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…]
Wholesome Resources for Mind-Body Mastery through Yoga, Meditation, Guided Imagery, Stress Relief, Wellness
by Julie Lusk
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…]
by Julie Lusk
Joan Borysenko says…
Meditation is a form of mental martial arts. If we resist thoughts, they will overpower us. But if we just step lightly out of their way, letting them come and go like birds flying overhead, we can use their energy to further focus our minds.
The nature of the mind is to think and create, so the mind naturally wanders during meditation. The demoralizing thought that only your mind wanders while other meditators are sitting there in bliss is a major reason why people give up on meditation practice. All people think when they meditate. What distinguishes the novice from the skillful meditator is the attitude of detached awareness that the skillful meditator maintains toward thinking.
Is this true for you? How do you handle it when your mind is restless?
Nothing on this website, blog or contained in Wholesome Resources’ newsletters, CD’s and books should be considered personalized medical advice. It is provided for your general information only and is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your health care professional. Wholesome Resources does not give medical advice or engage in the practice of medicine. Under no circumstances does Wholesome Resources, its writers, employees or volunteers recommend particular treatments for specific individuals. In all cases we recommend that you consult your physician, professional healthcare provider or treatment center before pursuing any course of treatment.
Class Info
Agreement: Sorry, no refunds for missed classes offered online. You will get a recording of the yoga practice (not the discussion) by email within 48 hours after class for streaming for your personal and non-commercial use only that is valid for 14 days. Stuff can happen since this is “live,” (like the Zoom (or similar) connection or audio connection/audio is bad, weather interruptions, etc.). Schedules are subject to change (dates, times, venues, in-outside). Julie Lusk or her associates cannot be responsible for any risks whatsoever for your class participation. You will be notified by email, if possible and ASAP, if a class you’re scheduled for is canceled or rescheduled. By enrolling and/or attending class, You voluntarily agree to these policies. It is understood that policies and procedures periodically change and it is the participants responsibility to stay up-to-date and will abide and agree to whatever is currently in place. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
General Consent/ Liability Waiver: I understand and voluntarily agree that it is my responsibility to determine and hereby certify there is no medical reason to prevent my participation in a hatha yoga, yoga nidra, meditation, or classes that focus on specific topics provided by Julie Lusk, her associates, or through this website. I agree to take full responsibility for my health and well-being in class and will not exceed my limits. All information given is for information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, heal, fix, or cure anyone or anything. I understand that yoga involves sitting, standing, kneeling, inversions, twists, supine and prone positions, breathing ratios and patterns, and combinations of such. I do hereby indemnify Julie Lusk and Wholesome Resources from all responsibility for injury of any sort and/or loss of property to others or myself at any time, and from claims, losses or expenses which may arise out of or as a result of my participation in this class, whether it is in person, online, or a recording. I understand that since online classes are conducted live on Zoom, weird things can happen (i.e. security issues, internet problems, recording mishaps, etc.), and agree not to hold Julie Lusk / Wholesome Resources responsible. I agree to keep personal information shared by others confidential. I agree that it is acceptable to get periodic announcements via mail, internet, etc. I give permission to be photographed/videoed/ and otherwise recorded, which can be used, free of charge, in advertising, website, social media, audio/video recordings, etc. Sorry, no refunds.
Private Lessons: Private lessons are provided on a one-time or as an on-going series. If done as a series, the fee is paid in full and in advance to qualify for a discounted rate. Lessons are scheduled at the convenience of the teacher and student. Twenty-four hours advance notice must be given in advance to reschedule an appointment for a pre-arranged lesson in order to reschedule. If twenty-four hours’ notice is not given, the lesson will be forfeited.
♥ Welcome! Click here for the Zoom link needed to start class. This link is for you alone – please invite friends to register for themselves.
♥ The class link above will be emailed to you about 45 minutes prior to class time so it’s on top of the email heap. Look in your spam or promotions folder if you don’t see it.
♥ Use this Zoom Tutorial to get up to speed. If needed, download Zoom your app store now. It’s free & easy. The app has more features than using your browser to open the link.
♥ Please sign in by 6:45 pm if you are new to Zoom. We will go over a few things like turning off & on audio, video, speaker & gallery view, etc. Here is a Tutorial on using Zoom
♥ Class starts at 7 pm on Tuesday. “Doors” close at 7:07 for security purposes. You will not be able to join if you’re late. You will still get the video after class. Each class recording is available for streaming and is valid for personal, non-commercial use for 14 days after the session happens.
♥ Use this link for yoga info and sequences.
