MANKATO — Tai Chi in a light rain was just fine for a group of novices led by Scott Grundmeyer on the edge of Hiniker Pond.

"I've done it in the snow and in the rain. We've done tai chi in the lake in Lake Crystal," said Grundmeyer, of Life Gate Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Grundmeyer, who teaches classes at Mankato Martial Arts, said tai chi is the most popular class, particularly for seniors who use it to increase strength and balance.

"Some people do it as a meditation. It's good for focus because you do just one thing for an hour and it carries over into work life or school."

While the moves are slow and people stay upright, Grundmeyer said tai chi is deceptive. "People always say it's the hardest work they've ever done standing still."

Grundmeyer was one of about a dozen wellness vendors at the park Saturday for the first Wellness in the Park event.

Alex Gillett, of Discover Chiropractic, organized the event to give people a taste of a variety of activities they might become interested in. She hopes it will become at least an annual event.

"I just moved here from Chicago. I hate exercise, but in the past four months here I'm in better shape than ever by doing a lot of these activities," she said.

"I think that a lot of people want to try something -- get active and healthier -- but don't know what to get into."

Gillett said the activities -- from stand-up paddleboarding by Bent River Outfitters, to zumba classes by Natural Pathways -- aren't just healthy, but fun.

"People associate exercise just with going to the gym or losing weight. But you can have fun and your body and mind get better."

Justin Rinehart, owner of Nicollet South Bike Shop in Old Town Mankato, was letting people try out a "fat bike." The bike has very fat tires that were originally designed for riding on packed snow.

"You can use them just about anywhere. We've been riding them in the sand on the river beds," said Rinehart. "And you can ride them in the water. We ride through water up to the handle bars. It's a lot of fun."

While narrow-tire bikes for asphalt trail riding remain the most popular sellers at his shop, Rinehart said the fat bikes and mountain bikes continue to grow in popularity.

He's helped out this summer in a new kids triathlon-training program in Mankato. "They're called the Green Hornets. We meet twice a week for eight weeks to practice and they can take part in four or five races during the year.

Down at the shores of Hiniker Pond, Dain Fisher of Bent River was giving tips to a group trying out the stand-up paddle boards. The boards, he said, are stable and easy to use. He said paddling them the right way -- by not switching hands when paddling back and forth from side to side -- is great for core strengthening.

Jennifer Parker, of North Mankato, and her kids Katelyn, 8, and Matthew, 6, tried out the boards. After paddling cautiously while kneeling on the board, Katelyn was quickly paddling around while standing up.

"First it was a little hard but then it turned out to be very easy," Katelyn said. "It was easier standing up than kneeling down."