Aug 28 2007
Ilchi Lee Gives Washington DC Residents the Key to a Long a Healthy Life
Ilchi Lee, pioneering brain philosopher and educator, introduced his innovative Brain Education (BE) program to 400 Washington, D.C. area residents in a free public lecture held Monday, August 20, 2007 at George Washington University’s Cafritz Conference Center.
After explaining the connection between our brain’s functioning and our health, Lee introduced the 5 steps to the BE program: sensitizing, versatilizing, refreshing, integrating and mastering. Putting words into action, Lee lead attendees through two BE sensitizing exercises, “Jang Saeng Walking,” and “JiGam” exercise.
“Jang Saeng,” or “longetivity” walking, is a walking meditation method Lee developed with Dr. Sung Lee of the Ilchi Center for Applied Neuroscience (ICAN). Lee instructed attendees to “tuck the tailbone” to keep the spine long and “feel the soles of your feet,” to circulate energy to vital organs. By implementing the simple guidelines of Jang Saeng walking, we have the key to activate our brain and maintain the health of our physical body.
Try it yourself by following the guidelines below. Don’t forget the last, but most important step :-).
9 Guidelines for Jang Saeng Walking
1. Tilt the lower part of your pelvis forward.
2. Breathe with your lower abdomen.
3. Let your heel tap the ground gently as you step forward, with a straight leg.
4. Feel your weight transfer fully to the balls and toes of your foot.
5. Keep your feet parallel, walking on either side of an imaginary line.
6. Angle your body 1 degree forward.
7. Relax your shoulders.
8. Swing your arms freely.
9. Smile!
Lee then introduced a way to calm your brain by focusing on the “ki” or life energy in the hands in a sensitizing exercise called “JiGam.” Attendees were instructed to sit up straight in their chairs and bring their palms to face each other in front of the chest. With out touching, attendees focused on their palms and slowly began to move their hands apart and back together to feel the sensation of “ki.” “JiGam” is a a moving meditation exercise that in Korean means to “stop thinking” to calm the brain.
Brain education is taught at 12 Dahn Yoga centers in the Washington, DC area. Fairfax County, Virginia middle schools will implement Brain Education into after-school programs beginning September, 2007.
I have to agree with Dinah. It was a little strange at first, but now vibration class is the exercise I like even when it’s not class time. I have to admit, I also like DahnMuDo.
I attended this lecture and was really grateful for the information Ilchi Lee shared with us. With the simple techniques of Jaengsang walking, we can lead ourselves to a healthier, happier, more peaceful life!
Ilchi Lee’s recent lecture on Jang Saeng walking was indeed very enjoyable and enlightening. His comments regarding Brain Education were especially timely, since the DC area had just completed its’ first Brain Education Teaching Workshop on August 18-19, the weekend before Dr. Lee’s visit!
During the weekend training session, seven area teachers, along with interested parents, were introduced to the basic exercises, games, and organized lesson plans that make up the Brain Education for Enhanced Learning curriculum.
Since the workshop, these teachers have put into practice their newly acquired skills, rolling out the B.E. training in classrooms ranging from Kindergarten to collegiate Spanish. We are anxious to hear about their successes, as the school year progresses.
Interested area teachers and parents are invited to join us at the next Brain Education Teaching Workshop, scheduled for November 3-4. Please call 703-266-5363 for more information.
Remember - Happy news makes happy brains !
-Linda L.
Today, I changed my walking to the long life walking style and I could feel some great changes in my body. My knee and lower back felt better, less pressure on them, and I felt lighter all over. Thank you for the reminder about the Jang Saeng Walking!
I found several aspects of the Jang Saeng Walking method easy and second-nature, since I’ve already incorporated some of the guidelines into my daily life due to practicing Dahn. I learned about tilting the pelvis when I started taking Dahn classes. That simple change in posture has completely — and happily — eliminated my chronic lower back pain. Relaxing the shoulders is another guideline I focus on regularly. And, of course, you can’t practice Dahn very long without learning to smile a lot!
The Jang Saeng Walking method was so good to me.
I’m really enjoying. I use that when I walk with my dog every moring.
After the walking I could feel more lighter and energetic than normal walking.
Thank you!
My husband agreed to attend the 3rd Annual BE Conference and Olympiad in Ellenville and so enjoyed the brain lectures and Ilchi Lee’s presentation that he also attended the lecture at GWU. He now does exercises for the knee from the Mago Newsletter and practices JangSaeng walking at his work. He still experiences pain in his knees, but much less. He really enjoys the Masters and is beginning to understand what I have been doing the last four years and has become more supportive. Thank you Dahn Yoga for everything.