Taster Sessions

Slow looking, taking the time to see art

Learn how to slow down looking to get more from art. This workshop-style session guides learners through different methods of art analysis to build confidence about and a greater understanding of visual art.

Macramé

Join us for a relaxing and creative macramé workshop where we'll explore the therapeutic benefits of knotting while learning a beautiful new skill. 

Mindful selfcare for body and mind

 How often do you make time to take care of yourself? This session provides simple, practical tips and techniques that will help you take better care of yourself. Learn ways to relax your body, calm your mind and enhance your well-being.

Connect through singing

Come and discover your singing voice in a small friendly introductory workshop.

English paper piecing

In this class you will explore English Paper Piecing (EPP), a traditional handsewn patchwork technique. This craft is a slow, meditative and a rewarding antidote to the stresses of the everyday.

A taste of creative writing

Give creative writing a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.

Celebrate through singing Welsh songs

Energise yourself singing and connecting with others in the Welsh language. You do not need to speak Welsh.

The Healing Power of Dionysian celebrations

Nietzsche in his book ‘The death of tragedy’ claims that by not experiencing Dionysian festivals in the modern world, we have lost the capacity to truly affirm life.

Haiku for wellbeing

Writing Haiku poems can provide a peaceful distraction from life's challenges by focusing on creative writing. Composing Haiku can produce a feeling of achievement, and help you to get in touch with the natural world and show us our place within it.

Meditation for Emotional Wellbeing

Learn how to de-stress, rejuvenate and cultivate calm using a variety of Mindfulness and Meditation techniques. From understanding why we get stressed, to applying this understanding in everyday real life situations.

Stitching through the senses

Join this workshop for some slow stitching using the five senses through flora as the conduit to a small, embroidered piece.

Quilting

Learn how to design and make a mini quilted piece, working with simple shapes from recycled fabrics and haberdashery. You will experience how acquiring new skills creatively helps you focus to maintain general well-being.

Explore world music through percussion

Come and explore rhythm through music from different cultures and traditions. Using a variety of percussion instruments, you'll learn simple rhythmic patterns and develop your confidence in playing as part of a group

Mindful Pilates

Would you like to develop mindfulness, a strong core, and practice functional movement? Join Madlyn for focused breathing and mat-based Pilates to build strength, improve flexibility, and reduce stress while promoting body and mind awareness.

Connect to your clothing, restore and repair

Learn and practise the Japanese mending techniques of Boro and Sashiko to repair your clothes. Learning these skills encourages sustainability and allows us to consider the transformations possible with what we have.

Quilting and embellishments

Learn how to design and make a mini quilted piece using a range of construction and embellishment techniques. Working with simple shapes from recycled fabrics and haberdashery.

Connect through storytelling

Since long before we could write, the most effective way of describing events and experiences has been through storytelling.

Drumming with congas

Discover the conga drum in this fun, hands-on taster course. Join others to learn simple rhythms and enjoy the excitement of making music together

Meditation for Alleviating Stress

Learn how to de-stress from everyday life. From understanding why, we get stressed to applying this understanding in real life situations. Release stress to cultivate an experience of calm and a positive state of mind. 

The holistic voice

An introduction to accessible and empowering mind-body techniques that can deepen your awareness and connection to your voice so that the message you give out is true to your intention.

Mending techniques

Join this workshop for a creative insight into textile repair. Please feel free to bring something small you would love to try and repair using embroidery. 

Chinese calligraphy

Experience the calming practice of Chinese brush calligraphy while discovering the origins of Mandarin Chinese characters. Learn the basics of character writing and uncover how ancient symbols were inspired by the natural world. This creative and mindful session encourages focus, reflection, and a deeper appreciation of language and culture. 

Ready, steady, retire!

In this two-hour workshop, we will explore the pros and cons of retirement and find out how to combat isolation through forging new contacts and finding mental stimulus in a variety of ways from volunteering to lifelong learning.

History, memory and mental wealth: why we need to talk about empire

Formally, European imperialism ended decades ago. Yet, the different legacies still affect the world and many societies today. Join us for a discussion on why we need to talk about empire and mental wealth.

Embroidery

In this workshop, we will freehand embroidery together and use this practice as a way of grounding, connecting with each other and slowing down while learning some basic embroidery stitches and gathering in conversation. 

Feldenkrais: mind-body connection through gentle movement

Learn how to reduce tension and move with more ease, and notice improvements in your mobility, posture, breathing, balance, coordination and quality of life. This course helps you to reconnect with how your body moves.

