Created by Gabrielle Roth and practised by thousands worldwide, 5Rhythms® is a philosophy, perspective, performance art and a dynamic movement practice rooted in the principle that if you put the psyche in motion, it will heal itself. Movement is both medicine and metaphor, reaching across languages, cultures, and age groups to transform suffering into art, art into awareness, and awareness into action. Wherever the 5Rhythms® are practised, a community is born to dance, to sweat, to change, to support, and to provide a safe space for each of us to shatter the ego’s hold and awaken the juicy, unpredictable, fascinating, edge-walking, rock star part of ourselves that yearns to be free.

Creativity. Connection. Community.

FLOWING is the rhythm of circular, flowing and continuous movement. Attention turns to the feet and their contact with the ground. It teaches us fluidity, softening and acceptance. The emphasis is on the inhale. We associate it with the element of earth, the emotion of fear, and the archetype of Mother; in the life cycle, the flowing rhythm represents our birth and shapes the relationship with ourselves.

STACCATO is a rhythm of precise, sharp, angular movements with clear pauses. Attention is directed to the hips; it teaches us to set boundaries and express our intentions with clarity. The emphasis is on exhalation. It is associated with the element of fire, the emotion of anger and the archetype of Father; in the life cycle, the staccato rhythm represents childhood and shapes our relationship with another.

CHAOS is a rhythm of jerky, uncontrolled movements, with attention directed to the head. Movement is chaotic and fast. It teaches us to let go and relax in the unpredictable and unknown. It predicts creativity, a search for a new form, and a unique identity; it is associated with the element of water, the emotion of sadness, and the archetypes of the Wild Son, Mistress, and the Artist. In the life cycle, it represents puberty and adolescence and shapes our relationships to the group (tribe), where we find belonging.

LYRICAL is a rhythm of lightness, airiness and the discovery of repetitive movements and patterns which we let go of. It draws attention to the hands and teaches us connection, curiosity, playfulness, and authenticity. It is the rhythm of the soul. Breathing is relaxed and spontaneous. We associate it with the element of air, the emotion of joy, and the archetypes of Madonna, Shapeshifter and/or Actor. In the life cycle, it represents adulthood and one’s position in the brother community, collective, country and the world.

STILLNESS is the rhythm of loving presence, active hope, and emptiness. Attention focuses on breathing and movement, calm and marked by longer and longer pauses. We give rhythm to everything that still appears until it all dissolves into the still, quiet emptiness of being. It is the rhythm of the spirit. We associate it with the element of ether, the emotion of compassion, and the archetypes of the Holy Spirit and the Alchemist. In the life cycle, it marks the final period of life, when we usually meet death; it shapes our relationship with the planet, the universe, and the eternal.

Map to Ecstasy is a book by G. Roth, in which she describes each of the 5 rhythms as a map to Ecstasy, where ecstasy is defined as an experience of movement in which the dancer disappears and only the dance remains. It is a moment of wholeness when we are completely in tune with ourselves and when our body, heart, mind, and soul are harmoniously connected.

5Rhythms WAVE is a practice that usually lasts 2 hours and is structured as a dancing wave through 5 rhythms.

5Rhythms WORKSHOP is a longer practice, usually one, two, or more days, where we explore a topic through the 5Rhythms method, with deep investigation in each rhythm.

Learn more on 5rhythms.com

Find out more about practice and teachers on 5Rhythms Global.