This is All That Matters 21st offering of the 40 Days of Yoga Program, a program based on Baron Baptists book “40 Days to Personal Revolution.” Over time, as our understanding of the teachings and concepts contained in Baron’s work has evolved, we find that we have moved toward a more personal expression of them. Throughout the program we will be noting Baron’s themes and drawing parallels to our personal understanding and expression.

Week 1: Intelligence
We begin our 40 days with a philosophical foundation of yoga: the concept of innate intelligence.
Baron’s week 1 theme is Presence. The focus is on waking up and becoming fully present to your body, mind, and life, to take time to simply be aware. This season we would like to take that a step further and focus on being present to our inner world, our inner knowing or innate intelligence from which true wisdom and real personal development emerge.

In yoga it is recognized that there is an innate intelligence manifesting everywhere in nature. In our bodies, this intelligence continually works to balance and restore us, laying the foundation for greater and greater levels of adaptability and strength. Yoga is the magnificent practice of getting in touch with this intelligence and developing an understanding of how to work with it in support of our health and wellbeing. This will be our focus in week 1.

Thoughts to Ponder…
Where are you most in touch with innate intelligence or knowing?
What brings you closer to it?
What distances you from it?
Let these questions inspire your observations this week.


Week 1 Yoga
On the mat we begin by attuning our awareness. This requires, as a senior teacher once put it, that we open our “inner ears” and listen deeply. We practice with a sense of relaxation and the intention of “resting into” our bodies, thus allowing inner intelligence to reveal itself. This way of practice asks that we are completely present, without judgment, with whatever arises in the moment. Week 1 is about listening, observing, “resting into,” and being present.
This core concept will be cultivated throughout the 40 days.

Start easy on yourself. Five to six yoga classes a week is a lot to start off with…If you start by going easy and listening inward, you will set a good pace for the 40 days and avoid injuries, fatigue, or illness. Talk to the teachers, ask your questions, and feel free to share challenges and insights.

Week 1 Meditation
This week we will learn how to meditate. The meditation we will learn is profoundly simple, the ultimate practice of “resting into”. If you already have a regular meditation practice you are welcome to try this one or stay with yours; we are happy to discuss this with you. Set aside 5 minutes twice a day to begin your regular meditation practice. For a good web page with Q&A about the meditation we teach, check the sidebar of the blog.

Week 1 Diet
With regard to diet, this week is about awareness or presence -- noticing acutely what and how we eat. Eating is a good place to cultivate awareness. Be aware this week of how often you eat (or do not eat), what you are eating, how the food makes you feel, your energy peaks and valleys during the day. We ask that you fill out the diet dairy for the week. To print new blank diet diary pages, click on the link on the sidebar of the blog.

We are slowly easing in dietary adjustments, nothing too drastic this week. We are not using brute force; we are working on using our intuition and good judgment (not harsh judgment). An exercise that will add to this awareness is chewing. Try chewing each bite 30-50 times. When we chew more we eat less, taste more, and support digestion immensely.

Week One TO-DO's Summed Up:
• Come to yoga, go easy.
• Give yourself permission to spend time attuning to your inner knowing or innate intelligence by being more aware and present.
• Begin your daily meditation practice. Five minutes in the morning and evening.
• Write down what you are eating and how you are feeling.

Quote of Week
This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival: A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice — meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond. Rumi

On Innate Intelligence from BJ Palmer, father of Chiropractic
Innate Intelligence (nature, spirit, subconscious or unconscious mind, or other name given this internal power within us) is what cures and heals. Innate Intelligence is never sick, never depleted, and is always full to capacity and running over. It is there, ready, willing, anxious to deliver life and health at all times, in all places, and in all ways. Its potentials are there from the moment of birth to the last breath before death. Its potentials are there from the down, depleted, or dying body. The Innate power house is desiring to, capable of, and ready to get the sick body well.”