Zenways

Zenways facilitates activities and practices that enhance wellbeing, balance and awakening in the mo

Zen meditation and teaching, retreats and workshops
200 hour intensive Zen Yoga teacher training
Meditation & mindfulness teacher training

24/09/2025

We recently Interviewed sangha member Kasia Murfet (they/them) about their recently completed masters in Buddhist Studies examining the question “Can Zen really be expressed through Art?” - Full video now out on our YouTube channel ➡️

Kasia describes the fascinating intersection between of Zen philosophy and artistic expression, discussing various forms of Zen arts, and the personal experiences, challenges and insights learned from their research and interviews.

Kasia is the co-founder of The Floating Space exploring the intersection of Creativity, Humanist Psychology and Buddhist Philosophy. They are a keen photographer, and teaches meditation and qigong from their base in Cornwall, UK

03/09/2025

Tonight our teacher, zen master Daizan Skinner, is beginning a course for those with some experience in Zen already who want to look more deeply at their fears and aversions.

Sometimes our fears manifest as fierce dragons. But, despite what our Western cultural narrative suggests, dragons aren’t there to be slayed. Our practice is to get to know them and befriend them. Then, as the Zen tradition holds, they transform into wonderful allies.

In this delightful cartoon, Kannon (the bodhisattva of compassion) befriends a dragon and ends up riding it. Kannon first says to the dragon something like “I won’t leave you”. Then the final inscription says “Rescuer of the world”

We haven’t been able to track down where this cartoon originally came from so can’t give it full credits. Let us know if you know.

23/08/2025

Trying to make sense of the strands and interwoven connections of our organisation with the help of sangha member and brand strategist/magician Cerri Harper

We’re trying to make things as easy as possible to help you alleviate suffering and become the best possible version of yourself for the benefit of all beings.

08/08/2025

We’ve just released two new video courses that dive into the energetic dimension of Zen practice.

Japanese Yoga master Masahiro Oki defines practice as “delighting the life force.” That’s what these courses are ultimately aimed at.

Vital Zen explores the powerful energy work of Zen master Hakuin, step by step, with guidance and plenty of time to explore them in depth by yourself.

Here Be Dragons builds on that, moving into the deeper currents of spiritual development by finding and befriending your dragons.

Available on the Zenways website shop. Suitable for anyone with an established meditation practice.

26/07/2025

It’s not so well known that Zen Buddhism includes a number of movement practices. Most people just think of zazen - za means sitting, zen means meditation.

In our school we teach do-zen - where “do” here means moving (pronounced doh). Sometimes it’s called “taiso” meaning exercise, and sometimes we call it Zen yoga.

Zen yoga combines moves from Indian Hatha yoga, qigong and Zen energy work with a traditional Chinese energy framework (organs and meridians rather than chakras and nadis), and a Zen Buddhist philosophy with an emphasis on mindfulness and awakening through direct enquiry.

Read our book Practical Zen Yoga for a comprehensive introduction to the practice.

Yoga with a Buddhist philosophy sound up your street? Come to one of our regular weekly classes available to join online. More details on Zenways.org

24/07/2025

We’ve been offering our yoga teacher training for 17yrs now. We’ve trained 100s of teachers in the art and science of happiness - finding and living our true nature. Here’s a throwback from someone who trained with us in 2013.

Want to find out more - visit zenways.org

Find your passion, teach your passion, follow your Zen way.

22/07/2025

Zen teacher Keith Fuso Alker giving a talk on “What is Wisdom?” at the Woolwich Garrison Church Trust Interfaith Observance on Sunday.

This is a service, celebration and chance for dialogue between different faiths and perspectives. There were talks from members of all different faiths, from a senior Met Police officer and the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

21/07/2025

Congratulations to Emma Daisho Hudson on a powerful expression of “this-ness” in her Hossen-Shiki (dharma combat ceremony) last night at our London dojo.

This was the 2nd of 3 ceremonies that she has to take to become a Zen teacher.

In the ceremony she gave a dharma talk (in her case about the koan “what is this?”) and then responded to questions from each member of the sangha present (in the room and online), attempting to stay 100% in her place, expressing the truth of the dharma.

With no doubt she showed us what “this” is.

15/07/2025

Welcome to our newest Zen teacher, Patrizia Daien Nestby. Patrizia has practised under the guidance of Daizan Roshi since 2016 and received authorisation to teach just last month. Before joining Zenways, she spent 16 years studying with teachers from another Zen lineage. This broad experience has deepened her appreciation of the path. Patrizia is also a qualified Meditation and Mindfulness teacher.

Alongside her Zen practice, Patrizia brings a background in biomedical science. She works in the field of medicine development, which allows her to integrate Zen practice into the heart of everyday life, including the dynamic landscape of the corporate world.

10/07/2025

Continuing on the walking theme… Daizan Roshi has just come back from a 3-week, 350km walk up the River Seine from the coast at Le Havre to central Paris, France. His intention was to continue kindling the French off-shoot to our sangha by putting himself in the way of meeting people, spending time in the French countryside, visiting some dharma friends and running some Zen yoga and meditation sessions.

Most of the time, he said, “I slept out in the open, carrying a small tent for shelter when necessary. Some nights I slept on the chalk cliffs above the river, some nights in the forest or at the edges of fields. Some nights I was offered a bed, a shower and the possibility of doing some overnight laundry - which was a god-send after sweating all day in the heat of the last few weeks!”

Thanks to all those who helped me along the way, and may our French sangha continue to grow.

On 4-7 Sept we’ll be holding a French-language retreat in the Loire. More info on zenways.org

06/07/2025

Sean Rinryu Collins hosted a Zen teacher trainee development weekend in his woodland near Norwich, UK with a bunch of the trainee group. Daizan came up with the lovely theme of exploring Buddha Nature in Nature through the teaching of the Trikaya - the three “bodies” of Buddha. Alongside meditation and catching up with friends we built a woodland dojo.

21/06/2025

21st June marks the anniversary of the founding of Zenways, and this year we turn 18! 🎂🎉

In a fortuitous parallel, Daizan speaks mid-way along a pilgrimage walk along the River Seine from estury to Paris. Zenways began back in 2007 when Daizan did a walk up the centre of the UK from the Isle of Wight to Cape Wrath in northern Scotland, and met a lot of people that became the foundation of our community.

Here's to another 18 years (and another 18 decades) of Zenways...!

Address

London
SE58RE

Telephone

+441698542677

Website

http://www.zenways.org/

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