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Ocean Sounding Breath: Ujjayi Breathing

March 28, 2014 by Julie Lusk

Ujjayi is pronounced oo-JAH-yee or sometimes “ooo” as in cool and “ji” as in hi
Time: 5 minutes or longer

Summary: The Ujjayi Breath, also called the Ocean Sounding Breath, is a yogic breathing practice that builds on the Hilton Head oceanbenefits of Dirgha Breathing, the complete breath. Meditative and calming, it creates concentration while it creates stamina and endurance. It produces a calming and meditative quality. This breath helps relieve sinus problems and can diminish headache pain.

The Ujjayi is performed by taking long, slow and deep breaths (the complete dirgha pranayama) while creating a special sound in the back of the throat that sounds like the ocean waves. Although you will breathe in and out through your nose when doing Ujjayi, it is easier to learn first by breathing through an open mouth while whispering the sound of “home” or “Om.” Doing so will allow you to experience the open feeling in your throat that is used in Ujjayi breathing. When practicing, notice how your lips are slightly open when whispering the “ho” or “o” sound. Also notice the open feeling in your throat. Maintain the open sensation in your throat as the sound changes into “mmm.”

Listen to the sound at the back of your throat as you continue breathing out. Repeat several times drawing out the “mmm” sound more and more each time. This is the Ujjayi sound, a unique, audible Darth Vader-type sound. This same sound and feeling in your throat is used for the inhalation as well.

Next, close your mouth and continue breathing in and out through your nostrils while maintaining that feeling and sound in your throat. When done correctly, there is a slight constriction in the glottis (the opening between the vocal chords) during inhalation and exhalation. Once mastered and the breath is refined, the sound is made by fully relaxing the same area of the throat.

Let’s begin. Either come into a comfortable seated position with your spine erect or lie on your back. Begin by taking long, slow and deep breaths through the nostrils. Allow the breath to be gentle and relaxed as you slightly activatet the back of your throat creating a steady ocean sound as you breathe in and out. The sound need not be forced but it should be loud enough so that if someone came close to you they would hear it.

Gradually, lengthen the inhalation and the exhalation as much as possible without creating tension anywhere in your body, and allow the sound of the breath to be continuous and smooth. Keep the pitch and intensity of the breath consistent and even throughout. Practice breathing so both your inhalation and exhalation are equal in length and duration.

Continue practicing, allowing your inhalations and exhalations to follow a circular flow that is continuous and almost seamless, leaving as little space between the incoming and outgoing breath as possible.

Remember to relax into your breathing; there is no reason to rush. Another breathing pattern to practice after your Ujjayi breath becomes smooth and seamless is to hold the breath for a few seconds at the end of the inhalation and/or at the end of the exhalation. This tends to produce more focus. However, never hold your breath if you have high blood pressure.

Filed Under: Misc Musings, Stress Relief / Management, Yoga, Yoga breathing technique

Solving Holiday Stress

November 29, 2010 by Julie Lusk

Solving Holiday Stress

Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, St. Nicholas, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, Navidades, Hanukkah, St. Lucia Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s, the holidays are inherently stressful.

Decide now whether this year will be full of the season’s stressful traps or fulfilling with plenty of treasures to be thankful for.  Now is the time to set priorities and make the necessary changes so the holidays are inspiring and energizing instead of a drain.  It’s especially important to pay attention to what your needs and wishes are for your body, mind, and heart while finding the balance with sharing with others.

Operating on automatic can add even more stress causing unhappiness, sickness, poor relationships and lack of energy. Why not improve your ability to handle stress by practicing the following effective ways to cope with stress.  I DARE you to Relax!  Please check out the CD’s down below too.  Each provide helpful tools and techniques for renewal.  They make excellent gifts too.

DARE to Relax includes: D = Diet; A = Attitude and Awareness; R = Rest, Relaxation and Relationships; E = Exercise.

