Class · Zazen

Japanese meditation

Zazen: sitting in silence, cultivating mindfulness and seeing reality as it is.

The practice

What this class involves

Japanese meditation refers mainly to Zazen, the seated practice of zen: back straight, eyes half closed, attention resting on the breath — or simply the act of "sitting", with no goal.

It aims to calm the mind, to see reality as it is, and sometimes to touch an instantaneous understanding — satori — in an approach that is spare, direct and rooted in the present moment.

Nothing to visualise, nothing to attain. That bareness is what makes it difficult at first, and deeply restful afterwards.

Benefits

What the class works on

PostureA stable seat on a zafu, bench or chair: pelvis slightly tilted, spine stacked, chin tucked, hands in the cosmic mudra.
BreathingNatural, through the nose, longer on the exhale. You observe it; you do not control it.
AttentionWhen the mind wanders — and it does — you come back, without commentary and without judgement. That is the whole exercise.
DurationFrom 10 minutes for beginners to sittings of 25 to 30 minutes, sometimes separated by slow walking (kinhin).

Structure

How a session unfolds

Setting up
Adjusting the seat and cushion height: without basic comfort, stillness becomes a fight.
Returning to the breath
A few counted breaths to settle the attention.
Zazen
Silent sitting, facing the wall or inward, guided at first and then progressively free.
Kinhin
Slow, conscious walking between two sittings, to release the legs without breaking the attention.

Who it is for

Who is it for?

Anyone looking to quiet the mind, manage stress or complement a physical practice. No flexibility is needed — you can sit on a chair.

Private and group classes available on request, in Casablanca. Please mention any injury or medical condition before the first session; if in doubt, ask your doctor first.

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