What's going on with the Dahn Yoga place?

[philipph.livejournal.com]

I noticed the past few days (maybe all week?) the "Dahn Yoga and Healing" (or whatever it's called) location has had a giant "Space Available" sign in the window, and I haven't seen anyone inside.
I may just have been going past at different times from usual, but in the past it's felt like there's someone in there all the time.
Looks almost abandoned now.
Does anyone know what happened, if anything?
Not complaining, or anything. I've never been there, so in principle I wouldn't miss it if it disappeared. And I gather there's a creepy cult-ish vibe about it in general (though my understanding is that some locations are far creepier than others).

Comments

[midorionna.livejournal.com]

i've heard about this cult vibe too- any first-hand accounts?

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who was involved. It's really his story to tell not mine so I won't give any details, but the whole thing was clearly not right. They did seem mostly focused on extracting his money, and not, like, his still-beating heart or anything like that. Although they did use strongly emotional tactics, I'm not sure if that technically counts as a cult any more than, say, Apple Computers does -- other than as a matter of degree.

[daft.livejournal.com]

There's a lot written up on the interwebs about Dahn's cult status. My only experience is from my mom dating a guy who was involved in it, and he was getting a lot of pressure to go on their fancy expensive "retreats".

[hr-macgirl.livejournal.com]

there was a recent article in Boston Magazine (http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_other_side_of_enlightenment/) about the Cultishness of Dahn yoga. It's a long-ish article; take the time & read it all, not just the comments (which appear at the bottom of every page).

[veek.livejournal.com]

Apple Computers

*giggles madly*

So true. (And they have me hook, line and sinker.)

[ron_newman]

I tagged your post yoga. If you click on the tag, you'll see some previous discussion of Dahn. I did not know they had closed.

[bombardiette.livejournal.com]

Just read it over breakfast. I understand that what some label a cult appears to be a far cry from what others might...but on the whole, this place sounds quite cultish enough.

[lac.livejournal.com]

I went once for a consulation (which they charged me for the by the way), they tried to chooch me out of several thousand dollars (money being a problem at the time. If I had had several thousand dollars, I wouldn't have been as stressed), told me my organs were spongy and would shut down on me soon if I didn't join. SHe also "released" energy from me by thumping the crap out of me for several minutes. She succeeded in giving me a terrible migraine which I ended up throwing up from on the way home. Going on one retreat a month was mandatory.

I waited until I could see the front door before I told them no, no way, uh-huh. That was a case where I should have followed my instincts and not even gone in.

Not at all sorry to see them go.

[sly-salkie.livejournal.com]

This happened in the Davis location??

[lac.livejournal.com]

Yup. Not long after it opened actually.

Dahn skepticism

[electricube.livejournal.com]

http://www.rickross.com/groups/dti.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Ross_(consultant) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Ross_(consultant))

[tisana.livejournal.com]

I went in there because I inherited a month free gift certificate from a co-worker. I think I managed to convince myself to go in twice that month, and once more for some kind of consultation (felt obligated, I'd made the appointment), and yeah...same as others said: lots of gentle-but-firm pressure to spend lots of money on retreats (most were over $1000). Money which, of course--like most people--I didn't have sitting around.

Also, "yoga" being in the title was a complete misnomer, and it was why I'd been going in. It was more like...tai chi mixed with Swedish self-massage with a bit of chanting. Some of it was interesting, and felt like it would be productive, some was awkward, and most of it felt pointless.
I was happy when they gave up sending me newsletter-spam.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

"Your organs are spongy"?!?

[lac.livejournal.com]

I swear to God that's the terminology she used. She was all "See? Your kidneys are spongy." and I said "well, then stop pressing on them..." She also tried to convince me that my problems being able to balance on one leg were because of my "chakra blockages".

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

If they're not a cult, they are at the very least a very expensive new-age religion. DO NOT WANT.

[unsi-sempai.livejournal.com]

What's more important is: are they coming back for their basil, or can I steal it to make pesto?