On April 21, 2012, I attended Brain Expo 2012 at the COEX (Korea Exhibition Center). It was hosted by the Korea Institute of Brain Science and the International Brain Education Association. There I had the pleasure of meeting Natalia Avseenko, a world-renowned free diver who was featured in a two-part documentary on breathing produced by MBC, a major Korean television network.
I often show a clip of Natalia from that documentary in which she swims underwater with whales in arctic temperatures for over ten minutes. She does this without any special equipment or clothing; she simply practices special breathing techniques that help her stay underwater longer and maintain her body temperature. I was delighted when I saw this video because it seems like an extreme and distinctive example of the importance of conscious breathing and of challenging what we believe are the limits of the human body. I find that overcoming our physical and mental limits offers us great satisfaction, more confidence, and even pleasure.
Upon returning to Russia after the expo, Natalia sent me this letter of thanks, for which I am very grateful:
“Dear Mr. Ilchi Lee,
I would like to thank you for the chance of being here, knowing people and getting what I have been looking for many years. For me, it’s still something hard to believe. *^^*
To be here felt as if I’m home. I had no any problem of communicating either to people or to the cultural surrounding. I was in harmony all the time feeling warmth and good energy. It feels as if I have been living here and knowing people for a long time.
Meeting Mr. Ilchi Lee is something magical. I feel a sort of destiny I cannot deny. Both of us have the same values. I feel love and warmth all the time and incredibly great energy. And I think that Mr. Ilchi Lee is doing incredible work not only for Korea, but for the rest of the world.
The Brain Expo is a great experience that gave me really a lot. Now I can be more effective to help people to get close to who they are! Most of them are so much away from themselves (“who they are”). I think you and I could be very helpful to each other, we can complete each other. I could give my practical experience, for example. I could come to Korea and other places and give everything that I know about breathing.
In the future when my students are ready I could bring them to make them Brain Educators. I could participate in Brain Education programs.
A lot of love!!!”
There are 5 responses to this post
April 24, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Thank you for sharing this letter! She is a very inspirational person. She expresses a very pure heart. I am happy that she is interested in BE, she can share her experience.
April 24, 2012 at 10:48 pm
What a fantastic pairing. She has so much to offer related to breathing. It is amazing to see her video and witness what the human body can do with the right mind set and practice.
Woo Ae
April 25, 2012 at 7:29 am
This is so happy making. I am really happy this beautiful person met Seuseung nim. We are getting closer to 100 million every day!
April 27, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Great soul knows Great teacher. She could be a great brain educator.
Thank you so much for exciting news!!
May 17, 2012 at 7:26 am
Wow that’s amazing! Thank you for sharing her passionate and inspiring letter with us. I am so amazed that she is able to share her “practical experience” and knowledge of breathing with all of us! If we just learned how to breathe the way she does, EVERYONE in the world could reach their Human Potential! I saw her video when she dove in the icy water. Absolutely amazing.