Dahn Yoga in California

My wife and I recently returned from 15 days of intensive martial-arts training in the Arizona desert, near Sedona. Eat breakfast, train. Eat lunch, train. Eat dinner, train. Go to bed, start again.

A couple of times we even trained before breakfast.

Several times along the way we decided we didn’t want to do any more, but we kept going anyway.

Earned red belts in the end. Never mind the white, yellow, and blue belts that usually come before that in Dahn Mu Do (similar to Tai Chi). Not that we went to Sedona seeking belts. We didn’t even know about them until we were there. And we didn’t particularly like the idea that there would be a test at the end of our stay. This was our vacation, for God’s sake.

But of course once we learned about the red belts we couldn’t very well go home without one, could we? Not on your life.

Best part was the stuff we did with swords. Wooden swords that we gave names to, carried everywhere, and slept with every night.

It took us days to master the Vortex Sword form, and I still messed up when it was my turn on stage. I left out a move and ended with my back to the audience. Damn. A quick, impromptu move set things right, but still.

The whole Vortex thing takes about three minutes to perform and seems ridiculously easy now.

That’s just the way of things, I guess.

Then again I still need to refine my footwork, and there’s a new twist our local instructor shared with us — twirling the sword like a batton to change directions with flair.

I’m working on it.

- Al Riske

First published on The Alster.

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Master Park’s Koean Fan Dance @ DahnMuDo school in Sedona

 Carol, Kevin, Maryanne, Gail, Anna healernim

Congratulations on your great Journey…

Peace in family by Dahn Yoga

I wanted to take the time to express my gratitude for all that you and Dahn Yoga have give to me and my husband, Ross. We always look forward to going to class even if we are tired from a long day. We know that our energy will be better and we enjoy the exercises and the warmth and compassion we feel from you and the other students.

I have experienced much opening physically and emotionally that has allowed me to heal from old emotional wounds. We have both learned to be more authentic in our relationships and to allow each other the time and space necessary for our own spiritual development. Our communication with each other is deeper; we are willing to be more vulnerable.

We have been through the grieving of former relationships, become more appreciative of what we have together, and we made the decision to commit our lives to one another by getting engaged, and married. Now, we are blessed to be expecting our first child together.

Since beginning at your center, we have experienced:
• Good health
• Improved flexibility (especially Ross )
• Increased compassion toward others and ourselves
• Less attachment to the ego and its dramas
• As I experience my 4th month of pregnancy, I am thankful that I did not have serious morning sickness or nausea, and that my moods have been fairly balanced.

We truly appreciate the growing community of Dahnak in the Mountain View center, and we especially appreciate the love, compassion, and energy you share with all of us, so that we may also pass it on!

Blessings and Love to you,

Katrina and Ross Gerry
(Mountain View Dahn center)

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I don’t want to work, I just want to bang on the drum all day…Last night was the final night of our drum class. The experience of the last 6 weeks will stay with me for many years to come. Even though I have been playing drums in rock/punk bands for 20 years, I approached these lessons with a beginner’s heart, as it is a new kind of drum for me, and was greatly rewarded.For me, it was a great experience to play with people who were also beginners on the drum, and to share their excitement and joy of learning something brand new. And fun too! I mean, really what is more fun than the art of percussion… the art of hitting things with other things! Hearing the loudest noises created by the smaller/shorter people made me smile too.

Watching new drummers grow and improve from week to week was really fun and I wondered if I had not ever met these people in a drum class, would I know or even think that they could play the drum if I met them on the street or out in the community? I would probably assume they did not, and be very wrong. My eyes are open to this prejudice now.

When I heard other students talking about how energizing it was to play the drum, how it awakened their spirit in the late evening hours of the class but allowed them to sleep peacefully… it codified and validated what I had known for a long time. When I play the drums, I feel better. If I stay away from the drums too long, I don’t feel so good anymore, and I think only of getting back to it.

And then there was the final performance last night. After many weeks of following the teacher, I had a moment to express my own leadership on the drum, add some personal touches (or mistakes), and throw in a little rock crescendo at the end to add a little extra excitement. I think a few were surprised
But probably the most enlightening moments for me were the final breathing and relaxation exercises that closed each class. This process of calming and incorporating the healing power of playing the drum into my being was a completely new experience… you can imagine that the post-show or post-rehearsal action of a rock or punk band is a little different, there was no avenue for calming or redirecting the incredible energy that is released from within and among the people involved. This is a powerful new process that I can add to my playing repertoire…

Many thanks to all students and teachers that made this a great class!

