Ilchi Lee - In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging

PRAISE FOR THE AUTHORS AND IN FULL BLOOM

Ilchi Lees transcendent work is a constant inspiration, and I am deeply pleased to witness the increasing worldwide inuence of Brain Education.

Oscar Arias Sanchez, Nobel Peace Laureate

Ilchi Lee and Jessie Jones have skillfully combined knowledge from a variety of complementary and alternative domains to provide a highly readable and thought-provoking manual that links physical and mental activities into a holistic program designed to promote successful aging. Combining wisdom found in Western and Eastern philosophies, Lee and Jones provide practical and easy-to-implement strategies that will help promote physical and mental health and well-being.

Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, Ph.D., president, International Society for

Aging and Physical Activity

To age gracefully is not easy. We need all the help we can get. In Full Bloom is that one-of-a-kind help. It is an East-West synthesis of both knowledge and wisdom that idle-age and senior adults will nd enlightening and practically helpful. A must-read for people who want to live their later years, not only gracefully, but also with life and vitality.

Norman Lawson SPM, Ph.D., clinical psychologist

In Full Bloom offers simple, yet profound steps to help you fully realize your potential. Every phase of life should be engaging and invigorating. This easy to read guide shows you the way.

David Bishop, president, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

This book does a big favor for those of us who know we are aging! The philosophy and approach presented respects our aging brain, and in a comfortable, easy-to-read style tells us on how our brains should continue to work for us and make us perform at our best. The East and West inuence of the exercises presented makes this approach special. I have personally practiced almost all the exercises described here and found many of them fun. These exercises speak to us and tell us that the sky is the limit! They have truly fostered my intuitive side. What could be more rewarding?

Mariam R. Chacko, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Everyone is to age and then die. If one can live with full health in body and mind right until death, the burden from fear of death may be much lighter. This wonderful book will give people a better chance to realize this hope.

Hee-Sup Shin, National Scientist Awardee of Korea

Ilchi Lee offers a common sense way to fulllment for every individual. His philosophy guides us to a peaceful world in which all living creatures are accorded respect and compassionate treatment.

Seymour Topping, author and professor of journalism

This book is the proof weve been looking for that old dogs CAN learn new tricksand even create new ones which will challenge the young. By integrating Western processes and Eastern practices, one will discover a fountain of health, happiness and peace. Apply the ve BEST options shared by Ilchi Lee and Jessie Jones, and live your BEST life yet as you become the CEO of your mind!

Birgit D. Kamps, CEO, HireSynergy

IN FULL BLOOM

A BRAIN EDUCATION GUIDE

FOR

SUCCESSFUL AGING

ILCHI LEE AND JESSIE JONES, PH.D.

BEST Life Media
6560 Highway 179, Ste.114
Sedona, AZ 86351
www.bestlifemedia.com
1-877-504-1106

Copyright 2008 by Ilchi Lee and Jessie Jones

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be produced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

This book should be regarded as a reference source and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Seek the advice of your physician before beginning this or any other fitness program. The authors and the publishers disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book.

First paperback edition: 2008
Library of Congress Control Number: 2008920809

If you are unable to purchase this book from your local book seller, you can order through www.bestlifemedia.com or www.amazon.com, or by calling 1-877-504-1106.

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.
Mark Twain

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to Tim Vandehey and Nicole Dean for bringing just the right style and tone to the writing of this book; to Jiyoung Oh for her guidance in bringing this book to fruition at BEST Life Media; to Nora Lee and Jason Cessna for the development of the Brain Education for Successful Aging program; to Yoori Kim and Ji-in Kim for bringing the design of this book to full blossom; to Al Choi for his charming sketches; to Edward Randolph, Gaye Anthony, Karon Miller, and Mary Dunton for striking the perfect poses; to Tara Kim and the Dahn Foundation for their dedication to bringing Brain Education to seniors; and to the many healers and practitioners whose dedication and enthusiasm bring so much to so many through Brain Education.

INTRODUCTION

Healthy Brain, Healthy Aging

The brain is the seat of our humanity. The first spark of brainwave activity marks the beginning of each human life; the final cessation of that activity marks that lifes end. Every experience, emotion, and memory reaches us through the brains mediation. It is the source of all our art, science, and culture. Powered by untold trillions of neural connections, we hug our children, learn to hit a baseball, write first novels, pray to our gods, and reach out to help our fellows in need. In practical terms, we are our brains.

Consequently, it can be disturbing to reach middle age or beyond and hear what the popular media has to say about the things that are in store for our brains as we grow older. Our culture is filled with images of aged individuals whose minds are foggy, confused, and useless. When we think of old age and the brain, we think of words such as dementia, Alzheimers disease, and Parkinsons disease. Even if our thoughts are not concerned with such doom and gloom, conventional wisdom still tells us that finding a vigorous, creative, energetic, improving brain in an aging body is as rare as finding buried treasure at the bottom of the ocean.

None of us like to think about losing our memory or our ability to think and reason as we age. Yet that is precisely what most of us believe will happen no matter what we do. So we passively accept the notion of becoming forgetful and assume its inevitable. We fret over memory lapses in our fifties and sixties and worry that we are experiencing an early onset of Alzheimers or some other form of dementia. We tell uneasy jokes about seniors who have lost their identities and laugh while we pray that we wont be the butt of someone elses joke when were ninety. Well, perhaps its high time for some myth-busting about the aging brain.

The Truth About Age and the Brain

For more than twenty-five years, we have worked to understand the truth about the brain and its role as the source and mediator of all human activity. More importantly, we have sought knowledge about the ways that each of us can tap the brains virtually limitless potential for growth, happiness, and peaceful, healthful living. In our search, we have discovered a new truth about the brain: It is infinitely adaptable. Because our brains are the final determinants of our culture, consciousness, and behavior, by developing our brains as we would develop a muscle, we give ourselves the power to change our reality. Our brains make our world; it is high time we took control of our brains to make a world we want to live in.