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Managing Emotions with Physical Training |
Q: Sometimes I have so many emotions during and after an intense training, I feel like I could cry forever! I thought that after many trainings this would not happen anymore, but it still does. Do I still have so many stuck emotions?
A: Having an emotional release, especially during an intense training, is fairly normal and can actually be quite healthy. This is because most people have a tendency to “stuff” or suppress their emotions, rather than letting them be expressed. On the other hand, some people find they all too easily become lost in their emotions - to the point of feeling controlled by them. In both cases, it is helpful to understand that the human brain is hard-wired to respond and react much more by habit than by conscious choice. Therefore you must first ask yourself if your brain’s behavior is something which is ultimately helpful for what you want. If you are clear that you want to get more mastery over your brain, try to observe its patterns and behaviors more closely rather than following the immediate knee-jerk reactions that often come. The next time you feel you are getting lost in your emotions, try to make a new habit of switching your focus to your physical body. Running, dancing, and other kinds of exercise can be great ways to bring your attention into your body, and out of your emotions. The important thing is not to get frustrated with yourself. As much as you can, just do your best to accept yourself and your habits. Remember, practice makes perfect: make daily effort to improve, and keep a light heart about it.
Ilchi Lee
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Q: My mother who is 89 years old just recently had a stroke. Her left side was impacted. She has some paralysis on that side that make it difficult to chew, swallow and she has lost all sense of her left arm. Her speech is slurred but she is coherent and understandable. She's receiving many different therapies, OT PT RT and Speech Therapy at the Rehabilitation Center she's at. I realize her age and condition but what would you suggest?
A: Helping someone recover from a serious condition such as a stroke is a practice in love, patience and persistence, as I am sure you have realized through caring for your mom. Although there’s nothing I can offer to “cure” her condition, her recovery could certainly be aided by some simple meridian exercises. Any kind of gentle stretching or body patting she could do - on her own or with help - would be great for her to improve her blood and energy circulation and release some of the stiffness that results from the paralysis in her body. I would also recommend having some kind of holistic treatments for her: acupuncture, acupressure, and healing massage are all very effective at boosting the body’s natural healing process.
The best thing you can do for her, though, is to keep giving her love, support and to help her have hope and belief in her own ability to heal. Make sure to spend quality time together and let her laugh be joyful. If all of this can become as much a part of her routine as her therapy sessions, you can be sure she will live a more healthy, happy and peaceful life until her last moments on this earth.
Ilchi Lee |
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Practicing "Brain Respiration" in Venezuela |
Q: I live in Venezuela where I only have your book+CD "Brain Respiration". I would like to know how long to spend on an exercise before moving forward. Also, shouldn't I use the CD before practicing recommended calisthenics?
A: How long you spend on each exercise can vary according to your condition and your goals. If blending the “Brain Respiration” exercises together into a class is what you’re looking for, one or two minutes each is probably sufficient. However if you want to more deeply grasp the essence of the techniques (especially some of the later ones in the book), you could just choose one exercise and make that the focus of your routine for the day-- or even a week. The important thing is to listen to your body and your brain. Be mindful of your body as you exercise. If you focus on your body and breathe well as you do the postures, you will naturally be able to feel when to move to the next exercise.
The “Brain Respiration” CD can be a useful guide for the exercises. However if you’re earnest about doing Dahn Yoga or Brain Respiration techniques from your home, I would recommend the “Dahn Yoga Basics” books for a great visual outline of the postures, and the “Dahn Yoga Energy Breathing Self-Training CD” for an excellent guided class flow with music. If you’ve never taken a Dahn Yoga class before, or simply don’t live close enough to a center, the CD is the next best way to connect to the feeling and timing of the exercises.
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Follow the Passion Inside |
Q: If people could see me on the inside my thoughts and intentions and how much passion I truly have for God and life I would be in such harmony, however I need a way to release my anger and stress please help.
A: Passion for God and life makes one’s life meaningful, exciting and joyful. If you have passion for God and life, follow your passion because that will lead you bliss and contentment if your passion is genuine. Following your divine passion will naturally dissolve your stress and anger. If you don’t see any change in your anger and stress, then sincerely ask yourself again what you are really passionate for? Having a clear answer to this is the beginning of contentment and peace. Also I recommend for you to practice daily the Brain Wave Vibration that I introduced in this website. It will help you release stress and anger energy and connect yourself with the source of peace. Do not accumulate your stress and anger energy and make meditation and breathing your daily routine.
Ilchi Lee
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Physical Training Brings Self-Confidence? |
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Q: How does overcoming your limits through physical training like pushups help you overcome a fear of being judged and become more confident?
A: Physical strength alone doesn’t bring you self-confidence, but it surely is the foundation of your self-confidence. Fear of being judged is fear of being hurt. It comes from your belief that you are not strong enough. When you overcome challenges or resistance by using your body, it is not only your body that becomes strong. Your mind and spirit also get disciplined and strong. It leads to empowerment of your entire self. This is how push-ups can be an exercise for your soul.
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Q: Can you give me any pointers on how to improve my Jangsaeng walking technique? I have difficulty tucking in my tailbone, and I am not sure that I am leaning forward at a one degree angle.
