Katrin S. (New York)
I started taking Dahn Yoga classes regularly in 1995. It was right after my graduation from college. The graduation had been a very stressful and taxing experience. At the peak of all of my activity, I developed major rashes on my skin as an allergic reaction to fibers and chemicals in the processing of fabrics. It scared me, since I had chosen a career in which fabrics were key; fashion design!
Those allergies showed me clearly that something was out of balance, but I didn’t have the time or the tools to get to the heart of the matter. Western medicine in the form of cortisone treatments failed to relieve my symptoms.
Because of my health problems, a friend introduced me to the Dahn Yoga Practice as a way to help me heal myself. As a former dancer, I am used to training my body. I had always been in more or less good physical shape, but often complained about tightness in my lower back and neck. My feet and hip joints were always tight and difficult to loosen up. As a dancer, one is often very critical toward the body’s performance. There is some kind of separation between “you” and your tool, the “body”.
Both my attitude and my approach have shifted. I am realizing that I can learn about my mind through my body; a lot of information about my mind is hidden or locked in the body. Every thought has a movement and every memory has both a mental and physicals place. By training to be more contemplative or listening to myself, I have been able to discover the power of meditation.
I have learned the tools to relax myself both physically and mentally through the Dahn Yoga Practice. My chronic back pain has ceased, and I have improved the flexibility of my joints.
But the real difference is the body-mind connection, which I am experiencing for the first time now! In the process, I have been releasing a lot of fear and pain. I have cried a lot, but those were happy tears. I talked to my friends about my feelings and discovered more compassion than I had expected.
The increased vulnerability has opened my heart. I discovered many mental blocks that I had built up long ago as a result of emotional fear and pain. I am learning to be more tender and forgiving to myself, too.
The effect of training is so profound and it is not so easy to explain in words. But it helped me steer through a difficult period of changes and adjustments, providing me with the necessary calm to focus on the task at hand. I moved to a beautiful new home, by myself, found a fulfilling new job, and am currently working on my emotional attachments and expectations. I feel very positive about the future as I have found spiritual guidance.
