MysticMag chats with Adiba Osmani. Adiba launched Inhere in 2017 to combine her passion for beautiful spaces, the science of the mind, and the tranquility of silence. Her journey began 15 years ago with a transformative meditation lesson in Asia, where she spent an hour observing a tree. This experience inspired her to promote contemplation and self-inquiry. Inhere began as London’s first drop-in meditation studio, providing immersive sessions for busy city dwellers, and has since expanded to offer meditation pods and classes globally.
Adiba, what inspired you to create Inhere, and how do you envision it transforming the way people experience meditation in busy environments like offices and hotels?
The seeds of inspiration for Inhere were sown when I worked in busy offices myself. There were times when I needed space to myself to gather my thoughts, settle my emotions and centre myself – but there was nowhere to go. In open plan offices there really is no option to step aside somewhere quiet to take a moment for yourself – except the toilets! We’ve all been there… That, combined with my subsequent practice of meditation, came together to motivate me to create spaces in the middle of busy environments where people can pause and re-centre themselves.
I hope Inhere raises appreciation for the value of quiet spaces for reflection. You don’t have to be stressed to benefit from some time to yourself – it can be a space that gives rise to inspiration that only comes from moments of mental silence.
Can you share how your first meditation experience in Asia shaped your approach to meditation and the development of Inhere’s offerings?
High up on a mountain, I was asked to observe a tree out of the window – for an hour. There really was no other instruction, much to my bewilderment. That confusion and the subsequent surrender to the task shaped the way I approach meditation myself. I don’t think any two people experience the world the same way. Meditation, or mental exercises if that’s clearer to understand, is a process of discovery and experimentation of watching what goes on inside us as we practice….if there’s confusion, then notice it. If there’s frustration, then notice that. Accept it. And then see what happens… and keep going. In that process we find out so much about ourselves, our minds, our emotions, or expectations, without being hijacked by them…that is meditation.
Inhere is based on a belief that we’ll find our way to our sense of silence if we trust in the process and practice. Although we guide meditations, we don’t instruct with details and we leave some mystery – some space to explore – to ask your own questions. We hold the space for self-discovery, with all that it brings. All the while we inform people about the science of how our brains and bodies actually respond to different mental exercises. Mystery and science can co-exist.
You are a practicing psychotherapist yourself, what brought you to this work and how does it align with the work you do with Inhere?
Whenever I spoke with people who came for guided meditation, either in a group or for one-to-one guidance, I noticed that there was some issue that was behind what brought them there. Most people come to meditation nowadays for relieving stress, anxiety, depression, or pain – and a meditation practice can certainly alleviate them. My question however was what’s causing the stress, the anxiety, depression, or pain? What is the story, what is the personality, why are they responding to their specific situations in that particular way? That’s when I knew that I wanted to research psychology, specifically to find out what shapes our personality? I actually started doing courses for my own understanding without meaning to actually become a psychotherapist, but through the practice required for the courses I realised that I can in fact help others with their issues with psychotherapeutic interventions. I grew to love the practice, because ultimately human beings fascinate me and inspire me.
Inhere exists to help people feel at home in themselves. Offering space and guidance for meditation can do that. I feel that my psychotherapy training deepens the understanding behind this offering. You can find out more about my particular approach here: https://adibaosmani.com/counselling/
How do guided meditations at work contribute to employee well-being, and what specific benefits have clients observed from incorporating these practices into their routine?
Companies can offer guided meditations as one strand of their overall proposition to help improve employee wellbeing. Meditation is a practice that has been tried and tested over thousands of years. Giving employees the time and opportunity to practice with an experienced guide can help them manage their minds and keep their minds healthy. The key here however is that just offering the guided meditations isn’t enough – it has to be supported by attitudes and environments which encourage making time for self-care. If on the one hand you’re putting on lunchtime guided meditations but you are continuously overloading them with work so that they can’t take that time off – then it’s just lip service.
People have said many things to me about their experience after a guided meditation session – from feeling calmer and more relaxed, to feeling more self-compassion. Some have even said it got rid of their tinnitus! Generally people tend to be amazed how the time goes, and they are interested to continue the practice.
In what ways do you ensure that the design of the Inhere meditation pod enhances the user’s experience of tranquility and inner transformation?
The Inhere meditation pod was designed to sit in harmony with its surroundings, allowing visitors to connect to themselves while staying connected to the environment. It is private enough but not fully enclosed. The round shape and natural elements of wood create a sense of warmth, earthiness and grounding. The string curtains whisper an invitation to step into the space. Once inside, the enveloping seat with earth-toned soft fabric makes visitors feel supported and safe.
You can read more about the design of the meditation pod here: https://inherestudio.com/inhere-pod-design/
How do you balance the science of meditation with the aesthetic and experiential aspects of Inhere’s offerings to provide a comprehensive approach to mindfulness?
I used to focus a lot on convincing people of the benefits of meditation 10 years ago, but now there is so much scientific evidence that I no longer feel this is necessary. We always offer the option of adding an introductory talk on the why, how and what of meditation to our sessions, and usually it leaves people astonished. Some of what we now know about how our brains change with meditation is truly eye-opening. We write about the science in our blog. But Inhere is first and foremost an experiential proposition. You can learn all the science and facts, but all that matters in the end is how you feel and what you experience. With Inhere I hope you experience first hand what it means to develop a relationship with your mind and connect to your sense of stillness.
If you would like to find out more about Adiba Osmani, please visit https://inherestudio.com/
