Including the Children

“It’s OK, Jennie, you can come to class if you don’t have money. You can pay me next week.” Jennie’s face brightens as she follows Carmen into the weekly Children’s T’ai Chi Chih Class. Curiosity has gotten the best of me, and I want to see for myself what it is like to be in a Children’s Class. For half an hour, Carmen flows and coaxes and encourages: “You can feel it, can’t you Crystal?! “That’s very good! That’s the best I’ve seen you do it!” The children love it. With Carmen’s open acceptance, they thrive. They learn to trust what they know.

– Connie Hyde