Brahma Kumaris (Manchester Inner Space Meditation Centre)

Most meditation you’ll meet at an event asks you to close your eyes and follow your breath. Raja Yoga, the practice the Brahma Kumaris teach, works a little differently: your eyes stay open, and the attention turns to your own thoughts rather than away from them. They come to the Guildhall from Inner Space, the Brahma Kumaris centre in Manchester, and will be there across the weekend to share a way of finding some inner peace and strength.

Inner Space is the Manchester face of the Brahma Kumaris, a spiritual organisation that teaches Raja Yoga meditation as a route to calmer, clearer thinking. It’s a well-established tradition, so it’s worth knowing what it actually is.

Raja Yoga, briefly

Despite the name, Raja Yoga here has nothing to do with mats or postures. It’s a form of meditation you can do sitting in an ordinary chair with your eyes open. The Brahma Kumaris describe it as a way of experiencing peace of mind and a more positive approach to life, working with reflection and quiet attention to develop inner calm and clearer thinking. The idea is that a steadier mind is something you build with practice, a bit at a time, rather than a mood you have to wait for.

Who the Brahma Kumaris are

The Brahma Kumaris are an international organisation, active in over 110 countries and registered as a UK charity since 1975. They’ve never charged for their classes and courses, which run on voluntary contributions, so nobody is ever sold anything. In Manchester, Inner Space runs free talks, seminars and meditation sessions from its centre in the city centre, on subjects like managing stress, self-esteem and handling emotions.

What to expect at her stand

This is a gentle, no-pressure corner of the hall. You can ask the Brahma Kumaris team what the practice involves, try a short guided meditation, or simply have a quiet conversation about finding a bit of steadiness. There’s nothing to sign up to and nothing to buy. It suits anyone who’s curious about meditation but put off by the idea of sitting cross-legged in silence, and anyone who just wants five calm minutes in the middle of a busy day out.

Something to try before you come

Have a go at the open-eyed version yourself. Sit comfortably, keep your gaze softly resting on a single point in front of you, and instead of pushing your thoughts away, just watch them go past like traffic, without climbing into any of them. A minute or two is plenty. It feels strange at first, precisely because you’re not trying to force your mind blank, and getting a small taste of that beforehand makes it much easier to settle when you sit down with the Brahma Kumaris team.

The Brahma Kumaris are among over 70 readers, healers and stallholders at the Mind Body Spirit & Wellness Weekend, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2026, at Stockport Masonic Guildhall. Their sessions, like every session across the weekend, are included with entry.

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