IN BUSINESS WOMEN with CATH FOWLER Naomi LISHMAN

Can you tell us a little bit about your business?

5Rhythms is a moving meditation class with no steps. Participants are guided through a 90 minute wave of music, crafted specifically for the class, incorporating the rhythms of flow, staccato, chaos, lyrical and finally stillness in order to calm stressful, busy and disconnected lives and reach a place of calm, harmonious equilibrium.

It can be compared to a yoga class, in that the end goal is the same and it is a practice which deepens over time, however it is really about listening to how your body wants to move, rather than anyone telling you how to move it. This can be challenging, as we live in a world where we are quite confined in our movements and emotional expressions. My job is to release the grip the mind has over the body and allow the body to surrender to its innermost wisdom, allowing emotions and patterns of behaviour to be released.

Gabrielle Roth, the founder of this work, always said “the body doesn’t lie”. Unfortunately we override our bodies instincts on a daily basis and we wonder why we feel depressed, stuck or alienated. This is a practice of getting out of the way of the head and reconnecting with our most sacred essence and anyone can do this. You can crawl, roll, run, skip, jump, jig, jive, cry, scream, laugh and sweat without fear of any judgement! but have only just started teaching in Coffs Harbour. I love the area for its stunning natural beauty and believe nature is one of our biggest healers, so obviously I feel very blessed to live in the region.

What’s your favourite part of the work you do? I love watching newcomers enter the room, usually full of trepidation and feeling quite self-conscious, and transform themselves into a lighter, younger, more connected, bodypositive and peaceful being. I also love how regular practitioners seem more present, more expanded and liberated, gaining more confidence to move out of their comfort zones and express themselves in different ways.

I have had feedback that this is better than counselling, that sore necks and backs have been healed and even that love has been kindled!

Gabrielle Roth founder of the 5Rhythms always said “don’t give up your day job” and I would agree as that means you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.

What piece of advice would you give women making their way in the business world? Commitment is everything. It’s easy to get disheartened when you put so much into something and get so little in return at the beginning, but you must commit to riding the ups and downs in order to get to that steady income level. Gabrielle Roth founder of the 5Rhythms always said “don’t give up your day job” and I would agree as that means you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.

My greatest influences have been some of my teachers and mentors, Kate Shela, Alain Allard for their inspirational teaching and somatic knowledge, but as far as business influencers, the closest I can get to is Brene Brown. Have you always lived on the Coffs Coast?

I moved to Bellingen around seven years ago and started teaching weekly classes then,

Where can people find out more about your business? I’m on Instagram 5rhythms_bellingen, my facebook page is 5Rhythmsnaomilishman and my email is naomilishman@gmail.com Classes are held weekly on Friday nights in Bellingen at 6pm St.Margarets Hall and 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at the Cavanbah Centre in Coffs Harbour.