See more at: http://www.pushingforpeace.org
Pushing for Peace Workshops are for:
- Children of all ages
- Adults who want to understand what T’ai Chi means and feels like without learning whole forms
- Conflict Resolution
- Differently-Abled People
- Adults who want to encourage creative teamwork and cooperative higher functioning
- T’ai Chi teachers who want to launch a children’s program
- People with PTSD, Blindness, MS, Parkinsons, Alzheimers, paralysis, pain, anxiety, depression, anger and fear
- Actors who seek more stage presence, voice projection, connection with other players and the audience
- Artists, writers, musicians, etc … who need to clear the channels so creative juices can flow
A workshop can be as short as one and a half hours and as long as a weekend.
The workshop begins with an explanation of Chinese Taoist philosophy, made simple enough for a four year old to grasp. Participation from each student begins with easy, basic questions and answers. Because “T’ai Chi originates in the mind,” a thoughtful, reflective tone is set for the rest of the training.
Group, qigong meditation is next, which cleanses the mind and relaxes the body.
Then the participants warm up their bodies systematically, from top to bottom, encouraging the “flow of qi” throughout. Repetitions are cut by one-third for younger children. They can use up their attention span on the warm-ups if made too lengthy, and will need to concentrate on the games, which are the core of this training.
The T’ai Chi Games
- Operator (Qigong)
- Turtle Races
- Follow the Leader, Lead the Follower (eyes open, eyes closed)
- Glider
- YooHoo!
- Traffic Cop, or “Come Here, Go Away”
- Sword Fingers
- Push the Turtle (Bagua)
- Dog Chases its Tail (Bagua, advanced)
Class ends with a few stretches and some deep breathing for releasing tension from moving and holding positions.
The many groups who have tried this training report feeling calmer, more centered and grounded, more in touch with others, and a significant increase in feelings of well-being.