Adapt and Adjust: If Not Now, When?

For about 16 of us, today began with a labyrinth walk, led by Phyllis Pilgrim of Rancho La Puerta. Imagine us walking quietly, with space between us, moving from the mouth toward the center, toward the heart. We are also moving inward toward our own center, our own heart, clarifying our intention as we do. The path loops and bends, and we are reminded of the importance of balance. Meeting others on the path, we honor them, making space for them to pass unimpeded. Some began this journey before us and will reach the center first; we learn not to hurry after them but to stay present to our own experience, knowing that our lives (and the lives of those behind us) are unfolding in their own time. In the center, in the heart, we come together, we are all connected. And as we start our journey outward, that connection informs our lives, even as each of us goes about our own work. Moving outward, manifesting our intention, once again we walk a path that loops and bends. It takes time, patience and focus to deliver our gift to the world . . .

An outdoor breakfast was underway as we rejoined the larger community. Many attendees selected the mindful meal, where they could network with fellow participants and make new friends. I chose the silent option, enjoying the company of those around me without conversing. Granola, fruit, eggs and juice gave us a healthy and delicious start to the day--welcome energy for the schedule ahead.

Between breakfast and lunch, I was a roving reporter, moving in and out of many sessions. Eric Franklin's workshop, "Relax Your Neck, Liberate Your Shoulders," was my first stop. He had everyone form a huge circle (yes, it was packed) for a "movement teaser" designed to warm people up, raise awareness of posture and stability and melt the ice as well as the tension in the muscles. Eric was a crackup. With his running banter and occasional slapstick, he had everyone giggling and wobbling and tripping over their own heels. "Your body has a shelf life--sorry!" he quipped. "If you move efficiently, it will last longer." I was sorry to leave.

Talking of balance, Megan Scott's session on "Balance and the Aging Factor" offered crucial education on helping the elderly avoid falls. I think of falls my mother and father had before they died. A few weeks ago my father-in-law had a nasty fall when he tripped over a garden hose on cement; he needed multiple stitches around his eye. Now I have just learned that my last surviving aunt has died today from complications following a fall last week. This work is so important. And those of you out there who are focusing on this field have a key role to play.

There were excellent Pilates seminars by PJ O'Clair, Zoey Trap, Tom McCook, John Garey and Nora St. John--all leading presenters and lovely people, too. If you haven't trained with any of these experts, seek them out--it'll take your teaching to a new level. You'll also enjoy the experience of learning alongside other committed Pilates professionals.

In the nutrition field, Michelle May--an MD--led two engaging sessions, one on "Fearless Eating: No Deprivation or Guilt," the other on "Mindful Eating: Eat Less, Enjoy More." Discussion was lively in both sessions, with participants eager for advice on how to guide their offspring's dietary habits and what to believe about carbs. Michelle has worked through her own battles with weight and has reached a very comfortable place, where she savors food (a happy thing, as her husband is a professional chef) without being slave to it. One message she had for fitness professionals sometimes goes undetected: "We have caused exercise to be a punishment for overeating. We exercise to earn the right to eat."

I'm getting hungry now, thinking about lunch--but there are still a few more morning sessions I'd like to tell you about. I've been watching Debbie Rosas teach Nia for about 15 years, and she never fails to inspire me. I love the wholeness of what she is doing, the sweet celebration of the body as it moves through space, vibrant, connected. Here, another movement circle showed people how resistance in one body affected flow throughout the circle. I found myself thinking of relationships--at work, at home, in other settings. How is my resistance affecting those relationships?

If I've been watching Debbie for 15 years, I had never met Jill Miller, whose Yoga Tune Up session looked impressive. She uses small yoga therapy balls, which in this workshop were placed at different locations along the spine, to release the muscles. There was no extra charge for the chiropractic session, she teased. I can't pretend that this was exactly fun--those rubber balls were dense--but Jill cued participants to find a comfortable level of discomfort, and that seemed to work. I left them as they moved on to using the bigger (sticky) sponge ball for abdominal work--and later I could hear the class erupting in laughter, which I realized was the promised exercise for creating movement in the diaphragm.

Just 10 minutes or so remaining, but there was still time to slip into Kay Cross's session “Time Management 101.” Again, discussion was lively. How does a woman run her business when she has three children with so many extracurricular activities that they need their own taxi service? If anyone is organized, it's Kay--but even Kay conceded that there comes a time when you can't have it all. Something has to give. You must take an honest look and select your priorities.

Lunch was well earned and tasty. Chicken and salad, followed by fruit. The big surprise at this sit-down affair came when Kathie Davis announced the recipient of the 2009 Inner IDEA Inspiration Award: Dr. Pamela Peeke. Surprise, I mean, for Pam herself, who had no advance knowledge of what was coming. "Well, gee, " she said, deadpan, "thanks a lot." But Dr. Peeke was also the lunchtime keynote, and anyone who's heard her knows she's a live wire. It didn't take long for electricity to flow. What did she tell us? For starters: "If you have a social network of friends who are not family, you will live longer by a factor of 22%!" So that little thing between you and your buddy? Work it out! Mend the bridge. Call an old friend. Look after each other. Stay in touch. And the "entree"? "Adapt and adjust!" she urged. We must, not only to survive but to grow. No change will ever happen until the pain of being who we are is less than the pain of hauling our ass out of the mess we're in (I quote). Adapt and adjust. The Dalai Lama does it. We can do it. Life goes better when we do.

Currently Dr. Peeke is working hard on Capitol Hill to keep a provision in the health care reform bill that will mean physical fitness is added as a vital sign on every health care record. She is also asking legislatively for insurance reimbursement for fitness and wellness professionals. She believes in the power of wellness. She knows the power of wellness. And there's no time to lose. For dessert: "When you wake up, list your gratitudes. Then say, ‘Bring it on--another day of adapt and adjust! If not now, when?’"

I took her message with me--and called it up a number of times during the rest of the day. In very little ways, but they all helped. Resistance didn't have time to build--a quick look around, a fresh way of seeing, and I found a creative alternative. Thanks, Pam.

I've got to wind up this blog. It's running tooooooo long. But let me just say the afternoon sessions were on a par with the morning ones. Hats off to Lawrence Biscontini, who year after year pours his heart and soul into creating new programs, new fusions, new choreography. He loves what he does--and others “get” that. More tomorrow.