Dahn Yoga News

Where Dahn Yoga practitioners share their experiences

Tag Archives: Yoga basics poses

At championship, yoga basics poses bow to the most advanced techniques

0 Comments

Yesterday was International Women's Day, and that means celebrating and appreciating the strength and grace of ladies everywhere. To that end, you can read one of the most inspirational stories for women to come out this month: Just five days ago, holistic expert Afton Carraway defended her title as the New York Regional and National Yoga Asana Champion.

After three days of competitive stretching and posing at the Hudson Theater, the former professional dancer from Florida won her second national championship, beating out hundreds of other advanced yoga practitioners.

The competition is simple: Entrants have three minutes in which to perform seven yoga postures, five of them pre-determined and two left up to the contestant.

These aren't your yoga basics poses, either. Many finalists did standing splits or hyperextended their knees. In Carraway's case, she stood on her hands while curling her feet all the way down to touch the top of her head.

According to the Albany Times Union, competitors were judged based on poise, composure, grace and level of difficulty.

Congrats to Carraway and to all the men and women who competed this year!

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Mar 9, 2012

Instructor loves to teach yoga basics poses

0 Comments

For an inspirational story about service in a community, look no further than the yoga studio run by Lesli Kotloski. A recent article published by the Pittsburgh Almanac featured her and her journey through yoga.

The news source explained that she only just became a yoga instructor, but that she is already reaping the benefits of teaching yoga basics poses.

And so are her students. They told the Almanac that the mind-body regimen has helped them loosen up, calm down, let out their tension and take in the world around them.

Long-time practitioner Pascale Kippelen explained how the system has changed his life. "I've practiced yoga for more than nine years," he told the newspaper. "With the stress and crises I've endured, yoga has given a balance to my life. I visit this studio twice each week and practice about a half hour each day at home."

And what does Kotloski advise beginners to do?

"Look for a yoga class that fits," she said in summary. "An inviting space of calm, a teacher who is comfortable to be with and a practice that incorporates breathing, meditation, stretching, strengthening and relaxation is what is needed to deal with life and its issues."

That's Dahn Yoga in a nutshell!

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Feb 15, 2012

Yoga basics: First things to know include setting reasonable goals for yourself

0 Comments

When you begin learning yoga basics, one of the first things to know is that the mind-body regimen is for everyone – people of all different backgrounds, body types and levels of well-being. With that in mind, a yoga expert recently explained in The Huffington Post that yoga beginners should think about what they expect from yoga.

As an example, instructor Alanna Kaivalya pointed HuffPo to an internet clip that's been making the rounds, one that depicts a solo practitioner doing very advanced poses and stretches in an expensive high-rise loft.

The practitioner herself practices poses that would make even some yoga teachers blanch: headstands, splits and press handstands that might give gymnasts a run for their muscular money. The whole three-minute clip is set to quiet ambient music.

Kaivalya explains that the video is very inspirational. It is also not a very accurate representation of what yoga classes are like, she adds.

"The reality is that in classes, some of the most graceful practitioners are overweight [or] well out of their 20s. Some are also male," Kaivalya writes. "This discrepancy has long been a complaint of fashion and media, though both of those elements exist in yoga here in the west."

Essentially, she recommends not basing one's expectations of yoga on the positions practiced by the most advanced and limber enthusiasts in the country.

Instead, stick to yoga regimens that start you off with gentle, soothing yoga basics poses.

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Jan 27, 2012

Got back pain? Try yoga basics to improve alignment

0 Comments

Backaches are no small problem in the U.S. Lower back pain is the most common cause of work-related disability, which may be why Americans spend more than $50 billion treating it each year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. For those who want some relief without losing too much cash, yoga basics poses may be able to help.

For centuries, people in the know have used yoga basics to improve alignment. It's little wonder – the holistic mind-body regimen is based on the idea of inner balance, meaning that each of its exercises is intended to help restore physical equilibrium.

And do they ever! Studies have shown that doing yoga can reduce the risk of back injury at home or on the job.

For example, a report published in Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation found that participants who regularly practiced yoga in the workplace tended to have lower stress levels and fewer injuries, compared to those who didn't try yoga basics poses.

