For your info "sorry" but yoga is a business these days. There is a recent article on yahoo news. It talks all about high priced Yoga.It says nothing about Dahnhak. Its savy now. There might still be non pricey yoga centers out there, but it all depends on the rent they are paying. No money - No Yoga
No money no nothing in the material world. Thats a fact

I don't understand why ANY ONE would hesitate after reading what's on the web about DAHN. I had a creepy experience with them several months ago when a center opened up in my town and I went in to ask about their schedule. It was enough to have the instructor silently look at me as though I were crazy to even QUESTION her background, training and branch of yoga to let me know there was nothing YOGIC about this center. True yogis request nothing or DONATIONS of whatever you can give just to keep the centers open. Less authentic yoga classes are rarely over $15. YOGA is about honesty, openness, affirmation of life, service to others above all--not about turning your students into hosts for your unenlightened greed. GET OUT OF THERE before you're really sorry.

I just joined the Dahn Center in my area about two weeks ago. My only reason for joining is that I wanted to supplement my weight training program with stretching and meditation and I wanted to be in a "class environment". I have a gym in the building where I live that hardly ever has more then a few people in it a time (which I like) but I thought being in a more social environment would be a good change of pace for me. I do like the class very much and definately can see how it will help with my flexibility and my ability to handle stress. Unfortunately, I read all the different articles and blogs about the Dahn organization after I joined. I have already noticed that one of the instructors has been paying more attention to me and I overheard her tell another instructor who just came back from Sedona that I'm "very serious" about Dahn Yoga which left a slightly bad taste in my mouth. I paid for a year's membership not because I was encouraged to but because I wanted to commit to a year of this training. In light of the fact that I will not be able to get a refund, there is no way I am going to take a lose on the the money I spent. My intention is to use my membership this year to reach my goals. I am not in any way, shape or form interested in anything other then physical fitness. That is what I will tell them if they approach me or pressure me. Hopefully they will back off when they see that I am not going to be an easy target. If not, well I guess I'll have to deal with the situation when and if it presents itself.

People...Steve Hassan and Rick Ross have pretty extensive postings about Dahn. My razor sharp intuition about it all says that Dahn is way off the mark.

I teach T'ai Chi and Chi Gong and have had a bad smell about Dahn from the first whiff.

Also...if you have someone in Dahn and you want to help them out I recc you use an expert like Hassan...getting someone out of something like this can be like surgery...let the experts guide.


Of course...I could be wrong...maybe Dahn is great...I'm just pretty darnd sure it's a real trap.

I suggestion on a book to get them, by Mirabibi Starr, a professor of philosophy in at U.of NM.
Dark Night Of The Soul, St. John of the Cross translation by Mirabai Starr ( not a Catholic or Christian by the way)
Wiether you are a Taoist, Buddhist, Sufi, Christian or Mystic from whatever creed. The universality of wisdom helps during times of questioning or suffering.

Anon 2:36pm, 27Feb06:

Sorry, but there is a lot more to it than what you are telling us.

I encourage you to open your heart and see Dahn for what it really is.

Maybe if all the Dahn center members and masters who really believe they can achieve world peace decide to bail on Il Chi Lee and his money making scam and start their own, free, non-abusive organization open to the ideas and relgious beliefs of others, I think there really could be a chance for something great.

TC

http://www.freedomcrowsnest.org

Yes you can say 'NO' and then you get the kindness guilt..you'll miss us you'll be back etc. Find your 'true self', shimsung was not the way to find it for me. Bizarre and abusive. Breakdown the individual to fill back in with Dahnism, not cool and not what I signed up for, stress reduction etc. Why aren't there more non for profit activities? A religious tax break is very questionable. I wonder what the IRS would say about it? But I am glad that that individual has found his peace. My experinec was very negative I was targeted, I feel that I am lucky to be out of Dahn!

Hi,
Stumbled on this site on a search, and, frankly, find the general thrust rather sad. I have been with the organization since late 2001 and became a dahn instructor in 2004. It appears from what I read here that the same experiences can lead to different conclusions for people. The primary determinant appears to be folks being willing to say 'NO' when being offered an opportunity for different training or healing sessions and feeling confident making that statement.

I think that the Korean masters are generally fairly poor at salesmanship, and many appear genuinely uncomfortable asking for money. From my perspective, I am able to invest in my health and that is worth more than, say, driving a civic v. bmw. Perhaps its this 'weird vibe' about money that sets the whole thing off.

Yes, I do see people who show up looking for 'something' to fill some sort of void that has opened in their lives, and that can lead them to spend $$$ on anything that may be of help. Unfortunately, any fantasy of a better life may do, not just dahn. In any event, many many people do not continue for whatever reason -- so it is possible to say no.

In teaching class I encourage students to do their best, be happy and relaxed with that alone, and let their own pain be their guide. Ultimately, the program teaches that connecting inwardly provides the path for improved health. The same could be said for financial pain. If anyone reading this has to borrow money such that the payments are going to be worrisome then, just say NO! It really defeats the purpose, now doesn't it?

Since joining dahn not only have I improved my health but I've gotten job promotions and made partner. Other people I've met at dahn have similarly improved their lives.

