Korean Shamanism

This week a Korean Shamanist festival and ceremony were held here at the Hanminjok Historic and Cultural Park to mark the Lunar Calendar "Gaecheonjeol" (Heaven's Opening Day).

Korean Shamanism, like many other traditional or indigenous practices, was suppressed by both foreign and domestic powers, but has recently regained support from the Korean public and government as an important cultural practice.

Parts of the festival and ceremony were similar to an ancestral rites ceremony that is held in Korea on special holidays like Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) or New Year's. It also had other elements, which seemed to represent human's connection to nature, and a "performance" by a traditional Shaman, which reflected the way shamans used to meet and talk with villagers.

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!

Brain Education English at UBE

I started English classes and activities for staff here at UBE and Kookhakwon. There are three levels: Basic English and Intermediate and Advanced Brain Education English, as well as English Noraebang and English "Cafe" nights.

My hope is that people will have a chance to learn and practice English and Brain Education in English in a way that helps them build confidence in speaking English and in sharing Brain Education with others.

Here's a link to an article about the classes published in the Kookhak News, an online publication.

Article about Brain Education English in Kookhak News

Joyce Minten, Energy Yoga, and Brain Education

A few years ago, I met Joyce Minten. She interviewed me for an article she was writing about people making career changes.

This fall, Joyce contacted me again and we did another interview. It was a great opportunity for me to reflect on where I am now in my life and where I want to be.

Joyce also contacted my husband Marek at the Energy Yoga Center and together, they decided to publish a newsletter for the center writen and compiled by Joyce, including an article based on our interview. Joyce also presented a seminar at the Open House held this weekend at the Energy Yoga Center.

Joyce has recently started her own Life Coaching business. Check out her website and the article and newsletter she wrote here:

Joyce's website

Energy Yoga Newsletter

I'd like to thank Joyce for the opportunity to work with her again and for her contribution to the Energy Yoga Center. I wish her all the best with her new business venture and on this next part of her journey!

TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean)

Last Sunday, I took the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean)--the Basic Level--in Seoul. It's usually held about twice a year in Korea and in countries around the world. In 2009, 180 000 people took the test. It includes vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, and writing.

The test was held at Kyung Hee University and there were hundreds of people from all different countries taking different levels of the test (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced).

For anyone who will be taking the test, I used the Complete Guide to the TOPIK and a book I bought with tests from previous years. Both were really helpful. Knowing the types of questions, vocabulary, and grammar that would be on the test in advance made taking the test much easier.

Now, time to start preparing for the next level!

Update on the University of Brain Education

This is the new website homepage (not so new now) for the University of Brain Education (UBE). Now that I've been at the university for over two and a half years, I have a better sense of the kinds of programs that are offered here so thought I would share.

The university has three departments: Brain Education, Peaceology, and Kukhak.

Many of the students enrolled in the Brain Education program are teachers, parents, and professionals working in the field of education or health, who are interested in Brain Education as an approach to supporting the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children and adults. Courses offered include those such as Cognitive Neuroscience, Child Development, Psychology, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Brain Education Philosophy and Practice, Brain Education and Creativity, Counselling, and the Brain and Physical Health.

Recently, the department has been focusing on researching the "Happy School Program", a school-wide program based on the Brain Education approach that has been implemented in schools throughout Korea.

UBE also offers online courses, which allow students from our university to obtain credits but also provide continuing education credits for those who are teachers. I took one of the courses last semester about preventative lifestyle changes, exercises, and healing (based on a Korean approach to healing called Hwalgong) for different health problems often experienced by students and teachers. It was full of useful information and practical tools that I could easily apply.

The Brain Trainer program is also run by the University of Brain Education. It is a National Certification program which certifies people to become "Brain Trainers". Anyone who has obtained an undergraduate degree can work towards this certification by taking a written and practical test. An online course is also available. Those who pass the certification must show knowledge and skills about the brain and methods for brain health assessment, training, and ongoing evaluation. Training is also available to organizations. Recently, for example, a certified Brain Trainer provided training for a group of women from a Women's Career Center in Seoul.

The Department of Brain Education recently started offering a program for parents called "Parent Coaching". The program offers tips for parenting using the Brain Education approach and related knowledge from the fields of applied neuroscience, psychology, education, and nutrition.

Peaceology is the academic study and research of an approach to peace called Peaceology. Peaceology includes a concrete plan for action and vision that is based on a philosophy that espouses the betterment of all humanity. In Korean, this is called the "Hongik" philosophy, which served as the philosophy of the Han people (see below in the Kukhak section) and interestingly is also the motto of the modern Korean education system. The action plan for peace contained in Peaceology includes Brain Education as an approach to helping individuals become healthier, happier, and more peaceful. Many of the students enrolled in this program are from NGOs involved in Peace Studies. The courses offered also include those related to the issue of reunification of the Korean peninsula.

The purpose of the department of Kukhak is to study and revive the philosophy and practices of traditional Sundo, a philosophy which originated with the Han people (different from the "Han" Chinese), who lived in parts of North-east Asia thousands of years ago and who encouraged its citizens to develop themselves and contribute to the betterment of others. Many of the students enrolled in this department are involved in work to promote the recovery of this ancient history, culture and philosophy. The Kukhak Department often sponsors conferences and seminars.

There is lots more to share about the university. I'll keep working on my Korean so I can understand and share more. Stay tuned... :)

The Consequences of Thinking Too Much

Although research shows that thinking stimulates certain areas of the brain, it also points to the dangers of "thinking too much".

One study found that people who have to make difficult decisions and were sure about their answers had more brain cells in their frontal lobe, in an area called the anterior prefrontal cortex. The frontal lobe (located as its name suggests at the front of your brain) plays a key role in higher mental functions such as motivation, planning, social behaviour, and speech production. The part of the frontal lobe, called the anterior prefrontal cortex, has been linked to integrating the outcomes of two or more separate cognitive operations in the pursuit of a higher behavioural goal.

Research also warns that worrying and brooding about a decision can have a negative impact on working memory, the kind of memory used to remember recent events and to use this information for something, such as remembering where you parked your car. The results of the study suggested that thinking too much about decisions can lead to difficulties with memory and depression.

To read more, you can find a link to the article here:

It's good to think, but not too much