5Rhythms® in Pittsburgh with Alyssa

“A human being is just that. Energy. Waves. Patterns. Rhythms. Nothing more. Nothing less. A dance.” ~ Gabrielle Roth, 5Rhythms® Global

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What is the 5Rhythms®?

Practice the 5Rhythms in Pittsburgh with Alyssa

The 5Rhythms® comprise simple movement practice designed to release the dancer that lives in everybody, no matter what shape, size, age limitation and experience. To find your dance is to find yourself, at your most fluid and creative level.

While the practice itself is the essence of simplicity, it has the power to catalyze deep healing and creative expression. The primary teaching of this work is: If you put the psyche in motion, it will heal itself.

The five rhythms are Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical and Stillness. They come together to create the Wave, a movement meditation practice.

Rather than having steps to follow, each rhythm is a different energy field in which you find your own expression and choreography, thereby stretching your imagination as well as your body. Each rhythm is a teacher and you can expect to meet different and sometimes unknown aspect of yourself as your dance unfolds and your practice of the rhythms deepens over time.

The rhythms are the foundation of Gabrielle Roth’s body of work, a series of healing maps for the body, heart mind, soul and spirit that provide a lifetime of self-discovery and a path to awakening. The 5Rhythms practice starts you on that journey and is the place to which you will always return.

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  • "I’ve been on my 5Rhythms journey with Alyssa for about 6 months now, and it’s been one of the greatest gifts in my life. It came at a time when I was navigating significant challenges, and the practice helped me to process deep emotional wounds that needed to be healed, as well as guided me to the insights to make real practical decisions & confidently move forward."

    — G.C.L

  • "Take the leap! It's a vulnerable risk, but it gets easier and more comfortable with every session. It's worth it! Feeling liberated in my body has changed my life. It's been a vehicle for both healing and intuition."

    — B.N.

The Rhythms

Flowing

In Flowing, we physically practice the art of being fluid in our bodies. Flowing is the pipeline to our inner truth, the impulse to follow the flow of one's own energy, to be true to oneself-listening and attending to our needs, receptive to our inner and outer worlds. When we open up to the flow of our physical beings, all other pathways open. It is one of the most beautiful and fascinating ways of dancing -to be in, to be around, and to watch.

Those who embody the Rhythm of Flowing are supple, flexible, surrendered and trust their feet to lead them where they are meant to go.

flowing in 5rhythms

Staccato

Staccato is the fierce teacher of boundaries. And it is the protector and ambassador of our fluid being. Visually, a one who fully embodies the Rhythm of Staccato is defined, clear, connected and not fearful of the transparent expression of their heart. Whether dancing Staccato alone, in partnership, or in groups-it is always a powerful experience.

stacatto in 5rhythms

Chaos

Chaos is the gateway to the big mind. Dancing Chaos is the practice of going into the unknown, not faring what’s on the other side. It takes us on the journey from “I can’t” to “I will”. We overflow with cathartic energy. This is our big dance, our break out dance, our break through dance.

Lyrical

Lyrical is the physical, energetic, emotional and spiritual dancing rebirth. The practice of Lyrical teaches us how to break out of destructive patterns and surrender into the depths of the fluid, creative repetitions of our soulful self, bubbling up from the deepest parts of ourselves, to the integrity and dignity that we often forget is within us.

Lyrical is expansive and connects us to our humanity, timeless rhythms, repetitions, patterns and cycles.

lyrical in 5rhythms

Stillness

Each time we dance into Stillness, we practice the art of making humble and mindful endings interpreted by our higher connected self. This carries through to all of our endings in life-the end of this dance, this day, this relationship, or this life cycle. Good endings mean taking responsibility for the whole journey, distilling wisdom from our experience so that we may begin the next cycle clean and not carrying the past with us.

stillness in 5rhythms

5Rhythms® with Alyssa in Pittsburgh

What happens on a 5Rhythms dance floor?