The family aspect has been a bit counterintuitive. My wife appreciates that I go to dahn workouts because of the peace of mind that it brings to me, which she benefits from indirectly, but she has no interest in attending even out of curiosity. At least one other long time member I know has had a similar experience. I also have two children who have attended some classes but don't do so now -- they have enough going on with school and other activities that adding the stress of 'yet another thing' would be too much for now.

The teachings within dahn are very valuable and are worthy of investing what time and money a person can willingly and capably afford, with the end point being connecting to your _own_ inside 'true self' and developing the physical and mental capability to achieve you _own_ life goals.

Best of luck in your own searches as to what is 'truth'.

Hello to the friends I have never met....

Well, returned from my visit to her class (mentioned earlier,) and I guess I just did not fit their profile, as they never even asked me to fill out the visitor log, or register, or anything of the sort.

We have started having conversations about Dahn, and I have told her of my reservations about the entire 'system.' I have not let her know yet all that I have read, I told her that I am putting together a list of questions that I would like to talk about, so that I can understand what she is going through...

SHE is the one who originally told me that she had a 'cult' feeling about the place when she went to Sedona the first time... so I am working off of that information, but to those of you who were deep inside... HealerNoMore, and the rest of you... what would be a good set of questions to ask? I have some really good ideas from what I have read already, believe me. I just want to do this right, and not have her go through the seperation problems that occur when someone departs a cult. The shame of the entire thing, is that on that absolute basic level, she really does love the classes she can just walk in on during the week, and go for an hour and relax, stretch, and exercise.

The info about fitness centers in Illinois not being able to offer lifetime memberships is HUGE. I will make a point at this juncture to take the intro class, plead poor, and see if they try to rope me into that.

My Girlfriend is very intelligent, but more importantly, she is fiercely independent, and the high pressure has turned her off in a big way. I want to introduce her to yoga through either a reputable center, or tai chi through the same... does anyone have any suggestions for locations in Chicago? Emotionally, if you remove something, you must replace it, or the void left behind will need to be filled, and that is when people backslide....

Thank you all for listening... it's still a bit of a long road ahead....

Wow, great report. Thanks HNM or posting the url.

Anon 2-2, Illinois' "Physical Fitness Services Act, 815 ILCS 645" says that it's illegal for fitness centers (Dahn is a fitness center) to sell lifetime memberships.

Contact your attorney general to report Dahn, and ask their office to issue a consumer alert (can't hurt to try)

http://www.ag.state.il.us/consumers/index.html

Please log on to www.cbs4boston.com.

There is an I-Team profile on our favorite cult of dahn yoga. It is in the video section.

The story does not begin to expose all that is evil and wrong with this group.

Does anyone know about the lawsuit lee settled for his sexual assaults?

Having joined Dahn-NW 'burbs of Chgo, after 6-7 months of membership, I have felt the emotional manipulation and PRESSURE to sign on for higher level classes.
I was approached on two separate occasions, under the guise of "checking my condition". I was asked to join the Master leader in a small room, to check my condition after 6 mos of doing classes there. (thought it was a trap, but wanted to believe that they care about my welfare as well as their monthly bills).
But the 1st visit, there was no checking of even my pulse point; she laid out the lifetime membership plan and the big bucks required to sign on. It was as if the only choice I had was for gold membership or lifetime membership; there was an absence of "not interested" in the mix.
I felt dazzled by the b___s___t and steamrolled for a higher donation rate. Had to tell her that my "credit card" is actually a debit card, and if I sign on that night, the money in my acct will be gone and I won't have any for food or gasoline. That seemed to stop her in her tracks. I promised to think about it.
Then let it drop.
After I did the Shim Sung weekend, again on a strong suggestion from the Master leader, which actually was an energizing upbeat group experience which at times reminded me of the EST weekends of the 1970s, with a strong element of deprivation in it, I was approached again in mid-class to "check my condition"
This time she DID check the meridian points; seemed more caring about it, had actually sent a floral arrangement to my office that day, with "energy from Sedona." The pitch was even stronger that time, and I had to promise to go home to check my credit cards and call her by late nite w/ my decision. After an hour-long conversation with my boyfriend about putting more money on a credit card, I finally got clear.
It's easy to yell "Cult!" and point fingers. I agree with other postings, there are some benefits to the breathing exercise and meditation. Just hang on to your wallet.
I would like to believe in this energy stuff, and that there are vortexes of earth energy, but don't make ME pay for it!

Hi all...

What a read... I just read through the entire zip file, and the later postings, too. My girlfriend... who is almost my fiancee, has been in Dahn Yoga for about 2 years, I think. She has said herself that the weekend retreats, the constant.. and I mean, constant, press for more money all tell her that it is a cult; she takes it as a great class, she enjoys the energy levels she gets from it, and it really relaxes her.

I will be going there tonight to pick her up so we can go to dinner, and I will enter the mouth of the lion's den. I just want to see what they try to offer me by just showing up. What will they try to get me involved in? One thing is for sure, I am very very forewarned after spending all this time here. Luckily, I am well adjusted, balanced, without ever going into the class. We shall see.... I just need to find the right time to let her know what is actually going on... our Chicago Park District offers yoga classes for considerably less $$$ than Dahn. I would love to take classes with her, but there is no way I am spending money with this outfit...

I will see for myself tonight, just what they say and do for me... and for those of you who have posted on here for the past 2 years +, thanks you.. you are looking out for me ahead of time, and I appreciate it... I just hope I can get her to see the light.

Best, everyone... you are really fine people.