1) Carolyn’s Comments - New Look for Website!
2) Featured Article: Tai Chi for Teens
3) Questions from Readers
4) Closing Thought

I am happy to announce that the Tai Chi Flow website has a new look! More info, easier navigation, new photos, movement, and of course, pretty new colors! If you haven’t visited lately check it out!   www.taichiflow.com

Featured Article: Tai Chi for Teens 

For most, the teen-age years are a time of wanting to be noticed and accepted. That can cause anxiety, confusion, depression, and low self esteem.  Mood swings are very common with all the hormonal changes going on during the teen years.  Tai Chi’s regular practice is designed to help us realize that we are in charge of how we choose to react to what is going on around us.  The truths found in the symbolism of the movements help us see that the way we choose to see the world, is how it will unfold for us.  The practice of Tai Chi gives us confidence and feelings of self-worth.

According to one study, Tai Chi players reported less tension, depression, anger, fatigue, confusion, and anxiety; they felt more vigorous and, in general, had less total mood disturbance. Perfect for teen-agers! 

Tai Chi integrates the mind, body, and spirit:

MIND--The movements of Tai Chi help the right brain hemisphere and the left brain hemisphere to connect as they need to for clearer thinking.  Regular Tai Chi practice improves mental concentration and focus. It brings the brain into a very calm, clear state known by scientists as the alpha state. This state of mind is highly creative and productive. In fact, by just doing a few simple Qigong movements before school or before a test, job interview,

or class presentation, we can unblock the body’s energies and get them flowing in a pattern that is very conducive to learning. (It is very beneficial for students with ADD/ADHD)

BODY--As far as the physical benefits, Tai Chi helps to integrate the skeletal and muscular systems.  As the players move through the slow motion movements, their mind becomes calm, their breathing deepens and slows, and their muscles relax.  All this happens while the muscles are toning making it a very efficient workout. It is also great for balance, flexibility and coordination.  In addition, Tai Chi can boost the immune system, enhance the body's natural healing powers, increase breathing capacity, reduce asthma and allergy reactions, alleviate stress, increase energy level, and lubricate the joints.

Tai Chi is a great compliment to any sports program (more on that in an upcoming newsletter), it has been used in drug abuse prevention programs, and it helps decrease aggressive behavior.  Furthermore, since low self-worth is at the core of most eating disorders, Tai Chi’s ability to raise confidence levels, and harmonize mind with body, can help with anorexia and bulimia.

SPIRIT--Tai Chi clears the communication between mind and body.  Through its practice you learn to slow down.  You learn to trust your gut and your own sense of intuition.  I can't think of anything more beneficial for a teen-ager (or any age) than that.  To put it simply, the symbolism of Tai Chi and Qigong (also spelled Chi Kung) teaches us "in with the good, out with the bad".  You inhale deeply and take in fresh cleansing energy (chi)—then, on the exhale you visualize letting go of anything negative; doubts, fears, judgments.

I use a lot of symbolism when I teach. For example, one of the movements says "Yield and be strong"; this teaches us to be still and listen to our inner voice--that is where our strength lies.  Another part I like to bring out is "Transitions can flow smoothly"; reminding us that just like the physical changes of the movements, the changes in our lives need not be frightening or difficult if we are rooted and grounded. 

During the teen-age years there are many changes to go through.  The smoothness of the movements mirror how we can go through changes in our lives.  It teaches the importance of keeping a balance of strength and grace in our lives.  Learning these lessons now, will certainly benefit our youth throughout their lives.

Questions from Readers:

Q: Carolyn, I seem to sabotage myself in money issues  and I really want to get out of the “I can’t afford it” & “there’s never enough” mentality.  If it is true that we create our lives by the thoughts we think, then can the energy-clearing work you do, help me get rid of those negative thoughts? If I can get past the negative money beliefs that I was raised with, and send out some positive, that could really rock my world!    Thanks, Josh

A: Hi  Josh, Thanks for the letter.  Yes, the way you put it makes me laugh, but it certainly will rock your world in a great way!  Many times we operate on the belief systems we were raised with, without even being consciously aware how negative they may be.  The techniques I use release the attachments to those “scarcity mentality” beliefs.  Most money issues have generational roots—many of us had parents and/or grandparents who live through the great depression.  Also, most times with money “sabatage” it is a deeper belief of not being worthy of success.

Q:  Hi Carolyn, I would like to have some Energy work done, and I notice you do it via telephone. Is a phone session as effective as a person to person session? Katie

A: Hi Katie, Energy exists no matter how long distance it is, so yes the phone sessions are just as effective as the person to person ones.  When I look at someone to see if anything is 'scrambled' in their energy system, I see it in my mind's eye so it doesn't make a lot of difference to me if I am looking at them with my physical eyes, or not.  Then when I do the physical integration, I do it on myself and dedicate it to them. I know it seems so easy, but this stuff really works!  I have plenty of emails from phone clients telling me great changes that have come about since we balanced their energy and released the doubts and fears from their energy system and their subconscious mind.

Closing Thought:

Here are a couple great quotes from Wayne Dyer’s book, Staying on the Path:

“Everything in life is a paradox.  The more you want approval, the more you become a person that other people don’t want to approve of; the less you care about whether you get approval, the more you get.”

“Needing approval is tantamount to saying ‘Your view of me is more important than my own opinion of myself’.”

Create a great day!  Carolyn