The Sangha House

31/07/2025

Lammas (Lughnasadh) – 1st August

Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is celebrated on August 1st as the first of three harvest festivals on the Wheel of the Year.

The word Lammas comes from the Old English term hlaf-mas, meaning “loaf mass,” reflecting the tradition of baking bread from the first grain of the season. In Celtic traditions, Lughnasadh is associated with the god Lugh, a deity of light, skill, and craftsmanship. This festival invites us to reflect on the fruits of our labour, express gratitude, and honour the cycles of life.

Lammas has deep roots in ancient agricultural societies. As the first harvest festival, it was a time to celebrate the fruits of the fields, particularly wheat, barley, and oats. Communities gathered to reap the first grain and bake loaves of bread, symbolizing nourishment and gratitude. These loaves were often blessed and shared as offerings to the earth.

Feasting is central to Lammas celebrations, with seasonal foods such as bread, grains, berries, and apples taking centre stage. Sharing a meal with loved ones is a way to honour the harvest and the community it sustains.

Gratitude rituals are also popular during Lammas. Writing down or speaking aloud the things you are grateful for is a powerful way to align with the energy of abundance.

31/07/2025

In a world that often feels like it’s moving too fast, Tai Chi offers a welcome pause—a slow, flowing practice that’s as much about inner stillness as it is about movement. Sometimes called “meditation in motion,” Tai Chi is a centuries-old Chinese martial art that’s been embraced globally for its remarkable health benefits.
Regular practice has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, improve balance and coordination, and even enhance brain function. It’s particularly effective for older adults, helping to prevent falls and maintain mobility. Tai Chi also supports joint health, strengthens muscles, and improves lung capacity through its focus on breathwork. And because it’s low-impact, it’s accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels. But perhaps the most profound benefit is how it reconnects you with your body and breath. In a Tai Chi session, time slows down. You become aware of your posture, your movements, your breath—and in that awareness, something shifts. You feel calmer, more grounded, more present.
At The Sangha House, our Tai Chi and meditation sessions are led by the ever-inspiring Andy Spragg. With over 30 years of experience in both Tai Chi and Buddhist practice, Andy brings a unique blend of wisdom, warmth, and wit to his teaching. He focuses on the Yang style of Tai Chi, as taught by Cheng Man Ch’ing, and integrates Buddhist meditation into his sessions to deepen the mind-body connection.
Andy’s approach is refreshingly relaxed and accessible. He emphasizes the feeling of Tai Chi over rigid form, making it ideal for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. Whether he’s guiding a class through gentle movements or sharing insights from Buddhist philosophy, Andy has a gift for making ancient practices feel relevant and alive. He’s also the co-founder of The Sangha House and Re-Vitalise, and the author of The Magic of Noticing—a book that captures his passion for mindfulness in everyday life. Oh, and if you ever need a spare phone charger? Andy’s probably got three in his bag. Whether you're looking to ease stress, improve your health, or simply find a moment of peace in your day, Tai Chi with Andy is a beautiful place to start.

30/07/2025

Aww. Today is International Friendship Day, so quite simply – tag your bestie here!

29/07/2025

Sangha House, Taunton’s Premier Health and wellbeing events
Situated in the heart of Taunton, you will find this one-stop shop for all your holistic health and wellbeing needs.
We have some amazing events coming up. Take a look HERE!

News Events

28/07/2025

What does it mean to belong?

In Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the sense of belongingness is one of the significant needs that motivate human behaviour. The hierarchy is usually portrayed as a pyramid, with more basic needs at the base and more complex needs near the peak. The need for love and belonging lie at the pyramid's centre as part of social needs.

What does it mean to belong? A sense of belonging involves more than being acquainted with other people. It is centred on gaining acceptance, attention, and support from members of the group as well as providing the same attention to other members.

How do we create a sense of belonging?

• Make an effort: Creating a sense of belonging takes effort, to put yourself out there, seek out activities and groups of people with whom you have common interests, and engage with others.
• Be patient: It might take time to gain acceptance, attention, and support from members of the group.
• Practice acceptance: Focus on the similarities, not the differences, that connect you to others, and remain open to new ways of thinking.
• Be authentic: Being who you are can also help build connections. It allows others to know you who you truly are and create meaningful relationships based on shared traits, experiences, and interests.

At The Sangha House we offer a space to belong. Our active community based on the principles of social, physical, mental and spiritual practices is well placed to assist you in realising all aspects of what it is that makes us whole.

For further details of all we have to offer please check out our website at www.thesanghahouse.co.uk, call us on 01823 428156 for a chat or pop in and see one of us in person.

You are guaranteed a warm welcome.

28/07/2025

Let’s build a more compassionate UK—together. We’re launching Compassionate UK, a new not-for-profit dedicated to embedding kindness

26/07/2025

It’s Holistic Therapy Day today, and if we say so ourselves, we’ve got that area nailed! Denise was looking at our treatment menu a couple of days ago, and she counted up that we offer a whopping 53 treatments and packages, starting at just £22. If you’re getting all hot and bothered, may we recommend our Hot Flushes Begone package at £90, and features lots of lovely cooling oils and gels. Not just for our “ladies of a certain age”, it’s a bit warm around here, isn’t it? The link to browse and book is in the comments section.

24/07/2025

Anyone for a little self-care? While this term used to mean bubble baths and manicures (and there’s nothing wrong with either of those things), it’s now a lot wider, and includes things like decluttering your home, attending to your mental health through some talking therapy or hypnotherapy, crafting or hobbies. What’s your favourite me-time remedy if life is a bit heavy? We’ll go first – Denise loves growing and preserving fruit and veggies, Helen is a dedicated allotmenteer, and Andy is a keen bonsai master!

23/07/2025

A Weekend with Buddhist Monk, Gelong Thubten
16th and 17th August 2025. 11 till 4 each day.
Join us for an inspiring weekend at The Sangha House with the renowned Buddhist Monk and bestselling author, Gelong Thubten. This in-person event offers a unique opportunity to learn from one of the UK’s most influential teachers of mindfulness and meditation.
Throughout the weekend, Gelong Thubten will share insights from Buddhist philosophy and guide us on a transformative journey towards inner peace and happiness. We will explore ancient Buddhist practices and gain practical tools to apply meditation and mindfulness in our daily lives.
The weekend will be based on the practices presented in Gelong Thubten’s book, ‘Handbook for Hard Times - a monk’s guide to fearless living’.
Gelong Thubten will explain methods for working with life’s challenges. Regular meditation helps us to transform our thoughts, emotions and reactions, and our experiences of suffering can become steps on our journey to liberation.

20/07/2025

Looking for a little more zen and a lot more “ahhh”? 🧘‍♀️✨
Step into The Sangha House—Taunton’s friendly oasis of calm (with a side of core-strengthening sweat). Whether you're into Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, meditation, or just stretching like you mean it, we’ve got unlimited classes that make feeling good feel easy.
We have memberships now available! All this goodness? Just £49.75 a month. Your mind, body, and budget will thank you.
Come for the wellbeing, stay for the vibe. See you on the mat!
To sign up for membership, simply comment “me please” and we’ll rush you the details.