A: Because you have a lifetime of habits built into your body, it can be difficult to keep the proper Jangsaeng posture at first. If you have trouble tucking in your tail bone, it is probably because you are holding a lot of tension in your lower back, hip joints, and intestines. You may want to practice some stretching exercises daily in order to gain more flexibility in your lower body. In the mean time, try focusing on pushing your pelvic bone out. In reality, you can not move your pelvic bone independently, so try to move your entire pelvic area, not just your tailbone. You will know you that you are in the right position when you feel a slight tension and heat in your lower abdomen.
As far as the one-degree tilt is concerned, you do not have to try too hard. When in the proper position, you should only have the slightest perception that you are tilting forward. Just focus on keeping your head slightly ahead of your toes, and try not to push your abdomen out. You can think of it as walking with a very proactive, deliberate attitude. Keep practicing and soon this will all seem very natural.
Ilchi Lee |
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Q: I just listened to your 21-Day Miracle audio lecture. I enjoyed your Brain Wave Vibration training. Can you let me know the name of music used in the training? I have been looking for that music since I first heard it.
A: The music used in my Brain Wave Vibration audio training was composed by PURI, a famous Korean drumming group. The CD containing the specific music was published eight years ago under a Korean music label. I have used that music for the Brain Wave Vibration training and other advanced energy trainings, as its rhythmical drumming beats help us move our body freely with energetic passion. Unfortunately, the CD has been out of print for more than two years and is no longer available.
If you are looking for music for your own Brain Wave Vibration practice, any rhythmical drumming beat will work for you. The indigenous music of many cultures in the world are powerful art forms that induce changes in human brain waves.
Although music can be used to ignite vibration, do not rely on it. Instead, rely on the sensation of naturally occurring vibration coursing though your body. Ride this sensation to enter deep into the rhythms of live. |
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Q: In the prime of her life, my daughter was diagnosed with MS. This is very frightening for her, and as her mother, I want to help her through it. I have had to walk her through many dark moments. Now she is doing very well on her own managing her illness, and for the first time is getting more connected with her inner self. I there anything else I can do for her?
A: I know how painful it must be to see your loved one suffering and struggling. Even though no cure for MS has been found so far, there are many ways to help those living with MS through both traditional and complementary approaches. You are on the right track with your daughter because the strongest support does come from within, from ones own body and brain. What really matters, though, is not how nimbly she can move her body, but for what purpose she uses it. When her true purpose is clear to her, she will more easily become her body’s master as she strives to overcome obstacles and challenges. I appreciate your strength, and I send my best energy to you and your daughter.
Ilchi Lee |
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Q: I really do not trust myself and do not accept myself. What can I do?
A: Not trusting or accepting yourself means that you have not met your own expectations for yourself in the past. On some level, you start to believe that you really can’t do what you set out to do. But our understanding of ourselves is very limited. There is a lot more potential within us than we know. The person who cannot trust or accept you is only some small part of your personal self. Another part of you knows that you can do more and still expects you to reach the higher standard.
Here's my suggestion. Sometimes it may not be easy to trust or accept yourself. This is very normal, and I believe that you are not alone in this feeling. It will help to think of it in a different way. You may find it easier to trust your brain, instead of trying to trust yourself. There's no problem in acknowledging that you cannot trust or accept certain parts of yourself. However, at the same time acknowledge that you are more than your current knowledge of yourself, and based on that acknowledgment, trust your brain, which contains all the other aspects of you yet to be discovered and realized.
Ilchi Lee |
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Q: When I am confronted with people who, despite my good will towards them, persist on acting negatively towards me, should I continue to act nicely towards them?
A: You really don't have to be nice to everyone. What we call “nice” is really just based on our appearances to other people. It is all about manners and the judgments people make in that reguard. On the other hand, being kind is about your heart and comes from the deepest sort of love for life. When we are being nice, we do so in order to look good so that others will not think we are bad. However, when we are genuinely kind, we are not focusing on ourselves. We are focusing on how can be truly good to other people.
In some cases, kindness could even mean hurting people's feelings a bit. For example, it might be very “nice” for you to go on letting others treat you badly. This is obviously not good for you, but is it really good for them? Being nice in this way is actually not good for them at all. I believe that the purpose of life is to grow, and they cannot grow if “nice” people hide the effects of their behavior from them. The kindest thing may in fact be to tell them directly how their behavior affects you. Yes, they may get mad at you, but isn’t this better for them in the long run? Isn’t it the kindest thing to do?
That being said, it is very important how you present yourself when and if you confront them. You should have an absolute feeling of and love and respect for them. Often, when people confront others about their behavior, it is accompanied by anger and contempt for the people involved. If you approach them in this manner, you are not being kind at all; you are only returning the same sort of energy to them that they gave to you. So, before you deal directly with other people’s behavior, examine your own energy carefully, and make sure that your heart is really in the right place.
Ilchi Lee |
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Improving Short-term Memory |
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Q: I have problems with my memory in general, but my main concern is my short-term memory. How can I improve it?
A: Some experts recommend developing the habit of mental registering. Mental registering means doing things in a state of full awareness, rather than in a mindless, habitual way. In other words, make a point of really paying attention to what you are doing. You could even imagine that you are photographing the actions you are taking and the events you are experiencing. This practice will reinforce the neural circuits that are used to access memories of your recent actions and experiences, making it easier for you to recall them.
Meditative practice will also help you develop the awareness and focus that helps improve memory skill. You might want to start each day with a 10-15 minute meditation in which you clear your mind and then run your plan for the day through your mind, as though you are watching a movie. That way, you will have reinforced your memories before you have even experienced them.
Ilchi Lee |
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Ask Ilchi Lee 
