The Dragon's Head Blog

Participants attending the five-day International Program held last week at the International Center in Florida enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and pleasant weather. Participants working in small groups discovered the circle in the square doing dan yus.  The balance of palms pushing out and relaxed dropping opened the pelvic floor. They were given a special treat on Friday:  […]

On February 5 and 6, 2016 the Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi Calgary Branch hosted a successful two-day national program event led by Verity Rolfe. Sixty-nine people (including a visitor from England) gathered to deepen their understanding of the Taoist Tai Chi® arts, make connections with other participants, and work together. Volunteers kept everyone […]

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 […]

The Western Region celebrated Chinese New Year on the 6th of February at their centre in Newport. The day started with chanting followed by the usual housecleaning and then preparing of food and decorating tables for the evening. This was followed by the practice of Taoist Tai Chi® arts in the afternoon. Members were treated to beef, salmon, […]

This is the International Center Florida construction update for the week ending January 31, 2016. Building A Windows Window installers continue to install the east and west windows on the center wing of Building A. Exterior Stairwells The exterior stairwells on the north and south sides of the building have surveyors‘ stakes in place prior […]

The Taoist Tai Chi Society was invited to be part of a day-long programme of events celebrating Chinese New Year at the University of Essex. It was a cold but fun day and it was nice to meet and talk with the students about how Taoist Tai Chi(R) arts can help reduce the stress of studying […]

On February 5, 2016 the Calgary branch hosted a sold-out crowd of 120 people to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Monkey. Guests were treated to snacks and beverages as they arrived. A lion dance performed by members of the Kugekai Lion Dance Team welcomed in the new year. A delicious ten-course Chinese banquet […]

Participants in Billings, Montana held their Chinese New Year celebration including a talk about the origin and meaning of the year of the fire monkey. A delicious pot-luck dinner was enjoyed by all and there was no shortage of volunteers to demonstrate the Tai Chi Set when requested by a participant’s spouse.

The International Centre in Orangeville, Ontario is pleased to be hosting this year’s Lantern Festival on Sunday, February 21st at 12 noon. Everyone is welcome to this event, which will feature a traditional jai banquet, chanting, entertainment, and of course lantern sales! The Lantern Festival is a Chinese tradition going back many centuries. Typically held […]

The year of the Monkey is only a few days away! Festive decorations are finding their way around our Wong Dai Sin Temple on Steeles Avenue in Toronto. There will be chanting all day on Chinese New Year (Monday, Februari 8th).  The temple will be open on New Years Eve (Sunday evening until 2am Monday morning). Everybody is […]

International Center Florida Construction Update for the week ending January 21, 2016 Building A Interior Framing and strapping continues throughout the first floor SE wing. Replacement of damaged floor joists continues on second floor NE wing. The elevator and restrooms support walls were constructed and cells filled with concrete. These walls will support floor joists […]

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 […]

Energy and excitement are building as we approach the Calgary National Program only one week away.  We caught our Calgary volunteer sewing team in action preparing a gorgeous Monkey King costume for the upcoming Chinese New Year Banquet on Friday February 5th 2016.  Tickets are now sold out!  

       During a 5-day International Workshop in Helmond, the Netherlands 164 people from 15 countries gathered to seek more quietness in the tor yu. ‘Gentle’, ‘softness’, ‘from the spine’, ‘balance’, ‘keep the connection’, are some of the words Jim Nicholson used to help us find a better understanding and feeling of the tor […]

The Southern Interior Branch of the Pacific Region is holding our annual Chinese New Year workshop at our Vernon, British Columbia location.  We are planning an Asian themed dinner for Saturday night and we wanted to include spring rolls.  Rather than just make enough for the workshop we decided to make a whole bunch more.  […]

Le weekend pour débutants en Estrie a eu lieu les 23 et 24 janvier derniers. Ce fut une activité très populaire: 29 participants! Des gens de partout en Estrie, et de tous les âges, sont venus apprendre l’enchaînement du Taoist Tai Chi® à Sherbrooke. Nous souhaitons une pratique enrichissante à tous les nouveaux participants.

On January 23 and 24, 2016 the Fung Loy Kok Windsor branch hosted a very successful Lok Hup program. Fifty-five participants from Windsor, Amherstburg, Tecumseh, London, Sarnia, Kitchener, Orangeville, Toronto (Canada) and Kalamazoo, Toledo, Columbus, Michigan, Chicago, Massachusetts (USA) spent a weekend learning the art of Lok Hup and hearing stories about events with Master Moy from instructor Chris Lewis. The […]

  The weekend of 16-17 January saw three Beginner Weekends, all at the same time, at three different Centres around Great Britain. In Edinburgh, 18 completely new students enrolled as members, and joined with 28 current members (some of whom were still fairly new) for a weekend of Taoist Tai Chi practice. In their matching […]

The weekend of January 16 and 17 saw three beginner weekend events, all at the same time, at three different centres around Great Britain. The Western Region Centre hosted its second beginner weekend and welcomed 40 keen tai chiers (9 of whom had never tried Taoist Tai Chi before) to the event. People travelled from […]