I felt better overall today. During tea time, however, the Master asked 4 of us remaining students if we had time to go over a few exercises. She observed during class that we all had back problems.
We all stuck around and did some Cobra and Child's Pose postures. They really hurt my lower back, a problem I've had since I was a child. Oddly, they went away for about 5 years, but they came back a couple months ago.
Mood-wise, I felt better. I really think the chest tapping and heart chakra massage is helping, but I'm really sore. The sternum is tender to the touch: the weight of a nickel over my heart chakra will cause my chest to cave in from the pain.
I have some emotional and mental stresses going on due to some work related issues. There are certain things that are outside of my control. I hope to master the negative thoughts from my brain.
Speaking of brain, I got my Brain Respiration book in the mail yesterday. I read about a quarter of it, but have to say that it's rather boring and unhelpful material. I will even go so far as to say that I would not have tried Dahn Yoga (or created my Dahn Yoga blog, for that matter), if I had not read Ilchi Lee's Human Technology book from the get-go.
I'll finish the book and probably donate it to a friend or the library when I'm done.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 8: Still sad but there's a light at the end of the tunnel
I slept in today. Yes, I was tired, but mostly I was depressed and didn't want to face the day. The negative feelings are weighing my heart heavily. The thing that drives me nuts is that I can't pinpoint the source of this sadness.
I missed my morning Dahn Yoga class. I guess this concerned the instructor because she called to check up on me and asked about my health. I said I had an earlier appointment (I didn't want to admit I was angry and lazy at myself) and that I would return tonight.
The evening class was great and helped to relax me. During the last portion of class, when we were getting into our final breathing postures, the head Master came up and placed her hand on my sternum to check my breathing. No matter what I do, I just haven't been able to do the "chest breathing" they talk about. My belly comes from my belly and throat, both are pretty shallow, from what I understand.
After class, the instructor asked me to come into the healing room for more breathing exercises. She also showed me how to tap my chest and sternum. "If it hurts, you can also just rub and massage those areas," she said.
I don't know why, but I was really tender and the slightest touch to my chest (just below the shoulder is the end of the lung meridian, if I can recall correctly).
Anyway, I told the Master that I felt a great amount of sadness as we were doing the tapping exercises and she said I had a lot of blockages. She encouraged me to keep tapping and that I won't end up hurting myself because my body will tell me before it even gets to that level.
I'm hoping the tapping will get me out of this depressive funk.
I missed my morning Dahn Yoga class. I guess this concerned the instructor because she called to check up on me and asked about my health. I said I had an earlier appointment (I didn't want to admit I was angry and lazy at myself) and that I would return tonight.
The evening class was great and helped to relax me. During the last portion of class, when we were getting into our final breathing postures, the head Master came up and placed her hand on my sternum to check my breathing. No matter what I do, I just haven't been able to do the "chest breathing" they talk about. My belly comes from my belly and throat, both are pretty shallow, from what I understand.
After class, the instructor asked me to come into the healing room for more breathing exercises. She also showed me how to tap my chest and sternum. "If it hurts, you can also just rub and massage those areas," she said.
I don't know why, but I was really tender and the slightest touch to my chest (just below the shoulder is the end of the lung meridian, if I can recall correctly).
Anyway, I told the Master that I felt a great amount of sadness as we were doing the tapping exercises and she said I had a lot of blockages. She encouraged me to keep tapping and that I won't end up hurting myself because my body will tell me before it even gets to that level.
I'm hoping the tapping will get me out of this depressive funk.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 7: Monday Blues
The weekend came and went, with nothing good or positive out of it. What's going on with my emotions?
During tea time in class today, I expressed that I was stressed and angry for no reason. The master said that our bodies and minds heal and move in different cycles, and that it was natural for me to feel negative.
On a funny note, another student admitted that he also had a lousy Sunday and he also had diarrhea. He said he thought it was food poisoning, but it really wasn't attributed to anything. Our master said, "congratulations!" and we all laughed.
I hope this funk is just a healing crisis.
During tea time in class today, I expressed that I was stressed and angry for no reason. The master said that our bodies and minds heal and move in different cycles, and that it was natural for me to feel negative.
On a funny note, another student admitted that he also had a lousy Sunday and he also had diarrhea. He said he thought it was food poisoning, but it really wasn't attributed to anything. Our master said, "congratulations!" and we all laughed.
