In the face of the continuing economic recession in the US, members of the Dahn Yoga community have persisted in supporting each other and staying positive. But this does not ensure isolation from the economic climate for the Dahn Yoga centers.
Recent downsizing in Dahn Yoga has resulted in having to close some locations. This is always a tough decision, because the communities that develop at the centers are so precious. One of these locations, the Kingwood Center near Houston, Texas, was scheduled to close in January. Then the story becomes different, because two dedicated members stepped in.
Virginia “Baeksung” Aguirre and Lori “Daechunki” Lyons have been King-wood residents for over 12 years and Dahn Yoga members for almost 5 years. They had made many friends at their center and did not want to see it being closed. So, they took action.
Unwilling to resign themselves to a situation that was making a lot of people unhappy, Baeksungnim and Daechunki-nim chose to turn a challenge into an opportunity for growth by opening a Body + Brain Center (BBC).
A change of plans
Baeksungnim and Daechunkinim have been running “Kids R Kids,” a children’s learning center in nearby Spring, Texas for 9 years. They own the adjoining lot, and they had purchased a BBC franchise in late 2008 with plans to build a special center for children there using the Power Brain Education curriculum.
The economic downturn had compelled them to put their plans on hold. Then, when they learned about the planned closing of the Kingwood Center, they redirected their BBC franchise plans, choosing instead to acquire the existing Kingwood Center so that it wouldn’t have to be closed, and running it as their Body + Brain Center.
When asked about their decision and how things have been going since then, Baeksungnim and Daechunkinim spoke candidly. “Initially, we were concerned about the change in plans, working with adults instead of children,” Daechunki-nim mused, “but we felt that it was the right thing to do.” The new BBC owners are significantly happy about their decision, and their usual way of working hard is bringing them much success.
As for the members’ reaction? Well, any apprehension they might have felt when they discovered that their center would be closed was replaced with relief and satisfaction. The members are grateful and very supportive, and some former members even returned.
Daechunkinim and Baeksungnim have been pouring their effort into reassuring the members at the Kingwood Center, as well as working to attract new members. They changed the interior and the overall atmosphere, and as the owners of the newly reopened BBC, they also had a transition period of several months. This gave members a chance to adjust, and also afforded them time to create an effective system to run two businesses at once.
Trusting in Chunjikiun
Baeksungnim and Daechunkinim had to be flexible as they went from working with 250 children and addressing the concerns of their parents to managing one-on-one care for the well-being of active adults. They credit their smooth transition to their application of Dahn Yoga principles and their trust in Chunjikiun, cosmic energy.
They offered some advice about opening a BBC: “You should follow your heart and trust Chunjikiun,” Baeksung-nim said. “Don’t focus on your doubts, they will be there no matter what.” Daechunkinim added, “If you have never operated a business before, don’t be afraid to ask for help from other people.”
“Life happened” for these positive-minded women—not quite as they had planned, but better. With profound gratitude, they learned that “if you choose it, it will happen."
— Joseph Alexander