April at Oru Space 🪷
Alchemy
Dedicated to mothers in conflict, Oru number 3 and lots more!
Hello from Vibushan.
I'm dedicating this Newsletter to Mother's In Conflict.
We are living in a time where conflict is all around us. I was gifted the book Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan. This coming-of-age novel follows a young woman in Jaffna and is based on the beginnings of a long war in Sri Lanka. It is a hard read, but a beautiful insight as to what people (including my family) were exposed to when the war in Sri Lanka begun. I left Sri Lanka when I was two, but reading this book transported me back.
There’s a beautiful chapter in the book on how the Mother’s of Jaffna school boys who were taken away, protested in the most spectacular, passionate manner... ultimately forcing their sons to be returned. My favourite part was ”Men trailed the periphery of the crowd, trying to hide their astonishment”.
I was born during the times of curfews in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. My mother, Yaso’s water broke at night. At the time, it was forbidden to leave your house during curfew hours. She had to walk to hospital with an aunt, 'Charlie mami', I used to call her. My father and any other men, would have been shot on sight if they were spotted by the Sri Lankan military. When they reached Trincomalee hospital, they couldn’t find a pulse, for hours she thought she lost me, (sorry Yaso!).
We hope all the senseless violence ends soon... but can we collectively be doing more? Can Oru do more? If so, I’d love to know how. Please reach out to vib@oruspace.co, I'd love to chat.
Sri Lanka Retreat
We laughed, we learnt, we cried. This experience very much inspired our word of alchemy.
Oh Sri Lanka you are wild and magical... somehow I've got myself a job which takes me back to my country of birth!
We took 20 of our beautiful, diverse community on a yoga, sound & meditation retreat. Somehow they get better each time.
One benefit I think I’ve overlooked with retreats is the opportunity to bond and learn from people beyond the social structures we comfortably stay within.
What you can achieve with a group of strangers when the guidance, the people and the place all resonate with one another, is something which words cannot describe.
We adore hosting these retreats, to be inspired, to gain perspectives and adopt some amazing routines. We need to be away from our day to day environments. Which is WHY we are buying a retreat centre! And as of today the public can now invest in this opportunity… You can find out more in the next section.
It's also the fourth time a mother and daughter came along.
Oru El Saltador - Oru Number 3!
The number 3 is a very special number numerology wise. It’s both my birth and life path number, AND it’s a good one! It represents creativity, growth and abundance.
Oru El Saltador is going to represent these three things spectacularly. Within a month, we have raised more than half the money required to make this project a reality.
BUT it’s the response of people wanting to host retreats and workshops which has been most incredible - the sheer variety and richness of it all is just making us salivate at the prospect of this project. We turn our thoughts and plans to how the site will evolve (picture below), and we will share these plans next week.
Imagine a place bursting with wellness and community, which nurtures connection and land… LOTS of land. We will continually develop and co-create. What a wonderful thought.
If you’re interested in joining as an investor and stakeholder in this adventure please email catherine@oruspace.co. If you’re interested in hosting retreats and collaborating in Wellness you can also email miriam@oruspace.co.
Take a look at the photos below of Oru El Saltador and its surroundings…
Community Class Teacher Programme
We mentioned above the word alchemy. Just like mothers do, this ancient practice does a great job at bringing elements together.
The same thing happens with our Community Teacher Programme, which helps newly qualified wellness teachers refine their skills and confidence in a real studio setting. This initiative offers emerging instructors the chance to gain hands-on experience, guiding public community classes every Friday afternoon at Oru Dulwich and Oru Sutton. In return, as a new instructor you can receive valuable feedback to support your growth - turning your passion into expertise, much like lead into gold.
If you’re a new teacher looking to develop your craft in a supportive environment, we would love to hear from you!
To apply, send your CV, a short video of you teaching, and a few words about why you’d like to teach at Oru to miri@oruspace.co (Dulwich) or melanie@oruspace.co (Sutton).
