Click here for my latest book & free audio download of the 3 main yoga nidra exercises! It’s as relaxing as it is informative and energizing.
Wholesome Resources for Mind-Body Mastery through Yoga, Meditation, Guided Imagery, Stress Relief, Wellness
by Julie Lusk
Click here for my latest book & free audio download of the 3 main yoga nidra exercises! It’s as relaxing as it is informative and energizing.
by Julie Lusk
Many thanks to Dan Leven for sharing this Loving Kindness Facelift. He was inspired by Sharon Salzberg’s book, Real Love.
As he puts it, “It begins with “may my face be happy, may my face be peaceful.” And then you continue moving through each body part wishing them well in this way… “may my neck be happy, may my neck be peaceful … may my shoulders be happy, may my shoulders be peaceful,” and so on. You open your heart’s kindness to your whole body (including your own heart).”
It’s a great way to start and end the day. I love it. I really go to town with spreading happiness and peace throughout my entire body. I enjoy coming up with new places to shower with loving kindness with each practice such as for my brain, blood, eyes and ears – even my hair. Before long, it’s going out to family, friends, pets, strangers and to all kinds of situations. This meditation is especially handy when my attention is restless since it lets me jump all around. It can be any length too – long or short. It sure feels uplifting.
Dan goes on to explain the science underpinning it. He says, “the vagus nerve is a core part of our parasympathetic nervous system that has two branches. One branch is associated with surviving in a perceived life or death situation where our whole body slows down, feigning death (a primitive survival mechanism). The other branch is about helping us relax and soften into the loving support of others and is associated with the release of oxytocin (the cuddle or bonding molecule). Both branches are about our relationship to “others, “that being dangerous “others” or safe and loving “others.”
Here’s the kicker he reports, “the vagus nerve has many fibers that connect to our facial muscles where we reveal our emotions through a plenitude of expressions. Scientists have logged 21 different emotional expressions that register within the face and there are 8 universal emotional facial expressions that you don’t need a translator to interpret. So our face can register the vagal response from shock and terror, like a deer in the headlights of a moving car (survival vagus nerve), to happiness and peace, like a contented Buddha face (loving vagus nerve)! However, we can also create the response as we bring happiness and peace to our faces!”
So the KEY point, according to Dan, “is that as you invite or train your facial muscles to discover happiness and peace you are strengthening the relaxation response that’s linked to feeling supportive or loving connection with others -to feeling safe in the world.”
Come on – Give it a shot!
Individualize your yoga and/or meditation practice with private lessons to work on your own areas of special interest and to fit your schedule. You’ll get practical help on how to turn stress into something positive.
See more about my education, training, and publications here.
Click here to email for details.

Most of us are stymied by stress and would love to learn effective methods to renew our energy. Coaching will help.
Together we will design a customized plan for you. This may include personalized lessons and guidance in yoga postures, yoga nidra relaxation, meditation, personalized guided imagery, visualization and relaxation, and wellness strategies.
For most, it is hard to make time to develop a practical plan and to put it into action. Others can keep to their plan, but only for a while, and then they slip back into old habits. Having information and support from someone else often makes all the difference.
Private lessons on zoom, email, and phone consultations are all options.
Begin by contacting Julie Lusk by clicking here to email . I will get in touch with you within 48-hours to set up an initial phone consultation for a mutually agreed upon time and day.
No charge or obligation for the initial phone contact.
Julie Tapin Lusk
I am proud to be a member of the Tapin family. Here is a glimpse into our family’s history and ancestry. We date back to 1429 and originated in France. This is documented in “6 old history books” and summarized in the letter below that was written by Michel Tapin in April 1995 to Mrs. John F. White.
Antoine Tapin moved from France to Canada in 1646. My dad, Thomas Phillip Tapin, used a typewriter to peck out the family tree from information he had received from Gertrude, his sister, that she primarily got from church records. It’s below the letter.
This information is typed exactly like the original documents are. You will see that some names and places are spelled differently. I chose not to attempt to make ‘corrections’ and give you the information as it is written.
More information will be added after my scanner is fixed.
