Considering enrolling in Pa Kua or bringing your children to a class? There are plenty of benefits of sports and other extra-curricular activities, regardless of your age.
In this blog, we’re covering some of the main benefits and sharing our top classes for children.
Physical and Mental Health
Movement and exercise are critical to maintaining physical and mental health. According to research from ParticipACTION, only 39% of children and youth aged 5-19 are getting enough daily exercise.
Enrolling in organized sports or classes helps ensure that children are getting enough activity in a safe and supervised environment. Our classes help to promote teamwork, strength, flexibility, coordination, and stamina. We also offer classes that fit a range of interests, like children’s martial arts, acrobatics, or archery to name a few.
Aside from the obvious benefits of physical activity, our classes can help boost mental health. Connecting with others with shared interests, developing a sense of accomplishment, and cultivating mindfulness from a young age can help children and youth to regulate their emotions, feel connected with peers, and boost their confidence.
Focus and Self-Discipline
During our Pa Kua classes, we are constantly reinforcing the importance of respect, focus, and self-discipline. These skills, along with self-reflection, are naturally learned throughout our practice, and they often translate beyond the mat into their home lives or academic pursuits.
For children who may struggle with following rules, sticking to a routine, patience, or general focus, sports or martial arts can have significant benefits over time.
Independence and Confidence
Finally, learning something new, whether as an adult or as a child, helps you to get out of your comfort zone. Learning new skills increases one’s sense of self-efficacy, which improves self-esteem, self-confidence, and independence.
Our classes focus on honing both external skills and techniques, as well as developing mindfulness and reflection. We believe that this encourages students to learn to remain calm under pressure, manage challenging emotions, overcome fear, and become more assertive and confident in their day-to-day routines.
Our Most Popular Classes for Kids:
If you’re ready to begin exploring classes for your children, we recommend getting started with a free trial week to find the right fit.
Not sure where to begin? Here’s a little information about our top classes for kids to get started:
Acrobatics
Best for:
Family classes are available for families and small children aged 5+, or youth and adult acrobatics classes are open for pre-teens/teens and adults
What to expect:
A family acrobatics class is a fun way for parents and children to learn acrobatic skills together. Participants warm-up with stretching and conditioning, practice basic skills like rolls and handstands, and progress to partner balances, tumbling, and pyramids. Safety is, of course, a top priority, and the class encourages teamwork, trust, and physical fitness.
When:
Acrobatics classes are on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 3:30pm.
Archery
Best for:
Classes are available for kids aged 4-8, or youth and adult archery classes are open for pre-teens/teens and adults
What to expect:
Practicing archery offers numerous benefits. It promotes physical health by building core, upper body, and arm strength, which can enhance posture, balance, and overall fitness. Archery also requires focus and concentration to hit the target, fosters patience and perseverance, and boosts confidence. In our classes, students can expect to learn archery safety, how to effectively use a bow and arrow, and techniques to hit stationary and moving targets from sitting and standing positions.
When:
Classes for kids are on Sundays at 2:30pm. The classes for teens and adults are on Mondays at 6:30pm.
Learn more about what to expect in the first archery class
Martial Art
Best for:
Classes are available for kids ages 4-12, or youth age 13+.
What to expect:
Martial art helps students to develop physical fitness as well as discipline and focus. Students can expect to learn basic self-defense techniques including how to escape grabs, how to punch properly and how to kick properly.
When:
Classes for kids 4-12 are on Tuesday and Thursdays at 4:30pm.
Classes for age 13+ are on Mondays at 7:30pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm,, and Saturdays at 4:30pm.
