Topics: Brain Education, Dahn Yoga, Ilchi Lee | Give Your Two Cents »

Phoenix Project is a national initiative devoted to igniting power, passion and a sense of purpose in youth through community service, leadership and body-mind training.

At Phoenix Project we believe that each of us has a calling or drive to become our best self and do our best for the world.

But when our lives are overcome with stress, we can lack the power and energy to heed, or even hear this call… Through a rigorous process of Brain Education System Training (BEST) programs including, Dahn Yoga, Martial Arts (DahnMuDo) and Meditation training, corps members reignite that passion for self-mastery and service, while empowering the communities and organizations they work with, to be their BEST. Corps members training prepares them to teach these exercises and inspire society at large to Awaken to Action. Learn more at www.bethephoenix.org.

Testimonials from past participants (we call them Phoenixi):

“I have always enjoyed the personal growth process, but now I can see how helping others can be good for them, and also a great training ground for my own growth as well.”
– Nate Guadagni, Portland, OR

“When our group went to help out the Headstart (children’s summer day camp) program, I could fully focus on my core and I felt a great love and gratitude… It has made me feel that there is something big in my future.”
– Allison Smith, Boston, MA

“The most valuable and strongest lesson I’ve learned is that I am not young, weak, insignificant, or selfish; I am strong. My vision is becoming clear…and this give me a serene confidence like nothing I have never felt before.”
– Alex Swanson, Seattle, WA

Testimonials from our service partners:

“On behalf of ABCD and the youth exploration program we want to express our deep gratitude to the Phoenix project for its support of our program. Thanks to your effort over forty students were able to benefit from your breathing and stretching exercises. Your demonstration was a great opportunity for the young people in the inner city to be exposed to new concept of mind and body training.

“The Phoenix group was very knowledgeable and energetic. The groups loved working with the youths and were willing to answer all of their questions. It was a great experience to both our participants and staff; it will have a lasting and memorable effect.”
– ABCD

Topics: Dahn Yoga, Ilchi Lee | Give Your Two Cents »

Dahn Yoga says a Dahn Jon is a place in the body where energy is gathered and stored. With enough sensitivity training, one can tangibly feel the gathering of energy in the Dahn jon. Basically, Dahn Jon has the same definition as the word chakra, which means “wheel or circle” in Sanskrit.

In Dahn Yoga, we focus on three internal and four external Dahn Jons. The three internal Dahn Jons are located in the lower abdomen (lower Dahn Jon), in the middle of the chest (middle Dahn jon), and in the center of the forehead (upper Dahn jon). The four external Dahn Jons are located on each palm and on the bottom of each foot.

If a Dahn Jon is blocked, it will manifest as a physical disease or ailment. Through exercises and breath work, it is possible to facilitate the flow of enrgy through the Dahn Jon system of the body, resulting in over all balance and health.

Topics: Brain Education | Give Your Two Cents »

When I first started Dahn Yoga, I had all kinds of preconceptions about the teachers.

First of all, all my instructors were Korean, so that was enough to spark my misconceptions about mystical woo-woo. However, as I got to know them better, and felt the essence of what they were trying to teach me, I forgot about our differences and instead just marveled at the experience of learning what they could teach me.

I don’t regret it.

Topics: Dahn Yoga | Give Your Two Cents »

When we look into the mirror, if there’s dust, we can’t see inside clearly.
When we see the inside of ourselves, if there are emotions, we cannot see ourselves as we really are. Dahn yoga can help you clean this dust inside of yourself.

Topics: Dahn Yoga | Give Your Two Cents »

Dahn Yoga is a state of being in which all apparent opposites, distinctions, and states are reconciled. Dahn means “energy” and Yoga means “Union,” not only union of the parts with each other, but also union with the whole. From this state of union, we live without fragmentation or inner conflict. We are able to embrace our whole being from the surface to the depths, encompassing both our transient limitations and our perennial limitlessness. We express through our individuality the wholeness of which we are a fleeting expression. We honor and live from, by, and within our true nature. This is the key to a life of peace and contentment. Dahn Yoga strives for that.

Dahn Yoga: some other type affects the mind as much as the body. It improves concentration, increases alertness, precipitates perceptual and rational clarity, cultivates calmness, develops equanimity, instills confidence, and nourishes contentment. These benefits all depend on presence of mind during practice.

