Cullen and Master Zhou

A Scholar’s Story: Finding Balance Through Tai Chi

When Cullen McManus first encountered Tai Chi, it was not through a lifelong plan or a neatly defined path. Like many meaningful things, it entered his life quietly—through curiosity, timing, and need. Cullen, Daoist Gate Beverly’s Scholar for 2025–2026, was introduced to Tai Chi and Qigong through an elective course at Salem State University taught…

Life as a Continuous Improvement

Improving life is necessary for us as human beings. A Chinese saying states, “If you don’t advance, you will retreat.” (学如逆水行舟,不进则退) We all need continuous improvement in life, work, family, or love. In the summer of 2021, the first time I offered intensive training at the center, Jason, a student from Virginia, came to the Daoist…