Think Bigger Than You Can Even Imagine, or,

“Oh, I Have Something Else In Mind Entirely…”

BY ANNE PERKINS, ST. LOUIS, MO

When my brother suggested that I offer T’ai Chi Chih in the after-school program at Central Catholic St. Nicholas School (CCSN), I assumed that I would be teaching six or seven older students for two or three months. What a misconception! And how much fun the reality has been!

CCSN, with about 280 grade school students, is located fairly close to downtown St. Louis. Academically strong, it fervently espouses the goal of a college education for each of its graduates. It has recently adopted the Nativity Model, a rigorous academic plan for middle-school students where classes are divided by gender, the day is extended, and students are enrolled in a 5-week summer program at St. Louis University.

But the school and its principal, Sr. Gail Tippett, have another even more important mission – to develop the children’s spiritual and emotional life. Although only about eight percent of the student body is Catholic, there are daily prayer services and Friday Masses. When I spoke to Sr. Gail about teaching TCC in the after-school program, she immediately said, “Oh, I have something else in mind entirely. I want the whole school to learn this, and the teachers too. These children need balance. We’ll start with the middle school.” She thought I would meet with students and their teachers once or twice a week outside right after lunch (!). Come wintertime, teachers would lead children in the individual classrooms. After we discussed the difficulties, Sr. Gail suggested that I give opening demonstrations to seven middle-school classes in their own classrooms, and to teachers of the younger grades at a special meeting. I was relieved, hoping to be able somehow to continue with individual classes.

And that is indeed what happened. Although some of students weren’t enthusiastic at first (how many 8th grade boys will feel immediately comfortable with TCC?), most children greeted me warmly when I met them in the corridors or appeared at the classroom door. I started with older children, but soon responded to Ms. Armstrong’s request to work with her 3rd graders. That class was quickly joined by Mrs. Ezenwa’s 2nd-graders. (This particularly enthusiastic group came last on Tuesdays; I told them they were my dessert.)

By now the other 2nd and 3rd grade classes, and the 4th and 5th graders as well, also wanted to learn TCC. Shortly after Christmas the kindergarten teacher demanded, “When are you going to teach my kids?” I ended up teaching the entire school except for the 1st graders, working with various classes on Tuesdays and Fridays. I met each of the 13 groups for 15 minutes, usually in their classrooms, sometimes outside. We did four repetitions on each side. I soon realized that I needed to transform the classrooms into places suitable for meditative moving. I brought in a CD of Native American flute music, turned off the lights, and lit a soy candle. I very quickly became Granny Annie to the younger children, and Ms. Perkins or Miss T’ai Chi Lady to the older ones.

The children were always eager to learn new moves, and most classes learned about two-thirds of them. (Six Healing Sounds was the big hit.) There were some problems with discipline. But when teachers practiced with us, students were usually more attentive. More eager students began to shush the more disruptive ones. Occasionally Sr. Gail would join a class: her tranquil spirit transformed even the most unruly group. Miss Angie, the beautiful adult daughter of a teacher, interrupted her workday every week to practice with her mother’s pupils and another class. When I asked her to tell older students why she was so dedicated to TCC, she answered solemnly, “It helps my mind.”

There were so many experiences of joy! During Cosmic Consciousness Pose I encouraged the children to take all the love in their lives, fill the universe, and then ask the love to be return to their hearts. One 2nd grader reacted strongly to Pulling in the Energy, especially the words “streaming in through my fingertips.” She kept excitedly showing me her fingers: “I can feel it here when we say that!” The 6th grade boys wanted to form a circle at the end of a practice, palms extended, trying to feel the energy. One group of 8th grade girls often ended with an enthusiastic “T’ai Chi Chih” as we bowed at the end. Mrs. Ezenwa loved telling me how much calmer her 2nd graders were in class after doing TCC.

I look forward to many years of teaching in this special school that nurtures mind, heart, and spirit so beautifully.