- July 15, 2026
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Each of Reuben Fernandez's tai chi classes starts with bows exchanged among him and his students.
"This is an art with its roots in China, and it is part of the protocol to show respect for one another," he said at the start of the Wednesday, July 8 morning class at The Paradise Center.
With that, the group started its routine deep-breathing exercises and transitioned into the flow of well-remembered poses like "White Crane Spreads Wings."
Fernandez, 76, has been teaching classes at the Longboat Key community center for half a decade, and said it has been a privilege to continue working with some of the same students from the very beginning.
"I tell people when they first come here not to be nervous," he said. "First of all, everybody in this class has been in your shoes. They've all had a first class and their doubts and concerns and insecurities you may be experiencing right now. But that goes away the more you practice. This is an art that requires repetition, and the more you do it, the better you get."
The hours attendees put into their studies became apparent as they moved into each step before Fernandez could finish giving the instruction.
He first learned the art from tai chi Master Max Yan Gaofei, who learned from Grand Master Chen Quanzhong, a 19th-generation grand master. Quanzhong died last year at the age of 100.
While living in Brooklyn in his 50s, Fernandez discovered an early interest in judo. However, he explained that the more intensely physical martial art can become taxing over time. So, he turned to tai chi, which has its roots in martial arts and incorporates carefully controlled punches, kicks and defensive blocks. It uniquely places strong emphasis on the gradual flow between poses.
"It's different from qigong," he said, explaining how both focus on unblocking energy channels in the body, but differ in specific moves.
"Qigong is a beautiful art that utilizes the same principles," he continued. "The variations that we do are intended to open up the channels and increase the flow of chi in your body."
He specializes in the Chen style of tai chi, which focuses on deliberate, controlled movements. Besides intending to open up energy channels in the body, the exercises help strengthen stabilizing muscles, benefiting long-term fitness.
Practicing new motions also has the potential to boost neuroplasticity, as students are challenged to move their bodies in a different way than they normally do, all while spending valuable social time with friends over a shared passion, he explained.
He still vividly remembers standing transfixed outside a tai chi studio in Hollywood, Florida, for an hour.
"It took me a few months to walk into the store," he said. "I went to one class, and I never missed one after that."
From then on, he dove into learning all about it to become an instructor.
He moved to the Sarasota area around 2019, upon the insistence of a fellow alum of West Virginia University, while recovering from a stroke he experienced in 2016. Tai chi students may recognize him from Midtown Plaza's Elite Medical Spa of Sarasota, now called Conviva Primary Care.
He then expanded to Longboat Key at The Paradise Center.
"These folks really appreciate what you're bringing to them," he said of the community.
John Sackler is one of the regular attendees, and he said tai chi has been tremendously helpful in improving muscle tone and flexibility, enabling him to touch his toes for the first time.
To anyone who would like to try it out but, like Fernandez, may be somewhat hesitant to step through the door, he encourages them to take the plunge.
