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How to Choose a Yoga Class: Getting Started

March 28, 2014 by Julie Lusk

Incorporating yoga – where and who. Yoga is being taught in yoga studios, hospitals, complimentary medicine clinics, schools, businesses, churches, athletic clubs and community centers and has become popular with both the younger and older generations. Classes can be offered to people who are fit as well as to people who are physically ill. It is especially attractive to “boomers” who want to be active but are no longer interested in exercises that jar the bones, muscles and joints.

How to get started. It’s best to join a yoga class to get off to a great start. Be sure to select a qualified teacher and a class that fits your needs. Ask what yoga props may be needed. Props may include a yoga mat, block, strap, blanket, etc.

Selecting a yoga teacher. The Yoga Alliance has identified minimum training standards for teachers and registers them at the 200 and 500-hour level. Certification courses exist for yoga teachers. Unfortunately, these courses have different standards and some are better than others. Here are some recommendations to consider when choosing a teacher for yourself or to teach a class for clients.

1. What are his/her qualifications?

2. How long has s/he been teaching?

3. Is s/he registered? Certified? When? By whom? Length of training?

4. Does s/he practice what s/he preaches? A good role model?

5. Who are his/her references?

6. Are classes gentle or vigorous?

7. Is emphasis placed on physical alignment? Meditation? Philosophy and spirituality? Geared toward special populations?

8. What is the class format?

In summary, Hatha yoga can be considered the “original wellness program” because it incorporates so many principles and practices found in wellness and mind/body programs today. Yoga can be enjoyed throughout a lifetime by a wide range of people.

LINK: Yoga Class Schedule with Julie Lusk – Milford and Anderson, OH (greater Cincinnati area)

Adapted from an article entitled Incorporating Yoga in Health Promotion by Julie Lusk. Originally published in Wellness Management, Volume 14, Number 1, Spring, 1998.

♥

Holiday Energizers

December 19, 2011 by Julie Lusk

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, St. Nicholas, Kwanza, Winter or Summer Solstice, Navidades, Hanukkah, St. Lucia Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s, the holidays can be 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. Take some time to set priorities and make the necessary changes so the holidays are inspiring and energizing instead of a drain. Pay attention to what your needs and wishes are for your body, mind, and heart while finding the balance with sharing with others. I hope these Holiday Energizers from Whole Person Associates help you as much as they help me.

Cheers!

Know what goodies will fill you. What kind of contact will be fulfilling for you? What kind of gift exchange will be meaningful to you? What do you need to help your heart and soul feel refreshed? If you know clearly what you want, it’s easier to choose activities that are likely to satisfy your desires.

Ask for what you want. Don’t hint. Don’t wait for someone to read your mind. Don’t expect others to guess what will satisfy you. Speak up. If you’re lonely, ask someone to share your celebration – or ask to share in someone else’s. If you love surprises, let people know. If you need time alone in the midst of togetherness, say so. If you can’t get what you want, want what you get, it’s much more satisfying than wishing for the impossible.

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My meeting with the Dalai Lama

October 2, 2010 by Julie Lusk

My notes from hearing the Dalai Lama on May 14, 2010 – Indianapolis, IN

The Dalai Lama was in Indianapolis to speak on Facing Challenges with Wisdom and Compassion.

It was at the Conseco basketball arena. Just like a basketball, the sound bounced around making it hard to hear clearly. It reminded me of the acoustics when we heard Thich Nhat Hanh in Chicago. Too much echo.

Still, I picked up a lot and I’d like to share it with you with the understanding that any misconceptions are on my part, and not on the part of the Dalai Lama.

All people want to achieve, and have the right to happiness and inner peace.

Should there be more Buddhism in America? No. He said Americans already have the answers for finding true happiness and inner peace by way of the religions we already practice. Practicing common sense is another viable path.

Different religions rely on different qualities and pathways to achieve happiness and inner peace. Some rely on faith, others promote surrender, while compassion is the path for others. All these qualities, and religions, have the potential to take us to true happiness and inner peace. We should do our best to respect the different religious paths and know that each has its own benefits that reach out to various cultures, temperaments, and times. It’s about having respect for all religions.

All humans, no matter the color, culture, sex, or age, have a common connection to compassion that is biological and instinctual. The love of a mother and the instinct of protecting the child are good examples. Even a mother bird may sacrifice her life for the sake of her baby. Compassion is instinctual, however, it gets covered up and overruled by the thinking mind.

Rely on common sense.
Respect and have compassion toward all.
We all want and deserve true happiness and inner peace.
Rely on truth, trust, love, and compassion to lead to inner strength, peace and happiness.
Practice unbiased compassion – this is compassion that can even reach our enemies.
A negative mind causes suffering for the self and others.
Fear and hate interferes with health.
Compassion has actually been shown to lower blood pressure and stress. Wounds heal quicker. For example, a wound on a rat heals faster when it is affectionately licked by another rat.
The minds ‘intelligence’ can overrule our compassionate, instinctual, intrinsic nature.
Look for new opportunities and changes that come from things that anger us.
Have a global interest. To have global disarmament, we have to start with inner, personal disarmament. To have global peace, we must have inner peace first. Go with truth, love, trust, unbiased compassion and inner beauty. This is lasting.
He said that everything is/or can be good, very good. This includes such things as money, technology, and divorce. It’s the motivation and intent and how these things are used that makes the difference. Are they used with compassion, openness, acceptance or not?
Money, objects, technology can be good – very good – if they are used with right motivation and intention and put to good use.
Put your affections where affections can be returned .
Don’t put affections toward objects as these things cannot return affection.
When we are affectionate toward objects, it leads to jealousy and greed for objects. Objects cannot return affection.
Inner beauty is higher than outer beauty as it lasts. Rely on truth, trust, love, and unbiased compassion to bring inner peace and happiness.

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Julie T. Lusk, M.Ed.
Wholesome Resources
Milford, OH 45150

Greater Cincinnati Area

513-248-9642

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Dr. Norm Shealy recommends Julie Lusk’s Real Relaxation: Yoga Nidra CD
to anyone who has not conquered the art of relaxation.

“My friend Julie Lusk sent her Yoga Nidra book and audio. Needless to say, the book just convinced me how important the audio is!

I have hundreds of CD’s including guided imagery and a great deal of outstanding music. Despite my experience, Julie’s Yoga Nidra provides the deepest relaxation I can imagine. If you have not yet conquered the art of relaxation, I strongly recommend this CD ASAP!

C. Norman Shealy M.D., Ph.D. is a neurosurgeon, psychologist, and founding president of the American Holistic Medical Association. For over three decades, he has been at the forefront of alternative medicine and alternative health care. He holds ten patents for innovative discoveries in medicine, has published more than 300 articles, and authored more than 24 books. His latest book is Medical Intuition: A Science of Soul. He is president at Holos Institutes of Health, Professor Emeritus of Energy Medicine and president at Emeritus Holos University Graduate Seminary. Learn more at NormShealy.com