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The Dragon's Head Blog

New Zealand
“My heart felt light”

“My heart felt light”

I am sure I will remember forever the openness and willingness to support and connect with each other which I am now learning to recognise and experience as important elements of the Taoist Tai Chi™ way.  I reflected on what was different for me in how it felt going into this new environment as a […]
“Let go and trust”

“Let go and trust”

In March, eighty participants traveled from all over New Zealand to take part in a one-day Retreat hosted by the Wellington branch, which was also a celebration marking 30 years of Taoist TaiChi™ arts for their Branch. A cake-cutting ceremony was held, with bubbles for a toast. Thefestivities continued in the evening with a formal […]
Gratefully Turning Away From Worry

Gratefully Turning Away From Worry

New Zealand held its first one-day National Retreat since the pandemic at the Bay of Plenty Branch’s new premises at the Tauranga Racecourse in the middle of October. There was a buzz of excitement as participants from across New Zealand arrived and friends greeted one another face to face for the first time in two […]
Finding A New Grace

Finding A New Grace

Everyone probably has lockdown stories to tell: here is mine. Even after years of Tai Chi, I still sometimes wondered if I could get through a set without clues from my fellow practitioners, but was determined to try and do a set each day during lockdown. I had fallen in love with Tai Chi from […]
Making The Pain Go Away

Making The Pain Go Away

“I just wanted to tell you about something that’s happened since Lockdown. I’ve been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips, and was getting quite a bit of hip pain until I finally got a diagnosis. Then I remembered something that we had been told at CIT week in Orangeville, back in 2009, about how dan-yus […]
Chanting at 2 am – ‘I was transported to another world’

Chanting at 2 am – ‘I was transported to another world’

New Zealand has been in a strict lockdown for a month – some participants have shared photos and reflections on their Taoist Tai Chi practice during this time. “At 2.00 am on Sunday morning (New Zealand time) I was fortunate and honoured to tune into the chanting organised by Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism […]
Transformation and Training

Transformation and Training

The focusing theme for the annual New Zealand Instructor Training Weekend was transformation. The weekend, attended by  more than 90 per cent of instructors, was important for instructors to come together and reflect and transform the way we do our Taoist Tai Chi® practice and most importantly, ask ourselves, how does  it feel.  One participant […]
‘My mind was calm, my body was calm’

‘My mind was calm, my body was calm’

At 37 years young, I am what some would consider “broken” (for my age). A physiotherapist (one of many), whom I had a long-standing relationship with after a ruptured disc in my early twenties, described me as a patient whose body tenses easily with an inability for my muscles to release or relax – often […]
Experiences from the International Program in Tauranga, New Zealand, October 2018

Experiences from the International Program in Tauranga, New Zealand, October 2018

84 people attended this amazing workshop.  One participant said that she had gained a deeper understanding of the form and why the moves are done the way they are.  There was much talk of tailbones and intention, circles and standing straight.  Participants described it as the friendliest gathering they have ever attended, and a couple of our Australian visitors particularly enjoyed the ginger crunch, saying […]
Spiralling in New Zealand National Program

Spiralling in New Zealand National Program

Approximately 30 New Zealand  participants gathered at the Lower Hutt clubrooms on the weekend of the 25th and 26th August for a two-day program led by National President Sue Lightfoot, ably assisted by Wellington continuing instructors Mary Brownlow and Peter Love.  Participants ranged from those who have done Tai Chi for many years (including a […]
Tai Chi and Me = Happiness

Tai Chi and Me = Happiness

July marks the two-year anniversary of my first encounter  with Taoist Tai Chi® arts and I am reflecting on my journey so far. Almost immediately the word happiness comes to mind. This seems an odd choice; while learning tai chi makes me happy so do lots of other activities. Obviously, there is more to my […]
The joy of being an international visitor

The joy of being an international visitor

It is such a privilege to attend international workshops in your own country, but travelling to another country to participate does add further benefits: to meet fellow tai chiers and renew friendships within the group, to enjoy extra time and take a holiday maybe – but also, if you have Tai Chi related responsibilities in […]
Season’s Greetings from NZ

Season’s Greetings from NZ

  A group from the Bay of Plenty Branch go down to the beach by Kulim Park, BBQ, a set, some dessert and time for some fun on the water.  A beautiful night near the Mount, a full moon will soon arise, the peace and tranquillity from our set had provided the scene for a […]
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