Center and Flow

Aim of the project:

Center and Flow aims to address youth workers with risk of exhaustion and developcompetencies through the 10 days residential learning activities.

Aims are to support a) recognition of wellbeing development reached at an individual and professional level thus building a positive self-confidence of youth workers and their young target groups; and b) recognition and visibility of positive influences of resilience within non-formal learning and youth work context in general.

The course is for - youth workers, social workers, psychologists, group leaders, teachers, volunteers working with groups aged 20+ - who would like to develop their skills and competences on well being and mental health.. The course is targeted for youth workers, trainers and facilitators (or any helping professionals) who want to develop their competences in the field of mental health and well being through oriental methods - like Chikung and the Wisdom of the 5 Elements oriental principles. As a result you will gain concrete tools: physical activities based on mindfulness and Chikung; basic psychoeducational tools for emotional regulation; better understanding of ETS competences as youth workers/trainers working with groups and a plan to extend the longevity of your youth work.

About the method:

Center and Flow project aims to work with the Five Elements system and to bring its tools into your everyday life. It focuses on the maintenance and enhancement of your wellbeing and resilience along with the increased awareness of your best potentials. The understanding and application of the Five Elements supports your fulfillment with your youth groups by helping to discover their talents as well. This all happens through understanding the different qualities of the Five Elements represented in every area of life. The traditional Five Elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, which will be experienced through  practice of Chikung - often used as a basis in martial arts - and practical coaching techniques to apply it in your youth work.

Five Elements can offer you benefits in several levels, and depending on your personal goals, you can choose either or all of them to your advantage. These can be categorized into 2 main areas: individual and interpersonal level.

First there is an individual level, where you can explore your particular perspective, understand how you work, what are your basic motivators and greatest inspirations, moreover where are your shortcomings and what are the skills and talents you can capitalize on. This can also be understood as establishing harmony with yourself.

The second step is - on one hand - how you apply everything you’ve learned and realized to the world by investigating your connection to the world, especially your relationships. On the other hand this level is also about how you manage your everyday life given the external circumstances you cannot control.

The effectiveness of the system primarily builds on the cyclical nature of things and in this case Elements, considering the understanding of the characteristics of each Element (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) and how they interact with each other. By using and applying the cycles to your daily life you can learn how to nurture and support or how to regulate a situation, a person or a communication, or how you can command them by guiding the conflict or process to the right direction.

For achieving harmony on a personal level movement and Chikung is an essential support, helping you embody and connect the Elements (which also you are made of) and adapting your physical body and emotions through simple motions, easy to learn breathing techniques and  uncomplicated visualizations.

Awareness and proper management of all emotions including the negative ones is another crucial part of harmony and integrity of both individual and interpersonal level. 

The team composition:

Qi Gong, martial art teacher and Five Elements Coach: Etelka Szeghalmi - https://szeghalmietelka.com/en/homepage_eng/

Five Elements Coach and business consultant: Nóra Varga - https://hu.linkedin.com/in/n%C3%B3ra-varga-77761ab3

Qi Gong,Tai Chi martial art teacher and Five Elements Coach -András Havasi

Host - well being and resilience: Zsuzsanna Szalkó

Venue: Hungary - The Three Treasures Valley https://haromkincsvolgye.hu/en/homepage_eng_v02/

Target group of participants: youth workers, trainers, psychologists, social workers - openness to use unique oriental techniques in their youth work.

For more inspirtion please see the previous part of the project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VOMWCquxT0