Dahn yoga

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Founded by Ilchi Lee, practitioners of Dahn yoga (also known as Dahn Hak or Dahnhak) state it to be a Korean style of yoga, which is normally considered to be from India. In Korean, "Dahn" means energy, vitality, and origin of life, and "Hak" means study, philosophy, and theory. Dahn yoga purports to be study of "energy" and how to use it to restore mind/body communication. It is said by its promoters to be a holistic program.

1 History
2 Classes
3 Controversy
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

In 1985, the first Dahn Yoga Center opened in downtown Seoul. In 1991, the first U.S. Dahn Yoga Center was opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1997, the Sedona Ilchi Meditation Center (SIMC) was established, hosting specialized programs open to Dahn yoga members for a fee. Over the next ten years, Dahn yoga focused on expanding its operations globally.

[edit] Classes

Dahn yoga classes include stretching and forms of meditation.

In 2006, Dahn yoga introduced two new training methods. The first, Dahn Mu Do, also referred to as “The Art of Being Limitless” is advertised as a non-combative martial art. The second, Jung Choong Breathing, a form of internal alchemy using five simple postures focused on breathing and what is said to be proper positioning of the body. It is claimed to help release stagnant energy and accumulate fresh energy in the lower abdomen, also known in Korean as the Dan Jeon (energy center) or the 2nd Chakra in Sanskrit yoga terminology.

[edit] Controversy

There have been accusations made by former members and employees that Dahn yoga is a manipulative cult. A May 22, 2006 news story on the CBS 2 Chicago website reports that the organization is involved in at least two lawsuits--one being a wrongful death suit involving the death of a practitioner during a training event--and quotes the former members and employees who claim that the organization is misleading and exploiting its members.

A spokeswoman for Dahn Yoga denies these allegations and says the organization is very saddened by the death of Julia Siverls. However, she could not comment further on the Siverls matter due to the pending lawsuit.