SoHolistic: New York Open Center

My earliest recollection of the New York Open Center dates back to a balmy Saturday evening in 1985. My friend Sylvia, a fellow European expatriate with a penchant for all things holistic, suggested we attend a "barefoot boogie" dance jam at a recently opened spot on Spring Street, in the heart of Manhattan's artistic enclave of SoHo. I distinctly remember climbing the stairs to the top floor, and negotiating a pile of shoes before entering a room filled with bodies in motion. Over the years I would return to that building on many an occasion, drawn to its classes, workshops, lectures and bodywork sessions — and to peruse the latest arrivals in its specialized bookstore.

Cut to the present time. In the last few decades, most of the galleries and artist studios that long characterized the SoHo district have gradually relocated to the western reaches of the Chelsea area, replaced by a galaxy of trendy shops and upscale eateries. Despite such drastic transformations, a steady presence continues to beckon curious minds and spirits towards 83 Spring Street. Still occupying the same charming, three-story building just off the main commercial thoroughfare that is Broadway, the New York Open Center remains a choice destination for those seeking to explore alternative modes of thinking, feeling, sensing and acting in their personal, social and cultural environments.

"SoHo in all its marvelous upscaling has not changed the Open Center one whit," remarks Walter Beebe, a seasoned Wall Street lawyer and co-founder of the New York Open Center in 1984. "Our focus on inner-directed awareness, a holistic approach to life, and helping those who would like to bring that consciousness into their personal and professional lives and careers, grows apace. Folks come to us from all over the City."

The New York Open Center annually draws over 10,000 participants to its eclectic, ever-evolving curriculum. Chief among the Center's broad-audience appeal is the formidable roster of teachers in charge of its programs, a veritable "who's who" of recognized experts in their respective fields. Some of the leading researchers and renowned lecturers associated with the New York Open Center have included the likes of mind-body expert Deepak Chopra, noted physician Dr. Bernie Siegel, Taoist master Mantak Chia, writing educator Natalie Goldberg, theoretical physicist and radio personality Michio Kaku, and author Julia Cameron — the creator of the formidably popular The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity.

The Open Center's programs currently focus on five major areas of holistic study: Contemplative and Spiritual Traditions; Health and Wellness; Psychology; Society and Ecology; and Creativity and the Arts. "In the beginning years, we were searchers, looking for a personal sense of inner meaning," reflects Beebe. "That evolved to the question of how to apply those inner values — once uncovered — to the lives of those who attend workshops, trainings and certification programs. Now we do both. Return to find the spirit deep inside yourself, and then go out into the world with a sense of greater confidence."

In addition to its on-going workshops and classes, the Open Center provides advanced training programs through its Institute for Professional and Academic Development, intended for those considering a career in the realm of alternative healing or simply seeking a more in-depth exploration of class topics. Professional certification trainings are offered in a variety of disciplines including Yoga Teaching, Feng Shui, Personal and Professional Coaching, Reiki, Reflexology, Polarity and Homeopathy. Continuing Education Units are also available in areas such as Counseling, Nursing, Bodywork, Fitness and Music.

The Open Center Community InReach Project was launched in 1999 with the goal of extending its holistic offerings to underserved, marginalized populations throughout the New York City area. According to Beebe, a self-described radical equalitarian, "InReach is a way to bring the Open Center into communities otherwise denied access. Is there anything better than that? The programs are the result of dialogues — what do the people need? The teachers who answer those needs come forward. Nothing is imposed. It's a needs-based response." Working in association with social service agencies and community centers, the InReach Project emphasizes self-healing and self-empowerment through a broad range of preventive approaches such as healthy nutrition, stress reduction, gentle movement and meditation. Each year, hundreds of wellness classes are offered on a free-of-charge or donation basis to individuals facing critical illness, mental health problems, substance addiction, domestic violence and other personal hardships.

Back at 83 Spring Street, those seeking a soothing, hands-on experience will find a tantalizing menu of bodywork modalities under one roof. The hour-long, private sessions are provided by a versatile team of licensed practitioners, and are available as a single session or a "mix and match" Wellness Package — a convenient option for those interested in sampling a variety of mind-body approaches, or wishing to share the benefits of bodywork with family and friends. Sessions are available by appointment seven days a week, with current offerings including Swedish Massage, Shiatsu, Reflexology, Polarity Therapy, Reiki, CranioSacral Balancing, Lymphatic Drainage and Pregnancy Massage.

The Open Center's ground-level bookstore is a rich complement to its curriculum of courses and lectures. The well-stocked shelves feature titles covering most aspects of the mind, body and soul — along with a broad selection of magazines, CDs, aromatherapy scents, yoga gear and gifts for the spiritually minded. A public meditation room on the second floor provides an instant retreat for urbanites seeking to escape, however briefly, the hectic cadences of Lower Manhattan. The Open Center's serene, well-lit rooms are available for rental to independent lecturers, teachers and performers, as well as professional organizations conducting seminars and trainings.

Beginning in 2007, the New York Open Center will offer a series of Master of Arts programs through a partnership with The Graduate Institute, a Connecticut-based institution for higher education in "emerging fields of inquiry." Through an interactive and collaborative learning experience, participants will have the opportunity of earning a graduate degree in one of three lines of study: Conscious Evolution, Experiential Health and Healing, and the newly created Irenic Studies — a comprehensive program exploring the relationship between personal and institutional peace-building efforts and the quest for a sustainable world. Catering to the needs of busy adult learners, classes generally take place during intensive weekend sessions, allowing participants to earn a Master of Arts degree over a period of 22 months.

"Next comes that hardest of jobs, melding this radical work with the mainstream — without losing the vision of inner awakening with outer service," observes Beebe. "For the immediate future, the Open Center is training those who have learned to apply their deeper awareness in their personal relations and their careers. If a major supporter of this vision comes into the picture, the Open Center will over time become a university as the world has not seen since Plato's Symposia."

The New York Open Center is located at 83 Spring Street, between Broadway and Lafayette Street in Manhattan. The center's administrative offices can be reached by phone at 212-219-2527 or by fax at 212-226-4056. A seasonal print catalog is available for pick-up at the Open Center, or by dialing extension 185. A complete schedule of classes and programs is also available at www.opencenter.org