Julie Lusk

What a pleasure to specialize in balancing and strengthening the body-mind-spirit connection through yoga, meditation, positive relaxation, and guided imagery.  I feel so fortunate to have discovered yoga and meditation as a young woman in the 1970’s and to continue to study and practice till now. What a joy it has been to teach all these years and to be the author of the many books and recordings listed below on yoga nidra, meditation, guided imagery and similar practices.

My professional counseling training, certification, and work has been invaluable, providing me with an enriching perspective on mind-body interventions.  Professionally, I have been a regional director for a large hospital-based holistic health and wellness program, director of health management and wellness at a well-known medical clinic, an assistant dean of students for career planning and placement at a college, director of special services at a community college, and an educational awareness counselor.  Thousands have been touched through my volunteer work.

Most of all, I love sharing all this with others.  This has given me a practical sensibility of what works and what doesn’t as well as all the benefits that happen.  It’s a real joy for me to teach others as a teacher and trainer.

Graciously,
Julie Lusk, M.Ed., E-RYT-500

PUBLISHED BOOKS

• Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation, Llewellyn, Woodbury, MN. 2021
• Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief, New Harbinger, Oakland, CA, 2015
• Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices for Awakening, Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN. 2005
• Desktop Yoga, Penguin Group/Perigee Books, New York, NY.  1998.  Translated into Spanish, Dutch and German
• 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, Vol. 2, Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN—First edition 1993, second edition 2015
• 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, Vol. 1, Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN—First edition 1992, second edition 2015. Translated into Spanish and Italian

AUDIO RECORDINGS

• Guided Mindfulness Meditations: Practicing Presence & Finding Peace (Health Journeys, Cleveland, OH)
• Yoga Nidra: Guided Meditations for Relaxation & Renewal  (Health Journeys, Cleveland, OH)
• Yoga Nidra:  Inner Strength and Balance (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Yoga Nidra: Unshakeable Peace and Joy (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Yoga Nidra:  High-Level Living (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Real Relaxation: Yoga Nidra (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Refreshing Journeys (Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN)
• Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Power of Presence  (Kunaki Publishers / WR) Wholesome Relaxation  (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Wholesome Energizers  (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Blue Moon Rising (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• And many other

EDUCATION

• Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
  • Master of Arts in Education – Counseling and Family Development
• Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
  • Bachelor of Arts in Education. Cum Laude. Course work in rehabilitation counseling and education

YOGA ALLIANCE

• Registered Yoga Teacher E-500 since 2001
• Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider or YACEP

YOGA CERTIFICATIONS

• White Lotus Foundation – Certified Yoga Teacher, 1994
• White Lotus Foundation – Advanced Teacher Training, 1996
• Yoga of the Heart Certification – Nischala Devi at Satchidananda Ashram, Yogaville, VA 1998
• Atma Yoga – Certified Yoga Teacher & Yoga Teacher Trainer, 2001
• iRest Yoga Nidra Teacher Training with Richard Miller, Level 1, 2011
• Master classes with Lilias Folan, Christopher Baxter, Nischala Joy Devi, Sarah Powers, Michael Reed-Gach, Sam Dworkis, Richard Miller, Donna Farhi, Sally Kempton, Belleruth Naparstek, Joe Panoor and many others

SPECIALIZED TRAINING

• Intensive Training Institute:  Alternative Approaches to Mind/Body Medicine with Christine Page, MD, and C. Normal Shealy, PhD, NICABM.  1996
• Institute Certificate:  Clinical Training Hypnosis Course with Helen Erickson, RN, PhD, and Sandra Sylvester, PhD, NICABM.  1995; Bill O’Hanlon,
• Reiki II Therapist. 1998, 2001, 2005.
• Healing Touch I:  2000
• SoulCollage ® Facilitator: 2015