If you have spinal alignment problems, consider looking into classes at your nearest yoga community center. You'll probably meet others just like you. After all, as many as 80 percent of all Americans have back problems at one time or another, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Dec 12, 2011

Have backaches? Use Dahn Yoga basics to improve alignment

0 Comments

"My back is killing me!" Don't worry if these words sound hackneyed coming out of your mouth. They're trite because they're true. Nearly all Americans will suffer from backaches at some point in their lives, making yoga basics to improve alignment a must-have for anyone concerned with their holistic well-being.

Back pain is one of the most widespread ailments in the world. The National Institutes of Health estimates that 80 percent of U.S. adults get them at one time or another.

For any youngsters who ask what's the big deal with backaches, tell them this: Lower back pain is the leading cause of disability and missed work days in the U.S.

Americans spend $50 billion each year on back pain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

If you'd like to soothe away the aches that keep you laid up in bed, the Dahn Yoga basics poses may help you straighten your posture and improve alignment.

This holistic system promotes exercises that keep your shoulders rolled back, your chin tucked in, your head held high and your back kept upright.

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Nov 28, 2011

‘Days of Our Lives’ star uses yoga basics poses to get fit

0 Comments

Yoga's health benefits extend to everyone, from contented elderly practitioners to the young and the restless. Speaking of which, even soap stars can be spotted practicing yoga basics poses or gushing about them.

Take Lisa Rinna, known for her long-time role as Billie Reed on daytime television's "Days of Our Lives" (DOOL). Recently, she posted a photo online depicting her slim, tanned body clad in little more than a red bikini.

How did Rinna get her physique looking as good as it did 15 years ago, when she played Taylor McBride on the teen TV drama "Melrose Place"? Why, yoga, of course!

She told the Huffington Post that the holistic health regimen has been very good to her. "I've been doing yoga, and my body is looking real good right now," Rinna said, quoted by the news source.

According to the actress, she needs to look her best, since she'll be reprising her role as Reed this fall on DOOL.

Rinna has previously appeared on TV promoting laughter yoga. She also told journalist Rachel Cohen that she has been practicing yoga for more than eight years, according to an interview that aired on Lifetime TV.

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Nov 1, 2011

In U.S. and abroad, dogs and owners do yoga basics poses together

0 Comments

If you're a fan of yoga and health articles, you may have noticed a trend toward dog-related reportage. While dog yoga – or "doga," as it is also known – is not especially widespread, it certainly makes headlines.

This may be because the holistic healing power of yoga is so simple and powerful that it can apply to nearly anyone, whether they are a man, a woman or man's best friend.

The Associated Foreign Press recently reported that some canine owners in Hong Kong have begun doing yoga basics poses with their pooches.

Why try yoga with a pet? Susanna Ackerman, the nation's first self-described doga instructor, said that dogs and humans have similar mental energy states.

"Do dogs meditate? Yes, I think they can," she told CNN GO. "Animals can get into that same calm sense and state. I think your energy can transfer into them."

Regardless of whether you do yoga alone or with a furry friend, the mind-body regimen is a great way to improve your mental, physical and even metaphysical well-being. After all, yoga is the only exercise routine that incorporates relaxing activities like meditation, stretching and tai chi.

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Oct 24, 2011

Teacher recommends using yoga basics for kids’ inner peace

0 Comments

If your child is anxious, tired, fidgety or just plain bored, it may be in their interest – not to mention yours – to show them how to do a few simple yoga basics for kids. It turns out that numerous yoga instructors and alternative health experts recommend using yoga basics poses for stressed sons, discombobulated daughters and anxious adults.

Is stress a big deal?

It is, and it's a widespread problem to boot. If you think adults are the only people who suffer from anxiety, wait until you see the statistics collected by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The agency estimates that about 29 percent of adults will suffer from an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. While this figure may not surprise you, the data on children is pretty disquieting. The NIMH states that, among 13- to 18-year-olds, 25 percent are likely to have an anxiety-related condition over the course of their lives.

That's one-quarter of teens who will be diagnosed with a disorder caused by stress! Presumably, the lifetime risk for younger children is similarly high.

De-stressing with yoga

More than a few news agencies have published stories recently about the benefits that kids can get out of yoga. For example, an article in the Orleans Star noted that kids who attend classes at the popular daycare center Gymboree may be enrolled in yoga classes this month, at the Play and Music on Vantage Drive event.

