xDahn Yoga Korea Club
May 5 Meeting
Our first Korea Club meeting was an amazing and colorful success because of the generous contributions of the members of the New York Diamond Sutra Recitation Group (DSRG) who brought us a full-course lunch and changed into the tradition Korean attire called "hanbok"! It was a beautiful day, we had lots of fun, and got some great photos! Click the photos to enlarge them, and click the Back button to return to this page.
We had a very nice turnout. The following members attended: Wilma Forrest, Zaida Concepcion, Sven Grell, Roberta Holder Mosley, Lynette Holder, Megan Ducate, Robert DiScalfani, Madeline Simon, Mary Carlin, Marcia Mandenson, Mary Fenton, Lena Koro, Franziska Droste, Deirdra Jordan, and Susan Lane. Several other students said that they would like to attend but had previously-scheduled engagements. We hope to see an even larger crowd at our next meetings!
What Happened at the Meeting
Healing Session -- Master Jo and Kee Nam led a 30-minute healing session right after class while the preparations were being made for the Korea Club meeting. Thanks to the following members for their help. Sven set up the TV, video, DVD, and CD. Robert set up the back rests in a semi-circle facing the Korea Club poster. Wilma prepared the desserts provided by the Korea Club.
Traditional Korean Music -- The DSRG gave the Korea Club a CD by Hwang Byungki, a traditional Korean musician whose music is played at the Korea Club meetings. Hwang Byungki will be playing in NYC on June 2! See the plans for our June 2 Korea Club meeting! Call Master Jo at the Brooklyn Heights Dahn Yoga center now at (718) 254-8833 to be included in the reservations the concert!
To order Hwang Byungki's albums, go to: http://us.yesasia.com/en/artIdxDept.aspx/section-music/code-k/aid-34165/
See the French video of Hwang Byungki and others playing at: http://byungki_hwang.mondomix.com/fr/video3152.htm
"Arirang": Korea Club Theme Song -- Master Jo, Kee Nam, Roberta Holder Mosley, and the DSRG helped the Korea Club members learn the traditional Korean folk song called "Arirang" which is now the theme song of the club! Roberta is a professionally trained singer and worked with Kee Nam the day before to learn the tune. There are many versions of Arirang. The club is using the version from Kee Nam's hometown, Miryang, which is in the southeast of Korea.
In the second photo above, some students are noticing members of the DSRG who are entering the room dressing the traditional Korean attire called "hanbok". Master Jo explained the significance of the song. Kee Nam is shown sitting with two members of the DSRG dressed in hanbok. She is sitting next to the Korea Club poster. Everyone laughed as Yon Han of the DSRG explained some aspects of the song. We sang Arirang to begin the meeting and closed the meeting standing and singing Arirang again in a circle holding hands. It was a very warm finish to a fantastic day!
Click here to see the sheet music: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_inside.html?item=5159287&cart=338762496825510450&page=01
See a professional performance of Arirang on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0PKJdCRIm4
See another YouTube video of Arirang at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEJXRBUIaAk&mode=related&search=
Hanbok -- The Korean traditional attire is called "hanbok" and is now worn on formal occasions. Members of the DSRG explained that the version of hanbok their wore at the meeting is not commonly used now in every day life because it would be difficult to work in. They explained that modern hanbok looks much like the Dahn Yoga uniforms! The DSRG went to a great deal of trouble to carry the hanbok to the center and to change into just so the Korea Club members could witness it first-hand! The colors, materials, and styles were so beautiful! 
In the first photo above, Mrs. Pak, the director of the NY DSRG, explains the meaning of hanbok to the Korea Club members. In the second photo, Yon Han is shown on the right. She has been the DSRG's primary point of contact with the Korea Club to establish the collaboration. In the third, Neenah is shown with some members of the DSRG. Gian Carlo Crocetti, shown in the fourth photo, models the hanbok clothing style for men.
The DSRG website has a link to a wonderful video about hanbok on their home page at: http://www.koreanhero.net/.
