I practice meditation rather poorly. Unless guided in a class, creating mental stillness is not my forte. So when my girl-friend mentioned Gabrielle Roth 5Rhythms class, spouting its fabulousness with enthusiasm, I figured the $20 and two hours was worth its possibilities. The class is made up of five core elements of music each opening you up to all forms of Being. You go into a room and dance with complete strangers for two hours while music is played, freeing your inhibitions and mind.
Basically, it’s dancing as a form of meditation and it was fucking awesome.
After paying, my friend and I chatted for a bit about our prospective lives, sharing a story here and there. The room was filled with waiting participants and as they stretched around me I could feel their anticipation and excitement. I was definitely overdressed, casual for work, but my Bermuda shorts and loose fitting shirt was a bit much compared to the sports bras and yoga pants around me. When you go wear lose fitting and/or workout clothes, plan to sweat a lot, and bring water.
We walked into the room; it was a bare studio with some lighting and large speakers. The music was loud and people had already started to dance, moving at their own preference and pace. I felt awkward and unsure of what to do. As I stood there thinking, I laughed at the humor of it. The whole point was for me to just be present, enjoy, move as I wanted, without a concern for judgment about what I was supposed to do/be, yet there I was, minutes into it, thinking as usual.
That was lesson 1.
After awhile I caught the energy in the room, ignored my thoughts and started to bop along. It was contagious, the positive and joyous vibes that were bouncing around with these dancing people. It started to become so fun, I had not gone dancing in ages and I loved it. I could feel that everyone was just being himself or herself, moving as they would, not caring how they looked.
Appearances were not an issue here and no one played a role. There was no dressing to impress or sliding up on you, disrespectfully invading your space. There was no value in how you looked, how cool you danced (or didn’t). It was unbelievably freeing; welcomed to be myself.
That was lesson 2.
Throughout the night people were flopping around in some of the most awkward ways. Their bodies twirling and waving along without any real concern for westernized rhythm. Even an open minded person like myself (Hey I went didn’t I!?) was taken aback by some relaxed and “unusual” dance patterns, hairstyles and/or clothing. Looking around at the so-called oddities surrounding me, it was apparent my mind still needed some broadening, as my natural inclination was to judge. I guess that’s where fear of being judged comes from; it takes one to know one.
And lesson 3.
At the end of the night I walked out floating, it had felt like the best yoga I’d ever taken. I was sweaty, tired, and smiley. I had not spoken to anyone in almost two hours, yet shared my space and meditation with a room full of strangers. As I walked 10th avenue I noticed the popular celebrity clubs Marquee and The Pink Elephant were just steps away from where I had just left. I thought of the groups of people that would gather there that weekend, begging to be let in, to be seen, dance and rub elbows with important people.
Funny thing though, for a lot less I had done so much more.
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For more information and how to attend:
Wikipedia
www.gabrielleroth.com
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