Dahn Yoga News

Where Dahn Yoga practitioners share their experiences

Monthly Archives: May 2011

Nutrition expert uses yoga to relax outdoors

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Eating well, exercising and getting outdoors are three effective methods of improving one's health and well-being, and Charlotte Watts does them all at once when she takes her breathing exercises outside. According to the UK Telegraph, the nutritionist, writer and mother uses yoga and meditation to relax after a long day of work.

Watts wrote the book 100 Foods to Stay Young, and in addition to being an author and a guest on numerous television programs, she teaches yoga in her spare time.

She told the newspaper that even 15 minutes of yoga – which, in truth, is all she has time for in her off-hours – helps her unwind and empty her head of the day's whirl of thoughts.

What makes the routine especially relaxing is that Watts chooses to do it in nature. She even gave advice on a simple pose that can increase energy flow.

"Sometimes, I am so tired I simply lie down with my legs up the wall. This pose is incredibly relaxing, and feels like every limb is falling into the floor – you can feel the tension melting away," she told the news source.

A study published in the journal Leisure Studies has confirmed that doing yoga outdoors can increase feelings of connection to and appreciation for nature.

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May 26, 2011

Yoga improves body image, mindfulness among college-age women

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The effect that yoga has on certain aspects of personal development can hardly be overstated. Besides being a healthy way to engage in low-impact exercise while reconnecting the mind and body, this holistic regimen has been shown to have a wealth of positive psychological effects, including the improvement of one's own self-image, according to recent research.

A dissertation written by Washington State University psychological counselor and PhD candidate Sara Elysia Clancy stated that college-age women who take yoga reported experiencing improvements in bodily satisfaction and reductions in self-objectification.

It is a testament to the power of yoga that such a dynamic exercise system, combining deep breathing with gentle stretches, can help women overcome being saturated by media images of thin models.

The National Institute on Media and the Family reports that by age 17, 78 percent of U.S. girls are unhappy with their bodies.

However, yoga may help. Clancy found that after three months of daily yoga, female college students were happier with their self-image and reported lower body dissatisfaction scores.

The researcher added that in her investigation, she noticed that women experienced the greatest gains in the areas of acceptance, mind-body connection, physical compassion, awareness, physical functioning and mindfulness.

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May 24, 2011

LeBron James says yoga boosts his endurance on the court

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Taking yoga classes can do more than speed the journey to relaxation and tranquility. It can also increase vigor and vitality, which is something that LeBron James revealed when he admitted that yoga is a part of his off-season training regimen.

The basketball star, who recently joined the Miami Heat, said that he is able to stay in the game for so long due primarily to an exercise routine that includes yoga, swimming and pilates, according to the city's newspaper, the Herald.

James is second only to the Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng in average minutes spent on the court during the NBA playoffs. Currently, "King James" spends 43.4 minutes on-court, the news source said.

Yoga has helped him build stamina. Individuals who use stretches, deep breathing, tai chi, meditation and other holistic mind-body routines often report that their inner energy has been amplified, even as they find themselves more at ease than ever before.

“Does it work for everybody? I don’t know,” James told the newspaper. “I’m not a guru about how to be in the best condition – don’t let me sit here and tell you that. But it works for me.”

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May 23, 2011

Tampa Bay Rays’ third baseman does yoga for charity

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Talk about having a little life balance. Tampa Bay Rays' third baseman and two-time Golden Glove winner Evan Longoria recently started practice with a headstand. He told the St. Petersburg Times that this is his favorite yoga position, one that he shared with a dozen other people as part of a charity event to raise money for the Moffitt Cancer Center.

Longoria has been practicing yoga for the past three years, during which time he was named the American League's Rookie of the Year and was picked for three consecutive All-Star games.

Though he had not ever organized such a charity event before, he remarked to MLB.com that he would consider making it a monthly event.

"I had never really heard of somebody doing yoga for charity, so that was kind of what I put my finger on," he told the news source.

In the meantime, his personal yoga regimen remains unchanged, not to mention his favorite yoga posture.

"Doing the upside-down stuff is the most fun for me," he told the Times.

While standing on one's head isn't the only method for holistically redirecting energy to the mind, it's certainly one of the more straightforward ways.

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May 19, 2011

Yoga may complement traditional medical therapies

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While physicians rarely recommend that ill individuals pursue alternative courses of treatment for serious diseases, an increasing number of doctors are suggesting that patients seek out yoga and meditation as a complementary therapy, one that adds to pharmacological remedies rather than taking their place.

For instance, several studies have shown that engaging in a holistic mind-body practice can improve pain management in those overcoming cancer or other severe conditions.

Clinical psychologist Joseph Nowinski wrote on the website of the Huffington Post that at least 10 randomly conducted trials have indicated that yoga may improve aches, mood and quality of live for cancer patients, primarily women who have been hospitalized for breast tumors.

Likewise, he stated that anecdotal evidence suggests that tai chi can help elderly Americans become more physically active and less emotionally distressed.

Also, the rate at which physicians are suggesting complementary treatments like yoga and meditation is on the rise. A recent study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine determined that among adults who engage in mind-body therapies, 3 percent report doing so at the suggestion of their doctor.

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May 16, 2011

Yoga may help recovering addicts heal, self-soothe

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One of the many great things about Dahn Yoga is that it not only helps individuals overcome their everyday problems, like stress, anxiety or physical tension, but it can also be used as a far more targeted self healing regimen. A number of studies have shown that Dahn Yoga and other, similar holistic mind-body systems may supplement traditional therapies during recovery from drug addiction.

