CTCA Cumberland Westmorland Tai Chi

03/15/2026

Dale will be missed, always smiling and enjoying life!

Obituary | A. Dale Anderson

Anderson, A. Dale – Age 71, of Parrsboro passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at the QEII Health Sciences Centre (Infirmary Site), Halifax. Born in Lockeport, he was a son of the late Alfred and Beulah (Baker) Anderson.

02/24/2026

Classes are cancelled today at 100 Spring Street due to the weather.

02/22/2026

One of the most quietly radical teachings in Zen is the idea of beginner’s mind — what the Japanese tradition calls shoshin. It does not suggest ignorance or lack of experience. Rather, it points to a quality of attention that remains open, curious, and unguarded, even in familiar territory.

Most of us live inside accumulated conclusions. We assume we know who a person is because of what they did yesterday. We predict how a conversation will unfold because of how similar conversations have gone before. Our history rushes in to interpret the present before the present has fully arrived. In doing so, we mistake recognition for understanding.

Beginner’s mind interrupts this reflex.

It invites us to meet each moment without the burden of certainty. Not to erase experience, but to hold it lightly. To listen before deciding. To observe before defending. To feel what is actually happening in the body before constructing a narrative about it.

There is a physiological dimension to this as well. When we assume we already know, the nervous system tightens. Perception narrows. We respond from memory rather than immediacy. But when we soften our grip on certainty, the body relaxes. Curiosity becomes possible. The mind widens enough to perceive nuance.

In relationships, this shift can be transformative. The person in front of us is no longer reduced to a role or a past mistake. The moment is no longer confined to our expectations. Something new can emerge — not because circumstances have changed dramatically, but because our posture toward them has.

Zen does not ask us to discard knowledge. It asks us to refrain from clinging to it. Beginner’s mind is not about pretending we don’t know. It is about remaining willing to discover.

Each encounter, each breath, each exchange carries more potential than our habits allow us to see. When we approach life as if it is still unfolding — because it is — we make space for insight, for connection, and for genuine responsiveness.

Beginner’s mind is less a technique than a stance. A quiet willingness to admit that this moment may be richer, more complex, and more alive than our assumptions suggest.

And in that openness, practice renews itself.

02/02/2026

01/27/2026

Classes are cancelled today at 100 Spring Street due to the snow dump.

01/25/2026

New Intro Class in Amherst, NS starting Feb 3-2026
Bring indoor shoes, no pre-registration required.

01/22/2026

We’re excited to announce the launch of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy YouTube channel!
https://www.youtube.com/

This new channel is created to support your Tai Chi journey with accessible, high-quality videos you can view anytime, anywhere. As part of the launch, we’ve released a series of Beginner Tai Chi Practice Video Series, designed especially for those who are new to Tai Chi or who want to strengthen their foundations.
In the Beginner Practice Video Series, you’ll find:
• Chase Langford (Smiths Falls, ON) and Manon Benjamin (St. Catharine, QC) performing the beginner form of Mr. Moy’s Tai Chi Set
• Short-sequence videos of the Tai Chi Set, repeated in both front and back views
• Videos of the first half, second half, and the full Tai Chi Set
• Voice cues to help you follow along without needing to constantly watch the screen

I am deeply grateful to the many people who contributed their time and support throughout this project. Carole Martin (Almonte ON) was instrumental in making it a reality. Chase and Manon bravely volunteered to appear on screen and did a tremendous job demonstrating the beginner form. Doug Nettleton provided early advice on the beginner Tai Chi form, which was extremely helpful at the outset of the project. Susannah Heath-Eves, our videographer, and Shane Mendonsa, our sound editor, worked tirelessly to bring the videos to completion.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a gentle way to deepen your practice at home, these videos are a great place to begin.
We invite you to visit the channel, try the beginner practices, and subscribe to stay updated as we continue to add new content.
Thank you for being part of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy community.
Regards,
John Pariselli,
CTCA IDT Chair

The Canadian Tai Chi Academy is a non-profit and charitable organization. The Academy teaches 108-move Tai Chi, a style developed by Master Moy Lin-Shin (193...

01/12/2026

This Sunday, January 18th at 2 pm Atlantic Time

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84684270859

We look forward to kicking off our 20th Anniversary Year by listening to our president, David deBelle, watching a slide show of our happy, smiling faces doing tai chi, doing a set together and then closing remarks (WITH EXCITING INVITATIONS FOR FUTURE EVENTS!) The theme is Connect in Community.

We have over 3600 members in Canada. See you all there!!

CTCA Board of Directors

01/07/2026

Roads are Icy, so stay home tonight! Class is cancelled at 100 Spring Street, Amherst.

12/17/2025

Another end of year class and potluck complete. Great people with awesome food and friendship.

See you all next year!

Janice