French: sing for happiness

Let’s sing in French with a smile! Combine your love of singing with the French language in this fun workshop based on simple songs that French speakers learn as children. You do not need to speak French.

Sleep: improve your wellbeing

Sleep better, wake great! Sleeping well is about more than a comfortable bed; sometimes there are deeper reasons for a bad night. Examine the research and consider ways to make sleep work better for you.

A taste of creative writing

Give creative writing a try in this fun and supportive one-off taster session. Ideal if you want to unlock your imagination and express yourself, but need a bit of encouragement to get started.

Painting with natural inks

In this workshop we will explore the beauty of natural inks on paper. We will playfully and mindfully submerge in fields of colour allowing time and natural chemical processes to do their magic. This workshop includes some breathwork, tapping and painting techniques as meditation.

Flower printing

Flower printing can be used in fabric or paper and it is also a very easy, fun and economical way to extract pigments from flowers, transfer shapes and make patterns and textures from natural dyestuff. It is great for those interested in exploring natural dyeing and printing techniques in a sustainable way.

City Lit’s Percussion Orchestra Workshop

Join students from the Percussion Orchestra to explore contemporary music, discover how it supports wellbeing, and help create an original piece in this hands-on workshop!

Using herbal medicines to Improve mental health, energy and concentration

Explore how herbal medicine can support your mental health and emotional wellbeing. You’ll be introduced to six well-researched medicinal plants—such as Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, Valerian and Passionflower—known for their ability to reduce anxiety, improve energy and focus, and help build long-term resilience in the nervous system.

Spanish for fun

Get a flavour of a new language and its basic sentence structure. Learn some useful phrases and some pronunciation guidelines. A fascinating introduction for complete beginners.

The soothing system - learn, connect, and restore your inner calm

The soothing system is the part of your nervous system designed for calmness, connection, safety and self-compassion. In this gentle workshop, you’ll explore the three emotion regulation systems, mindful movements and body-based practices to shift from stress into safety. No experience needed. Just bring yourself, as you are.

French 4: La joie comme choix

Ce cours de 2 heures explorera le concept de choisir la joie comme antidote à l'inquiétude et à la négativité. Les participants apprendront des étapes pratiques pour déplacer leur attention de l'anxiété vers la positivité et des astuces et techniques pour intégrer la joie dans leur vie quotidienne.

Ballet for the mind and body

Besides the joy that comes with dance, the benefits of dancing to your mental health and wellbeing are well documented. Dance and movement can improve confidence, heart health, balance, strength, and memory, and serve as a healthy mode of emotional expression.

Singing: discover your voice

Come and discover your singing voice in a small friendly introductory workshop.

Yoga for Deaf people

Discover enhanced energy - as you find space in your body to breathe and move a little more freely and with more awareness. This course will help to deepen your yoga, your inner strength and stamina for this wild world. We will draw on breathing practices (pranayama) and mudras to steady and calm the mind.

Drumming

A fun session in which you will explore different playing techniques and sounds on the various types of drums, exercising the body, mind and ears.

Acting for playfulness

Use acting exercises to explore playful spontaneity and relaxation.

Flower printing

Flower printing can be used in fabric or paper and it is also a very easy, fun and economical way to extract pigments from flowers, transfer shapes and make patterns and textures from natural dyestuff. It is great for those interested in exploring natural dyeing and printing techniques in a sustainable way.

Why nature is good for your mental health 

Are you curious about how nature can support your well-being, even if you live in a busy city? Discover how nature can nurture your mental health with practical tips on how to slow down, reconnect with your senses and fully engage with the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Chinese character: the balance of life

Get to know Chinese characters, beginning with the ancient ‘oracle bone script’, and understand their basics while exploring their roots in nature and tranquility.

Mosaics

 Join us for this introduction to the world of mosaics. Working with mosaics can be a mindful activity for many of our learners. The repetitive sequences of shaping and placing the tiles to form the final composition can be a meditative process that can help to focus and calm the mind.

Mosaics 2

 Join us for this introduction to the world of mosaics. Working with mosaics can be a mindful activity for many of our learners. The repetitive sequences of shaping and placing the tiles to form the final composition can be a meditative process that can help to focus and calm the mind.

Frazzled Meeting with City Lit Fellow Ruby Wax

 Join us for our Frazzled Cafe online meeting, hosted by Ruby Wax.

Frazzled Cafe meetings are designed to provide confidential and non-judgmental peer support, where people who are feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of life can talk openly, connect and feel heard.