A Conversation with Stephan Rechtschaffen, Co-Founder of
Omega Institute
By Owen Lipstein
My first contact with the Rechtschaffen family was more than
40 years ago. I was about 6 years old at the time, and I had an intense sore
throat. I apparently communicated that with a certain urgency to my father, who
in turn, with much less urgency, called his chess partner, Dr. Rechtschaffen,
arranging for an early Saturday appointment for his son.
Whatever it was that caused me to behave like such a
crybaby, the problem subsided. For that weekend. And since I don't remember
ever having another sore throat, perhaps the cure was for all time. In any
case, I'm sure I did not demonstrate the appropriate gratefulness to the doctor
who came early on that cold morning, or to my father who had troubled a friend
with a late-night call about his son's affliction.
"He's a very good doctor," my father said of him
at the time. Seeing them shake hands as we left the office, I actually remember
having the feeling that they approved of each other, as men do periodically (I
was to learn). That, in spite of their continuing and ferocious rivalry in
chess. (At least I think it was chess.)
Some 25 years later, I found myself seeking another set of
remedies from yet another doctor named Rechtschaffen. His first name, Stephan.
Yes, my doctor's son.
In 1977, the younger Stephan founded Omega Institute in a
distant place called Rhinebeck. N.Y. He described it at the time as "a
kind of paradise," I recall. At the time of the institute's founding,
"holistic health, psychological inquiry, world music and art, meditation,
and new forms of spiritual practice were just budding in American culture,"
Omega's Web site states. The institute's purpose was then (as it is now)
"to look everywhere for the most effective strategies and inspiring
traditions that might help people bring more meaning and vitality into their
lives."
I had more than a casual interest in the subject. Because I
genuinely did—and because I had just started a magazine called American Health.
"For the New Way America Lives," as I (cheekily) planned on
describing it. It was to become a kind of Cinderella story. But that's another
chapter...
Since that day, Stephan and I have seen each other on and
off over the years. As editor-in-chief of Psychology Today, I interviewed him
with the publication of his book Time Shifting. Visiting the Rhinebeck campus
in the late '90s, I was struck by its serene beauty, but also by the sheer
activity that seemed to be erupting. "This place feels like a magazine at
deadline," I remember telling Stephan at the time. We sat down for coffee
a couple of weeks ago.
Owen Lipstein: Omega is now the largest holistic learning
center in the country-20,000 people come here every year. Think that nascent
health movement of ours has become mainstream?
Stephan Rechtschaffen: Yes, in some ways. But only for a
subsection. Look at the obesity rate, and at the overall nationwide lack of
demonstrable concern about wellness.
OL: Doctors are still often brought in as high-level
mechanics.
SR: Actually, people take much better care of their cars.
Doctors for the most part are early disease detectors, not wellness-care
providers.
OL: They're in charge of the lucrative final chapters of
people's lives. A lot of us aren't very good at confronting unpleasantness
until we have to.
SR: I’m reminded of the old Steve McQueen story about falling
from a 10-story building: "So far, so good." But the loss of residual
capacity is a fact in life— the difference [among people] is how quickly this
happens. And it's not just biological and chronological aging—it's emotional
aging.
OL: Another reason people ignore their health is that they
believe their life clock is set in stone — whatever happens is going to happen,
it’s all just a function of their genes.
SR: When in fact more research is showing that genetics is
less significant than we thought. Lifestyle choices—like overexposure to sun,
smoking, other environmental issues—are much more major.
OL: You wrote Time Shifting [which is about time management
and meditation] before the age of broadband. Think it's more "timely"
now?
SR: Yes and no—things can be timeless at high speed. Look at
the examples of top athletes: "When I'm running, time stops"—that's
how one top runner described it.
OL: So where are your interests taking you now?
SR: As I get older, I'm focusing more on how as a species we
will survive.
OL: From personal health to global survival.
SR: Well, yes, they're all related. Within the natural way
of things, in social justice, there is true democratization.
OL: In retrospect, how important to Omega's success is being
in the Hudson River Valley?
SR: To have an amazing natural setting so close to an urban
setting was critical. We're committed to being an example of what we teach. You
should talk to Skip Backus—we're doing something amazing on a new waste plant.
"How's your dad?" I asked as we were leaving. “He
gave up his practice two years ago," Stephan said. "And he's not
happy about it."
"Retirement isn't good for anyone," I said.
"Not for the young, not for the old."
"Incidentally," he asked, “what's the name of the
column this talk will appear under?"
"American Health," I answered mischievously. He
smiled at me and we shook hands. That was it.
