Free Talk: Matters of Pleasure

What is Pleasure and Why it matters?

Coffee Matters and Tara Yoga Centre share the same passions – bringing people together and savouring the simple pleasures of life.
Exactly. What is pleasure? Can it be found on the bottom of a nice cup of tea or a sweet cake? Or is pleasure an essential part of being alive quietly shaping our state of happiness, connection, and meaning? Yet, across many spiritual and cultural traditions, it has often been viewed with suspicion, restraint, danger and prohibition.

This misconception exists for a reason. Pleasure can be a double-edged sword: it can distract us, pull us into excess, or make us chase short-term gratification. But it can also be a powerful and beneficial ally — a way to soften our body, open our senses, and relax us into a deeper awareness that reaches beyond our usual habits and limitations.

In this talk, we’ll explore the art of pleasure with curiosity and freedom. Together, we’ll contemplate our personal relationship with pleasure, examine some of the beliefs we’ve inherited, and consider how pleasure can be cultivated and enjoyed rather than avoided and indulged unconsciously.

Through discussion and reflection, we’ll explore simple ways of inviting more pleasure into everyday life — not as an escape, but as a meaningful practice that supports balance, living in a present moment, and a feeling of fulfilment.

Join us over a cup of tea, cake or a delicious brunch, in vibrant heart of Shoreditch on Saturday 24th January at 1pm, for a relaxed talk that will dive into an important topic in life that really matters.