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Private Lessons, Consults, Coaching

Yoga, Meditation, Guided Imagery & Stress Relief with Julie Lusk

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.

Coaching / Mentoring / Lessons

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.

FREE INITIAL PHONE CONVERSATION!

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.

Gain from Guided Imagery & Relaxation

February 7, 2011 by Julie Lusk

Guided imagery and relaxation are so much more than nice things to do if there’s time. They are important life skills to know about and practice regularly. Both are powerful mind-body-spirit techniques that elicits therapeutic relaxation; awakens and activates the natural ability for self-healing to occur; helps with changing behaviors and habits; and uncovers your inner truth and life direction while stimulating the intuition. Everyone can do it.

Do you want to unlock your highest potential, experience many types of guided imagery first hand, and understand relevant scientific principles? Check out my schedule for upcoming workshops.

“Many common diseases and health complaints can be treated directly with mind-body techniques.” reports Dr. Herbert Benson, the Harvard Medical School scientist who coined the term “relaxation response” 35 years ago. He states that “study after mind body study, carried out with the most careful scientific protocols, produced incontrovertible evidence that the mind can indeed influence – and heal the body – even down to the genetic level.” Along with appropriate medical care, mind body techniques are used for health improvement and can eliminate problems associated with anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, insomnia, PMS, menopausal, peri-menopausal and breast cancer hot flashes, nausea, pain, premature aging and other disorders to the extent that stress is a factor. Now consider that 80% of all illness is either caused by or made worse by stress.

In addition to the powerful and positive effects of relaxation and guided imagery on physical health, it is invaluable and reliable for tapping into one’s inner source of divine intuition and wisdom. Plus, behavior change, musical performance, sport and athletic ability can all be strengthened with the regular use of relaxation and guided imagery. It can be used to reveal inner guidance with respect to one’s life direction.

Guided imagery, also referred to as creative visualization, is intentional daydreaming whose aim is to magnify the positive aspects of the mind-body connection. First, focused breathing and/or progressive muscular relaxation prepare the body for guided imagery and creative visualization. Next, the mind is purposefully guided in a process similar to daydreaming. The difference is that in daydreaming the mind is allowed to go wherever it pleases. Instead of this, the mind is directed in a specific and special manner. For example, a guided imagery exercise might ask you to focus on a setting or environment that feels safe and comfortable. This can be experienced and accomplished by mentally seeing the setting, feeling or sensing the environment, or using the senses of sound or smell. As Belleruth Naparstek says, “there are many right ways to experience guided imagery.” Get more about relaxation, imagery and meditation here.

So, now what? If you want to feel your best, and even prevent or conquer long-term medical problems, it’s time to get back to your yoga, meditation, and visualization habits. You wouldn’t skip brushing your teeth everyday, would you?

If you’re like the rest of us and could use some help, so either join a local class, get together regularly with like-minded people to support each other, and get your DVD’s and CD’s back out. I am delighted to offer a selection of yoga and meditation classes in the Cincinnati area. Plus, I have retreats and conferences coming up. Check out my schedule.

If you prefer here’s some book and CD resources on mind body relaxation to benefit from. Click HERE to buy my Real Relaxation: Yoga Nidra CD.

Yoga Basics Guidebook by Julie Lusk

Get your free Yoga Basics Guidebook, an eBook by Julie Lusk. It has…

How to Practice Yoga: Steadiness and Comfort vs. Struggle and Control
Guidelines for the Practice of Yoga.
General Benefits, Cautions and Contraindications of Yoga
Yoga Guidelines for Health Conditions
Yoga During Pregnancy: General Guidelines and Cautions
Yoga Practice Sheet
Basic Alignment and Selected Warm Ups to Open Joints and Warm Muscles
Yoga Practice Sheet – Earth Series ©
Yoga Practice Sheet – Sky Series ©

As a bonus, you will get the Wholesome Resources News. It features:

Practical tips for improving your health through relaxation training, yoga,
meditation, and other mind/body techniques. See previously published articles here.
Info on books, CDs and other services from Julie Lusk
Special offers, class and workshop schedules, valuable opportunities and more
Sandy Byrd says ” Here are real practices for real life! The content is great…Practical ideas that can be implemented easily. I always love the quotes.”
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Yoga Nidra FAQ on Setting Intentions & Sankalpas

This article is a yoga nidra FAQ on setting intentions & sankalpas for making durable positive changes effectively.