Our Rooftop Garden in Bloom
Spring is here, and with it, our rooftop garden unfolds. The Oru Sutton rooftop is a green sanctuary which turns soil, seeds, and care into thriving life. Nature, community, and intention come together here, creating our very own ecosystem for members, Sutton residents and basically everyone to enjoy.
Leading this season’s transformation is Greta, our new rooftop gardener. With deep roots in farming and agroecology, as well as a passion for community, she’s here to cultivate both plants and connection. Have you read her letter to the garden yet? If not, click the button below - it’s a love note to the land, filled with vision and heart.
If you want to experience alchemy firsthand, you should join our weekly rooftop volunteering sessions, happening every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or have never touched soil before, this is your chance to dig, plant, learn, and meet new people.
Just in time for Spring.
Earth Day at Oru on the 22nd April!
As Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, we find ourselves reflecting on the profound transformations that shape our world.
It’s no surprise that Earth Day, Mother’s Day and the Spring Equinox (shoutout to those who celebrated it with us!) all happen within the same month. They are all related to growth, each in their own way, helping us celebrate the power of life and its everchanging nature.
To honor our passion for nature, we're hosting a special Earth Day Event at Oru Sutton on the 22nd April, celebrating both the planet and the people who maintain it with selfless care. Whether you're planting seeds in our rooftop garden, sharing stories of personal growth, or simply enjoying the company of others, we can guarantee this will be as rewarding and fun as it sounds.
Join us for an event filled with workshops and talks, from a seed bombing workshop, mindful walks and vegetable planting, to yoga classes in the rooftop and a talk on pollinators by our community gardener Greta.
More info to come soon. Check all our events in the button below.
New Trinco Lunch Specials
Alchemy isn’t just about transformation - it’s about taking something good and making it even better. That’s exactly what’s happening at Trinco, where our Members' Lunches are now open to everyone as part of our brand-new daily Lunch Specials!
You can expect bold, nourishing flavors, like our silky ‘White Curry of Roasted Cashew & Sugar Snap’, bursting with spice and richness, or our comforting ‘Chickpea, Lemon & Edamame Soup’, served with toasted sourdough (pictures below). Each dish is crafted with care at our kitchens, blending fresh, organic ingredients (delicious examples shown below).
Whether you’re a longtime member or just passing through, Trinco will always be there for you, waiting with a unique and flavoursome meal every lunchtime. No membership required - just an appetite for something magical.
Oru Space: The Future of Coworking
Oru’s Coworking spaces might just be the best out there right now. Much ado about nothing, you may be thinking - surely there’s other companies offering sustainable coworking, coworking plus wellness or coworking next to a cafe?!
The thing is, at Oru we have all of that, with the added bonus of ongoing innovations to keep our spaces up to date with the latest office trends.
As the Sutton Guardian put it:
“Oru Sutton is truly a glimpse into the future of work. It’s not just a place to clock in and out, it’s a space where wellness, sustainability, and community are at the forefront. From the tranquil atmosphere to the cutting-edge wellness treatments and the focus on nature, Oru is redefining what it means to work in the modern world. [...] It’s not just about getting work done; it’s about living well while you do it.”.
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. That’s why we keep upgrading and transforming - most recently with the addition of a walking treadmill in the standing desk at the heart of Oru Sutton’s coworking area. The best part? We still have a few private offices available for hire.
Oru Space is so much more than a place to work. What separates us from the usual grey, fluorescent-lit workplace, is the fact that we have hot desks, offices, meeting rooms, call booths, yoga and fitness studios, therapy rooms, lounge areas, café, events space, nursery, green spaces and a rooftop garden.
Seems like a neverending list, we know. Combine all of that, and you’ve got the perfect blend of work, wellness, and all of you - our lovely community.
Alchemy at its finest.
P.S: A robot did not write this newsletter. Seriously, none of it. We’re THAT good.
If you have an enquiry about Coworking, Wellness, Trinco or any aspect of Oru Space, please reach out and we will get back to you as soon as possible: