It is possible to follow Dahn Yoga training without feeling energy. However, when practitioners feel energy, they experience the true character of Dahn Yoga and, more than anything else, the training itself becomes more joyful and grows into a multidimensional experience.
Dahn Yoga contends that the brain is not simply an organ, but is, in fact, the center of the whole human body and its energy system. Through the various Dahn Yoga programs, practitioners can learn to utilize their brain fully toward the creation of a better life for themselves and those around them. However, the power of the brain is not limited to individual and personal development. Just as the human brain can create strife and intolerance in the worlc, so too can it create a peaceful, healthy society.
Dahn Yoga is similar to other forms of mind-body training, but it can be distinguished by three unique characteristics:
Energy is a defining element in Dahn Yoga because it is considered to be the medium that unites body and mind. Practitioners develop a deeper understanding of their bodies through energy while experiencing directly the connection between mind and body and strengthening communication between the two.
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. As the sense of energy gradually develops, formerly blocked energy channels open up, promoting circulation of energy throughout the body. Once able to control and command energy, practitioners experience natural healing in their bodies while gaining control of emotions and habits.
Dahn Yoga can be used purely to promote physical and mental well-being. However, this system is comprehensive, integrating not only the physical and mental, but also the spiritual aspect of human existence.
Dahn Yoga practice helps you develop a peaceful mind and stimulates your spirit to:
• Become aware of your body, your feelings, and the world around you.
• Help you feel whole and connected with humanity and nature.
• Help you find your life purpose and rekindle your passion for life.
Practice regularly can offer you the following benefits:
The combination of breathing techniques and deep stretching movements evenly work every muscle and joint in your body to:
• Increase flexibility and balance.
• Improve respiration, energy, and vitality.
• Improve bone density and muscle tone.
• Help maintain a balanced metabolism.
• Promote cardio and circulatory health.
• Help manage pain in the body.
• Increase circulation to all organs of the body.
All postures in Dahn Yoga are designed to unify movement, breathing, and awareness. This is what makes Dahn Yoga different from ordinary stretching. Paying careful attention to proper posture while controlling your breathing and concentrating completely on the here and now can:
• Help you relax and handle stressful situations more easily.
• Teach you how to quiet the mind and concentrate well.
• Encourage positive thoughts and self-acceptance.
• Create centeredness and balance.
The benefits of Dahn Yoga, however, extend well beyond physical health. For one thing, the concept of “health” is all encompassing in Dahn Yoga. A truly healthy person not only has a fit and functioning body, but also seeks balance and harmony in all areas of life. Practitioners of Dahn Yoga often report that through their practice, their family life improves, they gain confidence in their career, and many old and burdensome emotions are finally released.
When practitioners arrive at their goal of a healthy life, they often extend their intentions by creating harmonious relationships with their family, friends, communities, and nature. This helps them to become better human beings and creates a healthier, happier, and more peaceful world.
Dahn Yoga was created for people who want to live better lives and gain flexibility and balance of body and mind, even while living their busy, hectic lives. One of the advantages of Dahn Yoga is that it is easy and simple enough for anyone to learn, yet challenging for even the most advanced practitioner. Anyone – male or female, young or old – can enjoy the various programs and benefits of Dahn Yoga.
Dahn Yoga is an integrated mind-body training method that combines deep stretching exercises, meditative breathing techniques, and energy awareness training. Its objective is to help practitioners achieve their highest level of personal potential.
The traditional name for Dahn Yoga is “Dahnhak,” which literally means “the study of energy.” In Korean, “Dahn” refers to the primal, vital energy which is essential to all life forms, and “Hak” refers to the study of a particular theory or philosophy. Thus, a Dahnhak practitioner is one who studies the system of energy for the purpose of personal self-development.
During Dahn Yoga training, practitioners learn to communicate with their bodies through energy. As the body’s energy circulation is stimulated, its innate natural healing power is activated. Through consistent practice, practitioners can lead themselves back to optimum health. Essentially, they regain true mastership over their bodies through the medium of energy (Ki).
Ilchi Lee instruciton about how to keep you brain to work.
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.
1. I read …
a) Constantly, usually challenging material.
b) 2-3 times per week; sometimes books, sometimes magazines.
c) Once in a while, when I’m on vacation.
d) Never; I’m too busy watching TV.
2. I try to learn new skills or hobbies, such as Dahn Studio, a musical instrument or a language …
a) Whenever I have free time.
b) When I’m feeling bored.
c) Rarely.
d) I guess I’m too comfortable, because I haven’t tried such things
in years.
3. I engage in puzzles, Sudoku, or other brain-challenging
activities…
a) Daily.
b) A few times a week.
c) Once in a while.
d) My brain is challenged enough when I try to play a movie on my
DVD player.
4. When I am in conversation, I like …
a) Deep, intense talks about complex issues with people who
challenge my perceptions with new information.
b) Some debate, but usually nothing heavy.
c) People who agree with me.
d) I don’t enjoy conversation much.
Read about Ilchi Lee
Peace has been a goal and a dream of every leader, every civilization, every nation, and every government ever to exist in recorded history. And yet, the twentieth century saw two world wars of unprecedented death and destruction, violent revolutions that uprooted and marginalized tens of millions, lesser wars that nevertheless killed and maimed millions more, and an unimaginable program of mass murder that targeted a group of people for reasons that were totally unjustifiable and horrific in their twisted logic. As I write these words, the world continues on with its destructive legacy of war. However, every leader or general who is engaged in this brutal continuation of war is fighting for the cause of justice and peace. ‘A war to end all wars…’ Indeed.
Until now, the chief mainstays of the human value system have been the categories of nation, religion, and ethnicity. In the name of these categories, groups of people have engaged in an endless cycle of war and conflict in order to secure ‘freedom, justice, and peace’ for their own particular group. The ‘freedom, justice, and peace’ gained in these wars is prejudicial by nature, and has always been achieved at the sacrifice of another group or groups. The consequence of this has been an endless and vicious cycle of retribution. All in the name of ‘freedom, justice, and peace.’
All civilizations outlaw the killing of one individual by another and punish the perpetrator with the most severe form of punishment possible. However, all civilizations praise and reserve high honors for those who kill others in the heat of battle. If the war is a religious one, then the best killers are not only the bravest but also the holiest, with a place reserved in heaven for them, secured by the blood of the enemies of the ‘one true god’.
Adopting this posture, you can train for as long as you want. Ilchi Lee tells that it is effective for training internal Ki. It is also good for strengthening the lower body and eliminating arthritis.
From the Il-si posture, move your left foot so that your feet are about a shoulder width apart and bend your knees to about 15 degrees. Hold your palms together in front of your chest or otherwise position your hands as appropriate. Keep your back straight with your chest relaxed and slightly concave, ensuring there is no tension in your upper body at all.
Prevent your buttocks from protruding by slightly tucking your tailbone forward and upward toward the Hoe-eum.
Ensure that your feet are completely parallel, pointing neither outward nor inward. Also bring the Baek-hoe, Hoe-eum and Yong-chun into complete alignment.
Relax your mouth and lightly touch the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth at the back of your top teeth. This will connect as one circuit the Governor Vessel passing through your back with the Conception Vessel flowing at the front of your body.
Put your feet straight together, bend your knees to about 15 degrees, and keep your big toes and heels on the ground, with your weight centered on the Yong-chun.
Relax your upper body and, with the muscles of your buttocks and legs, gently pull the perineum forward and upward. Align the Baek-hoe, Hoe-eum, and Yong-chun.