Dahn Holistic Fitness

Words cannot express how truly awesome Body & Brain Yoga in Cambridge is. You have to try it for yourself!
The staff are amazing, heart-​centered people who want the absolute best for all members. Arthur, in particular, is exceptional. He is such a bright and beautiful soul and has been the inspiration for me to make many important life changes that have all been extremely beneficial for me.
Since I started my practice almost 3 years ago, I’ve lost over 80 pounds, got off all of my meds and live a happy and full life. I continue to grow every day thanks to my practice with Arthur and all those at the Cambridge Body & Brain Yoga center!

Attention: Body & Brain Yoga is no longer «Dahn Yoga»… so any reviews before 2015 are pretty much irrelevant.
Body & Brain Yoga is now under new management and they have updated an already incredible system of combining yoga, meditation, tai chi and breathing training. They also do workshops and retreats and I have attended many of them. I have found that although there can be cultural differences because the system is from Asia and many of the trainers are not native English speakers, the authenticity and effect of the training is undeniable.
The principles of BnB Yoga are based on Oriental medicine and incorporate organ healing classes (good for digestion and stronger metabolism) as well as vibration yoga (lots of fun) for circulation as well as body tapping, stretching and energy work.
The programs work best for those who are looking for a full body, mind, spiritual approach to yoga, not just a stretching class.
The instructors are really involved in their own personal practice and always show up to teach with presence and good humor. I have personally improved my life tremendously through BnB Yoga, gaining more energy, power and flexibility as well as the more internal changes in the ability to think clearly, be more confident and to gain control over my thoughts and attitudes.
I have seen a lot of confusion with people misunderstanding the intentions of the asian instructors who think they are pushy or whatever, but I have seen things get way better in recent years and most of the management of BnB is now American and those old problems are gone.
Arthur who runs the Cambridge center is a really great guy and a talented instructor. He has a lot of experience and has created an incredible zen environment that is literally a sanctuary in the city. If you are new, give it a full month at least and see if connecting your mind and body does as much good for you as it did for me.

This is a place of serenity and peace as well as a studio that helps you connect to your body, mind and spirit. The classes offered are varied and well paced for different levels. The instructors are wonderful and help keep things light and goals attainable. The music, tea and great members are added incentives for me.

A place of peace in a noisy crowded Boston/​Cambridge. I like the calm nice music on the background, spacious room for a few people alien the class. Their trainers are welcoming and offer personalized approach.

I started practicing at Body & Brain almost 3 years ago and have never felt better in my life! I had been unsuccessful in managing my anxiety and insomnia, but once I really gave this a try, I started to feel better. It took some time but over the course of a few months I was more comfortable in my body and felt stronger and more flexible. The tight, anxious feeling in my chest went away, and I was able to sleep without medication. My mind got stronger and more flexible as well, and this may be the biggest benefit of all. Now I know that I have specific relaxation techniques, exercises, and meditations that can help me with whatever I’m dealing with.

I found Dahn Holistic Fitness in 2012 when it was in Harvard Square. I began a new full-​time job and was responsible for managing my Mother’s 24×7 care. I needed to maintain my physical energy and welcomed any emotional guidance during my Mother’s transition. I have taken many other yoga classes and this one immediately was different. Initially, I didn’t know what to think but there was a persistent gentle draw of acceptance, warmth, positive, life-​affirming energy that I could not turn away from and this experience continues with every visit. The exercises leave me feeling balanced, energized, calm and more in love with myself and life. In addition, the instructors add something new every class and it’s been 2+ years! Dahn incorporates more then just awesome stretches. Anyone can do Dahn; we have students of all ages and physical abilities. If this sounds to good to be true, try it for yourself. 5 Stars is not enough from me.

Beautiful atmosphere and energy at This new studio makes it a must. The instructor lead a great class that combined stretching, energy accumulation, breathing and relaxation. I felt great when the class was finished. I especially enjoyed having tea together after the class in a separate room designed just for this purpose. It was very inviting and friendly. I will definitely be back.

I was in a really bad mood when I walked in. After a bunch of different exercises and moves led by a very energetic instructor, I felt soooooooo much better, I even stayed for tea. Also, a little different from other Yoga classes I’ve taken, but hey, I’ve got an open mind. And it was a pretty friendly and cool vibe. And I will go again. The place was neat and clean (not sweaty or stinky at all)!!

When I visited this center I was actually a member of a Dahn Yoga in the D.C. area. Luckily, whilst traveling the country you can attend classes at Dahn Yoga locations in other cities.
Even though I was not one of their members, the instructors greeted me warmly. The stretching and breathing exercises, although different from my usual routine, still helped me let go of the tension I cary in my shoulders and chest. I could really breathe easily and relax.
Now I know that when I travel I don’t have to worry about returning with knots in my shoulders! Slam Dunk!

I am a huge yoga fan, so when I saw the groupon deal for Dahn yoga, I was excited to buy. However, I must agree with the other reviews that this is not «yoga» as most people are used to. I took four classes here, but don’t think I’ll take any more. You mainly just sit on the floor and breath and do some stretches. It was relaxing, but certainly not the full body enjoyable workout I am used to getting when I do yoga. The instructor is nice and very encouraging/​positive, but I think this is more of a class for those wishing to do meditation/​very light/​relaxing exercise than a full body yoga experirence.

