Dahn Yoga in California

The DahnMuDo black belt test was conducted from 10/5 to 10/7 at the Sedona Ilchi Meditation Center.  The program officially started after dinner on Friday and I arrived a few hours early, so I had time to walk around SIMC.  The group of black belt candidates I ended up with hiked over to the horse stables to give our regards to the animals.  This was the first time I’d ever been amoungst these huge creatures and it was a bit intimidating at first, but these horses had so much personality that it quickly became quite fun to just hang out with the horses.  The weather was beautiful for the entire weekend.

 After dinner, we all gathered at Earth Hall and shared with each other what we’ve been up to since DahnMuDo school.  This was then followed by simple demos from each team to “break the ice” as it were.

 We returned to Earth Hall first thing Saturday morning to begin our ‘review’ of all the forms, which took the entire day.  This was more than just a review, we could hone our skills and get important pointers from the masters to improve our postures.  I personally found that some of the details I’ve been practicing for the past six months were not exactly correct, and that it was slightly difficult to unlearn the wrong way and relearn the proper way.  I am very thankful the for the corrections I received during this review day.  Every master that helped me displayed huge amounts of patience as I kept doing the incorrect posture until I finally got it.  They even checked back during breaks to make sure the new information sunk in fully.

 The test was set for Sunday morning.  After a brief stretching warm-up period, the testing began.  Our group was first (which was a relief for me).  Unlike the red belt test at the end of DahnMuDo school, every form was part of the test.  This makes for a lengthy test.  Because several of us had to depart ealier than the others due to flight times, the testing was interrupted to do a mini-graduation ceremony.  This means I didn’t get to see everyone’s test, plus I missed the full graduation procession.  But, we did get to say goodbye to our old and new friends with hugs and well wishes.

Our northern California region had two representatives, and both returned home Sunday evening with a black belt in their luggage.

 Kris

BEST PLACE ON THE EARTH. SEDONA.

I WENT TO SEDONA LAST WEEKEND AND IT WAS MOST POWERFUL EXPERIENCE.

BEAUTIFUL MAGO GARDEN AND POWERFUL SPIRITED HUMAN BEINGS.

PLEASE VISIT SEDONA MAGO GARDEN.

YOU WILL LOVE IT.     Dahn yoga Moraga. Anna  

www.yoursedonatour.com

I have been doing yoga for about five months now.  I have felt many positive effects.  The first thing I noticed was the decrease in neck stiffness and shoulder pain that I would always have.  After two months it actually went away.  After each session, I would leave feeling lighter and energized. 

Best of all, I have lost 12 pounds and feel my body firming up.  Stretches are really stretches! The one on one sessions that I have had with various instructors are very helpfull and great for stress relief. 

I know I should spend more time doing yoga – the benefits are huge for the time invested.  I will keep trying to get there. I do appreciate the help.

Thanks,

~Debjani, Moraga

I really enjoy the atmosphere and the energy I get from the classes and the instructors.  With class and modifying my diet, I’ve been able to drop my cholesterol over 25 points over the past 6 months.  Both my doctor and I were pleased!

~ Carolyn Lee, Moraga

When you do hard training, you might feel pain and difficulties. But the pain gives you power. If you give up, you will not progress. No pain, no gain. When you feel pain, say “Thank you” and take one step forward. Then you will grow.

When you repeat this process several times, your brain changes from a weak brain to a strong brain. That is how to grow your soul. (A Letter from Mago, Ilchi Lee)

All attitudes, thoughts, and beliefts are connected with various pathways, called meridians of energy, to all of the body’s organs. These specific meridians have traditionally been named according to the organs they energize, for instance, the heart meridian, gallbladder meridian, etc. These connections can be demonstrated in seconds. If one holds a particular negative thought in mind, a very specific muscle will go weak; if one replaces the thought with a positive idea, the same muscle will instantly go strong.

When the mind is dominated by a negative worldview, the direct result is a repetition of minute changes in energy flow to the various body organs. The function of all human physiology is affected through electron transfer, neural hormonal balance, nutritional status, etc. By the time these accumulated changes are detected through modern measurement techniques, the disease process is already quite advanced.

The invisible universe of thought and attitude becomes visible as a consequence of the body’s habitual response. Thus, all illness should be reversible by changing thought patterns and habitual responses. (Wellness and the Disease Process, Power vs. Force, David Hawkins)

Through regular Dahn Yoga training, we can learn to master and use our energy to experience natural healing in our bodies while gaining control of our emotions and habits.

I would like to share my experience with Dahn Yoga.  As a new member I felt very welcomed and at ease from the first session.  The instructors are warm and friendly.  Some of the poses are challenging but the instructors guide you through them.  I felt stronger physically and spiritually from the first session.  The meditation and breathing has helped me mentally and I feel a sense of balance within.  I feel totally relaxed and in harmony with people around me after every session.

I recently began running to lose weight and the yoga has helped me with that as well.  There were, for example, days when I would wake up very stiff and in a lot of pain from the run I had done the day before but after my yoga session the stiffness and the pain would be gone!  I remember the day I ran 12 miles was very painful.  I was sore all over, not just my legs hurt.  The next day, I couldn’t even walk straight.  But, after doing the yoga poses, I felt great and ready for the next running session.

I am very happy with the results! 

~ Roxanna Hoover, Moraga Dahn Center

Information makes us who we are. The type of information you hold can determine how you speak, how you think, and what jobs you hold. A fortuitous meeting with a good piece of information may change our lives for the better, while a bad piece of information can lead us down a path of self-destruction.

When you input positive information into the brain, it will sparkle with creativity and hum with efficiency. For instance, if you tell someone, “You have come into this world to save the Earth and open up a new era spirituality and peace in the 21st century. Do you accept this?” If the person says “Yes” his brain will perk up and purr with delight. “No” and his brain will contract upon itself and darken as it shuts down its higher powers. But saving the Earth does not have to be a grand undertaking; picking up one more loose piece of trash or saying one more nice thing to your neighbor also qualifies. (Healing Society, Ilchi Lee)

I want to call it the “Hong-Ik Democracy,” or Widely-Benefits Democracy; a democracy not for the advancement of the elite few but for the betterment of the whole society. A democracy in which politics, economy, religion, culture, and science can be used for the benefit of all its participants and users, with the common purpose being the betterment of all of us, not at the expense of others, but in conjunction wih others, until there is no “other”.  A true democracy is not for the dominators or the conquerors, but for those who seek to share.

We cannot create such a system with more legislation or regulations. We can create such a system only when our collective human consciousness has reached a certain level of spiritual awakening. Then such a system will arise. It will virtually create itself. (Healing Society, Ilchi Lee)

“To take another breath, we must first exhale. When we have breathed out and emptied our lungs, we can breathe in again.” ~Ilchi Lee

The same is true with our bodies and minds. Our muscles cannot learn new movements without first releasing tension and our minds cannot accept new information unless it is empty (quiet).

In regular Dahn Yoga class, we practice meridian stretching exercises for releasing muscle tension, jung-chung breathing to collect energy, and jigam meditation to quiet the mind. Consistent training will improve energy accumulation and circulation in the body and stimulate the body’s natural healing ability. (Dahn Yoga Basics)