Mary Layton
Tai Chi for Children in Modesto
Good news : On January 29th two elementary schools in Modesto brought Tai Chi to their after-school program. It’s been going very well, after only a couple of weeks the kids are having fun and are acting more relaxed. They pay attention and it appears that they love disciplined play. At one point, when one child didn’t know how to do a specific movement, another kid seemed very happy to help that kid how to do it. One of the best benefits of Tai Chi for kids and adults alike, is that it helps to develop self-confidence, a sense of self-worth as well as a humble attitude. It would be great for the relationship between parents and their kids if they could study and practice Tai Chi together!
We live in challenging times that have been stressful not only for adults but for children as well. As far as we know Modesto is currently the only city to bring something for children that can strengthen them mentally as well as physically. We found a lovely book with beautiful and colorful illustrations called “T’ai Chi for Kids” for Ages 4-6 written by master teacher Stuart Olsen who said he was “inspired by his own son’s excitement with Tai Chi at the age of only three”. He writes: “Tai Chi is fun for children because they can imagine they are playing with birds, tigers, monkeys, and dragons. They can even pretend they are flying. However, children also reap the many health, learning, and social benefits of Tai Chi – focused attention, enhanced creativity, and improved balance, circulation, and overall health.”
We could do so much more for our children, and I think we owe it to them as they are growing up and having to cope with a world that is growing ever more violent. Olsen writes: “…our children are inundated with images of aggressiveness from TV wrestlers to the evening news, as well as video games and cartoons. The answer to ensuring that our children do not grow up with violent tendencies lies not in teaching them how to fight but in teaching them how not to get hurt, how to yield, how to be aware of their environment. Real strength comes from an awareness of both themselves and their surroundings”.
For more info go to taichi4modesto.com or call (209)572-4518
Here is something else to focus your attention.
Archery Classes for Beginners!
Start Date: April 6 MJC, West – Campus
6 sessions, Saturdays 1-4 p.m.
Instructor : Naser Ataee, Head teacher of Tai Chi Chuan Academy of Modesto
To enroll: www.modestojc.augusoft.net<www.modestojc.augusoft.net> or call the MJC at (209) 575-6063
