds the foundation for equanimity. Ultimately, this practice helps develop the capacity to meet difficult situations, and even the most difficult aspects of ourselves, with radical patience and kindness in the outside world.

The fourth lesson explores Virya / energy or effort. It connects it directly to the Buddhist concept of "Right Effort"—the practice of applying an appropriate, beneficial level of energy balanced with kindness and curiosity. The class is an inquiry into the continuous balance between active engagement and conscious relaxation, challenging students to discover the "sweet spot" in their postures and develop the advanced skill of knowing when to stop or soften. Ultimately, this lesson is about learning to experience your bodies as a resilient, flowing dance of energy, helping you to carry a sustainable vitality off the mat and into daily life.

The fifth lesson explores Dhyana/meditation. Drawing a beautiful parallel between Zen and Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, this class guides practitioners through a deliberate journey inward - moving from physical posture and breath awareness into Pratyahara (withdrawing the senses) and Dharana (focused concentration). The practice begins with a repetitive, flowing movement sequence designed to quiet the analytical mind and transition the body into a state of moving meditation. The class then moves into an extended period of still meditation.

The sixth and final lesson focuses on Prajna/wisdom. Through awareness and movement, the class illustrates how we often see ourselves as separate individuals, but when the cloud of ignorance evaporates, we realise we are all seamlessly interconnected. This insight is brought directly onto the mat through a dynamic, flowing spiral sequence and breath awareness that highlights the continuous cycle of air moving between our bodies and the atmosphere. Ultimately, the lesson reveals that on the mat, the illusion of a separate self dissolves - leaving no distinct "me" doing yoga, but rather a realisation that we are yoga, safely held in a collective Oneness.