COUNSELING CREDENTIALS & CERTIFICATIONS

• National Board for Certified Counselors – National Certified Counselor, 1985 – present 
• Commonwealth of Virginia – Licensed Professional Counselor, 1981 – 2001

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
     Yoga ~ Meditation ~ Guided Imagery ~ Yoga Nidra

• National and International
  • Satchidananda Ashram / Integral Yoga / Yogaville, VA (7 years)
  • Kripalu Yoga Teachers Association Conference (5 years)
  • Kripalu Center Program (14 years);
  • Sivanada Yoga Ashram in the Bahamas (10 years)
  • Discovery Yoga (4 years)
  • Yoga Educator at the National Wellness Conference for 15 years
  • Yoga Educator at the Health Immunity & Disease NICABM Conference (7 years)
• Regional Yoga Educator (teaching classes consecutively since 1977)    
  • Yoga Slumber Party & Women’s Retreat, Milford, OH: 2001 – present
  • Honey Sweetie Acres Goat Yoga, Goshen, OH: 2017 – present
  • Jesuit Spiritual Center, Milford, OH:  2004 – present
  • Anderson Senior Center & Heritage Church, OH: 2005 to present
  • Miami Township OH; 2000 – present
  • Cincinnati Yoga School, HealthPlex at Anderson, Fairfield: 2000-2005
  • YMCA, Salem, VA:  1996 – 1999
  • Lewis-Gale Medical Foundation, Salem, VA: 1989 – 1996
  • Roanoke College, Salem, VA: 1982 – 1989
  • Roanoke Memorial Hospital; 1983 – 1984
  • Roanoke Athletic Club: 1980 – 1982
  • Virginia Western Community College: 1978 – 1980
  • YWCA: 1977 – 1978

PROGRAM DEVELOPER

• Desktop Yoga ®.  Modified over 100 yoga postures and created sequences to be practiced by “office workers, internet addicts, and stressed out students.”  Author of Desktop Yoga (Penguin/Putnam Group). Blessed with numerous media, medical and work-site demonstrations as well as publications and interviews.
• DARE to Relax.  Developed a stress management-training program that has been used in business, collegiate, medical and community settings.  DARE stands for Diet; Attitude and Awareness; Rest and Relaxation; and Exercise.
• SPICES for Life   Initiated, developed, promoted and implemented wellness programs for collegiate, corporate and community groups.  SPICES stands for Social, Physical, Intellectual, Career, Emotional and Spiritual wellness.  Programs included health fairs, wellness assessments and various activities.
• Wellaware    Designed, implemented, promoted and evaluated employee wellness program for Lewis-Gale Clinic.  Components included ongoing incentive program to encourage and reinforce wellness behaviors.  On-going events were planned and implemented.
• Alive and Well Coalition   Chaired the 1000 member volunteer coalition which developed, promoted and implemented the country’s first community based wellness week (1986).  Quit and Win, a community-based smoking cessation contest (38% quit rate); Project Lean, a community-wide project to promote good nutrition and exercise.  Certificates of Recognition from the Governor of Virginia, the US Secretary of Health, the Virginia Commissioner of Health, the Mayor of Roanoke, and Wellness Councils of America.

Chakra Chart of Elements, Sounds, Directions, Senses, Attributes, and Koshas
Composed by Julie Lusk – Jan 2024

Ancient and modern cultures, countries, and teachings have acknowledged and honored the directions, elements, seasons, and the chakra energy centers and their sounds to help provide them with meaning and purpose.   See more below the chart. 

Ancient and modern cultures, countries, and teachings have acknowledged and honored the directions, elements, seasons, and the chakra energy centers and their sounds to help provide them with meaning and purpose.

Through the ages, philosophers, scientists, religious organizations, mystics, shamans, and native peoples from the Americas, Asian countries and other areas have used their perspectives personally and collectively to understand, honor, and respect our place in the world around us.  This has been expressed prayerfully and ceremonially, scientifically and soulfully.

