How often do you wake up in the midst of the night? Doesn’t Jackie Sabath capture its essence in her poem, the 4 am Club?
Get some ideas for sleeping more soundly below. [Read more…]
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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 ©
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Handling Distractions
The Distraction Disadvantage
Excerpt from Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief. Julie Lusk. NHP 2015.
Eye Exercises to Improve Vision
Computer and device screens seem to torture your eyes causing them to become tired and dry in no time at all. Poor lighting, glare, dry air, and constantly staring at the monitor all contribute to eye strain. 
Chances are good that it’s hard to recognize how exhausted your eyes are until they feel tired and dry or your head aches. Here are a few preliminary steps you can take to avoid such strains:
- If possible, adjust the screen colors so they aren’t too hard on your eyes; try soft colors for a nice change.
- Avoid glare by choosing a place for your computer that doesn’t reflect windows or lights. Remember to wipe your screen off regularly.
- Remember to look away from your screen every fifteen minutes or so. It’s too hard on your eyes to do such close work without a break. Do it now!
Eye Movements
After a while, eye muscles tire out and it becomes harder to focus. To prevent this from happening, you can practice these eye movements. They will strengthen your eye muscles and eyesight and stimulate the brain. Visual, auditory, and sensory perception can increase. Do them sitting up, standing, or lying down.
Here’s How
- Start doing the eye movements slowly and pick up the pace after you can do it smoothly without jerks.
- Switch off by first paying more attention to the eye movements than to the visual effects. Next, take a moment to focus on both ends of they eye stretch.
- Remember to keep your head still as you do the eye movements. Let your facial muscles relax as well.
First Variation: Up and Down
- With your head and neck evenly aligned and movement-free, look up as far as you can and try to see up and over your head. Then look down as if you would like to see under your chin. Keep doing this for about 15-20 times in a row.
- Follow this by bringing your eyes back to center and blink them a couple of times.
- Afterward, rest with your eyes closed and take several deep breaths.
- Smile
Second Variation: Side to Side
- This time look quickly to the right and try to see behind your ear, then rapidly look to the left and try to see behind your left ear. Keep looking back and forth for 15-20 times.
- When finished, bring your eyes back to center.
- Blink a few times and rest them with your eyes closed.
- Smile
Third Variation: Eye Circles
- Keep your head still and look up. Circle your eyes in a clockwise direction three times.
- When finished, bring your eyes back to center and rest with closed eyes for a few breaths.
- Circle your eyes in a counterclockwise direction three times.
- Blink a few times and rest them with your eyes closed.
- Smile
Palming will rest and relax your eyes, calm your nerves, and quiet your mind. Your respiration will increase as long as you remember to breathe deeply and fully.
- Rub your hands rapidly together with your palms and fingers touching. Keep rubbing until you feel the generation of some heat and energy.
- Next, rest your elbows on your desk.
- Cup your hands and gently place them over your closed eyes (no glasses). Let the warmth and darkness soothe your eyes.
- Take several long and easy breaths as you imagine the tiredness being released with your out-breath, and energy and vitality returning with your in-breath.
- Smile
Chidakasha: Quieting the Mind by Stilling the Eyes Using the sense of sight is a very effective centering technique. Doing so can have a beneficial effect on the brain as well. Have you ever noticed that you can still see even with your eyes closed? All that is needed is to try. You might see it as darkness, designs, colors, spots, or a combination. It does not matter. What matters is passively focusing your attention on what is being seen and watching it as it changes. Have fun watching whatever appears as it comes and goes on the inside screen of your closed eyelids. This brings you into the moment and quickly settles down mental restlessness. Yogis refer to watching this inner space of consciousness as Chidakasha. ( Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief, page 115)
Note: If somebody catches you doing this, be prepared to say something clever like, “Can’t a person even pray around here?” Your other option is to tell them what you’re doing and have them join in.
- Notice the benefits and smile.
This one of the many exercises you can do while at your keyboard, in your car, or whenever you want to feel better.
Julie Lusk, MEd, E-RYT 500, has more than 35 years of expertise in stress relief, yoga, relaxation training, guided imagery, and meditation as an international author, recording artist, and workshop leader. Julie is the author of Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief, Yoga Meditations, two volumes of 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, and Desktop Yoga®. Her audio downloads and CDs include Wholesome Relaxation, Power of Presence, Yoga Nidra Essentials, Blue Moon Rising, and many others. Learn more at WholesomeResources.comThank You for Donating
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Julie
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