“Come on… golf is not a real sport!”

How many times have you heard that?

No, you’re not running around a court or attacking a ball back over the net, or tackling through a defensive line… but the better your body is mentally and physically in peak condition, the better your chance to play at your optimum level in golf.

Did you know that along with his extensive workout routine, Tiger Woods does Pilates? Did you now Arnold Schwarzenegger used to take Ballet… really!

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Do more than just show up!

What many potentially great golfers fail to realize is you’ve got to do more than just show up at the first tee to truly excel at golf. Being on your game requires the cardio ability to walk three to five miles without getting tired, flexibility to move through a full-range of movement, and the balance control and strength necessary to hit a little white ball repeatedly with consistent power and precision.”

When you realize all the different muscles used in golf, you may begin to appreciate it as an athletic endeavor, and think again about getting to the gym or hiring a personal trainer! Stronger body means stronger mind, for a longer time!!

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Muscles used in golf:

Front of thigh (quadriceps)

Back of thigh (hamstrings)

Outer thigh or hips (abductors)

Inner thigh (adductors)

Buttocks (gluteals)

Sides of abdomen (internal and external obliques)

Low back (erectors)

Mid/upper back (latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, trapezius)

Chest (pectorals)

Shoulder (deltoids)

Rotator cuff (infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis, supraspinatus)

Back of arm (triceps)

Front of arm (biceps)

Forearm (forearm flexors and extensors)

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You are only as strong as your weakest link

If there is a weakness in anywhere in your muscular system, it will show up in your game, physically, mentally and emotionally. The more you try to compensate for a weakness, the more strain on your mental game. Get stronger in body and you’ll get stronger in mind!

So what does that mean for you the golfer, trying to improve your game? You need to ask your self a few questions:

1. Am I unhappy with my golf game?
2. Do I want more distance and consistency in my game?
3. Do I want to play golf for many more years to come?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, read on.

Here are some simple guidelines, of the Egoscue Method 8 Laws of Physical Health.

1. VERTICAL LOADING: Gravity is necessary for health. In order for gravity to exert a positive and dynamic influence on the body, the skeleton must be vertically aligned in the postures.

2. DYNAMIC TENSION: A state of constant tension exists between the front of the body and the back. The posterior is responsible for the extension of the body and the anterior is responsible for the flexion, or bending forward, of the body.

3. FORM AND FUNCTION: Bones do what muscles tell them to do. All skeletal motion is initiated by muscular activity.

4. BREATHING: (I love the idea of deep breathing when playing golf to minimize tension) The body will not function without oxygen. You must learn to breathe correctly.

5. MOTION: All of the body’s systems-digestive, circulatory, immune, etc are interrelated. The common thread that binds them together is movement. If we believe the activity will hurt, it will.

6. BALANCE: For balance to occur, muscles must work in pairs and equally on the right and left sides of the body.

7. STIMULUS: The body reacts to all stimuli twenty-four hours a day, regardless of the conscious state of health. Therefore, the law of motion constantly reinforces this law of stimulus.

8. RENEWAL: The body is in a constant state of growth or rebirth. Muscles, bones, nerves, connective tissues, cartilage, are all alive. If the body is not renewing, it is because we are violating the laws of physical health. The more laws we violate, the faster we age and die.

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These 8 laws are a great checklist. Here are some PATTERNED MOTION BUSTERS to get you on your way.

v Reach high over your head with both hands for 1 minute

v Twist at the waist 10x and hold for 5 seconds in each direction.

v Turn your head all the way to the right and left slowly, 10x each way.

v Look at the ceiling for 20 seconds with your feet pointed straight ahead.

v Flap your arms like a bird 25x.

v Balance on one leg for 30 seconds. Also, try it with your eyes closed and attempt to get to 30 seconds again.

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Get fit in body and mind for a life filled with golf, and golf filled with life!

Randy

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ~Harriet Tubman

Does the attitude you’re carrying around in your golf “baggage” work for you? At any given time it either works for you or against you… which do you choose? Have you been listening to Your Inner Swing?

