The Dragon's Head Blog

  The first couple of months of 2020 had brought a number of difficult issues for close friends and family, all of whom  looked to me for physical and emotional support. Each one needed totally different skills and all together were a difficult mix. But, having discovered Taoist Tai Chi a couple of years ago, […]

Since  ‘chanting for the world’ on Saturday, I’ve been thinking about the new challenge of engaging consistently with my practice. I am lucky that I have space both inside and out, but I am limited by time. I definitely want to do some tai chi before the working day starts, but it keeps getting dropped. I […]

Cultivating self-discipline with Taoist Tai ChiTM arts Lockdown does not suit me, and after a few weeks of only leaving the house for a bit of exercise and shopping, I was beginning to feel like a caged tiger. Each day I was doing a Tai Chi set, the foundations, and the Dan Yu challenge, but […]

“I have just done what felt like one of the softest, quietest most beautiful sets ever, stepping softly, feeling an opening and relaxation in the whole body and moving from inside, quietly. Amazing!  I feel that the focus on the quality of quietness and letting go in the chest and shoulders in this lockdown is […]

The comments and recounted experiences keep rolling in. It’s wonderful to know how many people are making the very most of their isolation, practising with dedication and heart and finding so much treasure for themselves. Thank you everyone for sharing and inspiring us all to stay motivated, and keep practising to be strong(er). “I’ve increased […]

  Rather like going to class at a regular time, I have set a schedule for my Tai Chi practice during the ‘shut-down’.  So, at 10.30 every morning I am ready to start. This helps… Otherwise I might decide to stay in bed! I do practice at home on a regular basis but always a […]

  “We see each other at the Monday morning class, and decided to still have a chat on Monday mornings, to try and keep ourselves motivated. Well, my instructor motivated me to open the windows, do some foundations and a few Dan Yus, and it really helped, and of course great to keep in touch.” Maureen […]

In Great Britain we have been appreciating how fortunate we are to have Taoist Tai ChiTM Arts to keep us strong and still during this difficult time. We are enjoying a dan yu challenge; 50 dan yus for 50 days to celebrate 50 years. Instructors have been receiving many positive messages from participants who are […]

Over a hundred participants came together for the International Retreat in Colchester, UK, the first such event in Europe in this year of celebrating 50 years since Master Moy Lin Shin began teaching us Taoist Tai ChiTM arts. Working from the spine, everyone took the time to engage the coiling, the expansion, and the contraction. […]

120 people from 8 countries gathered in Colchester for a 3-day programme. What are we doing now that’s different from what we did in beginners class? We’re still doing Brush Knee, Wave Hands as Clouds, Partition of Wild Horse’s Mane, Fair Lady Works Shuttles, and so on; but we’re not focused on the 108 moves. […]

It was a very relaxed October program in Colchester, where over 100 participants from 14 countries came together to play tai chi and become more familiar with the themes from this year’s CIT week in May. Taking our time to really be conscious and pay attention to what we were doing helped us make changes. […]

On the 31 August over 400 members gathered in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff to celebrate Awareness Day.  Across these three cities we demonstrated how unity, harmony and health are cultivated in every aspect of our Taoist practice.  Many volunteers worked together to coordinate the event, organising coaches, water, t-shirts and promotional materials, keeping together and sharing experiences […]

Master Moy taught us to honor the living and the dead, to promote cultural exchange, and to help others. The All Souls Festivals of 2019 has given the opportunity to express all of these aims. Around the world, participants gathered to engage in something greater than themselves. We chanted, prepared plaques honoring the deceased, folded […]

There was a Tai Chi heatwave in the UK as over one-hundred-and-fifty participants gathered for the five-day International Programme in Colchester.  The heat truly was a friend, as it softened muscles, tendons and ligaments, enabling everyone to work more deeply into their bodies through the danyu and toryu. The heat also worked to slow our brains, […]

To coincide with the Goon Yam Festival being celebrated at our Temple in D’Arcy Street, Toronto, members from England, Scotland, and Denmark, gathered to mark the occasion at our shrine in Colchester, chanting the 10,000 Buddha’s Sutra and the Northern Dippers Sutra, and sharing tea, fruit and stories.

Days 3 and 4 reach that wonderful quietness when everyone has connected more with their centre, and is harmoniously engaging with their tai chi neighbours in the rich and varied life of the programme: Morning chanting …. Tai chi instruction and practise …. Lunch and clear away …. Tai chi instruction and practise, deeper, quieter […]

At our Home in Colchester, GB, a hundred participants gather for a spring 5-day international programme. After breakfast and before the programme starts, a chance to practise chanting, with the 10,000 Buddha’s sutra. The tai chi instruction follows some simple themes to access the internals. Participants put the instructions into practice, with help and guidance, […]

A large group from the South East Essex branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Great Britain gathered in Southend at the weekend, to practice Taoist Tai ChiTM Arts, and to hand out leaflets to promote the imminent Open House sessions and new Beginner courses in the branch. https://youtu.be/v4UmPlDuLiI Members of the general public […]

More than sixty members from seven classes throughout Suffolk spent time together in Ipswich this week to celebrate the Year of the Pig.  Members arrived early to help decorate the hall, prepare food, make puerh tea for the break, and start the sale of raffle tickets  We enjoyed practising tai chi together, and hearing tales from the early days of the […]

At our European Centre in Colchester, 63 participants enjoyed a Beginner Weekend, supported by 27 volunteer helpers.  Two days of working on finding balance, standing tall, and expansion and contraction.