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.

Brain Education in Northern B.C.

Before returning to Korea, I visited HSP Ranch near Vanderhoof, B.C. (Dahn Canada's Retreat Center). From HSP Ranch, we drove west to a small town called Old Hazelton. Old Hazelton is home to the Sun Tao Center, where Brain Education programs are offered. Brenda is the Center Manager and instructor there.

At the center, we presented to about 16 educators, health professionals, and community leaders about Brain Education and the activities of the International Brain Education Association in New York and around the world.

The next day we continued driving West and visited one of the women who had attended the workshop at her home in Prince Rupert. The drive and the people we met were beautiful.



We met and heard of many people who already work in the healing professions who are looking for ways to provide people with a purpose, hope, and solutions. People were excited particularly about the way Brain Education programs focus on physical health and the body-brain connection as the basis for emotional, cognitive, and spiritual health and for re-establishing people's connection to the Earth.

Brain Education training will be provided to school, health, and community leaders so that they may provide those in their community with practical tools for health and well-being and to help people re-establish their connection to themselves, to each other, and to the Earth.

Burlington Dahn Yoga Receives Platinum Reader's Choice Award

Congratulations to the Burlington Dahn Yoga Center for receiving the Burlington Post's Platinum Reader's Choice award in the category of Best Yoga Center.

The center has been in Burlington since 2002 and at its new location since 2007.

As of this January, the Center Manager is none other than my wonderful husband, Marek Kazmierczak. Marek combines his knowledge of physical exercise and strengthening with his training as a Dahn Mu Do instructor and Dahn Yoga instructor to help people strengthen their bodies and minds.

Congratulations Marek, the instructors, and members! By growing yourselves, you are contributing to the health, happiness and peace in Burlington!

Dahn Mu Do

On Friday, I attended a Dahn Mu Do class at the Sinsa Dahn Mu Do Center in Seoul. Master Kang, the Head Instructor at the center, spent some time in Canada as an instructor at the HSP Ranch, Dahn's Canadian Meditation Center, and he helped to renovate the new Burlington Dahn Yoga Center.

In Canada and the U.S., Dahn Mu Do (or Dahn Hak Do) is offered at Dahn Mu Do Centres or, as is the case in Burlington, at the Dahn Yoga Centre. I happen to know the instructor at the Burlington Center--he is a great instructor! Marek got his black belt after doing an intense 21-day training with Master Kang at HSP Ranch and has since continued his training in the GTA and taught at the centre.

Dahn Mu Do is a challenging but gentle form of Brain Education that is similar to Tai Chi. By practising Dahn Mu Do, I have improved my balance, the flexibility in my joints, the strength in my lower body, and my confidence. Through breathing, posture-holding, and other exercises, I find my mind becomes calmer and I am better able to control my energy, emotions and stress.

Dahn Mu Do is an energy-based non-combative martial art which can be used to heal and transform both body and mind. People of all ages and in any condition can do Dahn Mu Do. In Texas, a group of juvenile offenders benefited from Dahn Mu Do classes through the Dahn Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that helps to bring Dahn to the community:

http://www.dahnfoundation.org/L3-Programs-JuvProbation.html

Here's a video of a demonstration by Master Kang:

http://tvpot.daum.net/clip/ClipView.do?clipid=9102125&q=%EA%B0%95%ED%83%9C%ED%9B%88&searchType=0&sort=wtime&svctype=1

For more information about Dahn Mu Do:
http://www.dahnyoga.com/dahnmudo/

More Pictures from Sokcho

Here are some more pictures from the Ilchi Ki Gong Festival in Sokcho. My camera battery died at the festival just before the Canadians performed so I missed getting a picture of their performance but started taking pictures with my cellphone. These pictures have been on my phone for almost 2 weeks. I was determined to post them.

To transfer them to my computer, I had to 1) buy a USB cable to connect the phone to my laptop and 2) get help downloading a driver for the cable from a Korean website so that I could transfer the pictures. I am thankful for a helpful salesperson at Kyobo bookstore in Cheonan and for one of my colleagues here at UBE who is great with computers and also my HSP 12 Steps trainer (more on this later). I hope you enjoy these!

Marek and Josee accepting an award on behalf of the Canadian team

A cute little boy imitating the sounds of a cow on I-Brain while his mom enjoys some relaxation time.

The Eastern Sea

Raw Fish: This was good Brain Education. I did a lot of smiling and exhaling and created many new synapses, I think :).

On the last day of their tour, the Canadian group visited the Changgyeong Palace and the Gyeongbok Palace Museum in Seoul, where I met them at the end of the day. Sporting their beautiful new Korean clothing, the Canadians seemed to fit easily into the serenity of the palace grounds.

While some of the Canadian contigent was reflecting on their stay here in Korea and eager to return home, others of the group were preparing for a temple stay in Seoul or for further travels in Asia.

I am thankful for the opportunity to have been part of the tour and to have spent time with the Canadians. Over the 10 days they spent together, they received and created some wonderful energy that I know they will carry back to Canada and share with others.

To all of the participants of the Canadian Meditation Tour, Kamsahapnida (Thank you) and Saranghamnida (I love you)!

Dahn Yoga Centre Celebrates Six Years in Burlington

On Tuesday, we celebrated Burlington Dahn Yoga Centre's six years in Burlington and one year at the new location.

Here are some pictures of instructors and members enjoying stretching led by Mary Lou and a delicious potluck!

Members and instructors also enjoyed participating in fun games led by Scott, watching a Dahn Mu Do (Energy Martial Arts) demonstration by Marek and Sung, and hearing from Marek, Scott and Sam about their experiences of participating in the Olympiad at the United Nations.

IBREA Volunteer

This summer I had the opportunity to help in the preparations for two major events co-hosted by IBREA at the United Nations.

The 4th International Brain Education Conference on June 20th included UN delegates, representatives from the NGO (Non-governmental Organization) community, principals and teachers, brain education instructors, and parents from around the world. Everyone gathered to hear distinguished speakers including Jill Bolte Taylor, who was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people of the year, and reknowned neuroscientist Antonio Damasio, talk about education and the brain and the success of Brain Education programs in schools and other organizations.

Here's a link to a video of the conference:

http://www.ilchi.com/ilchi-lee/news/transport-yourself-to-the-u.n.-conference-with-ilchi-lee/

The 4th International Brain HSP Olympiad held August 12th was an opportunity for children and adults from around the world to participate in friendly events which showed the potential of the brain. Following the events, a series of lectures highlighted the brain and the cultivation of youth leaders as key to world peace and successful management of the earth.

I am especially proud of "Team Canada" (Marek Kazmierczak, Scott Johnston, Dalton Johnston, and Sam Johnston from Burlington) who with much sincerity participated in HSP events for the first time at the preparation camp and Olympiad. Team Canada came away with two awards: Marek received 1st Place in the HSP Body Sense Perception event and Sam received 3rd Place in the HSP Brain Window event.

Here is a link to an article about the Olympiad, where you can see "Team Canada" member, Scott Johnston, participating in the HSP Gym event and read more about the events and the lectures...

http://www.ilchi.com/ilchi-lee/news/the-4th-international-brain-hsp-olympiad-held-at-the-united-nations/