What is yoga?
By Michela | October 3, 2008
I have heard some practitioners of Indian yoga say that Dahn Yoga is not really yoga. Yoga is an Indian word, and certainly there are differences in some of the exercises used in Indian yoga and Dahn Yoga.
But even though the word “yoga” comes from India, it has been popularized and adopted into the language of many English-speaking countries. The original Korean name for this practice was Dahnhak, meaning the study and philosophy of energy–a very appropriate name that no one in the United States, unless they have been practicing Dahn Yoga for a while, understands.
And what does yoga really mean? I read an explanation today that I thought was excellent that I wanted to share with you. I would love to know what you think. It comes from a Free Article website: http://www.126126.info/about-yoga-and-its-secret-goal/
“What is yoga, anyway? Union. Right? Union of everything: body, breath, mind, inner self, and every other living and non-living thing in the entire existence: rocks, plants, animals, other humans, every thing.
Yoga is a realization that there’s Oneness behind everything and this Oneness is who you are. This Oneness is inexplicable in words or thoughts, but one feels it anyway, when, suddenly but often enough, one peeks beyond the mind’s constant chattering.
This experience of Oneness, of yoga, of lasting inner peace and happiness, is the opposite of Ego, the sense of separateness.
In fact, yoga, and absolute happiness, are experienced only when the ego is clear, or, to use the language of yoga, purified. Once the ego is pure, yoga happens naturally.
This may seem unexpected for some of you, but, as a science and a practical system, yoga primarily deals with the mind. It may begin with the physical conditioning of the body - postures and sequences to gain physical control, but all to get a handle on the mind. According to yogic wisdom, to control the mind perfectly is the most difficult task in the universe.
The body is much easier to control. Gradually, the transition is made from the physical to the subtle energetic and mental exercises.
So what about yoga’s secret goal?
Imagine what would happen if large numbers of people had an authentic experience of yoga. Imagine if people could sustain ego-less existence for periods of time long enough to feel compassion for all other beings on Earth. As yogis, awake to our inner nature and in union with our environment, ever conscious of the One essence behind all, we realize that we are inseparable from Mother Earth.
The purpose, or goal, of yoga becomes our purpose in life. We realize that it is our inherent duty to take care of our planet and all its creatures, to live in harmony, as a family, as brothers and sisters, with all. As yogis, we become ecology-warriors, messengers of Peace, and guardians of Mother Nature, and of Life itself. We realize that we are the caretaker-species; and that is why we have our intelligence and the energy for this grand task. We naturally dedicate our lives to alleviate the suffering of others, create peace in the world, raise our common consciousness, and awaken others to their true nature and the unity between all life.
So this is the seldom-told secret about yoga: its goal is to bring about change in the world, a global transformation of consciousness. This is what has been projected by the great rishis of the past as a means to save our precious Mother Earth and learn to live in harmony and love.
Why is this a secret? Perhaps, hidden or unapparent may be better words. It is unapparent about yoga that it has such a deep transformational effect on one’s consciousness. Often, yoga comes into one’s life through the back-door of the ego. People are usually attracted to yoga because of the ego. The reasons for starting a yoga practice range from getting a yoga-butt to searching for inner peace.
Thus, the ego plays a crucial role in one’s path to self-discovery and ego-purification. With the regular practice of Love for the body, mind, and heart, yoga practitioners transform.”
This deep, transformational effect on one’s consciousness is the true goal of Dahn Yoga and its automatic effect whether its your goal or not. Truly when your energy begins to flow and your heart opens, you will feel that oneness that will expand your mind, bring you health, happiness, and peace, and help you want to share what you’ve found with others.
Why don’t you share what you’ve found here in the comments?
Topics: Consciousness, Dahn Yoga | No Comments »
Old Dahn Yoga Testimonials
By Michela | October 2, 2008
I found some touching sharings in the Fall 2004 issue of body & brain magazine, which is no longer published. (I happen to have many old copies available to me and they are an invaluable resource of holistic health information.)
