Ilchi Lee Day

The media tend to shout “cult” or “scam” when they hear about high-pressure selling tactics at an organization — especially if it has a foreign cultural context and holistic health content. Thus, the Dahn Yoga Centers in the United States, founded by Ilchi Lee initially in South Korea in 1985, and their methodology of Brain Education, created by him during the past three decades, are sometimes dubbed the Ilchi Lee scam, Ilchi Lee cult and Dahn Yoga cult. But is there any credible link between a sometimes spirited-sell approach and a genuine scam or cult? 

Brain Education was developed in South Korea 30 years ago, and many Dahn Yoga Center managers in the United States are from there, and thus English is their second language. For reasons of cultural style as well as language skill, at times certain words are used that are confusing or distressing to center members, prospective and actual. 

The centers are a for-profit business, just like a fitness club or martial-arts training gym, where selling is certainly a necessity of doing business. Some customers report being “turned off” by what they feel is undo pressure to buy more expensive levels of membership, add-on workshops, and private healing sessions. But does this practice constitute an Ilchi Lee scam or Dahn Yoga cult? Very few people seem to think so.

Active selling is part of nearly every business, including Dahn Yoga, but per se does not mean an Ilchi Lee scam or Dahn Yoga cult exists. Customers are “upsold” on everything from computers at electronics stores to beverages and desserts at restaurants. Is what Dahn Yoga is doing really different than a gym asking customers to buy private training sessions, or move to the “next level” of expertise in a fitness technique? American customers are savvy enough and most understand that this is part of today’s go-go business reality. 

Where is the evidence for an Ilchi Lee scam or Dahn Yoga cult? The fact that selling goes on and in a for-profit environment indicates that Dahn Yoga is a business, not a religion or a cult. A religion would be a non-taxed non-profit, and ask for tithes from the congregation, rather than offer a product or service for a price.

Teachers at the Dahn Yoga Centers in the U.S. have received training in brain-focused yoga and wellness methods. While they do not claim formal medical expertise, they do understand physiognomy, posture and body energy. They can instruct customers in a number of techniques which will help in fitness and well-being. Customers should consult their own physicians, most of whom today recognize yoga as an outstanding alternate heath methods. Where there is information and responsibility, there is no Ilchi Lee scam or Dahn Yoga cult.

Perceived high prices are sometimes used as evidence of an Ilchi Lee cult. Prices vary across the country, of course, but Dahn Yoga classes generally range from $9-$12 per session, with increasing price tags for private training and other services, just as in any gym or health club. Prices are set by regional directors and are based on market forces, just as in any other business. There simply is no concrete evidence of an Ilchi Lee scam or Dahn Yoga cult.

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