With deep love and respect,
Julie Tapin Lusk
St-Elie d’Orford April 5, 1995
Mrs. John F. White
7944 46th Ave
Kenosha, WI 53142 USA
Dear Mrs. White,
I have received your letter and opened the package with great excitement. I should first thank you for reviving the interest in me for the family history. This will force me to take time and explore the work that my father did on the subject. I guess that I am arriving at the age where the interest of knowing where I come from is getting more important as the time “to go” gets a little bit nearer. It seems to happen to a few people and I wonder why? My father once told me, that if you find out where you came from you will have a pretty fair idea where you’re heading to. The forward trajectory of the golf ball has a lot to do with the back swing. What we have become today has a lot to do with what our ancestors did.
Before I go any further, I have got to say that I am a little short of time at the present and I wish I had the luxury of being retired. However, the curious side of me has taken over strongly and I have already spent a few nights until the early morning hours rummaging through the information that my father has gathered on the Tapins over the years. I am afraid that there will be many more of these nights from now on!
It will be a great pleasure for me to fill you in on the history of “La famille des Tapins”. The information that my father gathered is in a great big box and it pretty much is out of order, but I am sure that every thing shall be sorted out for you. However, it is “en francais” but I will translate the information that would be of interest to you. Keep in mind that this is an adventure of discovery in every way for me also.
I am very happy that you discovered my father’s name by chance it seems. He was born in St. Louis de Courville on the 19th of April, 1902 and died in St-Hubert on the 27th of May 1977. He was well known around Montreal having been involved in politics and other public matters. He was a devout Christian, loved by everyone and a totally giving person. He was also an excellent violinist and pianist. He had been a member of the Montreal Symphony in its early beginnings. He had a jolly personality and a great storyteller. I have moved from my hometown 20 years ago, but I am told that the old people still remember him.
Before returning to the immediate family, I have to tell you that my father had 6 old history books in which we find the name Tapin mentioned. The books tell the history of the town of Chalon sur Saone. The first Tapin to come to this continent was, as you know, Antoine and he came from the Poitou which is in the middle eastern part of France. It would be interesting to find from what part of France the father of Toussaint Tapin originated because in the books it is said that the Tapins originated in the village of Ruilly in the canton de Chagny which is in the district of Chalon. In the year 1429 according to the Memoiresde la Societe d’Histoires et d’Archeologie de Chalon – sur- Saone, a one Philibert Tapin founded a chapel in the parish church. (Memoires de la Societe d’Hist. etd’Arch. De Chalon, tome II 1850, p. 178.) In the middle of the 15th century, a branch of the family moved to Laives in the canton de Sennecy, in the district of Chalon. Pierre Tapin was an alderman in 1451, and also the town notary. Jean then Claude took over the practice until 1580. Jean and Claude seem to be the sons of Pierre.
The Chalonnese Tapins were from the branch of Laives, and one of them another Claude, is an investigator for the “baillage” (bailiff) at the start of 1540. This Claude Tapin was a great benefactor to the community funding the restoration of the town College. Ref: Archives de Saone et Loire E. 1441, 1054. J. L. Bazin, Les Seigneurs du nom de Sennecy, Macon, 1904 p 46 note I. This Claude Tapin is referred as Claude le vieil “the old.” There was another Claude Tapin, probably his son, who held in Chalon many offices notably controller of the salt storehouse and tax receiver. He was elected mayor in 1615. His heart was filled with sorrow upon the death of his eldest son sieur Tapin de PERRIGNY that he died before finishing his term as mayor. He was coseigneur by his wife Philiberte Caillard of d’Ouroux. Jean Caillard, her father, was also coseigneur d’Ouroux and treasurer of the parliament of Bourgogne. Philiberte Caillard sold in 1628 her land to Sermaizey near Laives. Afterwards, she was the lender of considerable sums to the city of Chalon. She died in 1651 giving part of her fortune to the hospital. The mayor of Chalon from his union with Philiberte Caillard had it said 3 girls married to the sieurs of Mucie, Rigoley and Guyet and as many sons. The eldest Jean-Baptiste Tapin de Perrigny controller of the salt storehouse was renowned for his successes in crossbow competition which he was proclaimed king. His brother Pierre was a chanoine (priest) and singer and cure d’Ouroux died in 1659. The other brother Claude was counseller to the “baillage” and married Jeanne Nicquevard and by testament left to the College a heritage known as the “Claude Tapin Foundation.”
