Inner IDEA 2008 Conference: A Novice's Journey

As I wound around the hairpin turns of the mountains that overlook La Quinta Resort and Club just outside of Palm Springs this afternoon, I got caught in something of a sandstorm. Gritty brown particles pelted my car and the intense blue sky I had just been admiring turned dirty. My car was buffeted every now and again by strong wind gusts on Route 74's two-lane highway. The numerous blind curves were getting to me, as was the driver of the high performance BMW on my tail that wanted to push her car's German ingenuity to the limit. I pulled over at the next turnout and gladly let her go. After that, I pretty much white knuckled the last 20 miles of the drive (I don't like driving very much anyway--I'd much rather daydream and look at scenery) and arrived to the 3rd annual Inner IDEA Conference off schedule and, well, pretty tense. Not the auspicious start to my desert mind-body-spirit experience I had hoped for.

Most of the time in life I believe it's counterproductive to have expectations; so as soon as I checked in and got settled in my room, I reminded myself to just let go of everything and open my mind to accept whatever I was meant to learn over the next couple of days. Easier said than done, but I decided after seeing my beautiful poolside casita (there are 52 pools on the grounds here!) and soaking in the tranquil resort scenery that it might not be too difficult.

I have a confession to make: I have a bit of anxiety about covering this conference. I am not a mind-body-spirit guru or even fluent in the language. There are two other editors at IDEA who are much more sure-footed on this terrain. But by whatever strange twists of fate the universe has dealt in the past few weeks, neither of them were able to be here.

I honestly struggle with some of these concepts. I've only meditated formally 3 times in my life (all over the past month). I have no idea what I'm doing when I do it, but am getting some wonderful guidance from a person who has practiced for many years. I've tried yoga, but was constantly called out in class for my poor posture, so I was turned off to it. (Yes, I realize I need to try it again). I like Pilates, fusion concepts and other mind-body disciplines, but when it gets right down to it, I'm a hard-driving athlete who loves to sweat and push my physical limits. That's how I let go, relax and achieve my particular state of mind-body-spirit balance. It's challenging for me to sit still--and I think I'm in for a lot of that this weekend.

But here goes...I'm off to start my journey.

Opening Ceremony & Keynote Presentation

Larry Cammarata, PhD, who later told me he's self-taught himself to play several non-traditional types of musical instruments, helped set the stage with soothing, haunting background music on the Native American flute. I was feeling loads better already compared to my arrival state of mind.

Next, a very special guest was introduced. Swami Veda Bharti, who had traveled across the world from India to be here with us tonight, ascended the stage in his beautiful orange-sherbet colored robes, a gorgeous contrast to his dark honeyed skin and white hair. He sat in meditation pose, mic'd up and led us in a short, powerful meditation. His mantra urged us to "Relax your forehead. relax your throat center of consciousness; relax your heart center of consciousness; relax your navel center of cousciouness." He covered the entire body from head to heels. He told us that whatever we do repeatedly with the mind will become the mind's habit--that meditating like this could help us to rediscover its original calm nature. He paid homage to the 9/11 victims (today is the 7th anniversary of the terror at the World Trade Center Towers) and honored those who are trying to spread peace of mind on the planet.

As he wound up the mediation, the Swami provided us with a suggestion for the weekend: "Use this time fruitfully for forming 2 internal habits: 1. Keep your forehead relaxed; 2. Whenever you have 3 minutes, give yourself the time to create the breath flow as you think about the deity or people you may hold sacred in your life. Form the habit of the calm mind stream."

After the meditation, Inner IDEA co-creator Peter Davis took the stage, welcomed the delegates and brought us all to focus on the next few days, suggesting that we absorb the forthcoming experience with a child's sense of wonder and without judgement. Somehow, that alleviated whatever residual pressure I perceived was on me. I think we all get so wound up feeling like we have to know everything that we just set ourselves up for added stress. For me, ignorance is bliss at this moment!

Next, Inner IDEA co-creator Kathie Davis welcomed everyone and introduced this year's Inner IDEA Inpsiration Award recipients, Frank and Serpil Iszak, founders of Silver Age Yoga. Their organization provides yoga to seniors for free, a philanthropic activity that seems to give Frank, who accepted the award, the glow that I've noted in a few of the other true "givers" I've known in my life. "When a blind person comes up with wobbling arms and hugs you; when a tear rolls down a craggy face in appreciation; when a smile comes to a face that hasn't seen one in a long time; or when a man gets out of a wheelchair to come and do a downward dog...those are the rewards that you cannot find or buy. They are priceless," he said. "There is a proverb that says 'Change 1,000 lives.' you may think that sounds like a lot, but remember what Confucius said: 'To walk 1,000 steps you just have to take one.' Start by changing one life...it may even be your own you start with."

Frank's comments seemed a well-orchestrated segue into Dr. Patrick Gentempo's keynote. Gentempo, a world-renowned speaker, successful chiropractor and a highly visible personality in alternative health care circles, is known for his passionate dedication to helping people regain their health. He started by asking us to go inside ourselves and try to understand why we all came to the conference. Were we here for what he calls a "Jacuzzi experience"--wherein the bubbles swirl around our bodies and make us feel good temporarily--or were we here for a "pivotal experience"--one that changes your life forever? "Over the next few days you have the opportunity to have a pivotal experience...not necessarily about you but about who you serve and how you impact your communities."

He went on to describe that people today are not just sick in the allopathic sense, they are sick with "experience," which turns to disease. "Our work is cut out for us. It is significant," he assessed. In order for wellness professionals to have an impact on such sickness, we first must fully grasp our individual purpose and be on a path free of impediments that throw us into survival mode and keep us off purpose. "If you're part of the problem--constantly in survival mode--you can't be part of the solution. You become part of the problem rather than moving people toward the solution. If you're constantly in survival mode, you can't develop purpose."

So, you can see that we were given much to think about. After hearing the philosophies and suggestions of the opening speakers, I think we all need to go relax our foreheads a little bit and digest this information! No better place for that than the opening reception. Later, I might even go for a literal Jacuzzi experience with IDEA co-workers under the stars. It probably won't prove to be a pivotal experience in my life, but it sure sounds like a great way to unwind after this long day.