I hope this funk is just a healing crisis.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
I feel really negative
My Dahn Yoga center doesn't have classes on Sundays. I'm not sure if this goes for all Dahn centers, but it's ok.
I was really exhausted today. I felt guilty, but I ended up taking a 4 hour nap during the day. I also felt depressed for no reason. I tried doing some body tapping on my own and even some EFT techniques, but I was just really sad all day.
I can't wait to return to class tomorrow.
I was really exhausted today. I felt guilty, but I ended up taking a 4 hour nap during the day. I also felt depressed for no reason. I tried doing some body tapping on my own and even some EFT techniques, but I was just really sad all day.
I can't wait to return to class tomorrow.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 6: Gentle Dahn Yoga
All of our Dahn Yoga classes are peaceful and not strenuous by any means. Still, that doesn't mean that it's without any physical effort or exertion on our parts.
It still surprised me how much I sweat and release heat from my body while I'm only barely bouncing my body up and down, doing 1/2 way squats, or very gentle stretches with my legs and feet. I mean, I typically do up to 3 hours of intense cardio workouts (aerobics classes, mostly) per week and yet I sweat just as much in these Dahn Yoga sessions!
Today, we had a very gentle class (perhaps because it's a Saturday morning)? It felt healing and relaxing. We didn't do that Tiger breathing exercise, but we did get into a boat position (I think that's what they call it in Pilates) that made my chest vibrate...odd, because you're supposed to feel it generally in the abdomen area.
I forgot to mention that we actually did some Tai Chi postures on Wednesday night - that was also really cool. I am really loving Dahn Yoga. It's helping my insomnia. And I always look forward to doing my full body tapping exercises at home in the morning when I rise and just before I go to bed.
Your brain is really feeling the vibrations and energy you give. Be kind to your brains!
It still surprised me how much I sweat and release heat from my body while I'm only barely bouncing my body up and down, doing 1/2 way squats, or very gentle stretches with my legs and feet. I mean, I typically do up to 3 hours of intense cardio workouts (aerobics classes, mostly) per week and yet I sweat just as much in these Dahn Yoga sessions!
Today, we had a very gentle class (perhaps because it's a Saturday morning)? It felt healing and relaxing. We didn't do that Tiger breathing exercise, but we did get into a boat position (I think that's what they call it in Pilates) that made my chest vibrate...odd, because you're supposed to feel it generally in the abdomen area.
I forgot to mention that we actually did some Tai Chi postures on Wednesday night - that was also really cool. I am really loving Dahn Yoga. It's helping my insomnia. And I always look forward to doing my full body tapping exercises at home in the morning when I rise and just before I go to bed.
Your brain is really feeling the vibrations and energy you give. Be kind to your brains!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 5: HEALING CRISIS
This morning I woke up in great physical exhaustion and fatigue. Oh my gosh. I was also STARVING and dehydrated. I wasn't worried. I immediately recognized that I was probably going through a healing crisis.
I wasn't able to go to my Dahn Yoga class in the morning, but I did go in the evening class. I told the instructor about it and she was excited to hear the "good" news and even shared it (with my permission) during tea time with the rest of the students.
Basically, my body is beginning to accumulate all the benefits of my Dahn Yoga practice and is releasing a lot of negative energy from my body. It is a physical manifestation of the healing that's going on from the inside.
I'm glad I went to class tonight. Tonight we did full body tapping exercises and more energy work. It's amazing - I admit that I felt a little silly channeling energy between my hands, but even from my first attempt in Day 1, I felt something come over me - a healing sensation that was subtle and powerful at the same time.
I ended up sleeping like a baby - I think Dahn Yoga is kicking my insomnia in the butt!
I wasn't able to go to my Dahn Yoga class in the morning, but I did go in the evening class. I told the instructor about it and she was excited to hear the "good" news and even shared it (with my permission) during tea time with the rest of the students.
Basically, my body is beginning to accumulate all the benefits of my Dahn Yoga practice and is releasing a lot of negative energy from my body. It is a physical manifestation of the healing that's going on from the inside.
I'm glad I went to class tonight. Tonight we did full body tapping exercises and more energy work. It's amazing - I admit that I felt a little silly channeling energy between my hands, but even from my first attempt in Day 1, I felt something come over me - a healing sensation that was subtle and powerful at the same time.
