G.T. Bray Park hosts April 27 World Tai Chi Day activities

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (April 12, 2019) – The worldwide Tai Chi celebration comes to Bradenton soon when local instructors offer free Tai Chi and Qigong lessons at G.T. Bray Park on Sat., April 27.

G.T. Bray Park Tai Chi Instructor Shi Hon Dr. Brian Nell and instructors from across Southwest Florida will celebrate “One World, One Breath” on April 27 from 9 - 11 a.m. at the G.T. Bray Amphitheater, 2811 51st St. W., Bradenton. Participants will have the opportunity to sample a variety of Tai Chi styles during the event.

“We are excited to once again bring this health practice to Manatee County and to share it with the community on a larger scale,” said Aedan Stockdale, Volunteer and Education Program Manager for Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources Department. “We began offering free and low cost Tai Chi classes quarterly at Robinson Preserve as part of our ‘Vitamin N’ program, promoting health and wellness in the preserves, six years ago. Along with yoga, running and walking, and meditative walks, this program is intended to provide participants with a healthy dose of vitamin nature. Through this event Manatee County residents and visitors can be part of something larger: our community in breath and in step with the rest of the world.”

Each year, thousands gather across the globe to practice Tai Chi and Qigong. For the fourth year in a row, G.T. Bray will host events to celebrate this gentle fitness practice. Beginning in New Zealand, Saturday's event will spread time zone by time zone across the globe through 60 countries and six continents. Promoting calm and wellness worldwide, this free event will feature local instructors who lead participants in a variety of mini classes. Each instructor will demonstrate their specialty in Tai Chi or Qigong and event participants will have the chance to follow along and practice too.

Tai Chi and Qigong are movement practices that evolved over several thousand years of research in China and are now growing in popularity worldwide. They are used in hospitals, business, prisons, schools and other institutions. Tai Chi and Qigong have been shown in research to reduce anxiety, depression and chronic pain conditions. The practice can boost the immune system, improve respiratory function, burn calories, dramatically improve balance and provide powerful stress management tools.

Ten instructors will donate their time and talents to host a sampling of mini classes for participants. Instructors will lead an easy-to-follow sample class that features their individual style.

Instructors participating in this year’s event include: Shi Hon Brian Nell, Shifu Susan Scheuer, Sherry Fideler, Sensei James Smith, Gail Koser, Richard Cummings and Shifu David Christophy.

Nell has taught Tai Chi in Manatee County’s Parks and Preserves for more than six years, offering free and low cost classes at Robinson Preserve and weekly classes at G.T. Bray as part of the Center’s fitness program.

The event is co-sponsored by Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department and Cypress Pillar Healing Arts. For more information, visit the Facebook event or email Stockdale at [email protected]

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.