See the video at: http://www.koreanhero.net/video/playvideo.html?name=hanbok_e.wmv 
Lee Young Hee -- Famous Hanbok Designer
See article about Madame Lee at: http://english.kbs.co.kr/society/people/1392554_11774.html
See her website at: http://www.lyhkm.org/ 
| http://www.asianfortunenews.com/site/article_0507.php?article_id=34 Smithsonian Unveils Korea Gallery Exhibit After years of planning, the Smithsonian Institution will unveil its newest permanent exhibition, The Korea Gallery, at the National Museum of Natural History on May 19. This exhibition celebrates Korea’s rich history and distinctive culture through three major themes: nature and geography of the Korean peninsula, life in pre-modern Korea and modern transformations. The official opening celebration and kick-off on May 19 showcases the Fashion of world-renowned designer Madame Lee Young Hee. Highlighting this exhibition will be a Fashion Show, featuring traditional Korean costume designs (“Hanbok”) and the new couture line of Madame Lee. The Fashion Show starts at 7:30 p.m. It will be followed by VIP Cocktail Reception. Venue is the Hyatt Regency at Crystal City (Ronald Reagan National Airport), on 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia. For additional information, please contact GMG at (202) 338-5985. Madame Lee was among the first Korean designers to participate in the Paris Pret-a-Porter which won her critical acclaim from Le Monde and Figaro. Her designs have led some to label her collection "Costume de Vent," or Costumes of Wind. Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar refer to her as the “Colorful Designer of Asia.” To millions of Koreans, she is simply known as their National Treasure. Madame Lee opened her first boutique in Paris, followed by Seoul, and most recently, New York City. She is the chairperson of the Maison de Lee Young Hee, Co., Ltd, and president of The Mirae Munhwa Foundation. She’s also a professor at Dong Duk Women's University Graduate School of Design in Seoul, Korea. |
Lunch -- Perhaps the highlight of the meeting was the delicious lunch prepared for the Korea Club by the DSRG!
They brought enough food to feed an army! They also brought us booklets on Korean food and recipes! 
First photo above: Gian Carlo and Yon are shown on the right as the DSRG was bringing in the lunch and before they changed into hanbok
Second photo: Korea Club member Wilma Forrest helps set up the pastry and fruit contributions provided as dessert for the lunch by the Korea Club. Wilma was the first Dahn Yoga student to sign up for the Korea Club and her enthusiastic support for the club and encouragement for other members helped make the club a reality!
Third and fourth photos: Kee Nam graciously serves the naturally-sweetened rice drink called "Shikhye" provided by the DSRG. It is one of the most-cherished of traditional Korean beverages and is flavored with jujube and ginger. Shikhye is a fermented drink made with barley malt and rice which helps digestion and blood circulation -- and tastes great! What makes it an interesting experience to drink is the presence of soft rice grains at the bottom.
See a recipe at: http://www.netcooks.com/recipes/Beverages/Shikhye.-.Sweet.Rice.Nectar.html.
See photos at: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=51168.
Fifth photo: Master Jo explains the traditional foods provided by the DSRG which included kimchi, the Korean national dish, and "pajun" which is like a pancake or omelette.
Sixth photo: Zaida Concepcion and Wilma Forrest prepare to feast! Korean food is eaten with chopsticks and a tablespoon.
Seventh photo: Madeline Simon's husband and baby boy joined us for lunch!
Eigth and ninth photos: Mrs. Pak of the DSRG explains the health benefits of Korean food (especially kimchi) to Megan Ducate, a chef at the Four Seasons and to Franziska , as Gian Carlo Crocetti looks on. Later, the DSRG asked Franziska to translate some of the booklets into German!
Korean Food
See the wonderful 5-minute video on Korean food at: http://english.tour2korea.com/07T2KZone/KoreaInImages/culture_gallery.asp?kosm=m7_4&konum=subm1_2 
For the amazing benefits of kimchi and the science behind them, see:
http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/KimchiHealthy.html
http://www.chongga.com/info_eng/e1101.asp
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200606/200606050015.html
DVD -- The DSRG brought us an interesting short DVD which shows the detailed gold workmanship the Sari casket created in the Silla kingdom 1,300 years ago which held Buddha's remains. Note: Future videos and DVDs at the Korea Club will provide and a more comprehensive background of Korean culture and will not be as specifically-focused as this wonderful DVD.
This 21-minute video can be seen on the DSRG site at: http://www.koreanhero.net/video/playvideo.html?name=eEnglish-SariCasket.wmv . 
Gift Certificate -- The meeting ended with a drawing for the Korea Club Gift Certificate which Roberta Holder Mosley! The gift certificate entitles the winner to a Dahn Yoga book, CD, socks, T-shirt, or a 30-minute healing session scheduled later with Master Jo or other master/instructor. Master Jo conducts the drawings.
