London Grilling: Kaye Smith, Co-Founder of The Zen Project
Welcome, Kaye! Let's start off by telling our readers a little bit about yourself:
Hello! I’m one of the founders of The Zen Project, a yoga, meditation and breathwork teacher, and a big fan or anything that involves finding your calm in a chaotic world.
You are passionate about mental health and wellness practices, tell us more about this:
Mental health should be treated with as much consideration as physical health. Practices like yoga, meditation and breathwork have transformed my life, and I love helping others see that it’s not about being super zen all the time — it’s about finding small moments of peace in your everyday chaos.
What is The Zen Project and how what inspired it?
The Zen Project is our big-hearted mission to bring mindfulness, movement and calm to people wherever they are — offices, festivals, schools, wherever. We do a lot of this from a fun environment – American school buses that have been shipped over from NY and converted into mobile studios. The idea came from realising that not everyone has access to these practices — so we come to them. The bus rocks up outside your office or your community, you jump onboard for a Zen Session and leave feeling lighter and happier. What’s not to love?
Where are some of the most interesting places you have taken the Zen Bus?
We’ve done pretty well at reaching all corners of the UK so far – from very central London to the Scottish Highlands. We visit schools, building sites, businesses, universities – our belief is that everyone will benefit from the practices we share so our mission is to make that happen!
What has the feedback been like from the organisations you have visited?
Honestly, it's so positive. People often step onto the bus feeling stressed and (sometimes) sceptical, and leave smiling, breathing deeper and asking when we're coming back. We've had everything from heartfelt thank yous to happy tears. It’s a reminder that even a little dose of mindfulness can make a big difference.
Mental Health Awareness Week is coming up, what are your plans?
Needless to say it’s a very busy time! We’ve got a very cool sponsored tour happening thanks to our sponsors, real estate company, Delancey Real Estate, traveling across the country visiting community groups they’re involved with, retail spaces and some schools along the way. Places like Earls Court, Here East, Elephant and Castle and so much more! It’s going to be wonderful to see and really represents everything we’re all about. We’re also spending some time with our friends at London School of Economics and University of Cambridge. Mental Health Awareness Week is becoming such a thing now and we love to see it.
What's next for The Zen Project?
More zen for all! We have some fun things in the planning and are all about finding new ways to meet people where they are — physically and mentally.
Where is your favourite place to go in London to get some peace and quiet?
We’re so lucky for parks in London. One of my favourites is Victoria Park.
Tell our readers where they can find you.
Well, we run monthly events with our partners, Mind in Camden on Thursdays towards the end of the month. We also run regular days in Hackney and Barnet through a partnership with Notting Hill Genesis. We will also be running the wellness area at Latitude for the 5th year this year. check us out @t__z__p or www.t-z-p.com
The Zen Bus will be at the following locations for Mental Health Awareness Week 2025:
Monday, 12th May - Bemerton Children's Centre, Islington 9am - 4pm
Tuesday, 13th May - Here East, Queen Elizabeth Park, 9am m-12pm; High Chelmer Shopping Centre, Chelmsford, 1:40pm - 4:40pm
Wednesday, 14th May - Earls Court Community Hub, Earls Court, 9am - 4pm
Thursday, 15th May - Kenilworth School, Leamington Spa, 9am - 12pm; Royal Priors Shopping Centre, Leamington Spa, 1pm -4pm
Friday, 16th May - Christ Church Southwark, 9am - 12pm; Elephant and Castle, Castle Square, 1pm - 4pm