Well, I would like to say that I am considering starting Dahn Yoga. There are quite a few things said about this type of yoga, both good and bad, but I didn’t get any negative vibes about this from anyone I have spoken to about this yoga practice. But I have done a little bit of research about this and it looks like there are some pretty classic bouts of cult-like behaviour afoot and it would be wise to keep an open mind at all times, watch from a detached view point and ultimately, keep my head above water. Fortunately, it’s not like they can siphon much money out of me, as Dr. Pichet is going to be getting the majority of it and I will soon after be a student of Naropa University in Boulder. But I have checked out the Rick Ross website (they have a page on Dahn Yoga) and I have done a bit of research on my own about this type of thing.
A bit more searching using the terms “Dahn Yoga” and cult brought on a blog that talked about the hard-sell tactics that are used by Dahn Yoga studio owners here in Denver. He talked about the fact that he was considering purchasing just a 10-visit booklet for his wife at Dahn Yoga and how they took a class on the mind (sounds vaguely familiar, eh?). Then, after the class, the studio owner tried to befriend them and talk to them about how they were part of their friend’s “family” and then started to cut to the chase - to sell them a 1-year membership at about $999 or a lifetime membership at about $4,500. He brings up the following things about Dahn Yoga:
- Dahn Yoga isn’t really teaching yoga (something Erin pointed out after her first visit) but a variant of qigong and tai chi.
- Dahn Yoga is often accused of being a cult.
- Dahn Yoga is being sued by the family of a woman who died while attending a training class for instructors.
- I’m not the first person to gripe about the high-pressure sales tactics. One yoga discussion board has a long thread of users who express their concerns about Dahn Yoga.
Either way, when you really want to come into a situation like this, you basically have a few options - to avoid the place altogether, to go for a few times and seriously evaluate it, to talk to a therapist and schedule a few appointments during your practice about this, among other things. If you really want to give something a chance (and to be frankly honest, I am still debating about whether or not I should do this) it’s always best to keep your head about you and your wits as well.
Finally, I found the pamphlet for Dahn Yoga at Shangrila Tibet, a store located here in Denver. I am of the opinion that the person who runs that store knows these people and would be willing to talk with me about them. If not, Bikram yoga would be where I am going to start yoga.
