In a wav, your brain is three brains layered together. It has three distinct parts that echo our evolutionary past. At the deepest level is the reptilian brain, or R-complex. This is the brain we inherited from our distant ancestors, long before there were human beings. This brain is home to our most primitive instincts: reproduction, movement, the fight-or-flight response, and territorially. The reptilian brain tends to be very resistant to change.
Above the R-complex is the limbic system. The parts of this higher brain control learning and memory, the expression of emotions, and the linking of past events to strong emotions. So when you remember a traumatic breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend many years ago and feel the anger or grief again, that is your limbic system in action. This center is also responsible for attachment and protective, loving emotions, so it might be called the source of our emotional intelligence.
Finally, at the top of the evolutionary ladder is the necrotic. This is the youngest and largest part of the brain, the seat of higher thinking, writing, and language, our ability to reason and analyze, and our power to anticipate the future.
These three brains perform their own specific functions, but they are also deeply interconnected, linking thought, emotion, memory, and action in complex ways that make us human. This network of nerves has the potential to make our brains agile and perceptive and our emotional lives rich and rewarding no matter how old we are. Yet often this potential is not reached, because the traumas or habits of decades damage the flow of energy between these brain centers.
Brain Integration heals the damage. This discipline makes it possible for you to more fully integrate your thoughts and your emotions and bring out your whole true personality. The result? A healthy body, enriched emotions, and blooming creativity—you become the person you have always aspired to become.
As Doctor Ilchi Lee writes in his book the effectiveness of Brain Sensitizing is based on the control of a fundamental principle of life as it is known in traditional Asian medicine. The idea that cool water energy and hot fire energy flow freely in our bodies is known as su-seung-hwa-gang, which means “water up, fire down.” When the body is in balance, cool water energv travels upward, toward the head and hot fire energy flows down to the lower abdomen—the “fire in the belly.” This mirrors the cycle of water and fire in nature, as the heat of the sun evaporates the water of oceans and rivers, which eventually falls back to earth as rain. When the natural flow of these opposites is in balance, with the water energy flowing toward the head along the back of the body and fire energy flowing down along the front of the body, mind and body feel at peace and well. When this flow is out of balance, nothing feels right.
Digestion is not wwking well, emotions feel out of control and disconnected, and pain is common. Brain Sensitizing works to balance these opposing forces during Dahn Yoga training sessions.
Brain Sensitizing is an integrated mind-body training method that focuses on stimulating specific areas of the brain, eliminating blockages to the flow of Ki energy, and quieting the mind through deep stretching, meditative breathing techniques, and energy awareness. As a tool for meditation by Dr. Ilchi Lee, improved concentration and awareness, and greater physical well-being, it is perfect for older people seeking a healing, holistic way to promote brain health and overall health.
This work often takes the form of yoga, but even if you integrate meditation or other disciplines into your practice, Brain Sensitization gives practitioners a way to get off the merry-go-round of life and to listen to their true selves, promoting inner peace and a rediscovery of purpose and meaning in life—something of great value to older people facing retirement, physical decline, or the uncertainty of life in an ever-changing world.
‘Brain Sensitizing and Yoga Exercises promote the body-brain connection and recognize the brain as the center of the human body, perception, and experience. People who do these exercises learn to use their brains more fully for the creation of a better life. This is a practice that recognizes the power of the mind and spirit to heal the body. Using the exercises in this book, you will learn to master the use of your own inner energy and to enhance your physical, mental, and spiritual wellness.
Ilchi Lee says that this book would not be complete without a few words about the foods that are beneficial for your brain. The foods you eat, of course, have a direct effect on your health and wellness, and many Americans consume far too much sodium, saturated fat, and processed ingredients, which contribute to circulatory blockages that deny the brain its blood supply and cause high blood pressure and other conditions detrimental to brain health. In general, a diet rich in fresh foods, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is as good for your brain as it is for the rest of your body. However, there are certain foods that pack more punch for DahnHak and brain than others:
* Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and walnuts.
* Foods rich in the B vitamin chorine. such as eggs
* Sources of good fats, such as avocados, almonds, or extra virgin olive oil.
* Green leafy vegetables, dried legumes, and lean meats, which provide vital amino acids » Whole-grain breads, cereals, and crackers.
The true benefits accrue to us as we age. Regular exercise has been shown to help alleviate depression in people over fifty, who can be prone to negative feelings as they face illnesses, empty nests, retirement, and the deaths of loved ones. In fact, regular workouts have been shown to have a stronger antidepressant effect than prescription drugs. Exercise also helps prevent obesity, a problem that is rampant in the United States, and can lead to a number of other very serious diseases, from arthritis and diabetes to heart disease and stroke. In fact, the four major killers in this country—heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer—are largely diseases of lifestyle. Change your lifestyle to reduce your risk of developing these serious conditions.
Contrary to a common myth, Yoga Exercise is safe for older people. You should always check with your physician before beginning an exercise regimen to make sure you do not have a heart problem or other condition that would make exercise hazardous. Also, getting some guidance from a personal trainer with experience in training older adults would be wise. As long as you do not over-train and injure yourself, there is no area of your body that will not take to regular exercise like a duck to water—especially your brain.
Ilchi Lee Breath Respiration Articles.
