Ilchi Lee - Dahn Yoga Basics

DAHN
YOGA
BASICS

DAHN YOGA EDUCATION

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Copyright 2008 by Dahn Yoga Education

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First paperback edition: November 2006
ISBN-13: 978-0-9799388-8-7
ISBN-10: 0-9799388-8-0

Manufactured in China

If you are unable to order this book from your local book seller, you may order through www.amazon.com or www.bestlifemedia.com.

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE MERIDIAN STRETCHING, BREATHING EXERCISES, ENERGY WORK, RELAXATION, AND MEDITATION TECHNIQUES OF DAHN YOGA

DAHN
YOGA
BASICS

DAHN YOGA EDUCATION

My body is not me, but mine.
My mind is not me, but mine.
I am the master of my mind and body.
Ilchi Lee

How to Use this Book

This book is organized according to the four comprehensive stages that comprise the Dahn Yoga training method.

The first component of Dahn Yoga training is Meridian Stretching. Used primarily as preparation for more intense training activities, it loosens up the upper body and strengthens the lower body.

The second step is Jung-Choong Breathing, which combines sequential movements with focused breathing. This practice facilitates energy accumulation and proper energy circulation.

The third training category is DahnMuDo, which combines Dahn principles and traditional Korean healing martial arts to enhance mental and physical strength. Through the discipline required of this practice, personal character and integrity are also enhanced.

The last and fourth stage of Dahn Yoga involves meditative energy work. At this stage, practitioners learn to achieve great stillness of mind while increasing sensitivity to the movement and flow of Ki energy. This practice eventually progresses to vision meditation, which allows participants to re-create their lives as they most desire by infusing the mind with positive thoughts, feelings, and imagery.

Any of these four steps can be an effective training method when done independently. However, the best results are achieved when all four steps are practiced daily as a one to one-and-a-half hour training session.

Note: Always listen to your body. There is no need to rush your progress and push through your discomfort. All bodies are unique, and you will find your own level of practice naturally. If you are on medication that makes you drowsy, foggy, or hyperactive, please consult your health professional before beginning practice.

Foreword

My body is not me, but mine.

This is a phrase that Dahn Yoga practitioners around the world speak with great enthusiasm. Its meaning has been central to the Dahn Yoga method since its beginnings in a small Korean park in the early 1980s. As the practice has developed over the last 25 years into a global training method, this phrase has continued to be an essential element in Dahn training.

The training techniques of Dahn Yoga are designed to develop mastership of the body and mind through the medium of energy, which is the means of communication between the body and mind. Through this process, one comes to understand experientially the true meaning of My body is not me, but mine. Once this level of mastership has been achieved, one may apply this experience to the full spectrum of everyday life.

Since I created Dahnhak (the original name of Dahn Yoga) based on traditional Korean mind-body training methods, the basic philosophy and principles of Dahnhak have not changed, but the training methods have been continuously revised and improved.

As humanitys understanding of the human body has increased, many people have tried to create an easier and more effective training system based on the teaching experiences of Dahn Yoga instructors and their students. This book is the result of those efforts.

One of the most simple and effective concepts in Dahn Yoga is the idea of breath. All living beings breathe. It is necessary for survival on this planet. However, it is taken for granted by most people. Few people pay attention to their breathing. But the quality of the breath has great implications for the health of our mind and body.

Whether people pay attention to their breath or choose to ignore it, they will continue to inhale and exhale. Through the experiential understanding of the breath achieved in Dahn training, the connection between mind-body communication and the breath becomes more apparent.

Breath also dramatically demonstrates the interconnectedness between people. The air and energy that one person breathes in is also the same air and energy other people have just breathed in and out. Awareness that everyone shares the same air cultivates the understanding that all living things are interconnected, not only through the breath but on many levels. Ultimately, this understanding helps develop more caring, open-hearted individuals and in turn creates a more harmonious world.

Imagine that a bell sits on the floor in front of you. No matter how great the bell is, if you dont ring it, there is no sound. The same is true with Dahn Yoga. Dahn Yoga is not a theory, but a practical way of life. Include Dahn Yoga as part of your daily practice and stick with it so you can experience its full benefit. I sincerely hope that this book will help you take your first steps toward a healthier, happier, and more peaceful life.

ILCHI LEE

Founder of Dahn Yoga

Contents

Intestine Exercise

PART 1

WHY DAHN YOGA?

Straighten your body, and stand tall in the world. Those who have no shame in their minds straighten their bodies and are always composed.
Cham-jun-kye-kyung (ancient Korean sacred text)

What Is 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 bodys 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).

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.