levitate meditation & wellbeing studio
1 in 6 of us is experiencing a mental health challenge right now. We think
humanity can do better. Modern life can at times leave every one of us stretched
very thin or near breaking point. If you are anxious, depressed or stressed, we
are here to help you change that. No one should have to do it alone — we know
firsthand how very hard it is to help yourself. But if you’ve tried all the
obvious things (like healthy diet, good sleep hygiene, journalling, therapy and
exercise), real change might involve trying something you haven’t tried before.
If the thought of that is exhausting, our founder Ryan’s story might just
inspire you to start: Ryan Nell on stage at Wilderness Festival leading a mass
meditation Ryan Nell Founder of Levitate. I spent the first half of my life
trying to hide my anxiety from everyone. Although I was outwardly successful,
with lots going for me, I was really unhappy and didn’t know why. I didn’t want
my friends, family or colleagues to worry, but hiding it took huge energy.
Inwardly, I was constantly exhausted because my mind would never stop running.
Unsurprisingly, my twenties and thirties were beset by frequent crises, bad
dreams and doomed relationships. Not talking to anyone about it, left me feeling
really lonely and isolated. I was yearning to feel whole again. I tried many an
escape — travelling, quitting jobs, changing partners, and probably drinking too
much — but I learnt the hard way that running away only led to more anxiety,
worry and struggle. Then, almost by chance, I found meditation. A friend told me
about a retreat, and, though I was skeptical, I must have also been rather
desperate, because I signed up and went. And over the course of one weekend, I
fell in love with the practice. Back in London, and back at work, I found that
the meditation apps were great but I couldn’t stick to them and I didn’t want to
be on my phone. There always seemed to be something more important to do. But I
found that practising in a room with a brilliant teacher and fellow students
brought mindfulness to life. It’s not an exaggeration to say that meditating in
a group transformed me. I wanted it to be easier for other folk to benefit
without so much agonising soul searching along the way. And without the dogma or
religious trappings that had been so off-putting to my younger cynical self at
the start. I couldn’t find a place like that, so I felt compelled to build it
myself, to start Levitate and share the joy with people just like you.