I want to pass these on to you because I think they touch upon the essence of Dahn Yoga:
“In class I get a sensation of peace all over. I feel present in the moment, not so distracted by the chatter in my head.” (Anonymous, Bethesda, MD center member)
“I feel Dahnhak [older name of Dahn Yoga meaning the philosophy and study of energy] has increased my awareness compared to other things I practiced before. I feel more connected and solid. I feel I am not so much in the head, and the strength is amazing.” (Jakarta Kahlsa, Bronx Dahn Yoga Center who the article says has practiced many kinds of mind-body training)
“I love sharing with the members because I am always amazed how we really are no different, how we are really just ‘one.’ Connecting through breath, mind, body, the connection of energy, the connection of being one with ourselves and others–this is the gift of understanding that I have received. So each day is a gift of life, a chance to accept that I am a child of the universe, that we are all children of the universe.” (Christine Kilavos, Bronx Dahn Yoga Center member)
Topics: Dahn Yoga | No Comments »
Dahn Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis
By Michela | October 1, 2008
Today I read an article called ‘Meditation Can Calm Extremes of Reactivity” from the Fall 2001 Contact Newsletter By Ann Crickmer, MSW. This is a newsletter about the disease Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
The article offered interesting insights about meditation, how it relates to MS, and how it can help people who live with this disease. Here is an excerpt that sounds especially illuminating, especially since it relates the healing philosophy of Dahn Yoga:
“He (Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder and former director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at University Mass Memorial Medical Center, and the author of Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness) defines “healing” as reclaiming the present moment: your thoughts and anxieties for the future are not in the moment. “Mindfulness” is paying attention, doing things on purpose, non-judgmentally in the present moment. It is “falling awake”. Mindfulness is heartfulness. It’s not on the way to something; it is the thing. Kabat-Zinn traced the Indoeuropean roots of the word rehabilitation to habiter which means to learn to live inside yourself. We must learn to sit in the “full catastrophe” of our life and “own” our moments.”
“Kabat-Zinn said that, from a meditation point of view, the whole society has Attention Deficit Disorder and “live at a distance from their bodies”. We need to move into our bodies to see what effect it has on our disease. You have only moments to live so that you must make choices of what to let go of. Once you realize that now is the only moment you have, you relate differently to your life and body, leading to better balance in your life.”
Living in the moment is of course a constant practice, one which I think Dahn Yoga techniques can help us achieve.
Topics: Health, Dahn Yoga | 1 Comment »
International Passion Day
By Michela | September 30, 2008
September 30, 2008 is International Passion Day (according to Janet and Chris Attwood, authors of the book The Passion Test)–a day to take at least one action to follow your passion and begin fulfilling your life’s purpose.
But how do you know what your passion is?
The best thing I ever did to help me find my passion is take Dahn Yoga’s Shim Sung workshop. Focusing on your fourth chakra, Shim Sung bursts open your heart, where all of your passion is stored.
Shim Sung’s effectiveness is based on the premise that we all have passion inside us–every single one of us. We just have to look inside and peel away the layers that are covering it.
In fact, Dahn Yoga is all about living your life with passion.
What will you do today to uncover your passion and take an action to begin to fulfill it?
Today, I wrote this blog post 
Topics: Consciousness, Dahn Yoga | 1 Comment »
New Brain Wave Vibration Website!
By Michela | September 29, 2008
I have posted about Brain Wave Vibration many times on this blog, and now I am happy to announce the birth of the new Brain Wave Vibration website: www.brainwavevibration.com.
The Brain Wave Vibration website has been open for over a month now, but we have revamped the site so that it has more multimedia and so that its content would be updated every weekday. You can find news about the brain, Brain Wave Vibration, and community stories. You can also read the stories of people who have benefited a lot from practicing the technique. From this site you can learn more about how to do Brain Wave Vibration and what it really means to many people.
I’m sorry I’m gushing a bit. I was a part of a large team of people who created it and poured a lot of love into it. I really hope you all get something out of it.
Topics: Brain | No Comments »
Dahn Yoga Chest Tapping Exercise
By Michela | September 28, 2008
One chest exercise I am familiar with that is performed often in a regular Dahn Yoga class is chest tapping. Tapping your body with your palms, cupped hands, or fists is a great way to release energy blockages and allow the energy to move through the body’s meridian channels.
Although tapping can often seem strange to many Americans, it is a very traditional technique in Korea, where Dahn Yoga originated. I too thought it was a little odd at first, but now tapping my body is a great relief from any tension, stress, or emotion I’m holding in it. I wouldn’t want to imagine life without it.
Tapping your chest specifically is one simple way of opening your heart chakra. The best way to do it is to deeply focus on the center of your chest where your heart chakra is while you tap the same spot on the outside. Feel the vibrations the tapping makes inside your chest and breathe out any tension or stuffiness inside.
You can also use your voice to make vibrations in your chest. If you make an “ah” sound while focusing on the center of your chest, you will feel that area of your body becoming lighter and freer. If you add tapping to your vocalizations, you will have twice the punch. (This technique, in fact, is a form of Brain Wave Vibration.)
I am often amazed, as I continue to practice how effective very simple techniques are. What are your experiences with chest tapping?
Topics: Breath, Body, Dahn Yoga | No Comments »
Chest Expanding Exercise
By Michela | September 27, 2008
Speaking of exercises that open your heart chakra, here is a chest expanding exercise I found in Ilchi Lee’s book, Meridian Exercise for Self-Healing: Classified by Common Symptoms. I looked there to see if there was a specific exercise it recommended, especially one I was unfamiliar with.
According to the book, this exercise “promotes deep and full breathing and enhances heart and lung capacity. If you sit and hold the positions in Steps 2 and 4 for 10 minutes or more, this can help to realign the spine and bones. Keep your spine straightened and focus on your heart. Ki and blood circulation will be strengthened, as will your heart.”
