The Dragon's Head Blog

With the southern Ontario heat,  we enjoyed a beautiful set outside, followed by a brush knee parade around the second floor of the Health Recovery building at the International Centre in Orangeville to take advantage of the air conditioning. The icing on the cake was a final push hands session. One more morning and then we […]

Working and learning (and eating!) together.   “My tai chi is improving from teaching others.” — Wade from Taraunga, New Zealand     “There’s no criticism. It’s all help” — Pat from Gravenhurst   “This Health Recovery is one of the best gifts I’ve given myself. It’s taken me a while to get here, but […]

One participant captured the answer to this question in pictures.

Health Recovery participants don-yu their way down the room as they play with balance and weight-shifting.      “There’s such a strong feeling of community within the group.  It warms my heart.” – Angie from Durham, Canada     “This has been a phenomenal week to help me work on issues that are present for me. It’s […]

Up … Up …     Up! There’s always more up! Participants in this month’s Health Recovery Week at the International Centre, Orangeville, are enjoying getting taller and working together. From some of the participants: “It’s been more than just physical. I’m learning how to listen to my body and I didn’t realize how I […]

This spring the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Hungary held a round table discussion in Budapest on the health benefits of Taoist Tai Chi® arts. Among the participants of the discussion were instructors of the Hungarian TTCS, doctors who are also practicing Taoist Tai Chi® arts, and two of our members living with health problems […]

For patients with painful knee osteoarthritis, tai chi was as helpful as physical therapy in reducing pain and improving physical functioning, according to a new study partially funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The results of the study, conducted at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, were published in the journal Annals […]

As locations across Canada get ready for Cross-Canada Seniors’ Day next week on June 9, a new meta-analysis suggests tai chi can lower blood pressure in older people as effectively as drugs or aerobic exercise. Researchers also found that the reduction in systolic blood pressure was greater in people who performed tai chi more frequently. […]

Members and special guests in Brisbane, Queensland (Australia), celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Brisbane branch at a dinner on March 10, 2016. We were pleased to be joined by special guests Mr. Duncan Pegg MP, member for Stretton and representing the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk; Councillor Vicki Howard from Central Ward of the City […]

The benefits of an active lifestyle are well documented in studies.  But for living proof look no further than Stratford’s Isabel Plant. A five-day-a-week regular at the city’s branch of Taoist Tai Chi the energetic and charming senior celebrated her 90th birthday with fellow participants at the Ontario Street facility this week. Along with Anneli […]

Harvard Health Publications, the media and publishing division of the Harvard Medical School of Harvard University, one of the oldest and most trusted sources of medical information in the United States of America, reports that one of the five best exercises you can ever do is tai chi. As reported in the article No matter […]

  As a result of corrections in the sitting meditation and in my tai chi, a new part of my back opened up that had been hurting before. — Matt from Oregon       You have to pay attention to your task, watch the other people, if you want to learn about something and […]

Participants from across Canada are taking part in a six-week national dan yu challenge.  One only challenges one’s self to do more dan yu’s, not others.  Donations are freely given to support fundraising for the International Center in Florida.  Better health for the individual and for the organization is the best reward.  Here are some comments from participants in Canada’s Pacific […]

Here’s what participants in Western Region are saying about their practice: “It’s a good way to start the day.” Audrey “It softens the stiffness in my hips.” Phyllis “I’m doing the same number of Dan Yus every day, and it feels like it’s getting easier.” Eileen “The more Dan Yus I do, the more I […]

Many welcome thoughts on the Danyu Challenge…… The Danyu challenge has encouraged many participants to extend their limits and to discover the benefits of the extra practice. Je sens la chaleur sous mes pieds ..Jean/ Moncton, NB It makes shovelling snow easier..Claude/ Dartmouth, NS Il faut en faire plusieurs chaque jour, pour sentir une différence […]

I am a living testimonial that Taoist Tai Chi® arts is a lifestyle practice that everyone can benefit from, regardless of age and physical challenges. Here’s my story. Ten years ago I was in my 50s and enjoying my second adolescence of activity. I ran, swam, cycled and competed in age group triathlons. It was […]

In November 2014 I accepted an invitation from the International Directors for an extended stay in Orangeville. The hardest bit was leaving my family for 9 weeks; they are grownups and live independent lives but it was still difficult and I missed the regular contact. We hadn’t been separated for that length of time before; […]

A study by Dr. Wang to evaluate the effectiveness of Tai Chi in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms concluded that tai chi reduces pain and improves physical function, self-efficacy, depression, and health-related quality of life for knee OA.   “Dr Wang has been quoted as saying: “The value of Tai Chi goes beyond physical therapy because […]

The brains and bodies of identical twins were compared over ten years and for the first time, a connection has been found between power in the lower limbs and healthy cognitive ageing. So, if you need a little extra motivation to get up and do your danyu’s (or any of our moves!) ….. Read article published on […]

Poor sleep is associated with increased inflammation, which may contribute to heart disease and a variety of other ailments. A new study has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy and tai chi, the Chinese exercise technique, may reduce both insomnia and inflammation….At one year after the treatment, compared with the control group, those on cognitive behavioral […]