Embodied Script: Yoga and Calligraphy Workshop
Saturday 22 August 2026, 10:30am - 2:30pm
Explore the relationship between movement and mark-making in a unique workshop led by classically trained calligrapher and artist Soraya Syed and integrative hatha yoga teacher Nour Kayali.
Beginning with a restorative yoga session in Leighton House's garden, the experience continues with an afternoon of contemplative Arabic calligraphy practice exploring the shared qualities of flow, focus and precision found within these two distinct yet relatable practices.
Useful Information
- All levels of experience welcome
- All materials and equipment provided, including yoga mats.
- The yoga session (90-minutes) will take place in Leighton House's garden. The calligraphy workshop (90-minutes) will take place in the Learning Centre.
- The event includes a 60-minute lunch break and comfort break between activities - please note there is a cafe onsite and restaurants and shops nearby.
- 25% off for members of The Friends (Under 30's). Join the Friends today!
Meet your tutors
Soraya Syed
A classically trained calligrapher and contemporary artist dedicated to bringing the ancient art of Arabic calligraphy into the twenty-first century through film, dance, immersive technologies and sculpture. Her work is celebrated for reimagining the written word as embodied movement and visual devotion, capable of speaking across language and belief. She studied Arabic and History of Art and Archaeology at SOAS, followed by an MA in Visual Islamic and Traditional Arts at The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. After apprenticing with master calligraphers in Istanbul, she became the first Briton to receive the icazetname (licence of calligraphy) in 2005. Syed’s pioneering work has been exhibited internationally, most recently at the Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan, and has been newly acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She previously held a solo exhibition, Hurriyah, at Leighton House Museum in 2013. A monograph on her work, Soraya Syed: The Living Script, will be released later this year and launched at Leighton House Museum to coincide with the finale of her installation in October 2026.
Nour Kayali
Whether you’re learning about yourself, creating better habits, or in the process of building self-discipline, Nour is a big believer in the value of having fun along the way.
Nour has always been fascinated by the human mind, as well as learning about different cultures, including her own as a British Arab. This led her to study Psychology (MSc) and Counselling, work in the NHS, manage a mental health service and later train in Holistic Health and Lifestyle Medicine. She then completed her Cycle Coach Facilitator Training and Yoga Teacher Training. She first discovered yoga in 2016, and learned the value of mind-body connection, and regulating her nervous system. After years of practice, she eventually qualified in 2022 as an integrative-hatha yoga teacher under Lura Shopteu, a student of T.K.V. Desikachar. Her journey has been deeply influenced by Hatha Yoga through long-term practice with her teacher Rosario Ferrer (Shivananda Vedanta School). Hatha means force or effort, reminding us that we will need to apply effort if we hope to advance in our practices, and that effort is a normal, natural part of the process. But in her teaching, we balance effort with playfulness, rest, and surrender with gems which you can take off the mat too.
She believes that energy management is one of the most important tools we can learn for our wellbeing and quality of life, and this includes understanding our hormones. These experiences inspired her to build Kayalin Yoga and create holistic offerings that honour the natural rhythms of the body – whether through yoga, coaching or embodiment practices.
For updates on all of our upcoming events and news, please subscribe to our museums e-news.
Ticket options
Saturday 22 August 2026, 10:30am - 2:30pm
Explore the relationship between movement and mark-making in a unique workshop led by classically trained calligrapher and artist Soraya Syed and integrative hatha yoga teacher Nour Kayali.
Beginning with a restorative yoga session in Leighton House's garden, the experience continues with an afternoon of contemplative Arabic calligraphy practice exploring the shared qualities of flow, focus and precision found within these two distinct yet relatable practices.
Useful Information
- All levels of experience welcome
- All materials and equipment provided, including yoga mats.
- The yoga session (90-minutes) will take place in Leighton House's garden. The calligraphy workshop (90-minutes) will take place in the Learning Centre.
- The event includes a 60-minute lunch break and comfort break between activities - please note there is a cafe onsite and restaurants and shops nearby.
- 25% off for members of The Friends (Under 30's). Join the Friends today!
Meet your tutors
Soraya Syed
A classically trained calligrapher and contemporary artist dedicated to bringing the ancient art of Arabic calligraphy into the twenty-first century through film, dance, immersive technologies and sculpture. Her work is celebrated for reimagining the written word as embodied movement and visual devotion, capable of speaking across language and belief. She studied Arabic and History of Art and Archaeology at SOAS, followed by an MA in Visual Islamic and Traditional Arts at The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. After apprenticing with master calligraphers in Istanbul, she became the first Briton to receive the icazetname (licence of calligraphy) in 2005. Syed’s pioneering work has been exhibited internationally, most recently at the Taoyuan Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan, and has been newly acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. She previously held a solo exhibition, Hurriyah, at Leighton House Museum in 2013. A monograph on her work, Soraya Syed: The Living Script, will be released later this year and launched at Leighton House Museum to coincide with the finale of her installation in October 2026.
Nour Kayali
Whether you’re learning about yourself, creating better habits, or in the process of building self-discipline, Nour is a big believer in the value of having fun along the way.
Nour has always been fascinated by the human mind, as well as learning about different cultures, including her own as a British Arab. This led her to study Psychology (MSc) and Counselling, work in the NHS, manage a mental health service and later train in Holistic Health and Lifestyle Medicine. She then completed her Cycle Coach Facilitator Training and Yoga Teacher Training. She first discovered yoga in 2016, and learned the value of mind-body connection, and regulating her nervous system. After years of practice, she eventually qualified in 2022 as an integrative-hatha yoga teacher under Lura Shopteu, a student of T.K.V. Desikachar. Her journey has been deeply influenced by Hatha Yoga through long-term practice with her teacher Rosario Ferrer (Shivananda Vedanta School). Hatha means force or effort, reminding us that we will need to apply effort if we hope to advance in our practices, and that effort is a normal, natural part of the process. But in her teaching, we balance effort with playfulness, rest, and surrender with gems which you can take off the mat too.
She believes that energy management is one of the most important tools we can learn for our wellbeing and quality of life, and this includes understanding our hormones. These experiences inspired her to build Kayalin Yoga and create holistic offerings that honour the natural rhythms of the body – whether through yoga, coaching or embodiment practices.
For updates on all of our upcoming events and news, please subscribe to our museums e-news.
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