Here’s how you do it:
- Sit in a half-lotus posture. Place both hands in the prayer position in front of your chest.
- Inhale. Keep your elbows bent as you open your hands and bring your arms out to the side as far as is comfortable. Focus on opening your chest.
- Keep your spine lengthened while holding your breath. Gently pull your shoulder blades toward each other and hold for 10 seconds.
- Exhale and bring your hands together in the prayer position, as in Step 1. Inhale and slowly pull your arms apart again as far as you comfortably can, this time with your wrists flexed and palms face up. Remember to keep your spine lengthened and your neck and shoulders relaxed. Focus on your heart.
- Repeat this sequence several times.
Tip: If you experience palpitations or difficulty breathing, perform the movements gently and just breathe naturally and comfortably.
Topics: Energy, Dahn Yoga, Exercise | No Comments »
Gratitude
By Michela | September 26, 2008
Part of a Dahn Yoga practice is getting the energy of your body moving, including the energy in the 7 internal energy centers of the body, often called chakras. There are 3 main chakras, also called dahn-jons in Korean, a lower, middle, and upper. In a regular class, you will often hear an instructor say “dahn-jon”. They are referring to the lower dahn-jon or the second chakra. Your middle dahn-jon is your fourth or heart chakra.
There are a lot of chest opening exercises in Dahn Yoga, and the Shim Sung workshop specifically focuses on opening your heart chakra. One of the many effects of opening your heart chakra that I’ve noticed is a feeling of gratitude, for no particular reason at all. This feeling of gratitude extends to anything and everything your mind can focus on.
It kind of reminds me of the advice I’ve read many spiritual teachers give. They say to be grateful for everything in your life, even if it seems “bad” or it’s something you don’t want. Just have gratitude without judging it.
In fact, Ilchi Lee writes in his book Principles of Brain Management: A Practical Approach to Making the Most of Your Brain:
“You’ve probably been told at some point in your life to count your blessings. But have you considered that everything in your life is a blessing? Think of a difficult period in your life that has passed or a giant obstacle you have overcome. Consider how that event ultimately was a blessing to you.”
I think that if we consider everything in our life a blessing, we will always be open to learning and growing from it. I think doing that is more difficult when we close ourselves off to something or reject it because we don’t like it.
Another feeling I have when my heart chakra is open is that everything is connected to each other. So feeling grateful for and accepting something must be like being grateful for and accepting myself.
What do you think?
Topics: Consciousness | 3 Comments »
It’s All in Your Feet
By Michela | September 19, 2008
I found this exercise at the Dahn Yoga Hawaii Member’s blog. I have done it many times, but seeing it there reminded me about how great it feels and how important your feet are.
Many of you may have heard of reflexology and how many parts of your body can be affected by stimulating your feet. An especially significant point in your feet is called your Yong-chun in Korean. It is the end of the kidney meridian in your body. Stimulating this point can both calm and strengthen you, among other benefits both physical and psychological.
Sole Patting
Dahn Yoga’s sole patting: Benefit—Significantly bolsters brain function. The feet are like a “second heart.” They are vital in orchestrating proper blood circulation. When the soles of the feet are stimulated, you will
begin to notice a heightened sense of clarity, focus, and concentration.Postures:
- Sit on the floor with your legs extended in front of you.
- Bend one leg and bring the ankle over the knee of the other leg.
- Make a fist with your thumb tucked inside your hand.
- With the pinky side of your fist, pound the sole of your foot strongly 30 times.
- Alternately, you could use a wooden stick to press the soles of the feet.
- Pay attention to your Ki 1 (Yong-chun) acupressure points.
- Repeat with the other foot.
Topics: Health, Body, Energy, Brain | No Comments »
Dahn Yoga Healers Support the MS Challenge Walk on Cape Cod
By Michela | September 18, 2008
This past weekend, Dahn Yoga Healers from Dahn Foundation of the greater Boston area volunteered their time at the Multiple Sclerosis Challenge Cup at the Cape Cod Sea Camp in Massachusetts. Walkers there walked 50 miles to raise money for MS of Central New England.
At this annual regional event, the Dahn Yoga volunteers offered a stretching class in the morning and evening to all walkers who came to sleep and rest. In between, they offered their sincere healing touch to the sore participants, using what they learned through Dahn Healing System.
Although, there were many masseuses there, the participants who came to the Dahn Foundation volunteers reported being pleasantly surprised by how great they felt. One the individuals who took the stretching class shared the next day, ” I don’t feel like I walked yesterday. I feel great.”
This is the first time Boston volunteers have attended this event and they are looking to expand it next year by having a bigger presence and offering workshops on diet and Jangsang walking.
How can you use your Dahn Yoga training to help others in your area? If you know of anyone who would like to have classes at their workplace or community group, please tell you local Dahn Yoga center. You can locate a center nearest you at www.dahnyoga.com.
Topics: Health, Consciousness, Dahn Yoga | No Comments »