1) Carolyn's Comments
2) Featured Article: Five Ways to Open Your Heart
3) Tai Chi question & answer
4) Upcoming Event
5) Closing Thought

It's February, the month of relationships, love, hearts, valentines, and appreciation. In appreciation for you, my faithful readers, I want you to how much I love reading your emails about how you are incorporating the Tai Chi Flow routines into your daily/weekly schedules. Thank you for recommending the videos/dvds to co-workers, grandparents, and to your schools. I truly appreciate your comments and support!

Kim from Canada writes: I love these inspirational newsletters. They help to keep me centered. I wanted to let you know that I absolutely LOVE your pregnancy tai chi video! I'm 34 weeks pregnant and still at it. I never thought that I could enjoy this type of exercise so much. I hope you will continue to produce more of these high quality programs. My persistence paid off and now I feel like I know what I'm doing! I've even started journaling which keeps my mind organized. Thanks again! Take care and God Bless

Thank you Kim! Blessings on your labor and delivery! I hope all goes well, give the little one a kiss for me-(I love newborns!) And remember, the pregnancy video is also great postpartum!

FIVE WAYS TO OPEN YOUR HEART:

Love-Start by giving yourself unconditional love. You can't totally love and accept others when you have negative self-talk going on. After years of working with many clients in the field of Energy Healing, I am convinced that the #1 common denominator in every issue is the lack of self- worth, self-acceptance,.self-love. Love is what we were born with; fear is what we have learned here. Our spiritual journey is to let go of the fear in order to accept the love back into our hearts. Recognize that we don't make any mistakes we don't need to in order to learn the lessons that are necessary for our growth. Listen to the lesson, forgive yourself, and move forward with love.

Help others-We all know the best way to lift ourselves when we are down is by giving service to someone else. It's a Universal law; you can't bless the life of another without receiving bless- ings in return. It is as if we are all connected (which we are) by an invisible thread, and each time we lift another, we too are lifted. Likewise, each time we put someone else down, we also bring ourselves down. Helping a fellow-being, whether it is a friend or a stranger, is truly the best thing to do when you feel sorry for yourself. It opens your heart by helping you realize there are others in less fortunate circumstances right now than you. We all need a helping hand from time to time. Opportunities for service are all around us. Everyone has their own gifts to share and I believe God puts people in our path to give us an opportunity to do just that. There's no more potent way to thank God for your gifts, or to increase them, than by sharing them with others.

Sing-whether on key, off key, in the shower, rocking a baby, or singing along w/your favorite uplifting music, good music is a great way to open your heart. Research has shown that every tone, every sound has a vibration to it. When we listen to or sing music that resonates with our own 'personal tone' it is exceptionally healing. I have many CDs that I intuitively know are good for me and I love to sing along with them in the kitchen while I cook. One of my favorites is Josh Groban-although I must admit, since I don't know the language, I have to fake it on the Spanish songs. Funny thing, my food always seems to turn out better when I have great music playing while preparing it. My belief on that is, good music has a high vibration-it raises the vibration in me, in the food, and in the room so of course everything will taste better! What a great way to open my heart, as well as the hearts of those I enjoy cooking for.

Laugh-Doesn't it feel great to have a good ol' belly laugh?? And what a great way to release toxins from your body. Research shows there are many medical and psych- ological benefits of laughter. Laughter can heal pain, reduce stress, help you sleep like a baby, diffuse tension in difficult situations, boost your immunity, foster creativity, multiply your productivity, extend your life, expand your point of view, bond you to others, increase your charm and charisma, make you happy, and help you live in the moment. So go on, read a silly book with a child and find yourself laughing at their giggles, watch a Jim Carey movie, or find another episode of Seinfeld to watch for the 12th time!

Move-Movement is a great way to physically open your heart. One of my favorite Qigong movements is called Separating Heaven and Earth. (Also called Penetrating Heaven and Earth). This exercise is a powerful stretch that releases excess energies while bringing fresh oxygen to the cells. It opens the meridians, expels toxic energies, and stimulates fresh energy to flow through the joints. It is helpful to do this at the first sign of cold or flu. This movement is one of the warm-ups on both the Tai Chi Flow for Pregnancy and the Tai Chi Flow for Everybody video/dvd.

Stand tall, yet relaxed With a deep inhalation through your nose, bring hands to "prayer position" in front of the chest. Exhale deeply. Again, breathe in through the nose, while raising your right had toward heaven (palm facing upward) and your left hand toward earth (palm facing down). Gently stretch as if pushing something away in both directions. Hold this position for as long as is comfortable. Then release your breath through your mouth, returning your hands in to prayer position. Repeat, this time extending the left hand upward and the right hand to earth.

I like to do at least 3 cycles of this when I get out of bed in the morning. I also do it when I have been working on the computer or other project for a little too long. The stretching and fresh oxygen feel great, and help to clear my brain! In addition, I find it very helpful if I ever get a side-ache while running. I slow down to a walk, then do 3 cycles of this---I know it must look a bit goofy to anyone driving by, but for me, it has always helped the side-ache to subside quickly.

Tai Chi Q & A

Dear Carolyn, I have a 14 year old son who says he wants to try out some Tai Chi (he has done more aggressive martial arts in the past). From the info. on your website, it looks like your videos are a simplified form that would be easier for him to start with. At his age, would you recommend the Kids tape, or the Everybody tape? Thanks, MaryAnn, VA

Hi MaryAnn, Thanks for the inquiry. Yes, you are right, these videos would be an easy way for your son (or any beginner) to ease into Tai Chi. My TCF for Kids tape is great for kids up to about 11 or 12 years old. Your son, being 14, would probably enjoy the TCF for Everybody tape much more. In fact, when I do classes at local Jr. High and High Schools I use many of the movements included on it. Since he has some training in martial arts, the movements will probably come easy for him. For most beginners, the hardest part is s-l-o-w-i-n-g d-o-w-n! Once he has that down, the rest will 'flow'!

LOCAL NEWS: Upcoming Events I will be teaching a class entitled, "Meditation in Motion" at the 19th Annual Women's Conference in Dixie

Sat, March 5, 2005 -- 8 am to 3:30 pm Dixie State College, Eccles Fine Arts Center St. George, UT

Tickets $20 Available at DRMC, R & K Books, Avenna Center Box Office

For more info. go to my workshop/classes page at www.taichiflow.com/workshops.htm Note: I am currently updating that page, so if the info. is not there today, please check back in a day or two.

CLOSING THOUGHT:

In each of us are heroes; Speak to them and they will come forth.