Promoting Wellness Through PAssion Card and Mahjong!

by Amy Tan | 4 Dec, 2009

As we move into our golden years, we look for activities that keep us alert and gainfully occupied. Mahjong is one such social activity that keeps the mind alert. More than that, it is a great opportunity for socializing. I structure my classes at Bukit Merah CC such that we have a minimum of 16 participants per lesson so that they can practise what they learn. I start from the basics of mahjong by introducing them to the types of tiles as well as let them know of pointers they have to take note such as the wind direction.

While playing in groups of 4, I ensure there is one experienced player in each group so that others can learn from the experienced player. This way, the game is kept competitive and is more 'hands-on'. In the process of playing, they are able to help each other become sharper and faster, and at the same time, it promotes friendship building among them through this kind of learning. Although our game typically lasts for about one and a half hours, they stay back together to play for more than two hours.

I spend the first three lessons of the mahjong course to teach my participants everything that one needs to know about mahjong. There are many ways of playing mahjong although I focus on the Singaporean way of playing mahjong so that my participants can play socially with their family and friends.

Introducing the types of tiles to get the participants is important so that they are familiar with them in order to react fast while the game is on. I usually aim to get all participants to start playing on their own by the fourth lesson. By grouping an experienced player with non-experienced players in a group, the participants learn a great deal from each other. They point out each others' strength and weakness while at the same time, learning from each other.

As they have a lot of free time at hand, I sometimes talk to them about taking up other courses to keep up a healthy lifestyle. I tell them how I have been able to pursue my other interests such as karaoke and social dancing, using my PAssion Card. The benefits from the PAssion Card are great - such as discounts for courses offered at CCs - and I encourage my course participants to get the best out of these privileges. In interacting with each other, some participants who are enrolled in multiple courses through the PAssion card, have shared with others about the benefits of the courses as well as the PAssion card membership.