The Dragon's Head Blog

Steve Spathelf, Dunedin’s famous orange artist, returns to the International Center Florida to undertake the restoration of the resident lions. These lions started their life as guardians at the entrance of the International Centre at Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, but after many severe winters they were relocated to sunny Florida. Now they await the opportunity to greet […]

The Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA supports the Dunedin FL Chamber of Commerce celebration of “keeping the light“ to lead a positive path through COVID19.  Purchasing white paper lanterns for us to decorate helped support a Community Responders project. Thanks to our creative decorator! A nice way to support our community.

Participants’ thoughts during the Retreat! “My fatigue allowed me to work more deeply, letting go. I was feeling much more energized. I have a new appreciation.” – Southern Interior, Pacific Region, Canada “I am feeling it working very deeply in mind and body.”  – North Conway, New Hampshire, USA “CIT Week was amazing! Never have […]

Along with Dunedin’s rich Scottish History,  we have a history of oranges,  orange groves, and citrus packing. From the early 1880’s until the early 1950’s, when the oranges were packed, beautifully designed labels were made to go on each side of the fruit crates.   Dunedin resident and artist Steven Spathelf has admired,  collected and has been […]

Participants in Leadership Pinellas visited the International Center Florida for the second year in a row. The ICF was a stop on their county-wide tour exploring various sites related to tourism and the environment. Dunedin branch members offered a few introductory words relating our Taoist Tai Chi Arts practice to leadership skills and offered participants […]

The International Center Florida hosted 3 consecutive weeks of Taoist Tai Chi® arts, gently flowing from one retreat into the next. Hsing-I, Continuing Instructor Training and Lok Hup programs brought nearly 450 participants together from around the globe. Fundamental to our experience was letting go to focus on feeling each simple but powerful movement. Sitting, standing, […]

International Seniors Day was celebrated with a festive luncheon on November 8, 2019, at the International Center Florida.  Attendees included the City of Dunedin Mayor, City Manager, and Commissioners, members of the Dunedin Seniors Hall of Fame, 60 participants from the Tampa Bay/Sarasota area and the 285 CIT Week Participants. As a violin solo was […]

How can 71 participants for Taoist Tai Chi Sabre at the International Center Florida learn to practice “not holding” while holding a Sabre?  Perhaps the answer is to start with not worrying, letting go, and just turning the spine. It could take years rather than just three days, but smiling all the while.

The Taoist Tai Chi Sword Workshop at the International Center Florida was a new adventure for many of the 83 participants, and a welcome review for others.  We learned that Taoist Tai Chi Sword is an application and continuation of our Taoist Tai Chi practice with all of the movements coming from the turning of […]

Our bodies, hearts, and minds have been opened with the fullness of this week. Daily chanting and meditation nourished our spirit. As this Lok Hup/Pain Relief week comes to a close we can sincerely appreciate Master Moy’s vision of almost 50 years. The culmination of understanding has brought us here where we can take care of […]

Participants reflect on their practice this week. -Lok Hup is health recovery for me, I’m feeling like water and the quiet is so profound.  -Lok Hup helps me maintain my mobility, especially with my hip injury. -Lok Hup is pain relief for my lower back. I’m finding the tor yu and don yu and enjoying […]

We have heard stories of Master Moy advising those with health concerns to practice more don yu and tor yu.  So, how do we integrate don yu and tor yu with pain relief. Marsha suggests that applying intention of the principles of pressing down, expanding and letting go we become aware of how this makes […]

Softer, quieter, less athletic, less work; more feeling on the inside;  letting go for the movement to work on you. These opening comments greeted over 80 participants to the International  Center in Florida on April 3rd for a combined 2nd half Lok Hup and Pain  Relief Week. “Knowing the moves will only take you so […]

Feeling every move and ‘not holding’ were the directions given participants attending the February 2019 pain relief workshop held at the FLK International Tai Chi Centre in Dunedin, Florida. Our work focused on feeling every move throughout the set and ‘not holding’ while turning the spine, dropping elbows and arms, expanding diagonally, laterally and vertically, […]

Letting the light in and throwing out the trash! (from our bodies of course) Participants at the 2 day International workshop at International Center Florida learning anti-aging methods like loading up and elbows down. The circulation was moving as spines were turning. We worked on our cardiovascular health, and full body chain of motion. The […]

Day 4 With this as her first Lok Hup Ba Fa experience, one woman said that she could already see how the program has improved her Taoist Tai Chi®️ practice.  Maybe attending a program is a New Year’s resolution everyone should make!

Day 3 Whether you know someone coming to a program or not, by the end, you will have renewed old acquaintances and made new friends with whom to share your next program.

Day 2 Each program is a unique experience.  You never know what will greet you but you know it will be an experience you will treasure.  This Lok Hup Ba Fa program is small but how lovely to get what feels like personal directions.

Lok Hup 2019 Day 1 “Having the session of the Lok Hup Ba Fa during the Central Region Program has not made me as anxious as I would have been.” – John, Burlington Participant responses when the instructor asked, “How do you feel?” Feel energized  More than just the moves Feel taller Pulsing on the […]

Chinese New Year 2019 The Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism and Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA celebrated the Chinese New Year Banquet for the Year of the Earth Pig, at the International Center Florida in Dunedin, on January 12th. In attendance were 210 guests including Dunedin Mayor Julie Bujalski, Dunedin Commissioner Jeff […]