Some identify four directions while others focus on six.  Sometimes five elements are recognized. There are 118 elements on the periodic chart.  It’s summer in one hemisphere while it’s winter in the other.  It’s daytime in one part of the world whereas it’s nighttime elsewhere.

Making sense of these variations from reputable sources was both thought-provoking and daunting. It finally dawned on me that there are many right ways to do this. Just because one system says the east connects to the earth and the west with water while other systems say something else doesn’t necessarily make one right or better and another wrong.

The point is to feel these influences and use these connections to better understand these relationships for balancing health and wellbeing personally and collectively.

Don’t be fooled by seeing this information boxed into columns and rows. The lines are there to help clarify the information.  Think of it as an intermingling and as a gradual blending. It’s somewhat like how the colors in a rainbow gradually transform from one shade to another and at the same time a color can stand on its own.  Ultimately, there is no separation.  We are in a unified field of oneness that is as directionless and timeless as it is spacious.  http://JulieLusk.com

I compiled this Chakra Chart from my in-depth studies and understanding of yoga combined with the knowledge I’ve gained from my other interests. It is fluid and changeable.  It is neither conclusive nor comprehensive.  Use it if it helps.  Go for something else or come up with your own.  Get my Complete Chakra Chart.

• Learn about chakras and their influences | Get your Complete Chakra Chart
• Chakra Balancing with Sound Healing. Use the Elemental Chakra Tone Chart to balance your chakra energy by either increasing or decreasing their energy with sound, color, and special mantras. The Vedic (Yoga) and Tibetan notes and tones are given. It’s fun.
• How to balance chakra energy with toning and hand & finger movements called mudras.
• Get info related to chakra elements, directions, sounds, senses, and other attributes 
• Chakra Energy Flow Meditation
• Understanding OM | AUM
• Book a Musical Sound Bath session 

Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices - Book & CD set

Awaken joy, peace and inspiration with this yoga meditations book. Yoga Meditations contains a wide variety of mind-body practices, such as: * Guided relaxation exercises * Breathing practices * Yoga Nidra * Meditations and guided imagery * Affirmations * Yoga postures and meditations for each chakra * Yoga wisdom for contemplation Get a FREE Wholesome Energizers CD in every book! CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...

Chakra Chart

Finally! A complete Chakra Chart with all the chakra names, locations, colors, sounds, yoga postures, breathing techniques, psychological & energetic influences and more. There's handy tips for using the chart on the reverse side. It's 8 1/2 by 14" and laminated. CLICK on the blue title link above to find out more...

Chakra-Based Guided Meditations

Real Relaxation Yoga Nidra takes you into a deeply relaxing and powerful restful state of being fully aware while being in the state of deep yogic sleep.  It helps with balancing chakra energy, and can improve immunity, heart health, relieve stress and give you inner peace and balance.

Get it from Amazon, iTunes, Spotify & other online stores

Get Yoga on Demand!  Get unlimited yoga classes for streaming for personal, non-commercial use. Bonus videos & info links included.

It’s the perfect way to rekindle your health, happiness, and sense of wonder.

I’m having a great time with the Yoga on Demand! Lori N 

Practice anytime @ any hour.
Now till July 1, 2026

Class plans go month-to-month.

On sale now!
Only $45 for the entire month!
… Regular price is $60 

All you need ..

• Smartphone, tablet or computer.
• Zoom. Get it free here.
• Yoga mat or towel and a floor.
• Optional props (blankets, pillows, etc.)

Yoga on Demand works great for me.  DJ

Yoga Zoom Options |  In-person Options

Pick your plan.  Book it now.  Enjoy!

How it Works.

• Pick your plan from 3 options.
• Add it to your cart. 
• Plans are only valid for dates specified.  Subscriptions go month-to-month. 
• Get access link to your class plan in the Transaction Receipt on registration. Check spam or junk mail if you don’t see the link.

