ZAP Back-to-School Class
Three-Class Course for Kids 9-12 and Parents (Tuition by Donation)
Fridays at 6:30pm-7:30pm
Jul 27th, Aug 3rd, and Aug 10th
Free Meditation Cushion, Blanket, Backpack, and Snacks provided!
Want to prepare your child for the upcoming school year?
A three-course class in focus and awareness will happen on the Fridays of July 27th, August 3rd, and August 10th from 6:30pm-7:30pm at the None Zen Center (1680 The Alameda, Suite C, San Jose, CA 95126.) Using the time-tested techniques of Zen meditation, the class will teach children to cultivate the skill of concentration, healthfully face stress, and exercise control over their minds and decisions.
“Zen meditation is to walk your way out of your mess. You need to face your mess in the first place so that you can walk through it. This set of classes will lead kids to face—not ‘let go’ or ‘ignore’–their stress and scattered minds. With the bravery to confront their mess, kids will have the chance to focus on their way, and become stronger to deal with their school life. This is the way Zen helps,” Linda Huang says, after developing the course with her disciple Audrey Greathouse, who will lead the class.
In this tuition-by-donation class, students will be provided with a free mediation cushion, blanket, and backpack—the same series of gifts given to adults who enroll in the None Zen Center’s general Beginner Class. Limited space is available in the children’s course, but online registration is now open.
ZAP (Zen Action Practitioners) Class FAQ
FAQ: My child is younger than nine, can she/he join the class?
Answer: Unfortunately, no. This particular class and its curriculum have not been designed to accommodate children either younger or older than 9-12.
FAQ: What will the content of the class be? What will my child learn?
Answer: Kids will learn how to develop their self-awareness, increase their concentration, and be honest with themselves. The class will teach breathing meditation, and how children can practically employ these skills to increase their focus in all arenas of life.
FAQ: What will happen in that hour? What will my children do exactly?
Answer: The first half-hour will be dedicated to snacks and a review of the ZAP Practice in a casual group discussion downstairs. In the second half-hour, students will go upstairs to the Zen Hall (meditation room) for two sitting sessions and consequent discussions about meditation.
FAQ: Who will teach the class? Is it a qualified person?
Answer: Audrey Greathouse will lead the class. Originally from Seattle, she has been training under the founding masters of the None Zen Center and became a disciple in October 2017. Audrey has developed the curriculum for this class with Zen Master Linda Huang.
Audrey Greathouse
FAQ: What if my child can’t attend one of the classes?
Answer: Our class series can only accommodate ten students, and priority will be given during registration to individuals who can attend all three of the class sessions. Unfortunately, we are unable to reschedule classes or offer make-up classes for any of the three sessions in this series.
FAQ: Will my child really get focused after the class? Will they be less stressed?
Answer: The ZAP program is designed to introduce kids to Zen meditation and give them the skills they need to train their focus so they can better exercise control over their minds and decisions, in their daily life as well as on their meditation cushions. Through this kind of training, children improve their self-awareness and learn how to healthfully acknowledge their stress and go through their negative feelings bravely.
FAQ: Will there be homework?
Answer: Students will receive Zen Action Practice Sheets at the end of the first and second classes, each with five short meditation activities for them to complet before the following class, some of which will request the involvement of a parent.
FAQ: Why do I have to come with my child? Can’t I just drop him off?
Answer: As this will be the first experience at the None Zen Center for both students and most of their parents, we want to make sure parents are aware of, and involved in, what their children learn. Parents are welcome to sit in the back of the Zen Hall (meditation room) or listen from downstairs during class.
FAQ: My child and his friend want to come, but I can’t. Is it okay if the friend’s parent brings our children and attends for me?
Answer: This is acceptable, but we request that every child have a parent attend at least one of the sessions with their own child.
FAQ: Can I bring a younger child with me? Can I bring my pet?
Answer: The None Zen Center cannot host animals, but if a parent has a younger child with them, they are welcome to attend and follow the class from downstairs.
FAQ: What am I supposed to do while my child has class?
Answer: From either the back of the Zen Hall or the connecting room downstairs, we encourage you to follow along with the course so you will be able to help foster your child’s home practice.
FAQ: What do my child and I need to do to prepare before class?
Answer: No preparation is required beyond the online sign-up. Children should wear comfortable clothing to class. We recommend loose fitting clothes, and advise against clothes that are not conducive to sitting with folded legs on a meditation cushion, such as dresses and skirts.
FAQ: Can I join my child to learn meditation as well?
Answer: Parents are encouraged to follow the lesson with their children, but this is not a class for adults. The None Zen Center routinely offers beginner meditation classes for adults, and interested parents are invited to sign up for one of those three-class series.
FAQ: How much does it cost? What is the suggested donation?
Answer: The class is free, but the None Zen Center is run entirely by donations. We recommend a $90 donation for the three class series, but donations of greater and lesser sums are all appreciated. No one will be turned away.
