The Dragon's Head Blog

After 13 years of practising Taoist Tai Chi® arts in Denmark, I finally had the opportunity to come to our center in Orangeville. I arrived on March 17th which was in the middle of the maple syrup season and Jesse, a resident volunteer who picked me up at the airport, was happy to tell me all […]

On Saturday April 8 the Dunedin branch held its first wine tasting at the International Center Florida. As participants and friends entered the building they were greeted by a glass of sparkling wine and a brochure detailing each wine at the six tasting stations. Each station had an attendent knowledgeable on each of the two wines […]

In late February Andrew Hung and Pegoty Packman were interviewed by the city of Dunedin’s official television station regarding the Fenway Hotel restoration update.  

Joé Thibault has guided us during five days along a path of softness, lightness and elasticity. Today we have applied these aspects to different parts of the tai chi set. The members of the Taoist Tai Chi® family have shared tasks in a harmonious workshop aided by the energy and good humour of Joé. You […]

After having explained the equivalent principles of chanting and tai chi, we held a chanting session. Joé Thibault explored deepy the soft focus of tai chi, with progressive and elastic transitions.  She focused on maximizing the expansion and relaxation in every movement without forgetting the intention in the hands and feet until finalizing each of […]

On the third day we began with chanting and then we worked on toryus, focusing on going all the way up and then dropping progressively. Later on we applied those same principles to the brush knee movement. After lunch we worked on donyus with the same intention, and then we applied it to the wave […]

We began the second day with chantings. We have worked on fundamentals that have helped us to find good structure in our bodies. We work on toryus and donyus, putting the emphasis on expanding, smoothness and progressivity.

This is the first day of the program of Taoist Tai Chi® arts led by Joé Thibault, with more than 140 participants. We have been working on the importance of the gaze, the anchoring of the feet on the floor, the connection of feet and hands, expansion and contraction, keeping everything smooth, progressive and connected.  

Cultivating stillness was the theme of the workshop, and the sense of stillness permeated through the kitchen, settling into the cook team and work groups. Kitchen tai chi is not only about using the principles of the moves into the work of chopping, stirring, and mixing. Like tai chi, cooking should be relaxed and from […]

              Work has begun on the southwest wing.  Locals are watching with interest. Structural work has begun on the southwest wing. The steel supports have been ordered since they have a six-week lead time to construct and deliver. The concrete footers are being dug by hand to reduce stress […]

On Sunday morning the workshop participants practise the Jade Emperor lighting ceremony.

To celebrate 10th anniversary of the Quiet Cultivation Centre in Orangeville, we are hosting a photo contest open to class participants and the public. Check out these submissions so far and enjoy the beauty of the centre. Photos do not need to be current. If you have photos from the last 10 years share your […]

Returning to the origin … participants at the Fung Lok Kok workshop in Colchester prepared and served a delicious Chinese New Year banquet for 150 people, with 20 invited guests. Speakers included Jim Nicholson of the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, and Sir Bob Russell, High Steward of Colchester. Diners enjoyed watching a display of […]

The Women and Tai Chi Program at the International Center Florida had over 80 men and women participate. Karen Laughlin led the program and focused on toryus and danyus with emphasis on women’s health. Participants were treated to stories on female immortals and stories of taming the heart. She shared variations of the toryu that […]

Saturday of the workshop, and we are joined by a further 20 participants for the weekend. The attention turns inwards again, and Sean and Jim help people who have questions about quiet sitting. The group practices the Taoist saan fa chant again, sounding much stronger than earlier in the week. Sean provides an update on […]

On February 14th, Valentine’s Day, the Dunedin Branch held its tenth annual high tea. Scones, finger sandwiches, and chocolate-covered strawberries were among items donated by branch participants.  Over ninety Tampa Bay area participants joined in the fun. Many of the ladies wore their favorite hats keeping in the spirit. The focus was on teas from around […]

                              Working together – stories about Master Moy teaching the practical side of Taoist Tai Chi® arts in the kitchen and how we set the table. More stillness in the jongs extending that stillness into the tor yu. Day two is […]

Cultivating stillness …  Taoist saan fa chanting, practiced around a table; Confucian chanting including the Ten Thousand Buddhas sutra, practiced in front of the high shrine; and quiet sitting.  These are just some of the methods of cultivating stillness, under the gentle guidance and encouragement of workshop leaders Sean Dennison and Jim Nicholson.

Participants of Taoist Tai Chi® from near and far gathered at the International Center in Dunedin, Florida starting on Wednesday February 22, 2017 for a five-day workshop. We started working together right away on cultivating a sense of stillness in movement not only with the jongs but during “tai chi set! Same thing!”

Calling all maple fans. The season is off to an early  start  and we would greatly appreciate your  help. Trees need tapping and new lines need to be set up. The fire needs tending, the bottles must be labelled and filled. All tasks are lighter with more hands and there is no finer way to […]