The Tapin family were noblelized in 1647 by the king in the Parliament of Dijon with the coat of arms: d’azur au chevron d’or accompagne en chef de deux etoiles d’argent et en pointe d’un pin de meme.” They were known as Seigneurs de Perrigny, Guerfand, and Barons de Grignon. The family died in the XVIII century.

My father had his coat of arms made out which resembles the above description. (attached).
There are also 4 volumes of the history “Les Capucins de l’ancienne province de Lyon,” written by P. Theotime de Saint. Just a big part of the story was done by Father Michel Ange Tapin during his life. Father de Saint. Just in the postface talks about the honorable famile Tapin de Chalon-Sur Saone and Antoine Tapin and refers to my father as a direct descendant of the noble famile Tapin of Chalon. As you can see, our roots are in excellent soil. An interesting note in my father’s diary Monday, March 20, 1953. Quote “Received invitation by the Royal Government of England to assist at the Coronation of Her Majesty the Queen Elisabeth II in Westminster Abbey, two are reserved for Gaetane and me. His comments” ‘great donor due to the name of the ancestors.”
My father never went to France. He was not a travelling person in his retirement years. He did all his research by mail which is much slower. He was successful at it by the looks of all the information that was accumulated. It would surly be nice to go to France and take a look around and see if we can go a little further than 1429.
I will surely send a word to your ½ uncle. It seems that the love of music is in our genes. Does your uncle sing? I have a trained tenor voice. I give solo recitals whenever the time permits around Sherbrooke. Before I moved to Sherbrook, I had dreams of a career in opera. I stopped singing when I moved here and dropped the dream. I restarted voice training a couple of years ago for the joy of it and as a hobby. It helped me pass through some very hard times. I will keep on signing as long as I can. I will surely stop however, if I get bad feedback from the audience. When that time comes, I will retire to the shower and close the door!
As I am going along in my father’s work, notes, etc., there is a lot of material, and it gets confusing in the late hours. It would surely be pleasant if you ever were around these parts of the country to have a conversation about the subject. After looking at the material that you sent me, it would had been great if my father had a computer. Here is how I am connected directly to Antoine Tapin.
I am looking forward to hearing from you in the near future. I am certain that you surely have a few questions. In the meantime, I will continue to take a look in my father’s work. I have a project of rewriting the whole family story when everything gets clear and in focus.
By the way, I have a very wonderful wife and two great sons. Daniel, who has just finished his master’s degree in chemical engineering is leaving for a few months for a tour of 25.000 kilometers in the USA. I don’t think that he has planned to pop in Kenosha, but who knows? The other one, Benoit, who is 7 years younger than Daniel at 20 is married and we have a grand-daughter Jasmine since July 1994. He and his wife, Sofie, are both artists. Benoit is a musician and Sofie is a painter. They’re moving to Quebec City this summer to study.
I am enclosing a copy of the family coat of arms and a photo of Antoine Tapin’s house in Neuville. I have another very old photo that has Antoine written on it. It’s very faint and impossible to copy. I doubt however of its authenticity. I will check it out. Someone must have given it to my father on a trip to Neuville, but there is no clue to the giver’s name.
I am sure that there are a few errors here and there. I don’t have very much practice of the English language and since I moved to Sherbrooke, I have been losing it a bit year by year. It has been a good exercise.
Thanks for the fifteen dollars. It was not really necessary. I will put it on ice for a bottle of wine for our proposed lunch if ever you’re in Sherbrooke.
Hoping to hear from you soon and the very best to your family. Yours truly and newly found cousin,
Michel Tapin
56 Chemin St-Jacques
St-Elie d’Orford
Quebec Canada
Job 2SO
Telephone 819-346-6894
Tapin Family Genealogy

I. Antoine Tapin – Baptized in 1646, son of Toussaint Tapin and Marie Gendron of St. Nicholas Poiret, Eveche (Bishopric) of Maillegais Au Poitou. Antoine married in Quebec on Nov. 4, 1669. Jeanne Magdelain, daughter of Jacques Magdelain and of Marguerite Roullel of St. Jean deParis. They both died at LaPointe Aux Trembles. Antoine on Feb. 3, 1712, and Jeanne on Sept. 23, 1716.
