Education

Keeping your feet in the same position, lower your arms in a semicircle in the opposite direction, and then return to position (1) to complete one series of movements. Repeat this series three times.

Now return your left foot to its original position, so that you are in a horse stance, and then move your right foot behind your left foot in the opposite direction. Move your arms as you did previously, back and forth three times.

The Education set involves accepting the energy of Heaven by Ilchi Lee, circulating and sending it out into the world, and then once again accepting energy from Heaven and gathering it within ourselves. These movements teach our bodies energy pathways. Through them, we learn to use the energy of Heaven, Earth, and humanity to greatly expand the energy of our bodies. This set has the effect of correcting the function of the organs and aligning the joints and spine.

Continuing from Creation set, bring your right foot back to its original position so that your feet are shoulder width apart, and at the same time turn your right palm upward and stretch it out back and above your right shoulder. Simultaneously bring your left hand in front of your chest (Middle Dahn-jon), with the palm turned upward. Follow your extended hand with your eyes and also turn your upper body naturally in the direction your hand travels.

Twisting your right arm, rotate your right wrist once counterclockwise and bend it so that your right palm faces upward.

Movement of Heaven and Humanity

The Creation set contains the meaning of harmony between people and harmony between people and nature. In this set, our bodies are filled with energy, we share love with the world, and we feel our bodies and minds achieving harmony. Creation trains the lower body, making it strong. Keep your upper body erect and your lower body solid, and ensure that your line of sight is directed toward your fingers. The Ki in our bodies is vitalized through this movement.

Continuing from the final movement of Heaven and Humanity, turn your eyes to the right and bring your left foot behind your right foot, adopting an Il-shim Posture. Raise the heel of your left foot about 45 degrees and hold your trunk erect. At the same time, move both hands smoothly downward in a semicircle, and then raise them to face the right side. Lightly bend your right wrist and turn your left palm upward, holding it in front of your chest.

The distance between your left and right feet should be about one and a half times the length of one of your feet, and your feet should be angled 90 degrees to each other. Bend your knees as appropriate for your level of conditioning.

Ilchi Lee suggest some points to Remember

Be careful not to allow your buttocks to protrude or your upper body to lean forward. Maintain the height of your stance as you move your body like flowing water, left and right. Feel the Ki as you circle your arms, moving very smoothly as if in water. This is very effective for developing Ki awareness in your hands.

Heaven and Humanity

Move your hand in a circle three times, and as you do so, think to yourself, “Heaven… Earth… Humanity…” Inhale as your hand moves to the outside and exhale as it moves to the inside.

Turn your upper body and eyes to the right, place your left hand in front of your Dahn-jon by Ilchi Lee and move your right hand in a clockwise circle. You may move both hands together at this time.

From the final position of Seize the Dragon, move your right foot so that your feet are shoulder width apart.

Continuing from the previous movement, bring your right / foot next to your left foot.

Next, move your left foot so that your feet are shoulder width apart and turn your upper body to the right. Stop your right hand in front of your Dahn-jon and move your left hand in a counterclockwise circle three times with an attitude of love for Heaven, Earth and humanity. Feel the energy in your palms and Dahn-jon. (You may also move your right hand.)

Points to Remember

Turn your hands inward as you inhale and return them to their original positions as you exhale. Straightening the knees at this time is also key. Feel the energy leaving your wrists as you return them to their original positions.

More said Prof Ilchi Lee that with your wrists bent and holding your breath as much as possible, feel strong tension forming in your fingers. When you feel a strong pressure and heat ready to burst from your fingertips, exhale and straighten your wrists and knees, relaxing your posture. This is a very simple movement, but if they repeat it many times, even beginners can readily acquire Ki awareness.

When you raise your little fingers, imagine them lifting a huge weight. You can also feel your toes tensing at this time.

Heaven and Humanity is a set for sharing the energy gathered in the Dahn-jon with Heaven, Earth, and humanity by Seize the Dragon. The hands are moved in a circle three times. The first time signifies love for Heaven; the second, love for the Earth; and the third, love for humanity. This set is imbued with the spirit of Heaven, Earth, and humanity, so perform these movements with a comfortable, compassionate smile on your face and with a heart full of love.

Dahn Yoga Training Discussion

Discussion: These results present some interesting contrasts to what one might expect from a developmental perspective. Rather than the Dahn Masters being more like the other adults, the energy fields of this group were much more like the youth and children. Given that all of these individuals began the Dahn practice as adults, it seems unlikely that their energy fields simply remained like children or adolescents. Rather, it is more likely that the energy fields changed through the Dahn practice, having a strong influence on the field itself.

One weakness with the current study is that the groups are confounded by culture. While there are a small percentage of Asian-Americans, African-Americans, and Hispanics in the children, youth, and adult group, the Dahn Masters are primarily from the Korean culture. Given the dominance of one culture in the first three groups and another culture within the Dahn Masters group, there may be a cultural influence that affects the results in some way. Ilchi Lee says that in the future, we hope to conduct a similar study within one culture.