DIET: Don’t deprive yourself of essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that can help you reduce the effects of daily stress.  Stress uses up your supply of vitamins A, B and C which can lead to feeling irritable and tired.  Calcium is essential for your central nervous system to function normally.  Without enough, your nerves become frayed.  If you consistently eat well-balanced meals, you can fortify your system giving you the nourishment to guard against the harmful effects of stress.

Eat a nutritious breakfast

Choose fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains

Choose baked or broiled food instead of fried

Cut down on too much fat, salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, additives and preservatives

Maintain a healthy weight

Choose holiday foods with care.  Eat the special things that are delicious and bring you in touch with warm memories.  You really don’t have to eat everything to get the taste of the holidays.

ATTITUDE AND AWARENESS: Research shows that as much as 75% of illnesses are the result of experiencing too much stress.  Not being able to handle stress properly can decrease the effectiveness of your immune system.  Become more aware of how you respond to tension and stress in your life and begin to make adjustments.  Are you responding appropriately?  Could you be over-reacting?  Is it possible to avoid or change a situation that causes you anxiety?  By improving your awareness and improving how you react to stress, it might be possible to avoid some of your headaches, stomachaches and other problems.  Try laughing.  Laughter is like internal jogging.  It aids digestion and improves alertness and productivity by sending blood and oxygen to your brain and increases the production of the body’s catecholamines.

Learn to accept situations you can’t change; give in once in a while

Learn to communicate with others; talk your worries out

Take one thing at a time; don’t take on too many changes at once

Manage your time more effectively; don’t procrastinate

Be positive and realistic

Express your feelings in healthy ways

Create variety in your work; do old things new ways

REST AND RELAXATION: It is much easier to handle stress if you are rested and know how to remain calm.  Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night is essential.  Although recreation and being diverted from stress is helpful (playing a sport, watching a movie) true relaxation is different.  It involves giving yourself an honest break from activity and excess stimulation.  Breathing deeply, smoothly, slowly and from the diaphragm is relaxing since it too sends a fresh supply of blood to the brain and throughout the body.  It oxygenates your system and even slows down the heartbeat.

Plan leisure time; take breaks

Spend time on a hobby; seek new interests

Schedule some quiet time alone every day; meditate; pray

Have fun, play and laugh

Cut down on noise levels at home and work; turn the radio or TV off

Replenish yourself with therapeutic relaxation, guided imagery and affirmations. See the suggestions for CD’s below to feel rejuvenated improve your outlook and help your health.

EXERCISE: When under stress, there is an increase of adrenalin in the system as part of the flight or fight response, which can drain you of energy if not effectively released.  Exercise regularly to work stresses off positively.  This can improve your productivity and increase your energy.  Be sure to choose physical activity that you enjoy.

This may be the year to tamper with holiday traditions so the spirit and meaning of the holidays are once again filled with tidings of comfort and joy.

Help for the holidays. These CD’s will replenish your energy and renew your outlook.  They make great gifts too!

Wholesome Energizers CD
Wholesome Energizers CD
Listen often to release stress, refresh your outlook and feel calm. Feel rested, rejuvenated and ready for the rest of the day. Introduction and 3 tracks featuring a relaxation exercise, beautiful guided imagery and helpful affirmations to bring your energy back. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...
Quantity:  
Price: $9.99Price: $16.95 
Wholesome Relaxation CD
Wholesome Relaxation CD
Experience deep relaxation, inspiring imagery and affirmations to enhance your personal health, increase strength, and improve your overall well-being. This is used by Good Samaritan Hospital, American Heart Assn, American Cancer Society and others. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...
Price: $16.95
Price: $9.99
Quantity:  
Power of Presence CD
Power of Presence CD
Gain the benefits of meditation with comfort and ease. You'll soon solve workplace stress and easily handle personal challenges and health issues. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more... Digital downloads are available.
Quantity:  
Price: $9.99Price: $16.95 
Real Relaxation: Yoga Nidra  CD (Shop @ Amazon / iTunes = We are sold out temporarily)
Real Relaxation: Yoga Nidra CD (Shop @ Amazon / iTunes = We are sold out temporarily)
This takes you into a deeply relaxing and powerful state of being fully aware while being in the state of deep sleep.

