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Brain Research has clearly established that emotional and physical health directly influence children’s ability to learn and consequently affect their performance in school (see Vail). Essentially, the best students are the happiest students. For that reason, Brain Education seeks to enhance learning ability by first creating happier and healthier children. Through consistent BE practice, children gain a sense of empowerment toward the creation of a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle.

Of course, Brain Education created by Ilchi Lee is not only educational system to emphasize the role of the brain in the learning process. Educators are increasingly turning to the discoveries of neuroscience to help them better understand how students learn, and many brain-based educational methods are in use today. In some ways, however, the study of the human brain is still in its infancy, and many aspects of brain function remain a mystery. You could say that we are just now entering “the era of the brain,” as neuroscientific knowledge increases almost daily, and the link between this information and education pedagogy grows stronger and stronger.

Our children do not live in a world where belief systems and bodies of knowledge are passed from generation to generation without external influences. Rather, today’s child must face a veritable smorgasbord of information from which to choose. Our children must be able to adapt and process all this vaired information easily and peacefully, so that they can make the best choices for themselves and the world as a whole.

For this reason, we must help our children develop brains prepared for this expanded role. Through proper education, the world becomes a treasure trove of possibility for our children, rather than a dreaded Pandora’s box of contradictory ideas and misinformation. In the past, educational systems have focused on the storage of facts appropriate to the culture in which they exist. That approach is no longer adequate in today’s complex world. Children must develop skills to make their minds flexible and highly adaptive.

The primary goal of Brain Education is to create “power brains” that are creative, peaceful and productive. Its intention is not only to make better students but also to create happier, healthier people. While education traditionally emphasizes analytical and verbal skills (consider, for example, the content of the SAT), Brain Education develops interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, as well.

Ilchi Lee

To meditate for over 30 minutes while sitting elegantly with legs crossed, lower back straight, and face wearing a peaceful expression: this is one of the simple wishes Dahnhak beginners bring with them to training. After new members sit with legs crossed for only a few minutes, the legs start to ache, the shoulders become uncomfortable, and the back starts to curve like an old spring that has lost its resilience. How can we sit both comfortably and correctly?

The posture most commonly used in Dahnhak and Brain Respiration practice is sitting with legs half-crossed. We place a mat or cushion that isn’t too thick on the floor and then sit on top of it. One leg—either left or right is fine—is bent with the foot pulled deeply in toward the body and the other leg is bent and placed on top of it. The shoulders and arms are relaxed, and both hands are placed comfortably on the thighs with palms facing up. The upper body is rotated gently several times to the right and left to properly align the spine and position of the knees. The lower back is positioned in such a way that its natural curve is maintained, and the head and neck are held erect. A correct posture is maintained when the spine is straight and all other parts of the body are relaxed. All the muscles of the face are relaxed and the eyes are calmly closed. Try this and see how you feel. Does your posture feel correct and comfortable?

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Ilchi Lee

In today’s world, is it possible to achieve relaxation and tranquillity? Our everyday lives, after all, are endlessly busy, full of confusion and stress. How can we recover clarity and balance quickly and connect deeply with inner peace in uncertain and unstable circumstances?

Relaxation techniques can improve every aspect of your life, not just your Dahn practice. By returning to the tranquil center of your mind, you obtain the strength to remain calm, even while in the storms of life. Keeping your center will accentuate your individual growth process, stabilize your personal relationships, and increase the quality and productivity of your work. The following suggestions are tips for creating peaceful, tranquil moments inside and outside of Dahn class.

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