If Not Now, When?

"Breathing out I smile. This moment is the only moment. Balance is my home."

-- Sherri Baptiste

This morning everyone had breakfast outside on the lawn as the sun glided over the Santa Rosa Mountains. Many attendees had already visited sessions earlier in the morning, and I overheard people at my table talking about how energizing Laughing Yoga was. Better than a cup of java? I can't say. One thing I can say: there was still buzz about the keynote address from the night before.

Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, used her stage time to educate, rile and inspire the "revolutionaries" in the crowd. The athletic-minded "doc who walks the talk" spoke with a conviction that had roots deep in the earth. In fact, this was one of the topics she discussed: the holistic nature of wellness and our connectedness to the heartbeat of the universe. Perhaps a more prominent theme, however, was the idea of pure, simple connection. "There is no such thing as a mind-body connection," Peeke said, "It is one in the same, and always has been."

Peeke shared many valuable insights into mind-body research and put a special emphasis on the notion that our minds and emotions are plastic, a term she referred to as neuroplasticity. We can change. You can indeed teach an old dog new tricks. It's a matter of setting the intention and nurturing the neuropathways in a manner that empowers instead of enables. Peeke left Inner IDEA attendees with this mantra: "Adapt. Adjust. If not now, when?"

It is clear that Inner IDEA as a concept is something people have been thirsting for. In each session I visited today, attendees had the type of forward-leaning, flow-inspired, raptured look usually reserved for a hot date. "Yes, yes, please tell me more; I want to learn everything about you." The depth of the programming is matched only by its richness and zest. Megan Scott, PhD, even commented on the programming during her session, "Yoga, A Powerful Tool for Metabolic Enhancement, Weight Loss and Anti-Aging" (which was absolutely phenomenal). "When I learned there was going to be a session on Reiki here tomorrow, I knew we were now in a place where real change is happening."