The study and practice of TAI CHI and QIGONG over many years has rewarded me with a sense of health, calmness and well-being. In recent years I have included simplified Tai Chi exercises in my work with children. Tai Chi has been wonderfully effective with students who become overly nervous, with those who are frightened or lack self confidence, with children who have trouble paying attention, with children who are mildly autistic or have learning disabilities including ADD and ADHD, with day dreamers and with stressed out over-achievers.
TAI CHI MOVES FOR KIDS© and TAI CHI MOVES© are also powerful tools for special education students including those in wheel chairs and others with severe physical and mental disabilities. We can do the moves with various adaptations including sitting, lying down, using just the legs or just the arms or even just the trunk of the body. The results have been outstanding. The children respond to the internal flow of energy. I hope you will read some of the success stories of children's reactions to simplified Tai Chi practice.
Unfortunately it is not always possible to find a Tai Chi class for children. And it is not so easy to find the time to take our children there when they need to go. Imagine if we, as parents and teachers, learn how to incorporate it into our busy day with the children - taking moments to breathe, focus, move, relax and release stress.
I have simplified the moves so children of all ages can learn them easily and practice them throughout the day. Teachers can learn them quickly and incorporate them in their classrooms. Parents can do them with children at home. Tai Chi doesn’t have to be long, difficult or complicated in order to be effective. It can fit into the time you have available.
The best time to start is in elementary school - when children are developing study skills and habits. Their curiosity is tremendous. Their ability to visualize is wonderful. As they grow, Tai Chi reminds them to breathe, stand straight, relax, visualize, focus, release tension, and it enhances creativity. Once learned it is the perfect exercise. It can be done in a few minutes, here and there, throughout the day. No special equipment or location is needed. These skills can be used throughout the rest of our lives. Tai Chi changes the way we approach problems and react to trying situations. The creation of positive energy helps us get through our long days. Extra time is created because we learn to use our time more efficiently with better focus. The benefits extend to athletic and academic performance.
My dream is that parents and teachers all over the country will discover Tai Chi and learn to use it with students/children of all ages. I dream that everyone will find the few minutes it takes to discover the inner peace that can change one's life. Through these techniques we can truly improve the level of performance and the well-being of our children.
Cari Shurman
Creator of Tai Chi for Kids