Saying Goodbye to my Brain Education Journey in South Korea

It is now over a year after I graduated from UBE with a PhD in Brain Education (February 2013). I thought it would be a good time to finish this blog now. :)

The picture above is of me and my good friend in South Korea. She and her daughter helped me pack up my stuff, settle things with my landlord, and sent me off on the bus to the airport. I'm having my "last supper" (or lunch :) in Korea at Lotteria (like Korean McDonald's, but not like McDonald's).

It has been quite the experience to be back "home", where I can really say I feel like a foreigner again. It's so funny to me that after about five years of being in Korea, I found a way to fit in (even if I stood out) and then when I came back home, I really felt like I was a foreigner all over again. My brain, including my ways of thinking and seeing and responding to the world, literally changed.

For me, this is a reflection of what I learned from my journey with Brain Education. For those who may not know, Brain Education is an experiential education approach designed to foster the development and effective management of the brain's unlimited potential and ability to create health, happiness, and peace for individuals and collectively. Brain Education is also a field of study focused on researching and developing theory and methods for the wholistic development of brain potential that integrate theory and practice from fields such as brain science, neuroscience, physiology, kinesiology, and nutritional science.

At the individual level, for me, my journey with Brain Education was really about becoming more conscious of the value and power of my brain--to notice how I thought, felt, sensed, and responded to the world based on the biology of my brain and on my experiences and programming, and then to choose what I wanted to do with that. My experience in South Korea was a good example of this. So many things here challenged me and were so different than what I would have experienced in my environment at home, that I really got to notice and meet different parts of myself and my brain. It was definitely a life-changing experience and a gift.

I learned a lot about myself through my journey with Brain Education and the impact of my experiences in Korea contributed to changes that were already occurring in me. Because of those changes, I've decided to not continue with my plans for Brain Education and to take time for myself and for my husband right now.

I am very grateful to all I met on my Brain Education journey--the members and staff of the former Dahn Yoga Centers in Canada; Ilchi Lee, the President of IBREA and UBE; the staff at IBREA, BRC, BE, Dahn Yoga, Sun Tao, and other affiliates in the U.S. and Korea; the staff and students at UBE; and all of the people in Korea I met--those who were kind to me and those who challenged me. Through my connecting with all of you, I learned something about myself and I am thankful for that.

Energy Yoga Center Open House Weekend

This weekend the Energy Yoga Center in Burlington, Canada, which is managed by my husband, Marek, is having an Open House.

Here's the line-up of workshops and presenters who will be at the Open House:



Saturday, November 13th:

10am -11:15am: “Open Class”

11:30am - 12:30pm: “Tipping the Scales" ... and I'm not talking about your weight or weight loss!” Sometimes the stress and burdens of life can weigh us down. Come re-energize by learning some tips and practical suggestions on creating a healthy life balance so you are living your best life!
Presented by: Joyce Minten, Life Coach

12:30pm -1pm: Lunch, "Organic Soup of the Day" by Tina and "Healthy Treats" by Sanya

1pm - 1:30pm: “Aromatherapy, Essential Oils and Hot Stone Healing Massage”How certain blends can improve our physical and mental well-being.
Presented by: Joanne Acevado Ireland, Aromatherapist and Healer

1:30pm-2:30pm: "Creative Writing and Meditation"
Experience Stream of Consciousness Writing; a non-stop, free flowing writing reflection workshop! With the awareness of our senses intact, we will write in flow; writing, whatever comes into our minds. There is no thought process or editing, it just flows from hand to paper. Writing is an extension of mediation.
Presented by Tina Dine, English Teacher

Sunday, November 14th

10am - 11:15am: “Aromatherapy Yoga Class - Using Thieves Oil to Fortify Our Immune System”
Thieves Essential Oil was inspired by the historical account of a group of 15th century thieves and grave robbers who rubbed cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics on their bodies to avoid contracting the deadly black plague. When apprehended, these thieves disclosed the formula of herbs, spices and oils they used to protect themselves in exchange for a more lenient punishment.
Presented by Vickie Vopni, Energy Yoga Teacher

11:45 am - 12: 45 pm: "Earth Qi-Gong" and 7 Energy Postures with a Sword "Gum Bo Young Gong"Learn about an ancient Healing Energy Martial Arts to improve your posture, strength, balance, and concentration and to help you reconnect with a deeper sense of Self through Ki-energy.
Presented by Marek

2:00 - 3:30 pm: "Heal Yourself with Living Food"Presenters will talk about the health benefits of a raw food diet and look at some seasonal recipes for the fall/ winter.
You will also have the opportunity to sample some raw foods such as yogi juice, cleansing cocktail, kale chips, green crackers, raw falafels, live biryani, fig bars and macaroons .
Presented by Sanya and Claire

All the best for a successful open house weekend!

Happy Third Anniversary to the Energy Yoga Center!

In January, 2009, my husband Marek and I bought the yoga center where we had been members and instructors in Burlington, Ontario.

Marek has managed the center since then and has renamed it "Energy Yoga" (which is a good reflection, I think, of the kind of energy--the strength and sensitivity that he brings to everything he does).

July 2010, marked the center's third anniversary at its North-Burlington location. Congratulations to Marek, the instructors, and all of the members!