Alhamdulillah! A successful wellbeing course for Bangladeshi women over 60
Globe Community Project has taken a significant step forward by launching our first six-week course specifically designed for Bangladeshi women in Tower Hamlets. The objectives of the course were to:
Encourage participants to explore and share their experiences of aging, while acknowledging some of the challenges they face.
Introduce and practice wellbeing practices and tools, fostering connections with others.
By the second week, our facilitator introduced the women to a mindfulness practice. She gently guided them to focus on the sensations in their bodies—their feet pressing against the floor, the weight of their bodies on the chairs, the warmth of their hands in their laps, and the natural rhythm of their breath. Afterwards, she asked them what they had noticed. Their reflections were simple yet profound:
“I feel calmer now.”
“I have less in my head.”
“I feel relaxed.”
“I feel soft here in my chest.”
Later in the programme, as winter settled into the room, some warmth and energy was needed. Vimoksini, an experienced facilitator and original founder of the course, turned to Sabekul, our interpreter, and asked her to find a song to dance to. As soon as the music started, the women eagerly joined in. They moved together, mirroring each other’s steps and creating a short routine. Laughter filled the space, breaking through the chill and weaving a sense of connection and joy.
When the music faded, a bell signalled a shift—an invitation to stillness. They returned to their seats and turned inward, bringing awareness to the body during rest. In the quiet that followed, one of the women softly shared, “I feel really relaxed; my mind is empty, and there is no pressure.”
This contrast—movement and stillness, joy and calm—was a reminder of the power of presence, of embracing the different states of being that shape our experiences.
As we settled into our mindful moment, Zahra arrived. She had just returned from an appointment and was finding her place in the circle. Sabekul moved a chair for her, but it wasn’t in the same spot she had occupied before. Without hesitation, Zahra asserted herself: “No, I don’t want to sit here; I want to sit over there.”
It was a small but powerful moment of confidence, and Vimoksini seized the opportunity to revisit what had been explored in Week 3—assertiveness. “Alhamdulillah,” she said, as a way of saying ‘well done! As the room burst into laughter, she explained, “This is a perfect example of assertiveness—knowing what we want and asking for it.”
Another participant, new to the group, admitted, “It’s my first time here, and honestly, I didn’t want to come. But now, I’m so glad I did.”
These reflections reinforced an essential truth: confidence and resilience are built in the small choices we make every day—to move, to speak up, to step beyond our comfort zones. Whether through dance, mindfulness, or the courage to voice our needs, each moment of self-assertion strengthens our positive sense of self.
As we continue this journey together, I hope we all find more opportunities to move with joy, embrace moments of stillness, and confidently express our choices.
We were delighted to welcome some unexpected visitors from the local council, and even happier to hear their feedback. “I saw the mindfulness project you are running from the Harford space,” said Agnes Gautier from the Healthy Communities Team. ”It was really busy with so many Bangladeshi women taking part, really lovely to see. Your trainer seemed excellent! I was impressed.”
Can you help further our reach?
If you’d like to support more programmes like this, please consider setting up a regular gift to Globe Community Project.