This isn’t a yoga studio. The word ‘yoga’ was added 10yrs after the initial opening for marketing purposes. It’s sole purpose is to take advantage of people’s weaknesses and take their money.
I was given a 30-​day trial membership as a gift and each day I attended I was hasseled by the instructor to give them more money. After class she would ask me to stay after class, bring me to her office, and talk to me about how much my innerself needs at least year of work to fully develop, including classes and workshops. And because I didn’t have the money she told me to ask my partner. or put it on a credit card. After being forced to speak to the regional manager, Master Michael, and still not willing to pay, I was given the cold shoulder until my 30 days were up.
They require you to purchase a uniform for class and yoga mats are not allowed.
This is one of the scariest places I’ve ever been to.

I have already reviewed Dahn Yoga earlier, but thought an update on my experiences since then will be useful.
Since my last post, I have taken 3 private healing sessions with Master Michael. Each were phenomenal, and I don’t use that adjective lightly. Don’t get me wrong — he is Expensive, but way more than worth it. He worked on my back, listened to my life experiences, and created a daily practice for me that I’ve been doing since beginning of Jan 2011. He also helped me manage my state. I can do postures like bending my legs over my head while lying down pretty comfortably now. I have the confidence that my body won’t hurt if I do them. My spiritual practice has matured over this period also. My Dahn practice has supported me through extremes of my current job search, enabling me to grow even during this stressful time.
I just took Shim Sung (know your true self) this past weekend. It enabled me to recognize and accept my possible destiny — which is a very big statement to make, and I make that nevertheless, since its true. Life will follow its own course, but at this point in my life what I learned about my true self (not my name, career title, how I am known to family/​friends, etc.) through this experiential workshop resonated with me. Thank you Dahn Yoga, Master Michael, Sooji, and all those who have helped me on this path.
To those who consider Dahn a cult, I just say — answer only to yourself based on your personal experiences rather than listen to or be swayed by family, friends. Irrespective of your practicing Dahn or not, that one aspect (listening to yourself) will enable and empower you on your journey in this world.

If Unilocal!let you give 0 stars, this would be my first. Two things in particular stand out…
First, this is NOT A YOGA STUDIO. By that I mean if you are looking for a place to practice yoga through a series of poses and practices rooted in Hindu tradition, go to Karma next door, or anywhere else with the word «Yoga» in the name.
There are no mats here.
There are no teachers who have done any Yoga Alliance approved Teacher Training program.
I never once did an asana, or yogic pose. No sun salutations, no downward dogs, no sukhasana, no vinyasa flows, no Kundalini breathing.
Classes consisted of calisthenic-​style moves, like bouncing in place, punching your stomach, grunting, waving your arms over your head, among other very questionable «exercises.» Then you sit around and talk about why you came to Dahn and how the yoga «class» healed you.
I imagine if you asked any of the instructors there about hatha yoga they would just stare blankly back at you. So again, I cannot emphasize enough, if you are looking for a place to join your body and mind together in the present through physical poses, meditative movements, and ancient breathing techniques go elsewhere. Dahn takes advantage of the associations people have with yoga to get them to walk through the door
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Part 2: The Cult of Dahn
So you may have heard rumors about Dahn being a cult, all I am going to do is relate the experience of my friend and I.
This is a little bit of a longer story. My friend asked me if I wanted to join her for a «free aura photo» at Dahn. I said «Why the hell not?» We went, got our aura read (I had a «lot of green» in mine), got 10 minutes of massage by a Dahn employee (admittedly I thought she was really good and was considering asking her her rates for that). Then we were invited to come back for a free class later. Again, why the hell not?
I went into the classes above, I can’t say I dug it. My friend, however, was hooked and signed up for a month (300 dollars?!) on the spot. I was invited to come with her for free the next time, as well. I attended maybe 2 more free classes with her, then was invited to come to some sort of seminar that talked about Dahn yoga retreats.
It was about that time that I stopped going, and her and I fell out of touch for a few months. When we started talking again she told me about how all the cult things were true. She did a 2-​day weekend seminar that she reported deployed all sorts of techniques common among cults: bringing people to physical exhaustion, only giving them enough food not to pass out, and a lot of simplistic repeated statements.
She also signed up for the retreat and put down a $ 1,000 deposit for it. She then related how she noticed she started lying to her best friends, or flat out avoiding them, because they were questioning her continued participation in what was indeed starting to look like a cult.
Finally she started having second thoughts, and asked for her money back. At that point, she said that Sooji (the center head) started talking about how disappointed she was in her, how much she had invested in my friend’s growth, how much she believed in her, etc.
On top of that, she said how she had given healing to my friend for free because she believed in her and that my friend now owed her that money.
At the end of the day, my friend did get most of her money back, and did not pay for Sooji’s «gifts.»
As an aside, her and I related this story to another friend who revealed to us that her cousin had been taken by Dahn for over 40,000 dollars of her savings…
Like everything, I’m sure it works for some people but so do placebos. We all need communities for support and healing and if this works for you, great… but if you are looking to find one, I’d recommend setting foot somewhere else…
…Unless you really like tea, Sooji does make a pretty bangin’ Korean tea.