PRESS RELEASES: Healthy Acadia Offers Tai Chi Instructor Training in September and Mindfulness Series in April
Free Workshop Series Will Delve Into Mindfulness Tools for Enhanced Well-Being
ELLSWORTH—Join Healthy Acadia's Sonya Connelly and Ursula Hanson for a free, four-class series to learn tips and tools for boosting mindfulness and self-compassion for better health. Classes are scheduled for Thursdays, April 3, 10, 17, and 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at The Moore Community Center, 125 State Street, Ellsworth.
Mindfulness and self-compassion are inner resources that allow us to soothe and regulate ourselves in the presence of stress and anxiety, teaching us to handle life's challenges with a gentler and more forgiving attitude.
Experience the essence of mindfulness in this introductory session designed for beginners and those curious about cultivating a greater presence in daily life. Through guided meditation, gentle exercises, and practical tips, we'll explore how mindfulness can help reduce stress, enhance focus, and improve overall well-being.
This class series provides a relaxed, judgment-free environment to:
Discover the basics of mindfulness practices.
Learn simple techniques to bring awareness into everyday moments.
Understand how mindfulness fosters emotional balance and clarity.
“These classes build upon one another, and attending all four will be most beneficial,” notes Connelly. “But we welcome you to as many as you can join. No prior experience is needed—just bring an open mind and a willingness to explore. You will leave with practical tools to support your mindfulness journey.”
Pre-registration is required. Register online at bit.ly/msc-workshop425.
Sonya Connelly has served as the Communications and Community Outreach Coordinator at Healthy Acadia since 2020. She holds a master’s degree in counseling and has extensive experience in bereavement support and spiritual formation. With decades of experience in mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative practices, Sonya is passionate about simplicity and slow living.
Ursula Hanson, LCSW, has led Healthy Acadia’s Mindfulness in Education Program and the Monthly Mindfulness Series since 2017. With over 15 years of experience as a therapist, Ursula has used mindfulness to manage her own anxiety and enhance her overall well-being.
For more information about this event, future mindfulness events, or other programs promoting mindful living, contact Ursula Hanson at ursula@healthyacadia.org. To stay updated and register for free events, subscribe to Healthy Acadia’s e-newsletter or visit healthyacadia.org/hpm-mindfulness-for-health.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(c)(3) community health organization dedicated to building vibrant communities and making it easier for everyone to lead healthy lives. Serving Washington and Hancock counties, the organization provides community health support and leadership across Maine. For more information, visit healthyacadia.org.
Healthy Acadia to Host Tai Chi Instructor Training Workshops in September 2025
ELLSWORTH—Healthy Acadia is pleased to announce two upcoming Tai Chi instructor training workshops this fall, aimed at promoting better physical and emotional health through gentle mind-body exercises. Both workshops will be held at Healthy Acadia’s Ellsworth location, 77 Beechland Road.
The Tai Chi for Life workshop is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the Tai Chi for Osteoporosis workshop will take place on Sunday, September 7, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both workshops will be led by Tai Chi for Health Institute Master Trainers Pat Lawson and Nina Zeldin.
Participants will learn Sun and Yang style movements that support both emotional and physical well-being. The workshops are open to anyone looking to deepen their Tai Chi practice, whether for personal growth or to pursue instructor certification. Those interested in becoming certified instructors are encouraged to complete the necessary preparatory work and memorize the sets before attending. Non-instructors are also welcome to join, as the workshops are designed to enhance Tai Chi knowledge and skills for all participants.
Course Fees:
$250 per workshop, plus course materials
Early Bird Special: $175 if registered before June 6, 2025, or $300 for both workshops, plus course materials.
Course materials range from $50 to $83, depending on whether participants attend for personal enrichment or to become certified instructors.
Healthy Acadia continues its commitment to fostering healthy lifestyles in the community through wellness initiatives like Tai Chi. These programs are designed to empower individuals to achieve better health outcomes through regular mindful movement.
For more details and to register for the workshops, visit:
Tai Chi for Life Workshop: https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/workshops/workshop/?workshop_id=7322
Tai Chi for Osteoporosis Workshop: https://taichiforhealthinstitute.org/workshops/workshop/?workshop_id=7323
For additional information, please contact Nina Zeldin, Healthy Acadia by emailing nina@healthyacadia.org, or calling 207-479-1206.
Nina Zeldin has served as Healthy Acadia’s Tai Chi for Health Program since its launch in 2014. She teaches six to eight community classes each week and coordinates classes for Healthy Acadia’s Community Instructors. To date, over 2,500 people have participated in the program. Populations reached include older adults, children, people in recovery from substance misuse, and developmentally challenged children and young adults. As Maine’s sole Tai Chi for Health Institute Master Trainer, Nina can certify new tai chi instructors and recertify existing instructors.
Nina’s passion for sharing the health benefits of Tai Chi for Health Institute (TCHI) programs springs from her own experience. Regular tai chi practice helps her manage symptoms of the chronic health conditions she experiences, and she finds joy in helping empower others to improve their health and well-being.
While Nina’s passion ignited Healthy Acadia’s Tai Chi for Health Program, it is the Tai Chi for Health Institute curricula and community of sharing that fuels its development and allows it to flourish. The science-based, safety-focused, and step-wise progressive teaching method of the programs makes it easy for people of all abilities to enjoy the health benefits of tai chi. This is the magic Nina strives to foster.
Pat Lawson is a retired Secondary Language Arts teacher from Florida who has been practicing martial arts for over 48 years. In 1992, after exploring various forms such as Judo, Karate, and Northern-style Kung Fu, Pat discovered that tai chi chuan offered a perfect blend of all aspects.
As an accredited Master Trainer, Pat has delivered Tai Chi for Health programs in many areas of the U.S., positively impacting countless lives. Pat has served as the chair of the education committee of the Tai Chi for Health Institute since 2018 and continues to teach in Martin County, Florida, spreading the benefits of tai chi to all who are eager to learn.
Healthy Acadia is a 501c3 nonprofit community health organization that works to build vibrant communities and make it easier for all people to lead healthy lives throughout Washington and Hancock counties, Maine. For more information about Healthy Acadia’s efforts to address food insecurity, and other health initiatives, visit www.healthyacadia.org.
The Tai Chi for Health Institute (TCHI) was founded in 2010 by Dr. Paul Lam and many of his colleagues to empower people to improve their health and wellness through Tai Chi for Health programs. The Tai Chi for Health Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to empower people to improve their health and wellness by making Tai Chi for Health accessible to everyone. Learn more at