TAI CHI IS FOR CHILDREN, TOO!

Join Peace Blossoms Internal Arts Society's Children's Tai Chi Classes

Peace Blossoms Internal Arts Society, a group that promotes the internal arts tai chi and qigong, is launching a tai chi program for children aged 5 to 12. So if you're a parent looking for an affordable, positive and constructive way to channel your child's emotions and energy, attend one Saturday session and see if your child likes it!

What is tai chi?

Tai chi is an ancient form of gentle physical exercise that promotes fluid movement and harmony of body and mind, skeletal and muscular systems, and the left and right brain. Yoga, tai chi and qigong's health benefits have been studied for nearly 2,000 years in China and India. According to one Chinese Master, these three disciplines are the most advanced achievements in body exercise and mind conditioning ever to be developed.

Children can benefit from tai chi

Children's minds and bodies grow at phenomenal rates, so they constantly need to adjust to stressful changes. Tai chi addresses these challenges because it promotes balance, flexibility, strength, coordination and good posture, among other things. Tai chi lets children work at their own pace and does not add to their stress by avoiding competition.

Professor Shona Bass, Professor of Population Health at the Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research in Deakin University, Australia, says that children get an intrinsic reward "from seeing themselves progress and develop (on their own), rather than being in competition with other children".

Regardless of one's age or size, physical and mental wellbeing are all about moving chi or energy. And that is what tai chi does--it stimulates, moves and builds energy.

15 good reasons why your child should get into tai chi

1. Tai chi is fun and easy to do.
2. It improves concentration or focus, posture, balance, strength, flexibility and coordination.
3. It improves children's breathing and general health.
4. Your child will make more friends and enjoy interacting with other children.
5. It stimulates the mind because the sessions incorporate imagery, visualization and games, thereby enhancing learning and creativity.
6. Tai chi has been proven to help children's performance in sports and academic studies.
7. It improves blood circulation and increases circulation of oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body, thereby strengthening the immune system.
8. Tai chi encourages calm behavior. Studies have shown that tai chi can help children with ADD or ADHD reduce anxiety, hyperactivity and inappropriate emotions. Tai chi allows children to get rid of excessive energy and aggression in a healthy and positive manner. It provides a therapeutic method of stimulation to bring about calmness.
9. It also instills love for movement.
10. It develops discipline and listening skills, as well as increase their attention span to enable them to learn the movements and postures.
11. Tai chi helps children handle tension and release stress.
12. It doesn't promote competition and lets children learn and practice at their own pace.
13. Tai chi builds confidence and self-esteem by putting them in touch with their body and mind and helping them form a positive self-image.
14. Tai chi helps lower blood pressure. Yon Lee, a tai chi instructor at Harvard University, performed a study that concluded that children who did tai chi for 30 minutes at least once a week lowered their blood pressure by an average of 10%.
15. Tai chi promotes relaxation and happy feelings.

SCHEDULE & FEES

Saturdays, 4pm at UP Diliman Sunken Garden (during good weather)

Fee: P200 per child for a one-hour session

First meeting is on December 4, 2010

We can accommodate 4 to 10 children per session. To reserve a slot, or to get more details about the program, please contact Ime Morales through 0906-245-7910 or morales.ime@gmail.com


Thank you Irene Chia for emailing this announcement.