Many parents report seeing improvements in their child's behavior and stress levels after showing them how to stretch, meditate and pose just like mommy and daddy.

Of course, frazzled parents can use the regimen themselves. After all, watching a child worrying about his or her stress level can leave you, well, stressed.

The Washington Post recently published a popular blog post listing ways that parents can help kids worry less about going back to school. And what about the parents themselves? The newspaper recommended doing yoga to "reduce your stress and awaken your joy."

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Sep 1, 2011

Make use of the six popular yoga basics poses

0 Comments

People who want to get the most yoga and health benefits for their buck often wonder where to start when first giving the regimen a try. To give them a place to begin, here are six yoga basics poses that nearly anyone can do, before they've even received a lick of training!

1. The Basic Pose – It doesn't get much simpler than this. In order to collect yourself and get your body ready to stretch, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms relaxed and knees slightly bent. As you breathe, try to feel your energy channels slowly unblocking.

2. The Body Bounce – From basic pose, bounce up and down slightly with your knees. Sweep your fingers up and down the sides of your torso as you do so. This is a fun one, and it's good for reducing any initial tension.

3. Upper Body Tapping – Here's one that is unique to just a few highly effective yoga regimens. Making two loose fists, lightly tap your abdomen and chest. As you do so, take deep breaths, saying "Ahhhh…" as you exhale. Continue for five minutes as a way to get your circulation flowing.

4. Whole Body Patting – This is an extension of #3. With open palms, firmly pat your arms and legs, slowly travelling down each in turn. Include your face and neck, too. By stimulating your cells this way, you enliven them and invigorate your energy meridians.

5. The Neck Stretch – With your hands on your hips, inhale slowly. As you exhale, gradually lean your head over to one side, as if you are trying to touch your ear to your shoulder. Return to the upright position. Do the same for the opposite shoulder. Repeat several times. Don't stretch too far!

6. The Standing Stretch – Finally, interlace your fingers and stretch your arms to the sky. Now, bend gradually to one side as far as you can, and then right yourself. Try the other side and, to finish, reach for your toes before standing upright.

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Aug 15, 2011

Where can you practice yoga basics poses? Where can’t you!

0 Comments

When it comes to yoga basics, what are the first things to know? Before developing a mental map of the techniques themselves, it helps to have a basic knowledge of yoga basics poses, as well as a simple understanding of what yoga is and how it can help you change your life for the better.

As a holistic mind-body practice, yoga has existed in one form or another for thousands of years. It originated on the Asian continent at least four millennia ago, and groups of practitioners have been passing it along ever since, often refining it along the way.

Over the years, the structure of yoga came to include meditation, stretching, posing, deep breathing, tai chi and qigong, though different styles emphasize each aspect more or less.

As this self healing system evolved over the ages, it also migrated from the eastern shores of Asia westward, across the Middle East, through Europe and eventually beyond the Atlantic to the Americas. Today, it is practiced by nearly 16 million Americans, according to a survey conducted by the Yoga Journal.

The diaspora of yoga should clue you in to one of its most fundamental characteristics. It is portable! Unlike so many other fitness regimens or mental health therapies, yoga may be done nearly anywhere, at any time.

This convenience of the program is the thrust of an article that recently appeared in the Gloucester Township Patch. The source noted that while yoga may certainly be performed in a studio or community center, you may also do it at home, at work or on vacation.

Likewise, learning to practice the tenets of a gentle yoga system can be done with or without the presence of a yoga instructor. Many yoga books, CDs, DVDs, CD-ROMs are available for practitioners of all skill sets, from the total beginner to the long-time expert, the source stated.

Related items

Filed under Yoga Basics
Aug 1, 2011

Follow Us Online

Friend me on FacebookFollow me on Twitter

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.

Categories

Other Links

Regional Blogs

RSS About Dahn Yoga

  • Dahn Yoga - What is It? updated Sat Feb 16 2013 12:19 am EST
    Dahn Yoga was originated by founder Ilchi Lee. Lee, born in South Korea in 1950 had an inner craving to discover life's purpose. Spending 21 days in an ascetic practice, Lee came to see that, not only was his personal energy, but all of humanity's energy was one with the energy of the entire universe. With this he was inspired to create Dahn Yoga. […]