A recent study determined as much, after a pair of researchers from Adelphi University tested the effect of stretching, deep breathing, gentle postures and tai chi on adults who suffered from chemical dependency.

The duo found that practicing this regimen several times a week helped addicts reduce their cravings. Psychotherapist and co-author Morton Kissen got the idea for the study in part from his "lengthy experiences with the Korean Dahn yoga system of training, [which] involves considerable practice in intentionality with regard to the body."

Similar investigations have yielded positive results of this sort. An article published by Yoga Magazine illustrated the potential uses for daily yoga workshops during drug and alcohol recovery.

The news source noted that a hybridized form of the system, one that consists of both yoga instruction and a therapeutic group story circle, can help people recovering from substance abuse to soothe their bodies during detoxification.

May 13, 2011

Scale the outer limits of Toronto’s CN Tower

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While many people find enlightenment through prayer and yoga meditation, others take a more adventurous approach toward achieving their spiritual goals. For a thrilling experience while in Toronto, vacationers should consider a trip to the CN Tower, which is the tallest free-standing structure in the world.

It is certainly a thrilling time ascending the 1,168-foot tower in a mere 58 seconds via elevator, but the excitement does not stop there. Tourists are now offered the chance to scale the outer limits of the building at its highest point by being strapped to a rail via a harness, which allows adrenaline junkies to walk along a five-foot ledge with no railing.

"With our 35th [anniversary] coming up this summer, we thought what a great opportunity to introduce visitors to something new and exciting – and on top of that, extreme," chief operating officer Jack Robinson said to the Globe and Mail.

Those who are a bit skittish about hanging off the top of the CN Tower can still enjoy the sights from above by visiting its observatory, which features a 2.5-inch-thick glass floor that lets travelers see more than 1,000 feet below them.

Filed under Yoga Basics
May 12, 2011

Walk down the path of Via Dolorosa

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One does not have to follow a certain belief system in order to appreciate famous attractions in Israel. However, being in the presence of one of the most famous sites in the Christian religion may well enhance one's path to personal change, as it allows room for appreciation of others and acceptance of differing values.

The Via Dolorosa, which, translated from Latin, means "way of sorrows," is known to be the road that Jesus purportedly followed as he headed towards crucifixion. While the path has been changed over the years due to modernization of the area, many Christians from all over the world visit this area, as it serves as the Mecca of their spiritual journey.

Along the road, visitors will find the 14 Stations of the Cross, which may be familiar to some, as many churches adorn their walls with these images of the 14 final events of Jesus' life. The first station depicts the moment in which the Son of God was sentenced to death. That same spot is allegedly where his resurrection took place. 

Filed under Yoga Basics
May 12, 2011

Try a Far East delicacy at the Donghuamen Night Market

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One of the many benefits of being in good health is that there is no strict diet one must follow, allowing for a great deal of variety to introduce to one's palate. This is particularly beneficial while traveling, as sampling international cuisine is a great way to learn about a foreign area's culture.

Heading abroad opens doors to many new experiences, and those heading to China should consider a trip to the Donghuamen Night Market in Beijing to discover the city's most unusual offerings.

Every night, tourists and locals alike head to the market to try out traditional foods like spring rolls, crab cakes, dumplings and more. However it's the strange delicacies that attract adventurous foodies. From grilled snake meat and deep-fried starfish to fried silkworms, sauteed scorpions and giant cicadas, visitors are sure to find something new and different to try.

There are various food stalls placed around the market with signs in English and Mandarin to help eliminate confusion. The signs offer a list of raw ingredients so guests can be sure that they are feeding themselves with healthy, clean foods if they wish, and be aware when they are ordering something less diet-friendly. 

Filed under Yoga Basics
May 12, 2011

Dahn Yoga book teaches moving meditation, wins award

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When they have exhausted their typical methods of relaxing, many Americans turn to Dahn Yoga books as a way to slow down their frantic pace and slowly, calmly recharge their batteries. Many of these volumes offer invaluable advice on how to pursue patience and quietude, which may be one reason that a book created by Dahn Yoga Education won a popular literary award.

The publication, which is titled Bowing: A Moving Meditation for Personal Transformation, won a Gold Medal from the Living Now Book Awards in the Meditation/Relaxation category.

Simply put, the book is about exactly what you might expect – the act of bowing. This humble, respectful and empathic gesture has existed in Asian cultures for millennia, and a deep bow happens to use almost every muscle in the legs, trunk, arms and neck.

In order to take advantage of the holistic properties of this action, BEST Life Media created a volume that teaches practitioners to engage in bowing as part of brain wave vibration, which is a form of moving meditation.

To honor the book's success, BEST Life Media is offering a limited-time 20 percent discount on Bowing: A Moving Meditation for Personal Transformation.

May 11, 2011

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Though it was founded in the 1980s, Dahn Yoga's basic precepts and techniques are directly descended from methods practiced five millennia ago in East Asia. These precepts include the importance of the mind's partnership with the body, as well as the need for a balanced bond between the two.

Today, thousands of Americans practice Dahn Yoga everyday, many of whom are delightedly trying it for the first time. Taking a little time out of one's day to stretch, breathe, pose and meditate with a gentle smile on one's face can radically change one's mood and outlook.

This blog offers responses to news items that prominently feature Dahn Yoga and its neighborhood centers.

RSS Brain Wave Vibration

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    Brain wave vibration is described as a healing and self development method that is so easy to learn that anyone can learn it in under two minutes. While in the beginning it seems like a strange exercise, people have noted its results right away. Some people feel more focused, clear and a general sense of well-being. Numerous people all over the world are usi […]