Topics: Dahn Yoga | Give Your Two Cents »

Dahn Yoga suggests you to take good care of your brain.

1. Do a mental warm-up.
   If you are not quite ready for brain aerobics, gently coax your brain into “alert” mode. Take a single digit number and double it in your head. Double the result. the feeling of accomplishment each time you get a successful result motivates you to continue. And it will get your noggin ready for bigger jobs.
2. Solve a Sudoku puzzle.
   Crosswords, jigsaw puzzles, Rubik’s Cubes — humans are naturally drawn to brainteasers, it seems. Now comes the wildly popular Sudoku, a number puzzle that requires no math, just patience and logic. Once you do one, you may have to do another — and another.
3. Try do Brain Wave Vibration Training.
   Find a near Dahn Yoga Center and visit there. You can experience a good quality of Brain Wave Vibration Training. Wave yourself out of stress today!
4. Take an activity break
   It could be a brisk wwalk or going up and down stairs in your home or office building for 10 minutes. or it could be shooting hoops or jumping rope in the driveway for that length of time. After your break, take a piece of paper and write down the objects from the drawer.
5. Do Jangsaeng Walking
   In Dahn Yoga, we recommend Jangsaeng Walking. Please have 10 minutes available and take a walk.

Topics: Dahn Yoga | Give Your Two Cents »

Know the Real You (Ilchi Lee)

To grow well, you must learn to watch yourself well. You must be able to step back to see the whole picture of your life, while at the same time being able to see all the things hidden deep inside. In this way, you will really be able to see the forces that shape your behavior, and you will get great insight into how to adjust them when necessary.

The most important aspect of watching is honest objectivity. Self-reflection is not self-judgment, nor is it self-absorption. When you watch yourself, just watch. Do not react emotionally to what you observe, and do not chastise or congratulate yourself for what you see. Just watch and decide what habits you want to keep, what you want to change now, and what can be dealt with later.

Your ego can distort your perception, so try to step away from it when watching yourself. If a stranger could see the content of your mind and the motivations behind your actions, what would he or she see? Your ego may try to hide from the truth of this, or it may react emotionally, both of which will not help you grow. When you watch yourself, just accept what you see with humble gratitude, and then continue to shape yourself as you see fit.

If you have any question to ask him, please use Ask Ilchi Lee.

Topics: Dahn Yoga, Ilchi Lee | Give Your Two Cents »

So there I was, stretching my legs, when it occurred to me: I’m using the exercises I learned in Dahn yoga classes more than the exercises I learned on my high school basketball team, or my college exercise theory class. What does that signify? That the exercises are more effective? That the exercises are a combination of many techniques and ideas from many sources? That it’s simply my most recent major exercise education experience?

Hm. What (not so) deep thoughts for this November morning…

Topics: Dahn Yoga, Uncategorized | Give Your Two Cents »

The cold weather is coming.  Some days are a little more nippy then others,  the real trouble is the undecided state of the weather.  It is the constant flux of moisture, cold air/warm air, wind, and then dryness that gives us the trouble.  In the morning dress for cold damp air and be ready for the warm dry air by afternoon.  One could blame Global Warming (which is real) but in actuality don’t forget that here on the south end of New England this the standard for as long as we’ve been recording weather patterns.  New England Clam Chowder came about because the fat content of the cream gave us long lasting fatties to continually break down keeping our abdomen warm with action for long periods of time.  The Heat of the soup instantly warming us up like a good hot liquid does and the mixture of starches, vegetables and animal proteins make it easy to begin digestion, getting nourishment quickly for the on the go laborer.  The more we learn about our Dahn Jon the more we can see that innately we’ve already been working to keep it hot with out even knowing why.  So now we have wisdom.  Now we are learning about Chun Ji Ki Un, cosmic energy.  By keeping the body freshly supplied with this Heavenly Energy we can focus our mind on the Dahn Jon and keep the body healthy through good circulation.  Chowder is still wicked good! but now we have the Human Technology (by Ilchi Lee) to avoid bad cholesterol and more over better to store up good vibrant energy that keeps us going with a cool head, “warm heart”, and hot Dahn Jon. 

Chun Ji Ki Un!, Chun Ji Ma Um!

Topics: Dahn Yoga | Give Your Two Cents »