2002 World Tai Chi and Qigong Day Celebration at Missouri Botanical Garden

On Saturday April 6th 14 Tai Chi schools of the St. Louis area gathered to
celebrate at Missouri Botanical Garden. Teachers and students were
celebrating the significance the art of Tai Chi has in their lives. In
addition to teachers and students their was approximately 150 to 200
spectators who came to experience this celebration. In all approximately 300
people attended the 3 hour event. This was also an International event being
celebrated on this day all over the World. This worldwide event has
attracted much publicity for the healing and health benefits of Tai Chi. The
participants continue to grow every new year that it is enacted on the first
Saturday in April.

From 10:00 am to 10:45 am the schools put on Tai Chi and Qigong workshops
for all who wanted to experience these arts. Focus was particularly on
health and relaxation by using slow gentle movement combined with deep
breathing. Also it was pointed out how grounding and healthy the earth
energy is when exercising in the natural surroundings of grassy valleys and
a variety of trees. Allowing participants to find simple ways to let go of
their daily stress.

At 10:45 am spectators, students and teachers were asked to gather on the
gentle grassy hillside in front of the asphalt stage of the Cohen
Amphitheater. Jim Kalkbrenner the Public Events Manager for the Missouri
Botanical Garden welcomed everyone and invited them to attend the Chinese
Culture Days on May 18 and 19 of 2002. A representative of Governor Bob
Holdenšs office, Ms. Nia Ray, read the Governoršs official proclamation of World Tai Chi
and Qigong day followed by a proclamation from Mayor Francis Slay. The event
was then dedicated to the Memory of Carl Shaver. Carl was a senior Tai Chi
teacher in the St. Louis area who passed last summer. The dedication plaque
was given to Carlšs son Ethan Shavers by two of Carlšs students; Patty
Burkhalter and Sandy Cortopassi. This was followed by the 14 Tai Chi and
Qigong teachers present being called on-stage for a group photograph:
J.Justin Meehan, Herb Parran, Cis Hager, Anna Lum, Sam Shuhan Lin, Kathleen
Christ, Mike David, Kathy Vieth Albers, Richard Von Friedrich, Kim Bozark,
Michael Schomaker, Larry Adams, Tim Bruewer, and Leroy Alsup.

From 11:15 am to 12:30 pm one school after another came on-stage and
performed 5 minutes of their particular Tai Chi form. Some schools also did
some "push hands", San Shou, and sword form demonstrations. Everyone got a
treat at the end of the event when a woman, who has only been in St. Louis
for 6 months, from Shanghai, China did a demonstration of the "Chen" form.
She was obviously highly trained being not only graceful and well balanced
but also well grounded and powerful in her stance and movement.

All in all it was a beautiful day and wonderful event where the Tai Chi
Community of St. Louis could celebrate with those who attended health,
friendship and community.