Dahn Yoga Hawaii Member’s blog

Here are some other widespread myths related to the brain and age:

Myth: Seri ous brai n decline is inevi table.

Yes, changes in brain structure and chemistry do occur with age. But they do not have to lead to a steep decline in mental ability. Writing in Newsweek, Gene Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., founding director of the Center on Aging, Health, and Humanities at George Washington University Medical Center, says that in his work designing games to improve the mental function of aging men and women, he has found that the brain’s left and right hemispheres (the left is responsible for linear, logical thinking; the right, for creativity and intuition) actually become better integrated as we age, leading to greater creative potential.
Cohen writes that it is becoming clear that with the proper lifestyle and challenges, the brain can in many respects become stronger with age.
Myth: I am getting dumber beca use my brai n ce lls are dying.
It is true that brain cells die as we age. Brain cells die and new cells are born throughout our lives. But for many years people have assumed that, barring excessive drinking during college, brain cells cash in their chips at a higher rate as we get into the retirement years. But as it turns out, that is not true either. It appears that we lose brain cells at a consistent rate throughout life, owing to causes that range from stress and nutritional deficiencies to environmental toxins. Also, some neuroscientists now believe that brain
cell death may be a part of the brain’s learning process. The loss of some  cells paves the way for new connections to develop as we learn, part of the sculpting of the brain that occurs when the brain remains active and constantly learning.
Myth: The adult brai n ca nnot form new connections.

For many years, brain scientists were certain that the brain could not make new nerve cells to replace lost ones. But in the mid-1990s, researchers began to see evidence that indeed the brain can produce new nerve cells in some areas of the brain related to memory–a process called neurogenesis. This phenomenon is particularly responsive to regular physical exercise, meaning that working out is not just good for your heart, bones, and muscles, but good for your mind as well. Studies based on the work of Columbia University neurologist Scott Small and Salk Institute neurobiologist Fred Gage suggest
that regular exercise delivers more oxygen-rich blood to the brain, as well as a chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF . These factors and others appear to improve memory, learning, and other brain functions.

from the book “in Full Bloom” by Ilchi Lee

Benefit: The crane posture which you can practice at a Dahn Yoga center, founded by Ilchi Lee, clears head and balances right and left hemispheres of the brain, enhancing concentration. Improves nervous system function.

Posture

1. Stand up straight with your feet together. Place your palms together in front of you, as if in a prayer position.
2. Balance your weight on your right foot as you bend your left knee, and raise your left foot next to your right knee.
3. Let your toes point to the floor.
4. Close your eyes.
5. Hold the position while balancing. With practice, you can increase the length of time you are able to balance in this posture.
6. Change to your left foot.

Sole Patting

Dahn Yoga’s sole patting: Benefit—Significantly bolsters brain function. The feet are like a “second heart.” They are vital in orchestrating proper blood circulation. When the soles of the feet are stimulated, you will
begin to notice a heightened sense of clarity, focus, and concentration.

Postures:

1. Sit on the floor with your legs extended in front of you.
2. Bend one leg and bring the ankle over the knee of the other leg.
3. Make a fist with your thumb tucked inside your hand.
4. With the pinky side of your fist, pound the sole of your foot strongly 30 times.
5. Alternately, you could use a wooden stick to press the soles of the feet.
6. Pay attention to your Ki 1 (Yong-chun) acupressure points.
7. Repeat with the other foot.

Sedona Mago Retreat celebrates its 10th anniversary with 300 guests

Sedona, AZ - June 5, 2008 - Sedona Mago Retreat Center held its all-day 10th Anniversary Festival, highlighted by Ilchi Lee’s “Brain Education for Successful Aging” lecture, May 25, 2008.

More than 300 people from Sedona and the Verde Valley joined this open-house celebration on the 160-acre site surrounded by Coconino National Forest.

What would Sedona look like if a city had not grown up next to its breathtakingly beautiful scenery?

The answer to many of the first-time guests at the Festival is Mago Retreat. Mago is a variation of the name that several Asian cultures give to Mother Earth.

With its unique beauty and vortex-energy Mago Retreat has created an ideal environment for the renewal, training, and healing, attracting people from around the world, in its first decade. Its natural setting features mountains, rolling hills, red rocks, gardens, a lake, and abundant plantings. In harmony with nature and based on green criteria, its facilities include meeting rooms, guest rooms, dining hall, meditation areas, pool-spa, horse stables, and water management system.

Many guests went on the guided walking tour of the healing garden, with its pathway between the rainwater-filled lake and colorful flowers and fragrant herbs. The guests lunched at the dining hall, enjoying an international vegetarian buffet.

