Farmington man bringing juggling skills to 8-week class
At his Farmington home last week, Tyler Seamons, 38, shows how to use a Diabolo, a spool that is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand. Seamons will be teaching an eight-week juggling class starting Thursday at Davis High School in Kaysville. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)
Tyler Seamons, 38, goes cutting-edge while demonstrating his juggling act at his Farmington home last week. On Thursday at Davis High School in Kaysville, he will start teaching an eight-week juggling class. Cost is $40. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)
At his Farmington home last week, Tyler Seamons, 38, shows how to use a Diabolo, a spool that is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand. Seamons will be teaching an eight-week juggling class starting Thursday at Davis High School in Kaysville. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)
At his Farmington home last week, Tyler Seamons, 38, shows how to use a Diabolo, a spool that is whirled and tossed on a string tied to two sticks held one in each hand. Seamons will be teaching an eight-week juggling class starting Thursday at Davis High School in Kaysville. (NICK SHORT/Standard-Examiner)
FARMINGTON — Tyler Seamons, 38, of Farmington, is convinced he can teach anyone how to juggle.
He plans to test that theory at a community class through Davis Community School.
Teaching someone to juggle three balls usually takes only about five minutes, Seamons said, and within 30 minutes, students will be learning how to do tricks.
“Once you get it, it is a lot less frustrating, and it becomes fun and exciting, especially once you get the tricks right,” Seamons said.
Some people have natural abilities for juggling, he said. However, he admits it didn’t come naturally for him. He learned to juggle at age 17, after he borrowed a book about it from a friend.
Seamons said it took him nearly a day to master the skill of juggling three balls. But once he figured it out, he became obsessed.
“I went kind of crazy with juggling. I even got a job working at a toy store that sold juggling supplies, and then spent all my money I earned on juggling supplies.”
He said his true passion for the sport involves more than just juggling balls. Seamons’ tricks include the use of devil sticks — doing tricks with a stick while using two other sticks, one held in each hand — cigar box manipulations, knives, torches, yo-yos, rings and, his personal favorite, the diabolo, a juggling prop using a spool tossed about on a string tied to two sticks, one held in each hand.
Seamons is constantly learning new things and perfecting tricks. He is currently working to master juggling five balls at once.
Seamons has spent the last several years teaching friends, neighbors and the neighborhood Cub Scouts where he serves as Cubmaster.
He has always wanted to teach a community class, and the timing was right for him to do so this year.
“I want to contribute to the community and share something I love. If somebody finds the same joy that I have in juggling, then the class will be worth it,” Seamons said.
Seamons said he has learned that juggling can be a useful tool for helping improve concentration, hand-eye coordination and motor skills. He admits to having some attention deficit-disorder tendencies, so juggling has been one of the things he can do to help him concentrate.
“When you have three balls in the air, you are forced to concentrate on them to keep them in the air,” Seamons said. “You are so laser-focused that it’s a nice and peaceful feeling to be completely concentrated on something.”
He said it also helps him clear his mind while working as a marketing professional.
“It’s been useful more than I thought, especially when I’m stuck on my marketing material. I can juggle to get the creative juices flowing.”
It can also help with self-esteem issues, Seamons said. For instance, he said he recently taught one of his Cub Scouts to juggle, and that Scout continues to report his progress to Seamons.
“It’s nice because this Cub Scout struggles in school, but he is so proud of his juggling,” Seamons said.
His wife, Rebecca, supports his hobby, especially when she sees how he helps other people.
“Anytime you can get a kid to be proud of himself for something they did, you did something right,” Rebecca Seamons said.
She said she loves watching the kids’ faces as they watch her husband juggle.
“They are in awe watching someone throw multiple items in an organized fashion.”
She admits her husband’s juggling has caused a few mishaps through the years. He has put a few dents in their wooden floors when he dropped some of the knives, and he has singed some of his pants and the lawn while juggling torches.
Those interested in taking the course can register the first night of class, which runs 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday in Room 2504 at Davis High School, 325 S. Main St., in Kaysville. The eight-week class costs $40.