The Dragon's Head Blog

The Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA San Francisco Bay Area branch members celebrated the Year of the Dog in Pleasant Hill, California . The 100 plus members with family and friends dined on a traditional Chinese New Year eight-course banquet.   Entertainment also included Dr. Blues performing a medley of dog songs (Police […]

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 […]

On Saturday, March 10th the Etobicoke location of the Toronto branch was once again transformed into a cabaret, as dozens of Toronto participants and their guests poured into the Florida-themed space. From the pink flamingos on the “beach” out front to the mini palm trees on each candle-lit table, the mood was set for a […]

The Winnipeg branch celebrated Chinese New Year on February 24th, 2018 at a local Chinese restaurant. Nearly ninety of us enjoyed nine different Chinese dishes of delicious food which left us extremely full.  However we managed to find room for the oranges and custard tarts for dessert.   The master of ceremonies shared many of […]

Volunteers and staff prepared for the joyous Lantern Festival for days and weeks beforehand. The kitchen was busy into the night on Thursday so that Friday was not so hectic. The lights blazing in the practice hall were a warm beacon all Friday night until Saturday dawned chill and bright and clear. As visitors, guests […]

On February 24th the participants of the Windsor branch in Ontario, Canada came together to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the year of the Earth Dog. Fully 110 participants gathered to share a delicious meal while renewing connections with family and friends from all locations around the Windsor-Detroit area. Windsor Tecumseh MP Cheryl Hardcastle joined […]

Something’s cooking in Majorca where after years of trials and tribulations the building owned by the Society in Palma now has a fully operational kitchen. It was a long and winding road, starting with winning over the neighbors and raising the funds. But everybody rallied to the cause and finally the big day arrived. The […]

Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi® Western Region in Canada warmly welcomed the President of Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, Marsha Eberhardt, as we celebrated the Year of the Dog with a national program on February 24 and 25, 2018. The program was preceded by a delicious Chinese New Year banquet held in the […]

On February 24 -25 Ottawa Branch welcomed participants from the Pacific Region, Peterborough Branch and Kingston Branch to celebrate the Year of the Dog with a Chinese New Year Banquet and a National Program at the Ottawa Branch Centre. MP Anita Vandenbeld, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, and Arnprior Councillor Daniel Lynch joined our celebration and […]

There were 57 members from Belgium and the Netherlands who gathered to celebrate the Year of the Earth Dog.  The day started with an intensive, focusing on softness of the hands, continuity of the moves and how the roundness can help us find our feet, giving a stronger structure to our foundations.  Anchored well in […]

When the international workshop day began there was chanting in the morning for those who wanted to do it, followed by quiet sitting and then two sets, making for a very peaceful, soft start to the day. Then it was time for lunch.     In the afternoons we worked on circles and coiling in […]

On February 17/18, the Atlantic Region in Canada celebrated the Year of the Dog with a workshop and a banquet. Participants worked hard on don yus, tor yus and segments of the set during the day. Members of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly, Tony Ince, Larry Harrison, Brendon Maquire and Halifax councillor Shawn Leary joined […]

On Saturday February 17 participants from the Windsor, Ontario branch answered questions and discussed different topics on Taoist Tai Chi® practice. Topics included building a strong foundation, mind and body connection, balance and harmony, health benefits, the importance of daily practice, and benefits for both younger and older practitioners. Upcoming open houses and new classes were discussed in the […]

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 […]

Weightshifting, smiling and diligent practice: The difference in Birgit’s tor-yu from last year until today couldn’t be more significant, as Andrew pointed out to us at the International Instructors Workshop in Helmond. From having to learn how to walk using donyus and toryus to demonstrating the toryu to all of us – it required effort […]

During my regular class people asked me about the workshop. I realized how different it was. Although we seemed to practice less, much has changed for me. Surprisingly, I am able to remember the “new things” achieved during the international workshop. They pop up on their own :-). Moreover, I am already able to integrate […]

As tradition dictates Prague hosts the first international workshop in Europe and did so last month.  Almost 230 participants from nine countries went to the heart of Europe. Many of them were prodded by the good intentions that we make at the beginning of each new year, wanting to do something beneficial for our health. […]

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 […]