Dahn Yoga Helps With Integrative Cancer Treatment

These days, people do not know anyone who haswhat I had hoped for. The doctors were unable to
not had cancer. While there are medical treatmentsdo anything but biopsy the tumors and close me up.
for cancer, they have strong side effects and theIt was very upsetting. All that I had practiced and
condition may recur. The search fortrusted had to be used to pull myself up and start all
high-effectiveness and low-side-effect alternativeover again.
treatments has largely given way to the emergence“During the start of chemo treatments, it was
of a new treatment movement, still in its infant stagedifficult to close my eyes. My mind darted from here
– complementary and integrative healthcare.to there with nothing seeming to be important. It
In the United States and around the world, thewas only when they gave me a medication that I
holistic brain, body-mind and energy-based fitnesscould doze off; and even then I fought it. I was
training system offered by Dahn Yoga & Healthafraid to close my eyes and let time go by. Many
Centers ( is being regarded by people with cancer asthoughts would enter my head.
a generally positive approach, and sometimes very“My friend from Dahn Yoga came along with me;
successful, in the complementary and integrativeshe had me breathe along with her. She whispered in
treatment field.my ear to visualize the chemotherapy as a white light
When diagnosed with stage-4 ovarian cancer,going into my body to cleanse me. This was when I
Florence, in her 60s and living in New York City, usedbegan to use the tool of visualization in a consistent
Dahn Yoga as a key complement to her twoway. There were so many times that an ugly voice
surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. Here is howscreamed in my head, ‘You have cancer, and
she thought it through, “Before having my firstyou are going to die.’ In my heart, in my soul I
surgery, I knew I had to strengthen my immuneknew that I would live.”
system. So I put together a plan. I took Dahn YogaTo support the medical treatment, lessen its negative
classes more often, started acupuncture treatment,side effects, and benefit from a positive mental
and received individual holistic healings from my Dahnattitude, it is important to have a daily practice of
Yoga Center manager and other Dahn Yoga-trainedexercise, eating and sleep. Here is what Florence put
healing staff.”together, “Every day I use what I have learned
Besides the physical benefits of Dahn Yoga to thefrom a 12-step program and Dahn Yoga training. I
body’s health, it is important to strengthenhave this daily routine: morning bowing for physical
one’s morale, attitude and outlook. Florenceand emotional benefits, Energy Management Training,
admits this, “Because of all these Dahn Yogaand DahnMuDo healing martial arts practice. I practice
experiences, I felt a lot of love and energy. At onewhat I learned in the Power Brain Method workshop.
time I remember feeling as though my body wasAll of this has helped to change my energy. All the
lifted off the ground. This was a point of change fortraining and support from loved ones has helped me
me. My goal was to get my body, mind and spirit instay in the moment.”
the best possible condition before I surgery andIn life in general and especially facing a condition like
chemo. This is a journey. And I do not intend to walkcancer, it is vital to have a big vision or purpose. Here
alone. I have been heartened with strong supportis what Florence realized, “I have always
and love I have abundantly received from friends,struggled with the fact that I did not have a vision or
family, and the Dahn Yoga community of staff andpurpose for my life. I now have the vision of taking
members.”care of myself and sharing my hope, strength and
At times there can be tension and even conflictexperience with others who are in the fight for their
between the various health treatments for cancer.lives with cancer.”
This happened to Florence, “I remember sitting inDahn (means bright energy in Korean) is the symbolic
the doctor’s office while he listed all the thingsmanifestation of the sun rising at dawn, with its
that could go wrong during my surgery. A closeinexhaustible source of vitality. Dahn Yoga was
friend who came with me took notes. We did notdeveloped by Ilchi Lee ( basing it on traditional
pay too much attention to any of the outcomeKorean body-mind practices that stretch back more
other then the best-case scenario. My goal was tothan 5,000 years and modern brain research findings.
remain unrelentingly positive. We turned around anyThrough the 600 Dahn Yoga centers worldwide,
of the doctors’ information, sometimes negativearound 1,000,000 people use its methods daily. In the
and cautious, to make it positive.United States since 1991, 120 Dahn Yoga centers are
“However, the surgery’s results were notlocated in 15 metropolitan areas.