KOKORO: Finding Stillness in the Heart of the Himalayas
KOKORO: Finding Stillness in the Heart of the Himalayas
In a world that never seems to slow down, where productivity is often mistaken for constant motion and noise, we at Jilling Terraces are excited to host a rare opportunity for profound transformation. This spring, we welcome the extraordinary Sensei Rashid Ansari for KOKORO: The Heart of Stillness, a 4-day immersive retreat that promises to reconnect participants with their authentic selves through the ancient practices of Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Gong, and Dance Your Senses.
When Stillness Becomes Strength
The Japanese concept of "Kokoro" represents the integrated heart-mind-spirit—a state of being where intellect, emotion, and spirit work in harmony. Far from being a retreat from productivity, KOKORO teaches us that true strength, balance, and effectiveness arise not from chaos, but from cultivated stillness.
"To be still, to be silent, to slow down when life's frenetic pace just about seems to overwhelm and suffocate one... Here, stillness and quietening down doesn't mean loss of productivity; on the contrary, it actually means increasing productivity," explains Sensei Rashid, who brings over 50 years of experience as a master practitioner and teacher in martial arts and movement disciplines.
Is This Retreat For You?
Feeling tired, spent, exhausted, low on energy? Lack of creativity, out of ideas, stuck in a limbo, plateaued? Hurt, grieving, depressed, traumatised, unable to cope? Or just want to feel better, have more self esteem, be healthier, stronger and more wholesome…?
If so, this unique, one of a kind workshop - Kokoro (the heart of stillness or the heart in things), is for you.
What To Expect During These Four Transformative Days
This retreat comprises:
Tai Chi Chuan - a holistic, healing martial art that is called the Grand Ultimate Fist and also called Meditation in Motion
Chi Gong - dealing and working with Breath, Energy
Dance your Senses/The 5 Rhythms of Flow, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical and Stillness - a Dance and movement of the self, for the self and so much more.
About Sensei Rashid Ansari
Rashid is a renowned practitioner and teacher in the performing arts, various martial arts, and mind-body wellness disciplines, with over 50 years of experience. He is an international master instructor in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts.
Rashid also practices Hakku Ryu Jiu Jitsu, Kyudo, and Budo, and is a contemporary dance instructor and choreographer. He has explored Physical Theatre and Theatre Movement as both a practitioner and teacher and has served as a Movement/Tai Chi Chuan teacher at the National School of Drama.
He is a master facilitator of the 5 Rhythms/Dance your Senses. He founded and is the artistic director of Mobius Strip – a dance theatre performing company, and Earth Rhythms – a world music ensemble playing acoustic and ethnic musical instruments.
As a teacher of the performing arts, Rashid has endeavored to integrate the diverse range of disciplines he practices, creating a methodology and vocabulary using movement and dance to forge a pathway to self-expression and creation.
The Mountain as Teacher
There's a reason we chose to build Jilling Terraces at 7,000 feet, surrounded by ancient oak forests and breathtaking Himalayan vistas. The mountains have always been sanctuaries for those seeking clarity and perspective. When combined with the transformative practices of Tai Chi and the 5 Rhythms, our natural setting becomes not just a backdrop but an active participant in the journey toward holistic well-being.
Each morning, as participants greet the sunrise with gentle movements that have been practiced for centuries, something remarkable happens. The boundary between self and surroundings begins to dissolve. The rhythmic patterns of breath align with the swaying of oak branches. The solid stance of Tai Chi forms finds resonance with the mountains themselves.
Your Daily Journey
Your mornings begin with the mountain mist, perhaps a sunrise hike to a ridge where tea awaits, followed by Chi Gong practices that cultivate vital energy. The late mornings bring focused Tai Chi instruction, where you'll learn movements that regulate blood pressure, strengthen muscles, and align your entire system.
Afternoons offer space for rest and integration, followed by exploration of the 5 Rhythms—each day building upon the last as you move through Flow, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and ultimately, Stillness. Evenings bring nourishing meals from our kitchen, meaningful conversations, and perhaps even star-gazing from our mountain perch.
By the final day, as you experience the complete Tai Chi sequence and full 5 Rhythms wave, many participants report a sense of coming home to themselves—a reconnection with an inner stillness that has always been there, waiting to be remembered.
The Dance Between Structure and Freedom
What makes KOKORO particularly special is its integration of seemingly opposite practices. Tai Chi Chuan offers structure, precision, and form—often called "meditation in motion." Meanwhile, Dance Your Senses and the 5 Rhythms (Flow, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, and Stillness) provide space for spontaneous expression, emotional release, and creative exploration.
This dance between structure and freedom, discipline and spontaneity, mirrors the very journey of balance we all seek in our lives. As one previous participant shared, "The combination of Tai Chi's structured movement and the freedom of the 5 Rhythms helped me break through longstanding emotional blocks. Rashid's guidance was transformative, and the setting at Jilling Terraces added a magical dimension that wouldn't have been possible elsewhere."
Beyond the Retreat
The most powerful aspect of KOKORO may be how it continues to unfold long after participants descend from our mountain home. The practices learned become tools for daily life—ways to find center amidst chaos, to respond rather than react, to move with intention rather than impulse.
"I came to KOKORO exhausted from corporate burnout," another participant told us. "After the retreat practicing these ancient movement arts, I rediscovered a sense of balance I hadn't felt in years. The practices were accessible even for a beginner like me, and I've continued with them daily since returning home. The results have been profound—better sleep, reduced anxiety, and a newfound clarity in decision-making."
Join Us for KOKORO: The Heart of Stillness
Dates & Location:
May 29th to June 1st, 2024
Jilling Terraces, Uttarakhand
Limited Availability:
Maximum 12 participants
Personalized attention guaranteed
Early registration recommended
Package Details:
Standard price: ₹45,000 per person (shared accommodation)
Early bird discount: 10% off until May 15th
What's Included:
Comfortable shared accommodation
All meals and refreshments throughout your stay
Complete workshop materials
Guide service for the trek to and from Jilling Terraces
For those seeking to rediscover balance, cultivate presence, and learn practices that will serve them long after the retreat ends, we invite you to join us where the clouds meet the mountains, and where ancient wisdom meets modern life.
To reserve your place or learn more, please contact us at info@jillingterraces.com, or call +91 99100 49608, +91 70420 84935
KOKORO: The Heart of Stillness is a collaboration between master facilitator Sensei Rashid Ansari and Jilling Terraces, bringing together decades of embodied wisdom practice with one of India's most unique mountain sanctuaries.