I ended up sleeping like a baby - I think Dahn Yoga is kicking my insomnia in the butt!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 4: Insomnia is improving
I've had awful insomnia for the last 8 months or so. Ever since I've started my Dahn Yoga practice (only days earlier!) I'm falling asleep more comfortable. It's incredible, and of course I'm happy about it. I really can't believe how much this yoga is improving my systems. I plan on keeping this up for sure.
Today, I experience a lot of sweating from my NECK during class. This time, it didn't smell toxic. For some reason, the sweat combined with my body heat smelled a little like chlorinated water; like a public swimming pool. Strange, but a good sign, I believe.
One of my favorite parts about the Dahn Yoga practice is the end when we have tea time and share a few words about our experience from the class. Today our instructor talked about energy transfer and how we can send positive energy (or blessings) to our food. She cited a popular Japanese study (I heard of this almost a decade ago) where an experiment was conducted on water. You can read about it or Google it on the web.
The gist of it is that you can imprint positive energy and increase nutritional and healing levels of your food by giving it your own energy from your intention and hands. Try it sometime. I'm doing it on all my food and drink these days!
Today, I experience a lot of sweating from my NECK during class. This time, it didn't smell toxic. For some reason, the sweat combined with my body heat smelled a little like chlorinated water; like a public swimming pool. Strange, but a good sign, I believe.
One of my favorite parts about the Dahn Yoga practice is the end when we have tea time and share a few words about our experience from the class. Today our instructor talked about energy transfer and how we can send positive energy (or blessings) to our food. She cited a popular Japanese study (I heard of this almost a decade ago) where an experiment was conducted on water. You can read about it or Google it on the web.
The gist of it is that you can imprint positive energy and increase nutritional and healing levels of your food by giving it your own energy from your intention and hands. Try it sometime. I'm doing it on all my food and drink these days!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 3: Less Neck and Shoulder Pain
One of the concepts I learned from Ilchi Lee's Human Technology book was the full body tapping exercises, which is different from Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), another helpful tapping exercise I learned a few years back from another source. This tapping entails tapping from the top of your head all the way down to your toes in a logical downward and upward flow. I've been doing this daily since Sunday (today is Wednesday) and feel generally more positive.
Today's Dahn Yoga class was great as always. I already feel less tension in the neck and shoulder area. I had been getting intensive and expensive physical therapies for these areas consistently for the last 3 years with no good results. I think Dahn Yoga is the only thing that has been improving my condition. I can confidently say I feel at least 5% better.
The start of Dahn Yoga begins with dahn jon tapping exercises. This area is about 2" below your belly button. We make soft fists with our hands and tap tap tap about 500 times. Doing this exercise helps create heat in your dahn jon, which is supposed to be the source of our life energy (many of us know of this as "chi").
We also do intestine exercises that I haven't yet quite mastered. You basically push your lower abdomen in and out with intent while your hands create a triangle over your dahn jon area. It's tricky, but I know I'll get the hang of it with more practice.
Today's Dahn Yoga class was great as always. I already feel less tension in the neck and shoulder area. I had been getting intensive and expensive physical therapies for these areas consistently for the last 3 years with no good results. I think Dahn Yoga is the only thing that has been improving my condition. I can confidently say I feel at least 5% better.
The start of Dahn Yoga begins with dahn jon tapping exercises. This area is about 2" below your belly button. We make soft fists with our hands and tap tap tap about 500 times. Doing this exercise helps create heat in your dahn jon, which is supposed to be the source of our life energy (many of us know of this as "chi").
We also do intestine exercises that I haven't yet quite mastered. You basically push your lower abdomen in and out with intent while your hands create a triangle over your dahn jon area. It's tricky, but I know I'll get the hang of it with more practice.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 2: Heat coming off my head
Day 2 of Dahn Yoga was a unique experience. Today, a lot of heat was coming out of my head - literally. Not only was I sweating from my face and head, but you could literally feel the steam coming from the top of my head. It was bizarre.
Another thing I noticed (that is a little embarrassing to admit) is that my head started to stink! I was embarrassed that the instructor might walk by me to adjust my posture and get a whiff of the toxic smell that was coming out of my head.
I really felt that something was happening from the inside out. My body is trying to heal itself by releasing some of the toxins from my system.