 At the packed Mago Hall, the Festival’s entertainment consisted of performances with roots in Korea’s culture. The performances included a high-energy dance, two demonstrations by DahnMuDo (self-empowerment martial art) masters, and the traditional fan dance.

Opening the official 10th Anniversary ceremony, Tara Kim, Mago Retreat’s General Manager, explained, “Mago Retreat essentially exists to interact with and serve the local Sedona-Verde Valley community, as well as the global community of cultures.” She invited organizations and groups to look to Mago Retreat for a welcoming place for holding their programs, meetings and events.

The audience watched a video prepared specifically for the Mago Retreat 10th Anniversary, showing how the center has dramatically evolved since 1998.

Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens gave a congratulatory speech, stating her admiration for Mago Retreat’s 10 years of accomplishments in creating an international retreat center neighboring her city. Messages sent to Mago Retreat by distinguished people – including the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea S.J. Kim and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano – were acknowledged.

As the founder of Mago Retreat, Ilchi Lee (www.ilchi.com) presented the main lecture of the day. He is founder and president of the International Brain Education Association and Korea Institute of Brain Science (a NGO granted consultative status with the United Nations). Of his 30 books, the latest is In Full Bloom: A Brain Education Guide for Successful Aging, coauthored with Dr. Jessie Jones.

In his lecture on “Brain Education for Successful Aging,“ Lee explained how the brain can remain fit long after 50 in order to produce physical health, mental functioning, and inner peace. He described how to shift one’s brain state from negative to positive. To be able to do this, he demonstrated several simple yet profound exercises – muscle resistance, longevity walking, and brain wave vibration.

 As Lee put it, a good brain operating system involves believing in God or the Creator, loving the Earth, and respecting one’s brain and soul. Realizing and applying these concepts through the brain wave vibration can generate hope and a can-do spirit to achieve one’s dreams. Beyond any personal success, one of life’s most valuable achievements is creating hope for others.

Lee contended that the brain is the source of our individual problems (depression and obsessiveness) and collective problems (terrorism and global warming). Most people want more and more, and deny that they cannot take it with them when they die. The source of solutions can be found in the brainstem, which is our path of return to a divine state or God. This is called Chunwa in Korean.

Lee affirmed that the hope for humanity in these troubled times is the better use of our brains. The start of this path is realizing that the gateway at the top of our head (brain) is the basis of our hope for growing our soul, and thus eternal life. This is the ultimate requirement of aging successfully.

For more about the Sedona Mago Retreat Center, visit www.sedonamagoretreat.org.

http://www.sedona.biz/sedona-mago-retreat-festival0208.htm

A performance by Master Namji Kim, who is also here in Hawaii to conduct DMD School over the next week.    

Chun Je is the holy ceremony to connect with divine within you.  Tranditionally only royal can serve this ceremony in ancient Korea.  We will pray for all humanity and well being of all members and Hawaii residents.

I would like to invite all core Hawaii Dahn members to attend on March 15th.  If you want to prepare food (12 noon to 3 PM) for Chun Je please let Master Ahn know.   All Dahn Healers, Dahn Mu Do School, BEL, and Shim Sung Members are invited!

Don’t forget to bring all your good stuff to the yard sale on Saturday March 1st.  Set up at 7:00am, sale starts at 8 till noon.  Look for Richards Field across from the stadium, Pearl Harbor.  Contact Bobbi at 225-6364.  Proceeds will go to the Dahn Foundation!  Good work, Bobbi!

To celebrate those Dahn Healers who are also going to DMD School in March, a performance by Kevin SBN and Hawaii DMD students (also Dahn Healers)

What an an awesome experience during meditation!  I was able to connect with my guide and talked about my vision for the future.  I was fortunate to have Master Lucky as my “vision” partner and she was able to confirm my vision.  I hope  other healers were able to experience the same thing as we begin to establish the Dahn Foundation in our beautiful state of Hawaii.  “Let’s go heal the world!”

Gloria

To all the healers in Hawaii: as a reminder….Please log onto citysearch.com Honolulu and rate your center!  This is the yellow page listing online.  Please add a comment, too. 

ALSO, please take part in HONG BO for both centers.  You ask what is HONG BO??  These are the brochure/holders that we distribute through-out the communities.  Please start thinking about five places that you could place the brochures at.  Where do you work? shop? play? school? car repair? pet care? dentist? eye care center? hairdresser? manicure/pedicure?

You can get the brochures at the centers (be specific as to what area you need brochures for).  Sign them out with your name, date, and where you plan to take them.  You can have them all at once or one at a time.  It’s up to you but we really need your help.  Please do the best you can.  Most companies are happy to have the brochures, especially if you are a customer!

Mahalo