Recently, I was visiting family for the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend. Since they have satellite TV, one night I was browsing channels and through on the beginning of Saturday Night Live. I caught the tail-end of an opening skit and maybe the 60 seconds of Shane Gillis’ monologue. Infamously, Gillis’ monologue included a punchline whichContinue reading “The Male Body Politics: On Dualism, Fatphobia, and Gendered Hierarchies”
Author Archives: Devin Hogg
Ceilidh Dancing and Push-Hands: On Touch, Gender, and Sexuality
Warning: This post contains details on my sexual/romantic experience (or lack thereof) that some may not wish to read. I have attended two ceilidh dances thus far this fall. I have been attending ceilidh dances consistently enough over the past two years that the actual ceilidh dancing itself is very comfortable. What dismays me, however,Continue reading “Ceilidh Dancing and Push-Hands: On Touch, Gender, and Sexuality”
Increasing Religious Literacy: Early Christianity and Early Judaism
I have often written of my passion for physical literacy/somatic vocabulary. A parallel concern of mine is religious/spiritual literacy. It is my firm conviction that a lack of sufficent religious/spiritual literacy is a major factor in ecumenical and interfaith conflicts, both past and present. Today, I will focus on a trend I have noticed inContinue reading “Increasing Religious Literacy: Early Christianity and Early Judaism”
Tai Chi Sword: On The Benefits of Weapons Training and the Perils of Gatekeeping
If you have been watching the news at all lately, you’ve probably heard of sword yoga, and one of its most popular innovators, WeaponsUp. This organization fuses kung fu sword (jian) training with traditional yoga practices to empower women. The discourse within the martial arts community about this fusion practice is heated indeed. I alsoContinue reading “Tai Chi Sword: On The Benefits of Weapons Training and the Perils of Gatekeeping”
Tai Chi and Grief: My Experience
Recently, a member of my family died. The death was not a surprise; it came after a long life, and it occurred as peacefully as one could hope with plenty of warning thanks to excellent long-term care staff. As anyone who has lost loved ones will know, however, all the warning and good conditions inContinue reading “Tai Chi and Grief: My Experience”
11 Years of Chen Style Tai Chi: Reflections and Hopes
This May marked a significant milestone in my tai chi (taijiquan) practice: I have now been practicing Chen style taijiquan for 11 years which is equally as long as I practiced Taoist Tai Chi before that. It is fitting that this milestone occurred during Asian Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month in Canada asContinue reading “11 Years of Chen Style Tai Chi: Reflections and Hopes”
World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2026: 5 Ways Tai Chi Can Change The World
Today marks World Tai Chi and Qigong Day. This month, I’ve also been practicing tai chi for 22 years; in May, I will have been practicing Chen style tai chi for 11 years. I am forever grateful for the ways tai chi has changed my life over the past 22 years. I firmly believe inContinue reading “World Tai Chi and Qigong Day 2026: 5 Ways Tai Chi Can Change The World”
Open Letter to PM Mark Carney
To the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney: Congratulations on crossing the threshold to a majority government. I am writing to you as a person with disabilities and a person of faith, to urge you to make the most of this opportunity. Many marginalized and vulnerable communities of which I am a part have beenContinue reading “Open Letter to PM Mark Carney”
International Day of Taijiquan 2026
Today marks the first International Day of Taijiquan. To commemorate the occasion, I will share some of the ways my taijiquan practice has deepened over the past year. The New Frame In the past year, I have added the New Frame (xinjia) routines to my practice. The New Frame has some differences which are designedContinue reading “International Day of Taijiquan 2026”
Chen Tai Chi and Irish Dancing: St. Patrick’s Day 2026 Reflection
In Canada, we celebrate Irish Heritage Month through the month of March and today we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with billions of others around the world. My paternal grandfather was from County Armagh in northern Ireland. I never knew him as he died before I was born but I was motivated to explore my IrishContinue reading “Chen Tai Chi and Irish Dancing: St. Patrick’s Day 2026 Reflection”