I felt relaxed and refreshed ("Ah, shiwonhada!") after class. And, believe it or not, I feel like my short term memory has been improving - yes, after only 2 classes! I'm already feeling better in my neck and shoulder areas, where I carry the most tension in my body.
Oh, and the "Tiger" breathing exercise really kicked my butt. Basically, you lay on your back and raise your legs, bending your knees with toes flexing back. Once I was in the 2-minute mark of this pose, I was shaking (or, as the Dahn Yoga practioners say, "vibrating") uncontrollably. I thought my legs were going to fall off! It felt really good to release this pose and get my body back to equilibrium.
Another thing I noticed (that is a little embarrassing to admit) is that my head started to stink! I was embarrassed that the instructor might walk by me to adjust my posture and get a whiff of the toxic smell that was coming out of my head.
I really felt that something was happening from the inside out. My body is trying to heal itself by releasing some of the toxins from my system.
I felt relaxed and refreshed ("Ah, shiwonhada!") after class. And, believe it or not, I feel like my short term memory has been improving - yes, after only 2 classes! I'm already feeling better in my neck and shoulder areas, where I carry the most tension in my body.
Oh, and the "Tiger" breathing exercise really kicked my butt. Basically, you lay on your back and raise your legs, bending your knees with toes flexing back. Once I was in the 2-minute mark of this pose, I was shaking (or, as the Dahn Yoga practioners say, "vibrating") uncontrollably. I thought my legs were going to fall off! It felt really good to release this pose and get my body back to equilibrium.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Dahn Yoga Day 1
Happy New Year!
Why do most of us wait for the New Year to create new goals and resolutions? It's an obvious starting point, I suppose, but any day is as good as the other. For me, it made sense for me to start my new year as the first official day for the rest of my life because my mind and body was curiously in tune with the passing and coming of the new year.
Some of my resolutions include most of what may be on your formal or informal list:
1. Better Health
2. Weight Loss
3. Positive Thinking
4. Better Job
5. Find True Love
One major difference is that I have some serious and debilitating health conditions that have put a significant halt in my life for the last 3 years. I'll elaborate in future posts, but believe me when I say that I've tried almost every healing and therapeutic modality known to man.
I had heard about Dahn Yoga before but never gave it much thought as yet another means of pain alleviation. I started my Danh journey by reading Ilchi Lee's (he's the Founder, btw) Human Technology a couple days ago. I thought the book was very relevant and really paralled my personal experience with healing and philosophies on the mind-body connection.
So tonight I went to my first Dahn Yoga class and had a BLAST. I didn't know what to expect. Immediately I noticed that this is not the traditional Yoga I'm used to practicing. It's a series of flowing movements, stretches, and even childlike bounces that stimulate the body's energy flow. I had so much fun. All the students were laughing and giggling. I felt so relaxed after class.
After class, I signed up for the 1-month membership. I have 2 weeks to decide whether I want to take advantage of the upgrade discount and increase my membership to 3 months or beyond.
Why do most of us wait for the New Year to create new goals and resolutions? It's an obvious starting point, I suppose, but any day is as good as the other. For me, it made sense for me to start my new year as the first official day for the rest of my life because my mind and body was curiously in tune with the passing and coming of the new year.
Some of my resolutions include most of what may be on your formal or informal list:
1. Better Health
2. Weight Loss
3. Positive Thinking
4. Better Job
5. Find True Love
One major difference is that I have some serious and debilitating health conditions that have put a significant halt in my life for the last 3 years. I'll elaborate in future posts, but believe me when I say that I've tried almost every healing and therapeutic modality known to man.
I had heard about Dahn Yoga before but never gave it much thought as yet another means of pain alleviation. I started my Danh journey by reading Ilchi Lee's (he's the Founder, btw) Human Technology a couple days ago. I thought the book was very relevant and really paralled my personal experience with healing and philosophies on the mind-body connection.
So tonight I went to my first Dahn Yoga class and had a BLAST. I didn't know what to expect. Immediately I noticed that this is not the traditional Yoga I'm used to practicing. It's a series of flowing movements, stretches, and even childlike bounces that stimulate the body's energy flow. I had so much fun. All the students were laughing and giggling. I felt so relaxed after class.
After class, I signed up for the 1-month membership. I have 2 weeks to decide whether I want to take advantage of the upgrade discount and increase my membership to 3 months or beyond.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)