5rhythms in Pittsburgh

In every class or workshop, there is always a wide range of experience in the 5Rhythms- from first-timers to certified Wave ‘aficionados‘. In any given class, the teacher will be following the energy in the room. So, while the essential map is one of five rhythms, the teacher might take the class trough the entire Wave or focus on just one rhythm or one facet of a rhythm.

The rhythms themselves are gateways to literally thousands of different movement landscapes. Like the body, they are alive and designed to catalyzed the dancer’s movement expression in the moment. You are different every time you walk into the room, so is the group and so is your teacher. Therefore, each class holds completely unique possibilities.

  • "I’ve engaged in other movement and contemplative practices, and 5Rhythms stands apart. This practice is so relevant to daily life. Plus, the lineage of the teachings and the global and local communities add palpable depth to the dance. Alyssa is a highly skilled guide and I’m grateful for her and this practice!"

    — Cathleen

  • "I have developed such a profound sense of self from regularly incorporating this practice into my life. For the last 2.5 years, I have left every one Alyssa's classes feeling more grounded and connected to my soul's essence than I was before. Her lucidness and compassion make every class feel like home for me."

    — Anonymous Dancer

FAQs about 5Rhythms in Pittsburgh with Alyssa

  • Public Classes are short-format Waves sessions, the foundational 5Rhythms map, that occur on a regular schedule and typically last for 2 hours. Classes are open to anyone from new-comers to long-time practitioners of any age or physical condition unless otherwise noted in the class listing.

    Committed Series and Workshops are longer-format events (from half-day to multiple days) that explore one or more of the 5Rhythms maps (Waves, Heartbeat, Cycles, Mirrors, etc.) providing an opportunity for in-depth study. Attendance at workshops may require prerequisites of a certain number of hours of, or previous attendance at, other 5Rhythms classes or workshops.

  • No experience or level of fitness is required to begin your 5Rhythms practice.

  • The 5Rhythms is a simple and flexible practice that can be experienced by anyone regardless of their physical limitations. Because there is no specific “routine” to follow you will be able to participate at your own pace, within your own capacity to move.

  • While every class is different each class will provide basic instruction in the 5Rhythms, whether that is the full Wave (the 5Rhythms in sequence) or focusing on one or another of the rhythms and its energies. There will be a warm-up period (often uninstructed but may include facilitation), a teaching, and exercises for exploring the teaching. Teachers may use a variety of different kinds of music, or no music at all, to support embodying the rhythms. There may be a combination of individual, partnered, and group work. Some classes are more structured than others but all classes provide the opportunity to be moved by and with the 5Rhythms.

  • It is suggested that you dress comfortably in clothing that you don’t mind sweating in and allows you a full range of motion. You may want to bring a cover-up so you don’t get cold, and/or a small towel to dry off with. We dance bare-footed or in light-soled dance shoes (athletic shoes/trainers are not allowed on the dance floor). Bring a bottle of water and your curiosity. That’s all you need.

  • First of all remember that right on the other side of that terror there’s excitement. Take to heart that the 5Rhythms practice has the room for you to move with however you’re feeling. There’s nothing to get right and you can’t get it wrong so there is nothing for you to “do” except move in whatever way feels right in the moment. You will not be the first person to be so terrified that you just barely made it over the threshold of the door. Once in the room we are going to encourage you to move to your full potential and we will also give you the space to move into your potential from wherever you are. You can also reach out to Alyssa beforehand if you are feeling unsure.

  • 5Rhythms study and practices were developed by Gabrielle Roth in the 1970’s. Ecstatic Dance was inspired by 5Rhythms (by 5Rhythms dancers) in the 1990’s. That is why they are often confused.

    While Ecstatic Dance offers freedom and spontaneity, 5Rhythms provides a structured, guided pathway for exploring somatic experiences more deeply and intentionally. For those looking for a somatic practice that combines movement with emotional, mental, and physical integration, 5Rhythms often offers a more comprehensive and therapeutic approach.

    Additionally, 5Rhythms teachers undergo a 5-7 year long, deep training and are required to develop and commit to their own dance practice. Ecstatic Dance does not have a formal professional pathway or training.