Inner IDEA® Conference 2008

Walk the Chartres labyrinth (on a cloth replica) as a tool for meditation. This session includes a history of labyrinths and its construction in the Chartres Cathedral, along with an explanation of its use as a destination for Christian pilgrims.The labyrinth walk can be used today as a metaphor for a modern-day pilgrimage to your heart and soul center.

Join us as we take advantage of our spectacular geographical location in Palm Springs for a special moonlit meditation aimed at healing. Moon bathing offers a unique opportunity to heighten the sense of self, combat depression, deepen introspection and balance yin and yang forces within us. We will include a small fusion of movement from yoga and tai chi before our meditation and read the story "Good Night Moon" in conclusion.

Walk the Chartres labyrinth (on a cloth replica) as a tool for meditation. This session includes a history of labyrinths and its construction in the Chartres Cathedral, along with an explanation of its use as a destination for Christian pilgrims.The labyrinth walk can be used today as a metaphor for a modern-day pilgrimage to your heart and soul center.

What does all of this talk about "greening" mean? What is your carbon footprint? How does this affect you as a fitness professional today and tomorrow? In this unique lecture, we will take a look at the present and the future and outline the steps you can take in your wellness environment toward being part of the greening solution in your work, your public life and your private life. As a wellness professional and a concerned individual, it's your responsibility.

Awakened presence is the only place where deep and lasting inner peace and joy can be experienced. What is it? What are its wondrous qualities? What are the health benefits of being fully present? What keeps people from being fully present? How might awakened presence be rediscovered? These questions will be explored in this highly interactive and stimulating multisensory presentation. Life will never be the same again!

The foot, with its 55 articulations, connects us to the ground. Shoes dampen this connection and splint us mechanically, thus interrupting energetic and neuromuscular patterns. Explore exercises for the feet and lower legs and learn to use stones to stimulate the feet and the whole body. Then integrate these techniques into your body-mind classes!

Mindfulness is a key component of integrative fitness, a centering skill that can enhance personal and professional effectiveness. The benefits obtained from the practice of meditation include improved cardiovascular health, enhanced concentration, increased self-awareness, anxiety reduction, decreased stress and chronic pain, and improved sleep. Learn how to meditate and integrate mindfulness into everyday life situations.

Chi can be considered the activating energy of the universe. Almost every culture in the world has a word to express this concept (e.g., ki, qi, life force, spiritual energy). No matter how each culture expresses it, they all consider it the pure, balancing and free-flowing energy that sustains life. It is a part of everything that exists and the animating factor in all living beings. As the animating factor, chi bridges our body and our consciousness. Learn what chi is, what meridians are and how they are enhanced with movement.

The foot, with its 55 articulations, connects us to the ground. Shoes dampen this connection and splint us mechanically, thus interrupting energetic and neuromuscular patterns. Explore exercises for the feet and lower legs and learn to use stones to stimulate the feet and the whole body. Then integrate these techniques into your body-mind classes!

The energy of the "mature mind" will often hide the presence of a "beginner's mind." The beginner's mind is the state of excitement and has the empowering ability to be fun and deeply honest. Learn how to be open with your beginner's mind while embracing the hard-earned wisdom of the mature mind, all while moving through a sequence of new, unique and fun yoga postures.

The Anusara Yoga(R) universal principles of alignment is a powerful and therapeutic hatha yoga system that effectively provides tremendous therapeutic relief to a wide variety of biomechanical limitations and injuries. By incorporating Anusara's concept of the "three A's," attitude, alignment and action, we learn to holistically address physical injuries. Even if you are not challenged with specific injuries, these principles help to open up your body like never before, taking your yoga practice to a whole new level.

Experience the joy of being fully present to all of your senses while walking through the beautiful grounds of the La Quinta Resort. Come celebrate the spontaneous unfolding of Life in all of its perfection.

Vinyasa yoga develops a steadfast integration of body and mind, creating an intensity of experience that is the pure exhilaration of yoga. The heart and soul of this experience is the vinyasa breathing/movement technique. This class follows the traditional ashtanga sequence of sun salutations, and standing and seated asanas. Coordinating each movement with each breath remarkably enhances strength, balance, flexibility and mental clarity.

Deborah Szekely will share her interpretation on the famous quote by Aldous Huxley, “Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him.” Deborah explains that if time is not used, it is not experienced and a bad experience is often better than good as it can offer the opportunity to learn more. Join us for this enriching insight from the founder of the world-class spas Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door.

Mindfulness is learning to listen to the voice of guidance through exercises in awareness. Once called “remembering,” mindfulness goes on 24 hours a day and is the exercise of remembering ourselves, our true nature. Like breathing, the exercises learned can become a part of your practice and life. Please join us for an invitation to a deeper connection to your true essence.