Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy

Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Pasadena Celebrates Its 1st Anniversary

Tai Ji Men Promotes Holistic Health and Global Peace

On September 15, 2024, Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in Pasadena celebrated its first anniversary along with the Moon Festival. Distinguished guests such as Jimmy Wu, representing Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, South Pasadena Mayor Evelyn G. Zneimer, Arcadia Councilmember Eileen Wang, San Marino Councilmember Tony Chou, Pasadena School Board Vice President Jennifer Hall Lee, Mt. San Antonio College President Martha Garcia, Pasadena Sister Cities Committee Representative Tina Rios, and others, attended the event to honor Tai Ji Men’s positive impact on the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of the community and beyond.

In addition, Tai Ji Men received recognition and congratulations from various entities, including California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, California Assemblymember Chris Holden, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Walnut City Mayor Linda Freedman, San Marino Mayor Steven Huang, the Mayor and City Councilmembers of San Gabriel, Temple City Mayor Tom Chavez, Arcadia Mayor Michael Cao, Arcadia Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Kwan, Arcadia Councilmembers Paul Cheng and April Verlato, Pasadena Sister Cities Committee President Lena Louise Kennedy, and Pasadena City College President José A. Gómez.

The event, themed "Full Moon, Full Hearts: Celebrating Togetherness and Happiness" opened with a powerful drum performance. Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing Tai Ji Men’s roots in Daoist philosophy and its teachings of qigong and the balance of yin and yang. He highlighted the academy's dedication to promoting holistic health since opening in Pasadena in 2023, contributing to the community’s safety and harmony. Dr. Hong expressed his gratitude for the support and recognition from the neighborhood and friends.

He shared that Tai Ji Men, in addition to its community efforts, has self-founded visits to 109 countries, spreading messages of love and peace through over 10,000 cultural exchanges and performances, building bridges of friendship, and advocating for “International Day of Conscience” and “World Day of the Power of Hope.” Dr. Hong encouraged everyone by saying, “Let us awaken the goodness within our hearts, embody the spirit of the dragon, unite and collaborate, overcome challenges, and take meaningful steps to improve ourselves, perform good deeds, and create a beautiful and fulfilling life.”

In celebration of the Year of the Dragon, Tai Ji Men presented a lively Celestial Dragon formation, performed by Tai Ji Men members, including a pharmacist, a CPA, and engineers, to inspire people to embody the spirit of the Dragon—compassion, courage, and true wisdom. A group of young female Tai Ji Men practitioners performed a graceful lantern dance, symbolizing the light of conscience guiding people towards a brighter future.

In addition to cultural performances, Tai Ji Men members shared how practicing qigong has benefited their lives. Among the lantern dancers was CiCi, a Harvard-educated associated architect in her 40s who looks like a college student. She had suffered from severe allergies since childhood. At 13, her mother introduced her to Tai Ji Men, and her health significantly improved—her skin healed, nasal congestion decreased, and her immune system strengthened, boosting her confidence and academic performance. She went on to attend USC and Harvard. While interning in Japan, she developed rheumatoid arthritis, but through qigong, she overcame the pain and no longer needed painkillers. Having experienced physical and mental transformation, she has brought her two daughters to practice qigong at Tai Ji Men, enriching their lives.

Logan Wilbur, a college ESL instructor, expressed his gratitude for Tai Ji Men’s Pasadena academy. Since joining, he has experienced numerous personal improvements, especially in self-awareness. He thanked Dr. Hong for guiding him to think positively, do the right thing, and spread positive energy to those around him.

William “Mickey” Stevenson, 87, a former songwriter and producer for Motown Records, joined the academy last year and experienced a miraculous recovery from a stroke. He shared that part of his sight was gone due to the stroke and that if it wasn’t for some of the exercises he learned at Tai Ji Men, he wouldn’t have had such a miraculous recovery.

Donald Kwok, a gastroenterologist, shared how practicing qigong has improved his physical and mental health, making him more relaxed and thoughtful. He expressed his gratitude for being able to promote love and peace alongside Dr. Hong, whose tireless dedication has inspired him to continue working towards a better world.

Many guests shared their appreciation for the event and acknowledged Tai Ji Men’s positive contributions to the community and beyond. South Pasadena Mayor Evelyn G. Zneimer expressed her gratitude for being invited and said she felt blessed to attend. She shared how much she learned, especially about qigong, and thanked Tai Ji Men for spreading hope, love, and happiness in the community. She also looked forward to Tai Ji Men’s participation in South Pasadena’s first multicultural event on September 28.

Mt. San Antonio College President Martha Garcia shared that the event filled her with joy and peace, and she found the experience uplifting. She believes that sharing the insights gained from the event could lead to a more beautiful world.