For over 30 years, Cari Shurman has been sharing her love for tai chi around the world with children of all ages. The gentle, meditative forms have brought connection, mindfulness, health and well-being to those she taught. Now, the Carbondale-based author, illustrator and educator is thrilled to expand her offerings with the release of her new book, “Tai Chi for Kids — and the Adults Who Love Them.”
“I wrote ‘Tai Chi for Kids’ because I feel that every child everywhere should be able to experience inner peace, relaxation, happiness, focus and health,” Shurman said. “I imagine a world where children can all feel good.”
Tai chi has been part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. According to the Tai Chi for Health Institute, tai chi is about “the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature.” Shurman said “chi” is energy that elevates the human spirit and helps us balance; it can be found everywhere, especially while flowing through the forms.
While there are a number of styles, Shurman has chosen to adapt tai chi specifically for children. She presents each form with a playful, meditative guide so children can imagine the movement. They become a flying crane to achieve inner balance and flexibility or visualize shooting a bow and arrow for concentration, focus and even digestive support.
“The power of imagination for children is fantastic,” Shurman said. “I never correct kids when they do tai chi because if that is what they are visualizing, then that is right at that moment.”
In her book, Shurman included eight forms — “Embrace a Tree,” “The Energy Ball” and “The Lion Sleeps,” for example. Each form features a poem, illustrations by Shurman and audio guides (available via scanning a QR code) to help readers settle into their practice. The book also explains each form’s purpose, tai chi’s origins and reviews from notable figures such as Kathy Hegberg, founder of Focused Kids, and Peter Wayne, author of “The Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi.”
“My intention and hope is that this is something children can do with their caregivers,” Shurman said. “They get to sit together, maybe arms around each other, while reading the poem and guide. Then they get up and do it together.”
Shurman added that 10 minutes a day can have extraordinary health benefits. According to medical studies conducted by reputable sources like the World Health Organization, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital, tai chi can reduce hypertension, manage chronic pain and increase overall organ health. Interestingly, “a study at the University of Miami, Touch Research Institute found that adolescents with ADHD showed improved behavior, less daydreaming and hyperactivity after just 10 sessions of tai chi,” according to research compiled on Shurman’s website.
Shurman — a lifelong educator — was initially captivated by tai chi when she witnessed a refreshing scene while visiting her daughter in China: hundreds of high school students gracefully flowing as one in the school’s courtyard. She was struck by their ability to smoothly transition and carry inner peace throughout the daily school rhythm.
“I didn’t really know what tai chi was, but when I saw 70 kids in a class, learning in total silence with five minute breaks, I knew I had to learn it. I had never seen a class work like that,” she said.
Upon returning to the United States, Shurman studied tai chi and eventually brought it to her students. The effects were immediate. Students started using tai chi to alleviate stress and build confidence despite the pressures of school or unstable home lives. While working in the New York City public schools system, Shurman experienced students staying late on Fridays to continue practicing, asking to form their own clubs and stopping her on the street to share their gratitude. These early teachings culminated in the development of her highly sought after training programs, packages for various ages and “Tai Chi for Kids.”
“I realized kids were looking for something … they love tai chi so much,” she said. “It’s amazing, when you do tai chi everything relaxes, the pain goes away and you can look at life in a healthier way … Love is what we need and this is all about love — loving yourself, each other and the earth.”
Join Cari Shurman at the Carbondale Library on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 4 to 5pm as she introduces “Tai Chi for Kids — and the Adults Who Love Them” and guides elementary-aged children and their adults through playful movements. Visit www.taichiforkids.com to learn more about her offerings.