The Dragon's Head Blog

Over 40 people including one from the Czech Republic participated in our March 4th, 9 am to 9 pm marathon workshop at the Pleasant Hill Center of the San Francisco Bay area branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA. Our instructor was Allen Pearce from the Portland, Oregon branch. While waiting for […]

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 […]

        Two major February storms could not dampen a joyous celebration of Chinese New Year in St. John’s on February 18.   The weekend began with an instructors’ development session on Friday night, and Saturday’s intensive had us working hard on toryus, danyus and parting wild horse’s mane.  We also learned how to host […]

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

What a deeply enriching experience we’ve had in Australia. A weekend international workshop followed by a series of intensives with Marsha Eberhardt, President of FLK. It was such a pleasure  to welcome  Marsha and to prepare for and participate in this learning opportunity that was made available in a number of branches in Perth, Western […]

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 French TTCS members were very excited about welcoming Sean Dennison as the leader of the last weekend workshop in Lamballe. Sean helped us to find Don-yus and Tor-yus in the set. The more we can find them in the set, the best we improve our practice and our health. He helped us to look […]

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 […]

                              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!”

A busy weekend at the Atlantic Regional Centre began with a day-long program and culminated with a splendid Chinese New Year banquet. A cocktail hour with wine and hors d’oeuvres was lively, filling the room with laughter and talk as members mingled with guests and invited dignitaries. A couple of talented members entertained us, Maritime style, with songs […]

Annually the very first international workshop in Europe is held in Prague. Although a tough winter welcomed more than 200 members from nine countries, the atmosphere was very warm and everybody was enjoying the deeper practise of foundations led by Carmen Capilla. Encouraging advice like shiiiift the weight, relaaaaaax, smiiiiile and enjooooooy guided us during the whole weekend. […]

It is amazing how light we can feel by focusing on being heavy in our feet. That is only one of the insights gained from the recent Calgary National Program on February 3 and 4. Braving the snow and cold of a winter storm, 88 eager participants came together from Alberta and Saskatchewan to receive […]

Practitioners of Taoist Tai Chi® arts in San Diego, California held their first Taoist Tai Chi® intensive.  On Feb 4th over 20 participants from north and south California, Scottsdale, Florida, Mexico and Canada attended on a bright and beautiful southern California day.  Allen Pearce, USA Director, lead the intensive.  After the morning session of working […]

What a wonderful weekend in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, to try Lok Hup Ba Fa, another of the Taoist Tai Chi® arts. Under Joé Thibault’s guidance we relaxed and enjoyed the experience of learning this art, some of us for the first time. With the room at full capacity the energy was amazing with everyone working […]

Saturday was the day of celebrating the Chinese New Year! Before the festivities we were focussed on our practise. After working on wave hands like clouds, Marsha explained what the effect of this movement is on the deepest layers of the muscles. These muscles are reached by practising Taoist Tai Chi®. Taoist Tai Chi® brings […]

The Victoria centre filled with over 160 people, bringing a lively sense of bonhomie as these gatherings do. They were here for a National Workshop and Chinese New Year banquet, and came from all over British Columbia, Canada, with a few from further afield, for exampe, Ontario and even Australia. The workshop was led by […]

Corry, a senior member from Breda in the Netherlands, is enjoying her fifth workshop. It is my first time that I am relaxed and enjoying every minute. At other workshops I was so eager to learn and apply as much as possible in the Taoist Tai Chi set that I tightened up instead of letting […]