Not Forgotten

I have been at the American Society of Training and Development International Conference for the past few days. It is an annual event that Tom Crum always presents at and that I have been doing Magic of Stretching sessions at for the past four or five years. There were an incredible number of speakers and I participated in a number of high quality sessions. As I sift through my notes, I hope to share some material with you in the coming weeks.

Magic of Stretching is an idea that I came up with after many years of observing tired participants at the ASTD conference. The conference creates a 'Magic of Stretching' spot in a prominent place in the conference center. At designated times each day, I offer a short 10-20 minute stretching session. Typically 20-50 people gather to participate and, as we begin a routine of stretches, passers-by stop and join in. By the end of the 20 minutes, there are often 100 or more people gathered.

The stretches are simple and done in a standing position. They are combination of qi gong and tai chi. Some focus on the neck and shoulders, others exercises balance or energize. And, of course, breathing is emphasized.

Participants leave smiling and energized, with an increased ability to focus and take in information.

Judy Warner