The Dragon's Head Blog

Dozens of Portland participants were joined by those flying in from Alaska, Texas, and California, as well as driving from the corners of the Portland Branch (Newport and Oregon City in Oregon/Seattle and Vancouver in Washington) for a total of 97 tai chiers not counting the amazing Portland kitchen team which provided us with delicious and […]

The Portland branch celebrated the Chinese New Year with lots of energy and a great spirit of community.  As our branch grows so does this event.  For weeks, days and especially in the last hours before the event the branch was a beehive of creative activity.  The decibel level was high during the social hour […]

Jackie Mei from the Ithaca, New York branch offered a class in making dumplings. People bought raffle tickets and the lucky eight people chosen made a couple of hundred dumplings.  Some of them they ate right away but most were the appetizers at the branch’s Chinese New Year banquet on Saturday.  Money was raised for the […]

Participants from all over the USA and Canada came together to participate in the weekend workshop lead by Joé Thibault and Nicole Morency.  Dr. Tatiana Huguenin from the Sarasota branch also gave a brief presentation on how Taoist Tai Chi® practice affects the body. Participants had many wonderful things to say after the program. “A […]

The Dunedin branch held its annual high tea this past Tuesday. Ladies wore their best hats and gentlemen wore suits. We started with lovely British tea and scones freshly baked by our participants. They were followed by a variety of tea sandwiches and ended with fresh Florida strawberries — plain and chocolate-dipped of course.  During all of this […]

Participants from the Brandon, Florida branch joined in a tai chi demo at St. Stephen’s Interfaith Day event where 180 8th graders from a variety of denominations (Catholic, Jewish, Muslim) attended.  “It is one of our favorite demos,” participants said. Not only does it satisfy our aims and objectives, it also promotes compassion and understanding […]

Last Saturday January 27 approximately 40 people came to the St Petersburg, Florida center for the Quan Yin illumination chanting lead by Sean Denison.  For many it was their first time chanting. Sean’s explanation of the ceremony was informative and helped the newcomers understand what they were seeing and hearing.

We all had loads of fun and we thank our leaders Marsha Eberhardt and Sean Dennison.  Here are a few comments from some of the participants.   I am struck from the very first move how internal it is. I can feel how it’s opening my back”   All the sets we learn bring me […]

Participants from all around the world are happy to learn Hsing-I together at our new International Center in Dunedin, Florida. The workshop started with a talk from Andrew with examples from kitchen training using images of wringing dishcloths to better understand the importance of rotation in toryus. We are learning how to do toryus in […]

Our Chinese New Year Banquet was held as a Brunch, this year at the Dunedin Country Club in Dunedin, Florida. 225 participants joined local politicians, leaders and Mainsail representatives to welcome in the New Year.

Forever young is how we were inspired to feel during our recent international workshop in Pleasant Hill, California.  The program was offered by our guest instructor Executive Director of the International Taoist Tai chi Society, Andrew Hung.   Many attendees at the workshop were newer students. Andrew addressed their questions in encouraging and helpful ways. […]

Participants from the Taoist Tai Chi Society from Arizona and Denver made 108 Kindness Kits for Circle the City.  Circle the City is a non‐profit community health organization dedicated to providing high quality, holistic healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in Arizona. These kits are distributed in parks and through other social service agencies as a way […]

The Portland branch kicked off the holiday season with its annual Saturday afternoon holiday gala.  The turnout for the luncheon was the largest yet.  We worked together to set up and decorate tables, cook the entrees and arrange the bountiful food.  The branch provided the entree (salmon and a tofu dish) and the participants brought salads, sides […]

The International Center Florida hosted 99 participants this past week for the first half of Lok Hup. Long-time and brand new all learning together under the watchful eye of Allen Pearce of Portland.     “Having a full five days to work on the first half of Lok Hup is a great opportunity to learn […]

Here are two final comments from the final day of CIT Week.   Open your heart to change.   Be open to receive guidance.  

More insight, understanding and lightheartedness for tai chi, the Society, myself, and others   — Participant from USA   In New Zealand our Maori people have a word in their language manaakitanga, which means caring, respect and humanity. This is the word I think of when I am reflecting on my visit to this CIT […]

Here are some comments made at this day’s events.   “Learning to be open” “I was beginning to feel relaxation like it never felt before” “My brain finally slowed down a little bit.”  

Whether it be in the USA, UK, or Australia the experiences gained in attending our third international workshop in four weeks have reinforced in us that we are truly part of a worldwide family.   —John and Nancy, Toowoomba  

There were approximately 240 participants attending the first day of CIT Week at the International Center Florida.  

On a warm autumn Sunday in September members from the San Francisco Bay Area branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA participated at the Kaiser Fall Family Wellness Festival at the Concord Pavilion, a venue that has had performers such as Bob Dylan, Bette Midler and Johnny Cash.  The attendees at the […]