1. I get strenuous exercise (at least thirty minutes)…
a) 5—6 times per week.
b) 3—4 times per week.
c) 1—2 times per week.
d) I love my couch.
2. I stretch my limbs and joints …
a) 5—6 times per week.
b) 3—4 times per week.
c) 1—2 times per week.
d) The only thing I stretch is the truth.
3. My typical diet is …
a) 7—10 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, lots of whole grains, low fat, not much alcohol or red meat.
b) 4—6 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, some whole grains, moderate fat, some red meat.
c) Refined grains, red meat often, and few fruits and vegetables.
d) I recognize four food groups: fast, frozen, junk, and spoiled.
4. I sleep …
a) At least 8 hours just about every night.
b) 6-7 hours most nights.
c) Well some nights, poorly others.
d) I’m a connoisseur of 3 a.m. infomercials.
To read more see Ilchi Lee publications.
There are no right or wrong answers to this short quiz by Prof. Ilchi Lee, because there is nothing you are doing today that cannot be improved tomorrow. However, it is important to know where you stand today in maintaining and even enhancing your brain’s vitality as Dahn Yoga student. Complete each of the sections and then look at the end for your score.
From the perspective of energy, Dahn Yoga is made up of five stages: initiating, accumulating, controlling, commanding and completing. Practitioners first learn how to feel and accumulate energy in the major energy centers of the body.
I am a mid-level manager at a consulting company, in charge of the performance of six staff consultants. I am Susan’s husband. I am Billy’s dad. I am a student at NYU with a major in Anthropology. I have such and such dreams. I am someone’s daughter, son, or friend.
How did we come to define ourselves this way? If we observe the labels we give ourselves, we will realize that we define ourselves by the relationships we form and the roles that we are expected to play. Some people think they are first and foremost a “father,” while others think that the primary role they play is that of a company “CEO.” If we ask these two people about what they usually do on weekends, the “father” will most likely do something with his children, while the “CEO” will probably hold meetings with other executives.
As Ilchi Lee explains our general behavior has much to do with whom we think we are in life. However, if you investigate further you’ll find that other people have created your identity. How much did you have to do with choosing who you are? Our parents, our society, our ethics, and our schools have all imbued us with a pre-determined identity. And we have unconsciously accepted this intormation as our own. However, we are seldom aware that our sense of who we are consists of information that can also be evaluated, modified. and deleted.
“I am so and so…” or “I have to be such and such…” This is just information in your brain. We are always free to decide which information to accept. It is crucial to realize that we have the power to choose. New information will become the new you when it is ingrained in the deepest layers of your brain and it all will occure during Dahn Hak practice.
In Doctor Ilchi Lee view, the brain is just a particular set of information that we have collected over the years. And that set of information accounts for our personality and character. The particular set of information acts according to a program operating in our brain. This is expressed through actions and behavior. Frequently we judge ourselves and others by words and deeds. However, the key factor in determining your human character is the information that is stored in your brain, particularly the information having to do with the question, “Who am I?” Try answering the following simple questions: “What kinds of fruit do you like?” “What colors do you prefer?” “What flowers do you like best?” Who is the person, or the being, that is answering these questions? What you need to be clear about is that the one who answers these questions is not the ultimate, real “you.” It is the “you” that is the result of a collection of information you’ve come across during your time on Earth.
According to the dictates of these bits of information, we cry, laugh, feel joy, and express anger. These reactions and expressions are merely the result of information that has become habit, part of our makeup as we make our way in this world. When you feel sad or angry about something, you are reacting in ways that you have been programmed to react. These patterns of reactions and behaviors have been embedded in your brain and make your behavior predictable. Although we think we are always spontaneous, we actually live according to a script that has been written into our brain from an early age.
However, information is just that, information. Ask yourself. ‘What limits do I place on myself for Yoga Excercises because of preconceptions or false ideas about myself?” At first, you might point to your height, \veight, looks, academic background, or work experience. However, ultimately, you will realize that your real limitations come from the information in your brain. As with any other piece of information, it can be evaluated, modified, and deleted. Who then has the ultimate right to evaluate, modify, and delete information inside your brain? Who is the real you? It is not the “you” generated by the millions of bits of information that you have accumulated… but the real you. This is the answer to the question, “Who am I?”
If the hardware approach to brain integration is the use of the power of light, sound, and vibration, then the software approach is use of the power of messages (information) to recreate your identity… according to your own desire.
Identity and purpose are the primary sets of information that drive the functions of the brain. The answers to the questions “Who am I?” and “What do I live for?” provide fundamental motivation for our lives. Once the answers to these questions are established, then all other information acts to support these answers. Basically, in answering these questions, you have reinvented yourself. And in reinventing yourself, you must reorganize the information in your brain to fit the new identity you have chosen.
The reason explain by Ilchi Lee why we only utilize five to ten percent of our brain capacity is not entirely due to lack of effort or understanding. It is that we have not yet found the correct motivation to unlock the rest of the potential of the brain. Until now, the motivating forces driving us have been competition and self interest. These forces are too focused and small to provide the key to unlocking the whole brain. In order for us to utilize one hundred percent of our brain, we need to redefine who we are and what we ought to be doing in this life while practicing Dahn Yoga.