The sophomores and juniors in my high school Tai Chi class like to move around. They like variety. They like saying the new terms they’re learning — lagong, bahui, tan t’ien, Qi. Now they regularly refer to their energy as Qi.
It seems they come into class, either bouncing off the wall or dragging and yawning. There are so many pressures on these students, to excel academically, to participate in extracurricular activities, to be involved in civic activities. Those pressures seem to be on many, if not most, high school students today.
So, it’s a challenge for them to slow down, to breathe and move through Tai Chi. We’re now about mid-semester and they are doing it! We practice walking — forward, backward, into bow and arrow stance. They love to practice walking and some are already commenting that their posture is better as is their balance. I see it — more awareness of standing straight, hands out of pockets, looking straight ahead rather than down.
This week they asked if I would talk to the head of the Upper School and ask if they could show their classmates the Tai Chi form they’re learning. I felt so warmed that they feel invested and want to share their Tai Chi experience with their friends. I always feel that if we reach a student or two or three, it’s worth the effort. How wonderful to hear that it’s happening.
Sweet! On several levels!
Thanks for the excellent post Arlene! You are providing a wonderful service for your teen students, and, I think, the world. Imagine if Tai Chi training were common in high school, arming students on a broad scale with tools to reduce stress, feel their bodies, and maintain their health. Keep up the good work!