♥ Zoom Etiquette
Before Class
During Class
After class
Fine Print / Agreement: Sorry, no refunds for missed classes. You will get a recording of the yoga practice (not the discussion) by email within 48 hours after class for streaming for your personal and non-commercial use only that is valid for 14 days. Stuff can happen since this is “live,” (like the Zoom (or similar) connection or audio connection/audio is bad, weather interruptions, etc.). You will be notified by email, if possible and ASAP, if a class you’re scheduled for is canceled or rescheduled. Julie Lusk cannot be responsible for any risks whatsoever for your class participation. By enrolling and attending class, I voluntarily agree to these policies. It is understood that policies and procedures periodically change and it is the participants responsibility stay up-to-date and will abide and agree whatever is currently in place. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
General Consent / Waiver: I understand and voluntarily agree that it is my responsibility to determine and hereby certify there is no medical reason to prevent my participation in a hatha yoga, yoga nidra, meditation, or classes that focus on specific topics. I agree to take full responsibility for my health and well-being in class and will not exceed my limits. I understand that yoga involves sitting, standing, kneeling, inversions, twists, supine and prone positions, breathing ratios and patterns, and combinations of such. Information given is for information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure anyone or anything. I do hereby indemnify Julie Lusk and Wholesome Resources from all responsibility for injury of any sort and/or loss of property to others or myself at any time, and from claims, losses or expenses which may arise out of or as a result of my participation in this class, whether it is in person, online, or a recording. I understand that since online classes are conducted live on Zoom, weird things can happen (i.e. security issues, internet problems, recording mishaps, etc.), and agree not to hold Julie Lusk / Wholesome Resources responsible. I agree to keep personal information shared by others confidential. I agree that it is acceptable to get periodic announcements via mail, internet, etc. I give permission to be photographed/videoed/ and otherwise recorded, which can be used, free of charge, in advertising, website, social media, audio/video recordings, etc. Sorry, no refunds.
Let me know if you have questions ahead of time. Click here.
Good luck and see you soon!
♥ Julie
OM |AUM conveys universal peace, harmony, and divinity. Om is the sound vibration of the true Self (Atman) and exemplifies supreme consciousness. The sacred vibration of Om (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain) is similar in sound and meaning to Amen (Christian), Amin (Islamic). Notice how Shalom (Hebrew) and Om Shanti (Sanskrit) share similar sounds expressing peace.
Comprehensive in nature, Om is visualized by the image (yantra) above. It is the cosmic, primordial sound vibration of divine universal consciousness. Like other mantras, it transcends the mind and emotions. Its celestial qualities can be revealed and actualized when one’s body and mind vibrate to its sacred sound through repetition (japa). Repetition can be done out loud to influence us physically, whispered or with one’s lips for a mental-emotional effect, and silently for inspiring one’s higher Self.
Om is naturally heard when breathing out slowly. Start with your mouth open. Breathe out to hear aaahhh. Listen for ooouuu as your lips begin closing. You will hear mmmm when your lips close. Listen to the silent pause afterward.
The full meaning of Om is infinite. Over time, chanting Om and/or visualizing it personally can reveal its significance. Reading about it is helpful but cannot reveal its power. For inspiration, here is some of its meaning and symbolism. Colors are provided to aid understanding of the relationship between the visual and auditory experience of Om.
Written and compiled by Julie Lusk. Primary sources: Vedas, Mandukya Upanishad, Bhagavad Gita, and Yoga Sutras. ‘The Secret Power of Yoga’ by Nischala Joy Devi. Diagram and explanation of OM’s symbolic significance by Sreedevi Bringi.
OM Sound and Symbol– pdf Chart to Print
| Sound vibration | A (aaaah) | U (oouuu) | M (mmmm) | Silent Om |
| Visual symbolism | Bottom left curve | Side curve | Top left curve | Crescent moon = Illusion. Obstacles |
| Dot = true Self | ||||
| Aspects of time | Past | Present | Future | Timeless |
| Aspects of focus | Outward | Inward | Outer inner harmony | |
| Aspects of being | Body | Mind | Spirit | Absolute |
| Chakra energy | Lower chakras | Middle chakras | High chakras | |
| 4 awareness states | Waking |Duality | Dreaming | Sleeping | Nonduality | Turiya (4th state) |
| 4 mind states | Conscious | Subconscious | Unconscious | Turiya (4th state) |
| 3 realms | Earth | Atmosphere | Heaven | |
| 3 gunas (attributes) | Rajas (overactivity) | Sattva (harmony) | Tamas (inactivity) | |
| 3 universal forces | Creation | Preservation | Dissolution | |
| Trinity | Brahma
Father / Mother |
Vishnu
Son / Daughter |
Shiva
Holy Spirit |
OM Sound and Symbol– pdf Chart to Print