Dahn Yoga Washington member’s blog

April 9, 2008

Before I started Dahn, several life events combined to create depression and a number of physical challenges.  I retired from a 45-year working career, my sister had a major mental break, and my aged mother passed away.  Arthritis, a couple of degenerated discs in my back, and soft tissue damage from a car wreck 40 years prior made getting out of bed in the morning very painful.  I’d walk bent over from the waist for a few minutes before standing up strait.  The Chiropractor and I had standing appointments 10 days apart.  Activity always attracted me, but with pain and without a routine to follow inactivity took over, and I lost interest in life.  Even thought I didn’t do much, I was tired all the time.  The local senior center offered free access to physical fitness machines, but somehow I couldn’t get up and out the door by 10:30 a.m. to drive (not walk) 2 miles and take advantage of those machines.

It’s interesting how my membership came about.  Since the story is long, I’ll just say that on 3 different occasions the subject of Dahn Yoga came up.  The final was at a Body, Mind, Spirit expo where my girl friend and I signed up for an Energy checkup.  Interestingly, we both bought memberships and she went to just 1 class.  I am happily still with Dahn 3-1/2 years later.  The drive to the Kirkland Center is often an hour each way, but I’m able to get up and be there at least 3 times a week.

Within 2 weeks of beginning Dahn I noticed an amazing increase in my energy level.  I painted walls 13’ high from a ladder.  I felt alive again.  My many women friends asked “What are you doing, Leanne?  You’re glowing!”  I’d say “It’s Yoga”. There is no Dahn Yoga center near us, but now 5 of those friends are taking some form of yoga because they’ve seen how much Dahn did for me. 

On the physical level, I noticed an immediate improvement in my back.  I could get out of bed!  (I’ve been to see the chiropractor only 5 times in the past 3-1/2 years!)  Something, else, my eyesight improved.  I went from a 2.50 magnification to a 1.25 magnification.  I gained back 1-inch in height I’d lost.  Energy filled me up.  My body changed.  Weighing the same as I had 6 years before, I lost 19-1/2 inches in my arms, thighs, waist and bust.  I am wearing clothes I wore 20 lbs. less than I am now.

On an emotional, level traffic has always been a challenge for me.  I’d be angry or anxious, frustrated and impatient.  I mentioned a 1-hour drive.  Well, that drive is only 20 miles, so you can imagine how congested it is.  Before, I’d be mad and/or angry.  Thanks to Dahn something switched.  Now, it just doesn’t bother me.  I still move in and out and do my best to find the lane that’s moving, only it isn’t a contest or a personal insult any more.  I’m relaxed.  It’s just traffic.  It hasn’t changed, but I have.  A number of personal issues from long ago have resolved themselves, come full circle.  Thanks to the various programs Ilchi Lee created at Dahn, I don’t feel guilt or shame for not succeeding in some life choices a long time ago.  I carried those failures for years, and now I’m free. That freedom improved my self esteem to the place where I felt good enough to start internet dating.  I’m now in a serious relationship with a gentle, kind, thoughtful, funny gentleman.

Meditation calms and centers me.  I value the serenity.  Dahn practice teaches me that there are many ways to meditate, and the exercises we do in class take me right into a meditative state.  It seems that when I start my day with meditation, everything goes better.  Little things don’t bother me, and I handle big stuff better.  I was a typical Type ‘A’ personality, and now am a Type ‘B’.   

Leanne Garn

Kirkland Dahn Center has decided to support CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. Basically, people can come to our location to pick up variety of organic produce every Wednesday and support local organic farmers. Isn’t that great?

 
Check out their website~www.TinysOrganic.com

This is Dahn Mu of Kirkland members inspired by 21-day miracle training. Kirkland center 21M group name is ‘Everything is Possible.’ Dahn Mu means Energy Dance. When your body moves with the natural flow of energy, it can create unlimited beautiful movements and that’s Dahn Mu. Please enjoy. Kirkland 21M members currently meat at 8 am on Saturdays.

At Kirkland center, 21-day miracle training is going very well. If you would like to read the participants progress, please visit www.Ilchi.com and choose Groups on the top, Select 21day miracle groups, and finally choose Everything is Possible!

One member shared she lost 8-9 lbs since she started this training less than 2 months ago and gained many insights along the way. One of her sharing can be found at the following page: http://www.ilchi.com/option,com_groupjive/task,showfullmessage/idm,1032/groupid,31/Itemid,90/

I hope many more participates and gain a self-confidence on achieving what they want. The trainings for the participating members will continue in January at 7 a.m. on Saturdays. This was initiated by Dahn Foundation. Great job!

Due to the pick up schedule from Northwest Harvest, we have decided to extend the 2007 Food Drive period. We will continue to take your donations until January 7th, 2008! Drop off your food at any Dahn Yoga location in Seattle Downtown, Kirkland, Shoreline (Ballinger way), and Mill Creek.

Kirkland members have started 21-day miracle training. We have made two groups on www.ilchi.com. The group names are “Everything is Possible! (Kirkland, WA)” and “JOY Happens!!!”. Please visit us on our group bulletins. You may need to register to be able to see the bulletins. There are many encouraging sharings and insights too.

Our goals vary but we are supporting each other to achieve our goals. We are also having a group training at Kirkland center every Saturday 8 a.m. except the Thanksgiving weekend. If you want to participate, call Kirkland center and ask! The phone number is 425-893-9642.