On sunny Saturday 4th July 2015, The Crossing (inside the atrium of the Granary Building at King’s Cross) became an oasis of calm. 100 guests joined us to listen, stretch, relax and breathe their way through RISE – a unique event celebrating yoga, music and food.
We cannot express enough thanks and appreciation to Claire Missingham, who led the yoga class with such joy and energy, and Nitin Sawhney and his friends, who created such a beautiful ambience with their incredible music.
As guests entered The Crossing bright and early, they found 100 yoga mats laid out and the welcoming scent of incense and natural flowers infusing the air. Garlands and trees transformed the space into an oasis of calm and serenity. Soon, it would be holding the energy of 100 yogis, brought together by their love of yoga, music and food.
The event was open to all levels. Whether you were completely new to the mat, or had been practicing complicated inversions since forever – it didn’t matter. It was so wonderful to see and watch so many people coming together to listen and learn and practice as one.
For 90 minutes, 100 individuals all shared one singular state of consciousness. As the first notes of music gently floated into the morning air, you could feel their energies combine and the whole spirit of the event became awakening, uplifting and unifying. There are very few moments in life where 100 people are joined in movement. As the first flows of the sun salutation stretched everyone’s limbs, there was an invitation to leave the stresses and niggles of everyday life behind and instead, welcome in mindfulness and gratitude. We were mindful of the sun, of the mat, of the music, of the sweet smell of incense and gratitude flooded our bodies with every breath. All the senses were invited to awaken and be nourished by the beauty of the space and the music.
As Claire and her team of helpers skillfully guided all the guests through each asana, Nitin’s music provided a heavenly backdrop. Our bodies would be acutely aware of every movement and of every breath, while the mind was free to be nourished by the calmness and beauty of the music. It felt as if we were in another time and place. As the music finished, the class drew to an end and everyone was gently brought back into the present time and space. We then served a selection of delicious Homemade Granola, Chai and Fresh Juices to rejuvenate all the hungry yogis!
We were so excited that you all came and joined in with the natural serenity of the morning. Enormous thanks again to the uber-talented Claire and Nitin for helping us bring this unique event to life. We very much hope we’ll have the privilege to work with them again.
Namaste.
We often find it too easy to hurtle through the days, in an attempt to outpace the bustling city – be it London or Bombay – which always seems to be running away like a steam-engine train on a rickety track. Occasionally, it does us good to pause for thought, to disembark the carriage and sit on the platform awhile.
How does one create a space where people can truly connect over food? How can a host make their guests feel relaxed, at ease, and suitably cared for? Since launching our all-new Dishoom Crockery, we have been pondering the answers to these questions even more than usual. We recently discussed them with Creative Director - and frequent dinner party hostess - Kirthanaa Naidu when we invited her to create a first-class tablescape in our Canary Wharf café.
Each year, the spring equinox – when day and night are equal length – marks a transition in earth’s relationship with the sun. This event, sacred to many cultures throughout history, today thrives as a new year celebration for hundreds of millions.
In Bombay, London, and throughout the South Asian diaspora, you’ll find many folks of the Zoroastrian faith (amongst others) celebrating this new year, or Navroz as we like to call it.
A nurturing presence, neatly packed lunches, and homes that exude warmth – radiating from the walls and from the person within. In uncertain times, we look to the motherly figures in our lives for gentle guidance, affection and life’s most important lessons. For those looking to show gratitude this Mother’s Day, new curiosities have appeared on the Dishoom Store. We hope to impart a little inspiration as we share gifts to guarantee warm smiles.