Yoga nidra is rapidly gaining in popularity these days, mostly because it’s so blissfully exhilarating. Yoga nidra (pronounced nih-drah) means “yogic sleep” and is an ancient yoga practice with benefits supported by modern-day science. It’s a powerful experience of progressively relaxing and restoring physically, energetically, mentally, and emotionally that naturally opens us to accessing our intuition, unconditional joy, and deep restorative peace. It’s very refreshing too. In fact, one hour of practice is equivalent to four hours of sleep. See more documented benefits of yoga nidra here.

The yoga nidra process also makes it completely possible to clear out useless habits and bring about positive and durable changes to your lifestyle and positive personality changes by using a sankalpa at the start and the end of the practice. A sankalpa is a special intention, a self-selected resolve that you choose yourself. It’s a sacred vow and promise you make in support of your highest truth. Sample sankalpas are “I am courageous,” or “I have confidence,” or “My life is worthwhile.” It’s a quality that helps you become or do something worthwhile with your life. Likewise, it can be a reflection of your True Self such as “I am conduit of love,” or “My true nature is peace.”

How yoga nidra helps you make behavior changes and enables you to develop positive personal qualities.

“Our day-to-day frame of consciousness (beta brain waves) makes it extremely difficult to make and maintain our good intentions because they crash into our long term conditioning, habits, and social pressures,” as reported in Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief (New Harbinger Publications, 2015). “Through no fault of your own, your mind is simply not very receptive to making these changes. During yoga nidra, we knowingly, consciously, and consecutively experience different types of brainwave levels that are receptive to change that include alpha, theta and delta frequencies and are associated with levels of consciousness. The level reached during yoga nidra depends on the depth of your experience. When we implant a resolve in the subconscious mind, useless thoughts and behaviors can be weeded out and the conditions are created for significant and transformative change to take root and grow.” Success is fortified by staying with the same sankalpa from practice to practice until it becomes a reality and takes root. Consistency counts.

Setting Intentions & Sankalpas

Time is set aside at the beginning of yoga nidra for a sankalpa to reveal itself naturally instead of intellectually. Making intellectual sankalpas rarely yield results. In other words, one that you “should” make or one to please others. Instead, have one that resonates and rings true with you. Go for a balance between letting it come to you intuitively and thinking it through. Furthermore, you could have one specific to help with weight loss, getting more exercise or stopping an unhealthy habit, but it’s advised that you pick a grander quality instead. In doing so, the behavior change is likely to happen anyway and you will also reap many more benefits. For example, if you choose kindness as your sankalpa, true self-kindness will lead to eating better and exercising more by being kinder to yourself in support of your health. In addition, kindness will naturally bring on generosity, patience, and other positive qualities.

Word your sankalpa positively, in the present tense, clearly, and concisely. Keep it consistent. Back it up sincerely with gratitude and inner will. If using “I am” seems too challenging or too mindboggling, try adding “more and more” to it. For example, “I am content, more and more.”

Sample Sankalpas:

I am kind.
I am trusting.
I am accepting of my feelings. Or, I accept unhappiness as part of my human experience.
I have abundance.
I am grateful for a peaceful nature.
I embrace all of who I am.
I enjoy life fully.
I welcome health and wellness.
My true nature is joyful.

Using a Sankalpa during Yoga Nidra.

A sankalpa is first silently said at the beginning of your yoga nidra experience and with your whole heart. It helps if you use your senses to imagine what it would be like if it were already true. Once again, repeat your sankalpa several times near the end of yoga nidra. Namely, when you are totally at ease and in the fertile delta brainwave state, and before coming back to full awareness. This is when your brain is most receptive.