Put it this way…

• Is your glass half empty or half full?
• Is the sky partly cloudy or mostly sunny?
• Are your thoughts don’t hit it in the water, or I want to hit the green?

When was the last time you asked your self, “what am I thinking right now?” It’s time to start asking, listening and answering your thoughts. And it starts with the right attitude.

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOURSELF

More often than you might expect, making an important change is as simple as asking yourself: “Okay, what are my beliefs?” … and then listening attentively for the answer.

So: You want to improve your swing, your score, your putting ability – whatever. Guess what? In order to make that happen, you must be willing to start a conversation with yourself … open yourself fully to that conversation … and become aware of what that conversation reveals about you and your belief system. At any given moment, you are the sum total of what you believe and how you choose to act on those beliefs.

Your job right now is nothing more — and nothing less — than to become aware of the thoughts within yourself. We all talk to ourselves… but what are you saying?

Notice the conversation

In order to become aware of what you actually believe, you must make a conscious effort to notice your own internal dialogue on the golf course. You can tell whether not you are making progress by how often you notice what you are saying to yourself, internally. How often, during the course of a golf game, do you stop yourself and think, “Wow, I really just said that to myself!”?

CHANGE THE DIALOGUE

Most people go through life more or less unaware of the dialogue they’re having with themselves. They may even think that they don’t have an internal dialogue. They do. Noticing that you do in fact have discussions with yourself is an essential precondition of changing that dialogue.

Have you ever thought…

“I always have a problem with this hole.”

“My swing needs work.”

“I start out strong, but I can’t seem to make the easy putts.”

Stop and think. Are those really the kinds of beliefs you want to build your game around?

The reason it is so very important for you to notice your current patterns of belief is quite simple: You really will get what you focus on. That is true when you’re on the golf course and when you’re anywhere else, by the way. This is the Law of Attraction in action.

When you change your attitude (or at least notice it) your outside begins to change. Your golf game is a product of your thoughts, feelings and attitude. It’s up to you to notice what it is and if you agree that the outcome came from the income.

“In body, mind power and spirit”
Randy

What negative beliefs are you carrying around in your golf “bag”, that are destroying your golf game?

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I’ve worked with golfers of all abilities. From the new golfers first lesson of gripping the club and addressing the ball, to working with PGA Tour players on their focus and visualization skills.

Even though golf is 90% mental, most golfers only practice the physical aspect of the game. One of the problems is that as Golf Professionals we are not taught to do psychoanalysis, or teach golfers how to think. This is one of the reasons handicaps have not come down in years.

“The outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to

reflect their inner beliefs” ~ James Allen

You must change your inner thoughts to change your outcome! Yes, having properly fit equipment and getting great instruction is part of it. However, if you are still thinking thoughts of, “I can’t get better” or “I hate this hole” or any negative thought in golf, your are holding on to self-limiting beliefs. It is virtually impossible to improve your outcome without improving your input.

So if it is said that golf is 90% mental, then why do most amateur golfers only hit balls to improve their game? Here’s the reason…They can’t practice their mental game… They don’t know how!

Many golf instructors and most books don’t emphasize practicing mind power. The big picture is being lost in translation within the real game itself and how it is played. Are you ready to get the results you’ve always wanted? Ready to make the change you’ve been looking for?

Golf is life!

Golf is not just about chasing a ball all over the course, it is profoundly much larger than that. Like life, golf has many games within the game. And like life, there are ups and downs to the game. The better you manage the downs, the better you will likely score. Mind power is about managing your emotions and staying in control of the situation. Developing the mental game is a huge and critical game within itself. Top athletes in the game know this, it’s time amateurs know the secret too!

Thoughts and Emotions that will help you:

LOVE GOLF

• Let your current shot be your best shot. Appreciate the ability you currently have to play an amazing game, and allow your gratitude to flow.

• “I love these greens, they are perfect” vs. “I hate slow greens”. Appreciate what is in the here and now.

• Tell your partners know how much you appreciate playing with them. Your round will surely start and finish on a better note.

LOVE LIFE

• Tell your husband or wife, mother or father, sister or brother, “I love you” when they least expect it.

• Hold open a door, tell a stranger “good day”, and thank your postman for delivering your mail.

Get your morning “GLO”

Wake up saying, “what a fantastic day to feel Gratitude, Love and Opportunity!”

Today is your day to start appreciating your life. See what happens when make gratitude a daily practice! It’s the inner mind power you need to rise to the next level of your game.

Now you’re ready to make that change in your golf game. If you tried everything to help your swing and improve your score, you’ve been missing the real truth. You must change your inner swing thoughts, and learn what the Pro’s on Tour already know and do. Are you now Ready?

CLICK HERE

or click the picture to get the results you’ve always wanted!

Randy

“Perform inside… & out!”

The Power of the Inner Mind

Hypnotherapy is used widely to improve performance in sports. Since the Russians dominated back at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, hypnosis has been a proven method in sport training. The Russian team took over 10 hypnotists to develop mental clarity and visualization. In the 1980 Olympics, 12 out of 20 Australian swimmers named, were using hypnosis tapes for two months beforehand.

Great athletes and the Mind Power of hypnosis

Golf is most likely the most popular sport that applies hypnosis techniques, although has been used with many other individual and team sports including football, tennis and baseball, basketball and even swimming.

Greg Louganis, of the 1988 Seoul Olympics would visualize himself doing the dive perfectly over and over before stepping on the diving board. When he tragically hit his head on the board while performing a complicated dive during the 3 meter final, he didn’t panic. While his head injury was being treated he put earphones on to listen to hypnosis tapes. Remarkably, Greg then went out to score a perfect dive the second time, enough to earn him the gold medal!

Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls used daily Self hypnosis to empower themselves to be an unbeatable team. They won 6 NBA Championships using mind power techniques to maintain their focus.

Jack Nicholas went beyond saying that golf is 90% mental. He said golf is a game that required 90% mental Preparation and 10% Skill to be the best. He was the first to describe how he visualized. Jack saw every putt going in, and every blade of grass the ball would land on before getting up to hit the shot. His preparation paved the way for his golf career to win time and time again.

Golf is the game that is 90% mental

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and even Ernie Els have worked on their mind power through golf hypnosis. You’ll often hear Tiger say, “I trust my subconscious”. The reason you don’t hear many successful golfers talk about their mental training, is because they know how powerful it is! Yes, 90% of the winners on tour have worked at their golf mind power extensively. Now you can too.

I believe one of the greatest shots in golf was Tiger’s shot at the 2005 Masters he had hit over the 16^th green. It was an incredibly difficult shot that took 100% concentration and complete belief in his internal ability. Watching him take all the elements in, scoping the entire situation and executing with the precision of threading a needle, Tiger holed a shot that was heard around the world. I’m still impressed when I see it! (Watch Tiger in action to the left of this article.)

I’ve worked with golfers of all abilities, from the first lesson of first gripping the club and addressing the ball, to PGA Tour players of clearing their focus and finding their inner vision. Even though golf is 90% mental, most golfers only practice the physical aspect of the game. Hypnosis is an effective way to connect the mind and body so they work together and improve equally.

So if it is said that golf is 90% mental, then why do most amateur golfers only want to hit balls to improve their game? I’ll tell you why. They don’t know how to do anything else. Many golf instructors and most books don’t emphasize practicing mind power. The big picture is being lost in translation of the essence of the game.

Golf is not just about chasing a ball all over the course; it is profoundly much larger than that. Golf is life! (okay so that’s for another article) Like life, golf has many games within the game. And like life, there are ups and downs to the game. The better you manage the downs, the better you will likely score. Mind power and developing the mental game is a huge game within itself. All top athletes know this, most amateurs haven’t a clue. Here is why.

Look at the number of books published on the golf swing vs. on golf’s mental game.

If you search Amazon’s site you’ll find this:

• Golf swing - 3,827 books
• Golf’s mental game – 254 books

So it’s not your fault if you are not creating your mind power, so to speak. The resources for improving your mental golf game is out there, just not as abundant as the physical aspects of the golf swing. No more excuses, the secret is now out. For you to continue improving at golf, you must work on the mental aspect of golf, period!

Here is your starting point. You can start to work on your subconscious programming when you listen to my FREE “power nap”. I am giving it away, no strings attached. Follow this link to get you started. During your “nap” think about what it is you want to improve on. I guarantee the wheels will start to move in the direction of your thoughts! The key is to work on your golf physically and mentally in equal parts so you grow in body, mind power and spirit. Golf is a game of a lifetime. Enjoy every part of it!

Randy is an NSA Professional Member. She is a motivational, business golf and mind power speaker, that will leave you and your guests inspired beyond belief! Have Randy speak at your next business or golf function.

When you learn to get out of your own way, the world becomes an easier place. I believe when you go within, you won’t go without!

Hypnosis is a completely safe modality of therapy used frequently in sports (especially golf hypnosis) and personal development concepts. As a Motivational mind power speaker and Certified hypnotherpist, Randy knows how to help you get out of your own way. Here are some answers to questions that have arisen about gaining mind power through hypnosis.

1. What IS hypnosis?

Imagine a beautiful tropical beach in your mind, smell the salty ocean air, feel the warm breeze brush through your hair, see the gentle waves caress back and forth on the shore… this may be part of the induction used to bring you to a place of complete relaxation.

Hypnosis is NOT a “sleep” state even though a person in hypnosis may appear to be sleeping. Charles Tebbetts, a top teacher of hypnosis, defined hypnosis as, “There is no legal definition of hypnosis. Webster’s dictionary describes it incorrectly as an artificially induced sleep, but it is actually a natural state of mind and induced normally in everyday living much more often than it is induced artificially. Every time we become engrossed in a novel or a motion picture, we are in a natural hypnotic trance”.

As a Hypnotherapist I am more like a guide who facilitates the hypnotic process. My words guide the subject into a relaxed state of body and mind. Technically, a person experiencing hypnosis slows down their brain waves from BETA into ALPHA–and some people actually enter THETA during deep trance states. (THETA is normally the “dream” state we pass through on the way to and from DELTA–or deep sleep.) Interestingly enough, we all pass through ALPHA on the way to and from sleep, so in a sense all of us experience hypnosis at least twice daily.

Hypnosis is the heightened state of awareness where the conscious mind is bypassed, and the subconscious mind is brought into focus. When the subconscious mind is alert, positive suggestions are made for changes to take place.

Simply put, hypnosis is a deeply relaxed state of mind, where suggestions are made to effect a desired change. It can also be thought of as “guided meditation.”

2. Does a hypnotized person lose control?

I hear this quite often and actually, it teaches you how to gain your mind power control. Remember the last time you watched a movie and you actually felt emotion? You were literally in a hypnotic trance, although you still have the power to come out from that state if you so desired. Your mind may be guided by a movie, TV show, self-hypnosis audio program, or Hypnotherapist, but YOU still have the power to resist.

Some people who seem to partially give up control of their minds (like in Stage Hypnosis), is because of a misunderstanding of who has the power. One can be TRICKED into believing that they have “given up control” in some forms of stage hypnosis. Always remember, “ALL HYPNOSIS IS SELF-HYPNOSIS.” You have the control of letting your conscious mind get into a deeply relaxed state. It’s important to realize the real power is–within OUR OWN MINDS! That is what MIND POWER is all about, learning to gain control of your thoughts.

Hypnosis is like a massage for the brain!

3. What does hypnosis feel like?

Since hypnosis is a natural state of mind, clients are often surprised that they hear every word. You may have a feeling of calm, and light (or weightless), or very heavy as if sinking into the chair. In a really deep state, the feeling may be euphoric for some, or almost like being intoxicated without the side effects. In the first session some only go into only a light state of trance, and may believe that he or she was not hypnotized. With progressive sessions, and trust is built, students usually let go and do go to deeper levels of trance, which can be more beneficial.

Certain abilities may be enhanced during the hypnotic process itself:

§ The ability to IMAGINE

§ The ability to REMEMBER

§ CREATIVE abilities

§ Receptiveness to SUGGESTIONS

The last ability creates the appeal of hypnosis as well as the fear of hypnosis to others. There is nothing to fear with a trusted professional. Here lies the real advantage in hypnotherapy. It is the capacity for the subconscious mind to accept suggestions while in a relaxed trance state that makes hypnosis so effective. It’s the reason top athletes, actors and politicians make use of it.

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God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.

Have you used one to say “thank you? ~William Arthur Ward

November is the “Thank You month”. In the United States most of us say a special “thank you” once a year. Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday to give thanks.

Brief history of the “Thank you” holiday:

The Plymouth settlers (or “Pilgrims”) set apart a holiday immediately after their first harvest in 1621. They held an autumn celebration of food, feasting, and praising God.

In 1789 Washington designated a national thanksgiving holiday for the newly ratified Constitution, specifically so that the people may thank God for “affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness” and for having “been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed… “

President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a Federal holiday as a “prayerful day of Thanksgiving” on the last Thursday in November. Since then every U.S. President has always made an official Thanksgiving Proclamation on behalf of the nation.

Traditional Thanksgiving celebration

Growing up as a kid in the United States, I always loved Thanksgiving. It meant a time to get together with family, eat really good food, and of course, no school! Thanksgiving has always been a four day weekend which usually means schools and colleges have a break, and banks and post offices are closed. It’s a time when friends and family get together for a reunion, a day of thanks, and a festive meal.

Thanksgiving meals are usually family gatherings where certain kinds of food are served. Turkey is featured in most Thanksgiving meals (so much so that Thanksgiving is also known as “Turkey Day”).

At our house we’d have the biggest turkey mom could find (got to have left-over for sandwiches), stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes casserole with apples and marshmallows, string bean casserole (my favorite), cranberry sauce, corn, pumpkin pie and apple pie. Thanksgiving guests may bring dishes of food or help with cooking as part of a happy, shared and grateful meal.

In keeping with the holiday theme of giving thanks, during the meal, people talk about what they are thankful for or tell about experiences during the past year which have caused them to feel grateful.

What does it all mean?

Why do most people only give thanks once a year?

Mind power awareness of gratitude, appreciation and giving “thanks” beyond Thanksgiving day is what truly works!

1. Say “Thank You” every day for the life you have

2. Acknowledge and praise the love you feel in your heart, and share it with others

3. Tell people in your life that you appreciate them, while you can

Thank You Business

§ Say thank you to your co-workers (especially the one’s that don’t notice you). Their reaction might surprise you.

§ Be grateful for the job you have (even if it’s not the exact one you want). Opportunities open when your heart is open.

§ Remind your self how blessed you are to love what you do. Find something pleasing about your job, or consider your options.

Thank you GOLF

§ Let your current shot be your best shot. Appreciate the ability you currently have to play an amazing game, and allow your gratitude to flow.

§ “I love these greens, they are perfect” vs. “I hate slow greens”. Appreciate what is presently in front of you, just be thankful.

§ Tell your partners know how much you appreciate playing with them. Your round will start and end more agreeable and fun.

Thank you LIFE

§ Tell your husband or wife, mother or father, sister or brother, “I love you” when they least expect it.

§ Hold open a door, tell a stranger “good day”, and thank your postman for delivering your mail.

§ Get your morning “GLO”. Wake up saying, “what a fantastic day to feel Gratitude, Love and Opportunity!”

Today is your day to be thankful. Every day you have a new opportunity to think, say and do something good. It starts with being thankful, grateful and appreciating your life. November is the “thank you” month. See what happens when make gratitude a daily practice! It’s a mind power with the strength to move mountains for you.

“In body, mind power and spirit”
Randy

“If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘thank you’ that would suffice.”
~ Meister Eckhart

Rushing off to work, the bills, un-healthy relationships, traffic jams, late for appointments, criticism, pressure, under-appreciation… and then running to the golf course to play without a warm-up! How do you deal with stress?

Imagine… You are snuggled warm in your cozy bed when you hear the beeping of your alarm clock go off. Your arm reaches over to press the “snooze” button, but this morning nothing happens. The beeping continues – and is getting irritating, all you want is 5 more minutes. So now you open your eyes, press again on the button, more beeping. You hit another switch which should turn the alarm off completely… more beeping. In a fit of frustration you finally pull out the cord from the electrical outlet.

You’re now up and in the bathroom at the toilet when . . . the toilet won’t flush. “Oh this is going to be a great day,” you think. You get dressed and start the coffeemaker. When you come back to the kitchen there is hot water and coffee grounds all over. Now it’s getting late and you’ve got to get to work. As you drive to work, you’re thinking about how rough the morning has been when suddenly . . . you are cut off and almost run off the road.

When you arrive at work your heart is still racing and you take every opportunity to tell everyone about “your morning”. What a relief it will be when this day is over!

Remember “Murphy’s Law”… Well, if you’ve ever had a day when everything that could go wrong, did, you can probably sympathize with that story above. It’s easy to become frustrated, feel sorry for yourself and think, “why me”?

Imagine a day when . . . .

• the alarm works perfectly
• the toilet flushes
• the coffeemaker makes a hot cup of coffee
• no one cuts you off

Now what happens? Do you arrive at work feeling overwhelmed with gratitude – with an attitude of appreciation for all the people and things that are supporting your perfect glorious morning? That would be wonderful… but probably not.

Habits of attention, becoming aware

If there’s no real problem going on that morning, your mind may think about something that happened in the past or anticipate something that may transpire during your day. It is common for our attention to focus on the problems we are having because we have to pay attention to in order to handle them. (Make sense?)

In becoming aware

Unfortunately many people develop the “habit of un-awareness” in which they fail to notice the many good things that support them. Your health, work, family, and efforts to accomplish your goals all become habits at some point.

The more this “habit of un-awareness” has developed, the less likely you’ll be able to experience gratitude. You must become aware of what is good in your life in order to de-stress, or rid your self what is not welcome.

Self-reflection – looking in your personal mirror

When you take a step back and quietly reflect on everything in and around you, are now becoming aware. The moment I did that, I felt more cared for, loved and supported than ever before. A feeling of gratitude hit me in such a way that it woke up my consciousness! Once I became aware to notice my life, I gained a power I had never known before… the power of gratitude!

Three obstacles of feeling gratitude

1. Self-preoccupation:
Being constantly preoccupied with your own thoughts, feelings, and needs you’ll have little left over for anyone or anything else. Think of your thoughts as a flashlight. Shine the light on your problems, negativity, aches and pains, and you’ll see more of those things. Like the law of attraction states, what you focus on gives your more of that which to focus on.

2. Expectation:
When I turn the switch on in my bedroom I assume the light will go on. Once I’ve come to expect something, it doesn’t usually get my attention. I am usually not aware of something until my expectation isn’t met. (Because the light bulb doesn’t work, I have to change the light bulb)… aha!

3. Entitlement:
The more I think I’ve earned something or deserve something, the less likely I am to appreciate it. As long as I think I’m entitled to something I won’t feel grateful for it.

To experience a sense of heartfelt gratitude you must overcome these obstacles. Self-reflection provides a path by creating self-awareness. It allows us to stop and appreciate what is being given to us rather than focus on what we don’t have.

It is rare to meet a person whose life is full of gratitude. Many people don’t truly appreciate what they have until it is gone. That’s a sad truth, which we all have the power to change.

To develop gratitude you must become aware. Once aware, you must practice it. Like any sport, without practice you cannot develop the skill - only the concept or idea. You cannot become a grateful person just by thinking, “I want to be grateful.”

Complaining is a wonderful practice if you wish to develop frustration, bitterness and self-pity. If you’ve ever tried it, it’s very effective. Each time you complain you get better at complaining. It is like learning to play a sport. Become aware of what you want.

Now what?

Create the stress free life you were meant to have. Start to observe, reflect and express your life. The first step to change anything, is in becoming aware! Your mind power is your ability and awareness to become grateful today.

:::::::::::::

Hey, what’s that sound? Oh, it’s the reminder on my phone of an appointment. What a great feature. It frees up my mind to do other things. Thanks, phone. And thanks to my sister who gave it to me. And thanks to all the people who made it. And thank goodness my finger works well enough to shut it off!

“In body, mind power and spirit”
Randy

Why leave a donation?

Published in August 31 2007, by Charlene Schosser

~ Have you ever wondered why

your golf game never improves? ~

You might be surprised to learn that it’s all in your mind! Randy Friedman, an experienced LPGA and Cobra staff golf teaching professional, as well as Motivational mind power Speaker, has a unique perspective for taking your game to the next level.

After years of teaching golfers how to improve their swing or perfect their putting, she has turned her focus to hypnotherapy. According to Friedman, most golfers win or lose their game in their mind. She’s taken her perspective that “golf is 90% mental” and refocused her approach by helping golfers improve their game through the real stopping point: the mind.

Okay, so some of you skeptics are asking, “Does hypnotherapy really work?” The answer is “yes”—when you truly believe you can change your way of thinking by knowing and changing your self-limiting beliefs.

Golf hypnosis is a simple and effective method that will improve your game by allowing you to deeply relax your body and elevate your mind to a higher place of consciousness. It gives you permission to make changes without changing a thing about your swing! You bypass the conscience mind (the critical factor) and enter the subconscious mind (the non-critical, computer-like) mind. It’s there that you’re able to squash those old ideas and replace them with new ones.

On a scientific level, hypnosis allows the brain waves to slow down to an alpha or deeper theta state (which is what we do when we sleep). At this level of relaxation, your subconscious mind is open and more receptive to suggestions for change.

Hypnosis will also help you deal with the fear of failing and enable you to focus more effectively at the task at hand. Do you want to improve your game? Hypnotherapy is a great way for you to understand and get in touch with your body, enjoy the game and the course, and feel the grass!

Golf courses are some of the most beautiful places in the world, yet we’re often so focused on making each shot that we forget to look, smell, and take in the world around us.

So why did a seasoned pro make the switch in her teaching techniques? She knows hypnotherapy works. In fact, some of her favorite clients to teach are children. “Children enjoy the game as a game, because they are just playing—without any fear or baggage. Their minds are cluttered with over-thinking. It’s simple for them, and they really enjoy it.”

Friedman now wants to give us seasoned pros a chance to embrace that same spirit of simplicity. Prior to her years as a golf pro, Friedman was a personal trainer and massage therapist. That means she understands the body from the inside out.

And if golf is not your game, Friedman can tackle any block you might have, from overcoming a fear of flying (how can you play at some of the best golf resorts around the world?), to becoming more successful at your job. So if you want to find a new way to take your golf game to the next level, hypnotherapy might be your answer.

Friedman offers private sessions, keynote presentations, golf retreats, and half-day workshops. The workshops average $250 per person, which includes a mind power workshop, chipping/putting interactive drills, and a powerful group hypnosis session. For upcoming workshops, check out her Web site. Visit GolfMindPower.com for more information, or email Randy@golfmindpower.com

When the weather gets colder, golfers go warmer! Check out these great escapes for a change! Use your golf mind power to get in the zone at these great golf locations around the world!

Want a Golf Professional to make your trip unforgettable? Randy specializes in trips for Personal and business golf. Having the unique expertise of golf mind power and instruction physically, mentally and inspirationally, you can expect a fantastic experience for you and your guests.

Randy’s Golf Mind Power at Sea - Are you Coming?

Check it out RANDY’S GOLF CRUISE

We are sailing March 2008 from Fort Lauderdale and stopping in San Juan, Puerto Rico, St Thomas and Casa de Campo for amazing golf. Golf Mind Power to the extreme! Get on board before we are all SOLD OUT!

Over the years Randy has worked with many diverse groups at some fabulous golf resorts. Below are some of her favorites:

• The White Witch - Montego Bay, Jamaica
• Wyndham Rose Hall - Montego Bay, Jamaica
• Pebble Beach - Monterey, California
• The Phoenician Resort - Scottsdale, Arizona
• Four great courses in Southwest Ireland:
  • Adare
  • Waterville
  • Killareny Killeen
  • Dingle

What do golf, billiards (pool) and racquetball all have in common?

1. They all involve use of a small ball to play the game
2. The use of a stick or racquet is used to hit the ball
3. They all involve the understanding of angles and spin to really excel!

Teaching golf to students with varied athletic backgrounds made me approach every student differently. The more I could relate a sport to them they already knew, or some analogy they could understand, the easier they would apply the lesson.

In doing more motivational mind power speaking these days, my approach is similar. Most people learn faster and more efficiently when there is a relationship of relativity that is applied. For this article I am using the three sports of Golf, Billiards, and Racquetball to relate the concepts of angles and spin. You may even get an “aha” of your own game from reading this!

Learning racquetball at a young age helped me understand other sports much easier. Being literally in a box with four walls, a floor and ceiling, meant having to understand angles. The more I understood angles and spin and how the ball was effected, the better I became. Here are some shots I mastered with this understanding:

1. Ceiling shot (Spin was based on which wall the ball hits first)
   1. Ceiling then Front wall: creates top spin, releases towards back wall
   2. Front wall then Ceiling: creates back spin, and stops before back wall

2. Pinch shot (An angle and spin shot)
   1. Ball is hit into a front corner: it always comes back to center
   2. Splat shot: an advanced shot hit back or at center court where the ball is hit hard into mid court side wall, then catches front wall, then spins into side wall and either dies or shoots into center court usually rolling out. (I loved that shot!)

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Billiards is a bit closer to golf. It’s all about angles and knowing how to control the cue ball with spin. You must create a plan in your mind (mind power) before executing each shot. The present shot you are hitting must have a plan of where to leave the cue ball for the next shot.

If you hit the cue ball into another ball haphazardly, you may leave yourself blocked out for the next shot. Watch a master billiard players eyes. The eyes tell the story of a plan about to take place. Here are a two shots to understand how to control the cue ball:

1. Punch stroke: Line up a shot straight in the side pocket. The cue ball should be a couple of feet away. Deliver a “pop” sound with one sixteenth below center. The cue ball should stop dead in its tracks.

2. Follow stroke: Line up a shot straight in the side pocket with the cue ball a couple of feet from the object ball. Place your cue tip one-sixteenth below center. Deliver a follow stroke and make the cue ball follow the object ball.

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Watch the eyes of the master golfer, like Tiger Woods. His eyes tell a story. Everything is being played out like a movie on a screen. Golf is a game of angles and spin. When you understand their basic principles, you can then visualize what you want to happen and execute the shot with precision. Let’s look at a few scenarios:

1. Angles - Your first hole is a dogleg right (meaning the fairway starts straight out and then bends to the right towards the green). Create a plan.

• Question your self: “Where do I want to hit my next shot from?” The answer should be, “from the wide part of the dogleg.” Most people make the mistake of “biting off more than they can chew”, meaning cutting off too much of the corner of the dogleg, thus leaving the player blocked out of a next shot to hit. Courses are set up to be played a certain way. When you learn to play the course properly, it’s not only more fun, but you will score better…period!

2. Spin - You are 10 yards off the green. Spin will vary based on the green being uphill or downhill from your shot.

• To an uphill green – the ball will hit, have back spin and stop - Use a club with less loft and more roll (9-iron or PW instead of SW)
  

• To a downhill green – the ball will hit, have top spin and roll forward – Use a club with more loft and less roll (SW or LW instead of pw)

Next time you are going to play golf, create a plan in advance. Remember, the law of attraction is about creating what happens through your thoughts and feelings. Your mind power begins with thinking before acting. While on the golf course, think about your plan, stick with it, and allow your game to happen. Play the golf course the way it’s meant to be played… in the fairway and on the green. When you find you are out of position, make sure you get back to the mind set of playing “your game”. When you have a plan, and are prepared to use it, your thoughts become actions, and ultimately create your “Mind Power”!

“In body, mind power and spirit”
Randy