From this marriage were born:
II. Rene Tapin– Married to Marie Louise Loriot, Nov 4, 1698, at LaPointe Aux Trembles. Marie Louise baptized in 1678. Rene buried April 2, 1714. Marie Louise buried – unknown.
From this marriage were born:
Tapin, Jean – Baptized in 1683 on June 17, 1705. Married to Genevieve Berard.
III. Louis Joseph Tapin– Married to Marie Jeanne Sevigny on Dec 1, 1730, at Quebec. Louis Joseph buried in Quebec on Jan 7, 1781. Marie Jeanne was baptized in 1703.
From this marriage were born:
IV. Jean Baptist Tapin– Baptized on April 15. 1706. Married on Jan 29, 1731, to Marie Frechet. Baptized in 1706,
From this marriage were born:
IV. Louis Joseph Tapin– Baptized Sept 7. 1731. Married on Feb 14, 1752, to Marie Anne Goulet. Baptized in 1727 at LaPointe Aux Trembles.
From this marriage were born:
V. Joseph Tapin – Married to Esther Moisan in 1782 at St Augustin
From this marriage were born:
VI. Louis Tapin – Baptized on March 17, 1745. Married to Francois Rognan in 1785 at St. Augustin
From this marriage were born:
VII. Jean Baptiste Tapin – Married in 1826 at LaPointe Aux Trembles to Marie Emelie Angers. He was buried on Sept 18, 1871.
From this marriage were born:

VIII. Hercule Tapin – Baptized on Nov 28, 1833. Buried on Jan 16, 1906. Married to Josephine Robitaille
From this marriage were born:
From this marriage were born:
IX. Phillip Heliodore Tapin – Born on Jan 20, 1867. Died on Dec 31, 1949. Married to Delia Vezina. Born on March 5, 1870. Died on March 3, 1958

From this marriage were born:
X. Thomas Phillip Tapin married Angela Raubolt on Oct 28, 1944
From this marriage were born:



Julie Ann Tapin Lusk Family Tree (Lots more of these charts are available for many more generations)
by Julie Lusk
Here’s how it all happened ~~ thanks to my lucky stars!
Last February, while I was teaching at Sivananda/Bahamas, I had my Vedic astrology chart read by Krishna Das. This was a fi
rst for me.
After describing me better than my own Mother could, he went on to say that the stars and planets and moon were lining up in May exactly as it was when I was born as well as at the age of 30. He said it was going to be a very productive time for me and would bring with it writing, teaching, learning, traveling and such.
I questioned him about the areas that I might concentrate on and gave him a list of things I’m interested in.
Right away, he said that yoga nidra would fit in perfectly with my chart. Next, I asked if I should pursue opportunities and he replied that would not be needed since opportunities would find me.
Can you only imagine the look on my face when I got an email “out of the blue” in May from New Harbinger Publications asking me if I would like to write a book for them on … Yoga Nidra for Stress Relief! Yoga Nidra is the totally relaxing and deeply healing aspect of yoga.
After checking them out and doing some discernment and soul-searching, I agreed. Next, they wanted a book summary, outline, authors bio, and a couple sample chapters. That took me a few months. The contract has now been finalized!
Could you please help me? Something that will really help the book come alive are stories. Would you be willing to share what Yoga Nidra feels like for you? Do you have a Yoga Nidra story about how it has helped you in some way? If so, please send them to me.
Why wait until the book and the new audios are released (it takes a long time). To celebrate, my Real Relaxation: Yoga Nidra CD is on sale for $5 off. This special offer is valid during December 2013.
Here is a (pdf) FAQ sheet on Yoga Nidra on
1) What is Yoga Nidra?
2) Is it different than meditation and hypnosis?
3) How it is done. How often.
4) Benefits
5) Resources.
ENJOY!