Heartbeat® is the emotional map that corresponds to the physical map of the 5Rhythms®, as created by Gabrielle Roth. So, while the body moves through the Wave of Flowing, Staccato, Chaos Lyrical and Stillness, so the heart moves through its own cycle – Fear, Anger, Sadness, Joy and Compassion. Each emotion is a world unto its own, opening doorways into layers and textures that have the capacity to enrich our experience as human beings in this crazy world we live in.
Why Heartbeat?
I have spent the last 20 years dancing the 5Rhythms and 15 years teaching them. Having completed my first training with Gabrielle Roth in 1994, I recently had the extraordinary opportunity to take part in further training, moving beyond the Waves curriculum and into the sometimes seemingly murkier world of the emotions.
Whilst I have yet to repeat the same class twice, it is deeply satisfying to have more vocabulary available, greater awareness, to use the 5Rhythms material to awaken and increase peoples relationship to their hearts and emotions. To my surprise, one of the outcomes of this further training is that I have fallen in love with the physical body more. As I learn to be more sensitive to emotional energy and how it moves or freezes others and me, I have eyes that see where the freezing or movement occurs in the body. I love this practice because when it comes down to it, it is so simple. It might be Fear trapped in the back of my neck, Anger held in my elbows, or Sadness in the rocking of my spine. In giving creative movement to my need to grieve, my feet have found a new spring in lyrical. Compassion floods my breath; my breath fills my being. There is so much detail to discover - I have discovered the curiosity of a scientist.
Some people have lots of physical energy coursing through their bodies; I have lots of emotional energy. The Heartbeat material has helped me to take more responsibility for how I live that, in me and in my relationships with others. I catch the fog of fear that descends, when the dread of a looming situation is occurring with greater awareness. That awareness gives me more freedom. I have shifted from being terrified of anger to experiencing excitement in the presence of the pure expression of passion that it can be. I have leant to surrender to the ‘tsunami’ of grief and faced my fear of death. My joy is a bit lackluster – and so I have committed to whatever changes are necessary in my life to bring my natural vitality back, which is an agonising yet necessary journey at times. As I explore new territory in myself, my compassion for others is instinctively awakened. It is a deep, extraordinary journey that I have respect and gratitude for.
This I hope is a window into my passion for teaching and sharing the world of Heartbeat. I welcome you to join me in the dance.