COOKEVILLE — Celebrated on the last Saturday in April each year, World Tai Chi and Qigong Day brings together people from hundreds of cities in more than 80 different countries in “One Breath.”
On Saturday, April 30, Cookeville will join the celebration with free Tai Chi demonstrations and classes beginning at 10 a.m. at the Cane Creek Recreation Center on C C Camp Road.
“For several years now, we have been observing World Tai Chi Day here in Cookeville and we were the first city in Tennessee to get the World Tai Chi and Qigong Day proclamation singed by the governor,” Mildred Garrett, recreation programmer for Cookeville Leisure Services said.
Recently, Garrett and local Tai Chi instructors met with Gov. Bill Haslam as he signed another proclaimation designating April 30, 2016 as World Tai Chi Day in Tennessee.
This year, Leisure Services is also partnering with the Putnam County YMCA to offer a second location for participants to enjoy learning about the practice of Tai Chi. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, the 30th free Tai Chi demonstrations will also be taking place at the YMCA location on Raider Drive.
“We are excited to help bring this event to the families at the YMCA,” Garrett said. “Tai Chi can be for anyone, youth or adults, and we think that partnering with the Y will be a great opportunity to bring Tai Chi to a broader audience.”
Nikki Desch will lead the Tai Chi demonstrations at both locations, with the help of other local instructors. Desch has more than 35 years of martial arts experience and regularly teaches Tai Chi classes for Cookeville Leisure Services, as well as instructing other martial arts courses in Cookeville.
Tai Chi is a graceful form of exercise now used to reduce stress and improve balance. Often described as meditation in motion, Tai Chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints.
For more information, call 931-520-5286 or visit www.worldtaichiday.org.
PHOTO CAPTION: Celebrating Gov. Bill Haslam’s proclamation of April 30, 2016 as World Tai Chi Day in Tennessee are, from left, Tai Chi Instructor Damon West, Tai Chi Instructor Barbara Sandlin, Gov. Halsam, Cookeville Leisure Services Recreation Programmer Mildred Garrett and Tai Chi Instructor Nikki Desch.