On sale now! Just $30 per plan | Regular price is $60 | | Contact Julie Lusk to pay by check or request a scholarship. 

I love Yoga on Demand. Thanks!  CR

♥ Plan A …. 5 Yoga Nidra Relaxation – Audio Classes

1. Heartfelt Yoga Nidra Meditation | Feel relaxed and balanced by gently moving your awareness throughout your body. Sohum breathing is used as a mantra. Calm your mind and emotions with inner eye gazing (chidakasha). Awaken your intuition and inner guidance with guided imagery. Enjoy ample time to dwell in the peaceful presence of Yoga Nidra. A heartfelt pledge (sankalpa) is used to support enduring change.
2. Tender Time Yoga Nidra | Relieve physical tension with a light progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) exercise. Balance energy and awareness with the booster breath that adds a pause and an extra boost after inhaling and exhaling. Mindfulness and guided imagination easily leads you into feeling peaceful and spacious. Intuition and unconditional joy often result. A heartfelt pledge (sankalpa) is used.
3. Yoga Nidra for Restoring & Enhancing Health & Wellbeing | Generate deep calmness and enhance immunity and cell renewal using autogenic training with a special healing breath.  Experience health-enhancing intuitive guidance for insights. Enjoy guided imagination for remembering wellness to enhance health.
4. Drop into Yoga Nidra Quickly | Relax completely by lifting and dropping portions of the body, a good substitute for anyone with contraindications for tensing muscles (PMR).  Rinse away tension with an imaginary waterway. Intuition comes alive when an imagined animal appears to give and receive messages. Peace and joy are sprinkled down for absorption.
5. Yoga Nidra Heart Connections | Experience an amazing Yoga Nidra journey through all the dimensions of the heart starting with the physical organ itself to the heartbeat of lifeforce energy. The windows of the emotional heart are acknowledged and wiped clean to reveal the clarity of ones’ knowing heart and and the spiritual heart connection to ones’ path with a capital P.  Live harp music is played throughout.

Plan A 

♥  Plan B… 5 Hatha Yoga Posture – Video Classes| All classes include muscle and  joint warm-ups, breathwork, and mindfulness.  Enjoy savory savasana time for gaining relaxed energy.

1. Tone & Strengthen | Yoga to strengthen and flatten abdominals, tone back, legs, hips, and more. The psoas sequence is featured.
2. Fortify Bones, Muscles & Flexibility | Features 12 postures scientifically proven to increase bone density and improve alignment. Postures for balance and for strong muscles and bones are featured. Get a 75-minute and a 30-minute practice videos.
3. Good for Core Alignment | Improve core strength, alignment, and energy.
4. Moon Salute | Practice a fun yoga sequence that has it all … Flexibility. Strength. Coordination.
5. Chair Yoga | Benefit from yoga sitting down. Additional info given from Julie Lusk’s book, Desktop Yoga (r)

Plan B

♥  Plan C … 3 + 3 is 3 Yoga Nidra Audio Classes + 3 Hatha Yoga Video Classes

Yoga Nidra

1. 1. 1. Heartfelt Yoga Nidra Meditation | Description above
      2. Tender Time Yoga Nidra | Description above
      3. Drop into Yoga Nidra Quickly | Description above

Hatha Yoga Postures

1. 1. 1. Fortify bones, muscles & flexibility | Description above
      2. Tone & Strengthen | Description above
      3. Chair Yoga | Description above

Plan C

Registration Help..

1. Click here for the CART to review your order & check out. The cart is also in the right column and down below.
2. Get access link to your class plan in the Transaction Receipt on registration. Check spam or junk mail if you don’t see the link.  You will be emailed sign-in info and instructions. Look in spam or junk mail if you don’t see it.
3. Contact Julie Lusk anytime 

Click now to see Julie Lusk’s catalog of 6 books, dozens of audios, and more, including her book, Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief.   

Contact me anytime!