Gabrielle Roth was a dancer, a spiritual explorer, and a visionary leader whose life’s work eventually culminated in the creation of the dynamic movement practice known as 5Rhythms. But in the decades that preceded that moment, Roth was one of Esalen’s most popular workshop leaders, having arrived at Esalen as a young dancer in the mid-1960s and staying for many years as the leader of the Esalen massage program.
5Rhythms is still practiced widely today, both at Roth’s time-honored Movement Center in New York City and also at studios worldwide thanks to a global community comprised of the hundreds of dance teachers who’ve been certified in Roth’s approach.
One such teacher is Lucia Horan, who was born and raised at Esalen Institute and grew up dancing with Roth, and has taught the 5Rhythms method since 1998. In a conversation with Voices of Esalen last year, Lucia discussed how she has maintained a feeling of connection during the COVID-19 crisis. “It’s been really challenging to feel so close and yet so far away, and I think that’s the same for many people who live close to their families but have chosen to remain in the safety of isolation,” she shared. “The only other way I’m staying connected beyond the virtual world is just through the dance and through the prayer, which I feel connects me to the larger network that we’re a part of.”
“We’re in a shared experience in this reality,” she concluded. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what your education level is, we are all facing the same situation.”
Have you also experienced loss and the natural emotions of sadness, anger, fear, and love this past year, and are you interested in finding safe, positive ways to heal mind, body, and spirit?
Listen to the the full episode featuring Lucia on the Voices of Esalen podcast, or join Lucia and her collaborator Peter Selwyn at Esalen for their upcoming workshop, Grief Dancer. The workshop will take place in-person at our retreat center in Big Sur, and participants will take part in experiential movement sessions focused on natural and distorted emotional responses to grief, caregiving vs. caretaking, and more.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Gabrielle Roth was a dancer, a spiritual explorer, and a visionary leader whose life’s work eventually culminated in the creation of the dynamic movement practice known as 5Rhythms. But in the decades that preceded that moment, Roth was one of Esalen’s most popular workshop leaders, having arrived at Esalen as a young dancer in the mid-1960s and staying for many years as the leader of the Esalen massage program.
5Rhythms is still practiced widely today, both at Roth’s time-honored Movement Center in New York City and also at studios worldwide thanks to a global community comprised of the hundreds of dance teachers who’ve been certified in Roth’s approach.
One such teacher is Lucia Horan, who was born and raised at Esalen Institute and grew up dancing with Roth, and has taught the 5Rhythms method since 1998. In a conversation with Voices of Esalen last year, Lucia discussed how she has maintained a feeling of connection during the COVID-19 crisis. “It’s been really challenging to feel so close and yet so far away, and I think that’s the same for many people who live close to their families but have chosen to remain in the safety of isolation,” she shared. “The only other way I’m staying connected beyond the virtual world is just through the dance and through the prayer, which I feel connects me to the larger network that we’re a part of.”
“We’re in a shared experience in this reality,” she concluded. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what your education level is, we are all facing the same situation.”
Have you also experienced loss and the natural emotions of sadness, anger, fear, and love this past year, and are you interested in finding safe, positive ways to heal mind, body, and spirit?
Listen to the the full episode featuring Lucia on the Voices of Esalen podcast, or join Lucia and her collaborator Peter Selwyn at Esalen for their upcoming workshop, Grief Dancer. The workshop will take place in-person at our retreat center in Big Sur, and participants will take part in experiential movement sessions focused on natural and distorted emotional responses to grief, caregiving vs. caretaking, and more.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Gabrielle Roth was a dancer, a spiritual explorer, and a visionary leader whose life’s work eventually culminated in the creation of the dynamic movement practice known as 5Rhythms. But in the decades that preceded that moment, Roth was one of Esalen’s most popular workshop leaders, having arrived at Esalen as a young dancer in the mid-1960s and staying for many years as the leader of the Esalen massage program.
5Rhythms is still practiced widely today, both at Roth’s time-honored Movement Center in New York City and also at studios worldwide thanks to a global community comprised of the hundreds of dance teachers who’ve been certified in Roth’s approach.
One such teacher is Lucia Horan, who was born and raised at Esalen Institute and grew up dancing with Roth, and has taught the 5Rhythms method since 1998. In a conversation with Voices of Esalen last year, Lucia discussed how she has maintained a feeling of connection during the COVID-19 crisis. “It’s been really challenging to feel so close and yet so far away, and I think that’s the same for many people who live close to their families but have chosen to remain in the safety of isolation,” she shared. “The only other way I’m staying connected beyond the virtual world is just through the dance and through the prayer, which I feel connects me to the larger network that we’re a part of.”
“We’re in a shared experience in this reality,” she concluded. “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what your education level is, we are all facing the same situation.”
Have you also experienced loss and the natural emotions of sadness, anger, fear, and love this past year, and are you interested in finding safe, positive ways to heal mind, body, and spirit?
Listen to the the full episode featuring Lucia on the Voices of Esalen podcast, or join Lucia and her collaborator Peter Selwyn at Esalen for their upcoming workshop, Grief Dancer. The workshop will take place in-person at our retreat center in Big Sur, and participants will take part in experiential movement sessions focused on natural and distorted emotional responses to grief, caregiving vs. caretaking, and more.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
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Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org