Dublin Weekend: The Forbidden Art of Relaxing and Enjoying
12-13 September 2026
Why is the world so tense and unhappy? Spoiler: it's not an accident.
This weekend at the Oscailt Centre in September is the first time I'm teaching publicly on Mindsprings' main focus for 2026.
All year, I have been doing a deep dive into these two innocuous verbs, "relax" and "enjoy", and finding within them profound material about human existence. It seems like we're living through an epidemic of anti-relaxation, and people are rapidly forgetting how to access true enjoyment.
This weekend will illuminate the various internal and external factors that make relaxation and enjoyment taboo for modern humans and explore techniques to soften and dissolve them. It will help you normalise a lived experience of full-body relaxation. And then when that is established, you can begin the business of really enjoying the life you've been given.
After this weekend, you'll:
be sharply aware of some of your historical 'bans' on relaxation
have unpacked the personal taboos you might hold against enjoyment
notice the anti-relaxation and anti-enjoyment forces of the world around you
appreciate the difference between pleasure-seeking and "enjoyment mind"
have clear and replicable methods to relax and establish the 'enjoyment mind'
move to a more 'aesthetic' mode of living
internalise the 5-steps to enjoyment
Undo the unconscious blocks to deep relaxation and true enjoyment
Do you not relax because you're afraid of missing out? Or being reprimanded for being lazy?
Is it impossible for you to really relax because deep down you think relaxing will make you vulnerable?
Did your nervous system get programmed to stay on high alert earlier in your life?
Do neo-Victorian working hours destroy your ability to relax and sleep normally?
Is modern "always-on" culture eating away at your "relaxability"?
What are the conditions that allow you to really enjoy what you're doing?
Is there a religious, Puritanical voice that brands enjoyment as the Devil's work?
When was the last time you genuinely savoured your experience?
What's the difference between enjoyment and pleasure?
These are some of the questions we'll be getting to the bottom of in this friendly and discursive weekend.
Pricing
Mindsprings is well aware that many people are having to tighten their belts at the moment, financially. So we offer two prices for this weekend. A full, supporters fee which helps us cover our costs and a subsidised concessionary rate for any of you who are struggling financially.
Paying the full fee allows us to invite more people on the lower rate. But if you would even struggle to pay that reduced ticket rate then please do drop us a line.
We never want people to miss out on meditation because of poxy old money. We can sort something out for you.
What to expect at Oscailt this September
We'll be meeting in Oscailt's upstairs Main Room which is a lovely warm space with wooden floors and sitting on chairs (or meditation cushions if you prefer).
The workshop is a friendly weekend with a mix of teaching, small-group processing and pair-work exploring the various techniques.
We'll begin each day at 10.30 am and finish at 4.30 pm. There will be tea/pee breaks, and a 1-hour lunch break at 1.30 pm.
Although there's no cafe at Oscailt, there are many coffee and food options near Pembroke Road, so please bring a sealable flask/holder for tea and coffee for the sessions. There are water-coolers in the building.
Please bring comfy clothes and indoor shoes/socks/slippers. And perhaps a notebook, although you will be receiving both electronic notes and recordings of the teachings after the weekend is over.
About the teacher
Alistair is a broadcaster, psychotherapist and meditation teacher.
He's worked for the BBC for more than 20 years and works as a UKCP-accredited therapist in East Sussex. Since 2004, he's run Mindsprings, his therapeutic meditation organisation which teaches body-based and Buddhist solutions to many of our everyday problems.
Mindsprings offers popular meditation-based courses on many subjects:
-
helping people with anxiety, dissociation, stress.
-
working with mental health in the LGBTQ community.
-
exploring the growing field of embodiment and somatic practices.
-
teaching Buddhist practices for mental health and well-being
Alistair teaches in England, Wales, Scotland, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Iceland and the Netherlands.
Getting to Oscailt
Oscailt Integrative Health Centre is located at 8 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
By Bus:
Several Dublin Bus routes serve the Ballsbridge area, providing convenient access to Pembroke Road. Specific routes and schedules may vary, so it’s advisable to consult the Dublin Bus website or app for the most up-to-date information.
By DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit):
The nearest DART station to Oscailt Integrative Health Centre is Lansdowne Road Station. From there, it’s a short walk to Pembroke Road. For current schedules and service updates, please refer to the Irish Rail website or app.
On Foot:
If you’re in the city center, Oscailt is approximately a 20-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Green.
By Car:
Street parking is available near Oscailt Integrative Health Centre. Parking regulations and fees may apply depending on the day and time, so please check local signage.