Jon Burns — Mountain View

Let’s get together ‘N raise our consciouness.

Mountain View Dahn Yoga center has been showing many spiritual and educational movies since 2004.

Here is August Movie Night schedule.

Date: August 24 (Fri) 7:30~9:30pm
Place: Mtn.View DahnYoga center
Movie: Peaceful Warrior
Attendance Fee: Heartful donation.
What to Bring: Snack, friends, family(especially students)

Special Gift: All attendees will get 30-minute “healing gift certificates” from healers.

Come and enjoy^.^

It was a delightful and memorable experience last week being introduced to your center.

I’ve practiced many forms of self-realization and physical condtioning modalities, but must report that the practices of the short 60 minute basic session made a “major” impact at reducing both mental and physical stress.

I had no appreciable pains or discomfort in the hours/days following, and the effects have carried over for almost a week now. I was impressed, particularly during my long drive home to Oregon as to how physically and mentally relaxed I found myself to be relative to previous return trips.

This is interesting in that I am physically active and understand and have long been (without prior Dahn-Yoga study) practicing the principles outlined by Ilchi Lee in his “Human Technology” book (which I read cover-to-cover the night you gave it to me.). I practice other forms of Yoga, Tai-chi, Kung-Foo, as well as sports activities, on a regular basis. And I have close personal friends who are professional “life-coaches” who are constantly keeping me directed toward “enlightenment and self-realization” through varous forms of meditation, breath-work, prayer, plus private and group “therapy” sessions. So I’ve had no lack of advice, encouragement, and action to develop at the physical, emotional, and spiritual levels … and have progressed much over the years. But Ilchi Lee seems to have done the best job of explaining and integrating concepts and practices to a form that best resonates with my being.

I continue to practice the warmups and other exercises as best I remember them. I did notice something strange… a slightly visible localized discoloring directly over my lower Dahn-Jon (Tan-Tien/ 2nd chakra) area. Yet other than than the “touch coaching” you adminsitered over that point to aid in adjusting my breathing, I have no explanation for the discoloration/bruising. True, I vigorously practiced the abdominal-clapping exercises… but only this one spot has a mark! Is this a commonly reported phenomena?

Looking forward to returning in couple weeks to continue my training and to get to know you better.

Appreciatively Yours,

David W.

Mtn.View Dahn Yoga

 My dear fellow friends,
the weekend was wonderful with meeting new people, sharing and spending time with you guys and for being part of a young enthusiastic group. The energy in Mago Hall was just incredible. I have taken this feeling home with me and will keep it in vivid memory when I tap my Dahn Jon and practice DMD at home. John and I both enjoyed the training so much. He said his tailbone came loose after being stuck for years and I saw him climbing up on Bell Rock (even though his rip still hurt) which looked like a miracle to me. I have never seen him walking so relaxed and strong.

Dear Vera, your news make me so happy, your eyes sparkeled and you looked so good when I said good bye - I sensed that something sensational must go on:-).
I wish you all the best for your exciting journey and a save return. You are a wonderful, strong person that I admire and love a lot.
I will download the pictures we made in the next days and will send them to you.
I love and miss you all very much.

Mountain View Dahn Yoga center 

Angela and John
 

It all started after Lyne & Sophie joined the Dahn Yoga Center in Mountain View in May 2006. We were enthusiastic members attending on a regular basis, 3 to 5 times a week. It initiated us in a peaceful state of mind and helped our mental, physical and spiritual health to evolve.

Soon Sophie convinced her Dad, Jean-Paul, to join in Sept. and one after the other, we took the Shim-Sung Training. Wow! What a powerful workshop.

We all noticed the changes within each other and complimented on how nice one has become. It seems that we all learned to acknowledge the existence of others around us, what they need and what they care for. We are nicer, more courteous and especially more connected to one another. The communication has become so much easier, caring and sharing have expanded between us. It seems that the routine exercises given at Dahn Yoga Center is supporting not only our physical flexibility but also our mental ones. We are all in together making things work instead of playing the solo most of the time. Before the Shim-Sung, we used to get upset at trivial things, but now we laugh so much more at anything and everything, nothing seems to matter and it’s with joy when we can share and be together.

Each of us looks at the Shim-Sung Training as a significant personal improvement which led to a harmonious family relationship.

Thank you Master Kim for leading us to a better life.

Lyne, Jean-Paul & Sophie