Outcomes

I had my doubts about the effectiveness of using a sankalpa, especially when writing Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief, so I put it to the test with a variety of students. Much to our delight and satisfaction, results started rolling in. Find out for yourself by reading their stories in the book. Better yet, try it yourself. Please let us know about your experience.

How to Experience Yoga Nidra:

Like all worthwhile things, regular practice yields the best results. It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

Listen to Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation | Audible – iTunes – Amazon
Read about it and get free audio downloads in Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief (New Harbinger, 2015).
Experience yoga nidra on video/audio.
Attend a virtual yoga nidra class held weekly on Zoom.
Take a yoga nidra teacher training course and earn a certificate.
Get yoga nidra downloads here.

Resources: Books, Recordings & More

Get yoga nidra downloads here.

NEW! Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation

Experience peace and deeply restorative rest that heals your body, mind & spirit. Features 24 Yoga Nidra scripts written by author Julie Lusk and 12 of the world's master teachers. Enjoy 6 levels of relaxation for a joyful meditative experience. Learn to use yogic sleep to revitalize your inner reservoir of intuitive understanding and unconditional joy. Audiobook available. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...

Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief - Print Book & Audio download

Yoga Nidra can stop tension in its tracks with a wonderfully, powerful & unique state of deep relaxation, mental clarity & insightful awareness. These practical, empowering relaxation exercises, meditations that soothe and visualizations that renew are based on classic yoga and backed by modern science. They’ll help you unwind, replenish, and feel refreshed with durable peace and unconditional joy. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...

Yoga Nidra Essentials CD

Find your calm spot. Brighten your energy. Enjoy a more meaningful life. Experience 6 levels of relaxation. Reclaim optimal health for your body, mind & heart. Laura says "My focused mind easily. I was 100% worry-free. It's wonderful." By Julie Lusk, 6-time author. Digital downloads available.

Author: Julie Lusk, M.Ed., E-RYT 500

Guided Relaxation & its Benefits

March 28, 2014 by Julie Lusk

Relaxing regularly and deeply is the perfect remedy to conquer stress.

The World Health Organization predicts that stress-related disorders and psychological disorders will be the second leading cause of disabilities in the world by 2020.

The good news is that we can each take action to prevent and/or cope with stress. It’s time to take stress seriously and learn to do things that really release stress and result in reducing muscular tension, regulating blood pressure and even relieving pain.

Is rest and relaxation a waste of time? Hardly!

Isaac Newton made his breakthrough discovery on gravity while he was relaxing and watching apples fall from trees.
Archimedes had his “eureka” moment in the bath tub.
Albert Einstein was asked how he discovered the theory of relativity. He said, “I didn’t discover it. I meditated and it revealed itself.”
- Einstein also said, “Play is the best research.”
- “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Let’s define Guided Relaxation. It is a valuable tool for your stress relief toolbox.

The secret to gaining relaxed energy is to clear away the mental ruckus and emotional debris to make room for clear thinking. One of the easiest ways of doing this is through relaxing the muscular tension held in the body by tensing and releasing muscle groups throughout your body using a reliable technique known as progressive muscular relaxation. Doing so not only releases physical tension, it also teaches you the felt difference between tension and relaxation. By knowing this, you can catch physical tension early on and before it causes painful headaches, back problems and digestive trouble. A calming effect for the body, mind, emotions and spirit is awakened as well.

Progressive muscle relaxation, conscious breathing, creative visualization and guided imagery techniques are powerful techniques that are often incorporated into guided relaxation exercises.

Summary of Benefits

Guided relaxation will:

Improve immunity
Lower Stress
Feel more refreshed; especially when you need it most
Cellular rejuvenation and repair
Better sleep
More energy
Greater mental clarity while reducing worry
Increase creativity
Enhance problem-solving and intuition
Extra stamina and endurance
More productivity
Relieve pain
Improve your outlook
Better overall health
And more!

Enjoy recorded guided relaxation & imagery on CD here.

Come to a guided relaxation & imagery workshop. See your choices here.