Its many benefits include:

  • Listening for 1 hour equals 4 hours sleep
  • Improves immunity
  • Increases heart health
  • Relieves stress
  • Brings inner peace and balance

Digital downloads are available.

CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...
Price: $16.95
Price: $9.99
Quantity:  

Filed Under: Holiday Stress Relief, Mind-Body Mastery Tools and Techniques, Stress Relief / Management, Wellness Tagged With: holiday stress relief

Details Power of Presence CD

Power of Presence CD

Written and narrated by Julie Lusk

Original instrumental music by Tom Laskey

Power of Presence CD
Power of Presence CD
Gain the benefits of meditation with comfort and ease. You'll soon solve workplace stress and easily handle personal challenges and health issues. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more... Digital downloads are available.
Quantity:  
Price: $9.99Price: $16.95 

Be Calm, Clear Confident. Listen to the Power of Presence.  Perfect  for relaxation and to swiftly gain the benefits of mindfulness meditation with comfort and ease.  You will soon solve work stress and easily handle personal challenges and health issues with this recording.

This recording has relaxation, breathing, imagery, and affirmation exercises from Julie Lusk’s book, Yoga Meditations.

Power of Presence CD
Track Sequence

  1. Introduction
    Tips to optimize your relaxation experience.
  2. Sinking into Sensation
    Feel delightfully alive, alert, and mindful.
  3. Energy Breathing Exercise
    Achieve balanced, relaxed energy
  4. Cultivate the Positive
    Establish wholesome traits in
    yourself with affirmations.
  5. Everybody is Here
    Beautiful music by Tom Laskey

Your Power of Presence is a very fine CD!  Congrats!!  Thumbs up, 5 stars!!!

Belleruth Naparstek
Health Journeys guided imagery creator

Power of Presence is being used by:

  • American Cancer Society
  • Wellness Community
  • American Heart Association
  • Virginia Tech
  • Douglas Elementary School
  • Mary Maguire Foundation
  • Hospice of Cincinnati
  • More

Candace Alexander, M.Ed., CHES

Director, Cultural Health Initiatives
American Heart Association
American Stroke Association

Julie leaves quite an impression upon those she touches through her work.  Her passion and compassion for creating guided imagery and relaxation scripts and CDs literally change peoples’ lives.  She has set the standard in this field and addressed the need for more preventative work for those who are predisposed to or have already experienced cardiac and cerebrovascular health issues. Go Red, a special project of the American Heart Association uses her CD’s.

  • Power of Presence CD
    Power of Presence CD
    Gain the benefits of meditation with comfort and ease. You'll soon solve workplace stress and easily handle personal challenges and health issues. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more... Digital downloads are available.
    Quantity:  
    Price: $9.99Price: $16.95 
    ************************

Education, Training & Publications

Julie Lusk

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 ALLIANCEYoga Alliance E-RYT-500

  • 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.

 

Cultivate the Positive Meditation

January 2, 2013 by Julie Lusk

Here are three proven yoga techniques to help with setting a worthwhile intention that will help you overcome frustrations, anxiety and fatigue.  You will have clarity of mind, and be calm and courageous too.

They are the 1)  Pratipaksha Bhavana meditation.  2)  Kubera hand mudra.  3)  Yoga Nidra, a deeply relaxing exercise that helps you make needed changes.  Continue on for details and a handout for easy reference.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Mind-Body Mastery Tools and Techniques, Relaxation Exercises, Yoga, Yoga and Meditation Quotes, Sayings, Poems, Yoga Mudra, Yoga Nidra Tagged With: cultivate the positive, Kubera Mudra, pratipaksha bhavana, setting intention, when disturbed by negative thoughts and feelings cultivate the positive, yoga nidra

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