Homeschool Programs
The Abiding Spirit Center is a supporter of home school and other small-group activities. Because we share many of the core values, we welcome opportunities to include home schooled children and teens in our programs. Individual youth, ages 10 and up, are welcome to join our regularly scheduled classes. Our holistic approach integrates physical, social, emotional and cognitive learning experiences for each student, according to his or her age group and stage of development. We offer classes either at our facility or virtually via Zoom.
Private Home School Classes
We can create private classes for home school family groups brought together by their common parenting values and educational goals. Our curriculum and teaching approach is customized for each home school group depending on their needs and goals.
Special Needs Youths
The art of Aikido can benefit youths with Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and ADD, as well as those with other physical and developmental challenges. Aikido training not only builds gross motor skills, but also supports intellectual, social and emotional growth. The parent can, and is encouraged, to accompany the special needs student onto the mat during class, as needed, as guides and personal coaches.
Benefits of Aikido
The art of Aikido addresses all aspects of the self- intellectual, social, emotional and physical. The paired training lends to development of positive social interactions. There is no competition. Instead, the training partners take turns throwing and falling to mutually develop skills. The structured training provides opportunity to develop self-regulation and focus. Through training one can reduce stress, and the empowerment of learning something new and complex at one's own pace boosts self-confidence.
Aikido training promotes physical, mental, and emotional wellness and fitness. The physical benefits include coordination, stamina, strength, balance, body awareness, and sensory integration. The mental benefits include, stress relief, awareness of one’s surroundings and interactions, and use of cognitive processes. The emotional benefits include addressing one’s own feelings that come up in training- ego, desire, insecurity, competitiveness- all in a safe, empowering environment.
Youths of all physical abilities are welcome. No previous experience is needed. Aikido can interest and benefit all types of youths. Athletic children and teens enjoy Aikido training, but we've found that kids who are not motivated by sports are especially drawn to the art. Aikido does not depend on muscle strength, so girls as well as boys can enjoy it and do well. Aikido training can develop skills and confidence to benefit them in any other physical activity, such as sports or dance.
Aikido Classes for Youths can:
**Increase Focus and Mindfulness
**Develop Physical and Mental Awareness
**Teach Non-Violent Ways to Deal With Conflict
**Improve Social Skills
**Enhance Physical Coordination and Agility
Our Teaching Approach
The Abiding Spirit Center works to provide a learning environment that includes:
- Self-paced, self-directed, non-competitive training, with opportunities to learn through discovery. We combine much individual attention with a flexible teaching approach to help each student learn in his or her own best way.
- Our classes include people of all ages, enabling each person, including the youths, to have opportunities to interact with others as peers, and, depending on the situation, as roles models or leaders. At the same time. we recognize children's stages of development and balance with age-appropriate learning.
- Solid curriculum for Aikido learning, physical competence building and personal development for every skill level and age group.
- Meaningful work and study side-by-side with adults. Everyone helps each other train. This effort stimulates personal development and practical application of teamwork, leadership, initiative and creative problem solving skills. Working together reinforces our strong sense of community.
- The opportunity to learn aspects of the culture and language of another country, and the experience of something outside of our usual culture.
- Set clear learning objectives based on the group's overarching goals, do frequent skill gap assessments, and track progress for each participant, as well as for the group.
- Assess and adjust our teaching approach over time to match the emerging needs of the group and individual students.
- Integrate Aikido training with the students' academic work, other physical activities, fine arts studies, and ongoing personal development.
Class Location
Classes are taught at the Abiding Spirit Center and also available virtually via Zoom.
Scheduling
Private lessons and group lessons can be scheduled to fit the availability of the student(s). Please contact us to set up a time.
Individual students are also welcome to participate in our regular classes. Please click here to view our schedule.
Tuition
We encourage home school families to form groups, as tuition is reduced from that of private classes. Please contact us for further details.
More Information
Please feel free to contact us with any questions and discuss your interests and specific needs for your children.
Parents are always welcome make an appointment to talk with us about our programs. We offer a free trial class for anyone interested.
The Abiding Spirit Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization providing resources that focus on empowering the individual, improving health and strengthening relationships through the use of natural, traditional and creative avenues which utilize mind, body, spirit connections.