Wholesome Resources

Wholesome Resources for Mind-Body Mastery through Yoga, Meditation, Guided Imagery, Stress Relief, Wellness

View Cart
Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share
You are here: Home / Search for "details-real-relaxation-cd/about/about-julie-lusk/details-wholesome-energizers-cd"

Search Results for: details-real-relaxation-cd/about/about-julie-lusk/details-wholesome-energizers-cd

details DARE to Relax workshop

Book a Professional Speaker for your Employee Training, Conference, Workshop, and Lunch and Learn sessions. Contact Julie Lusk by email or call 513-248-9642

DARE to Relax © Workshop

Transform daily stress into the energy needed to enjoy life.  DARE’s self-care principles include Diet; Attitude and Awareness; Rest, Relaxation, and Relationships; and Exercise. 

Learning to cope with the stressors of daily living is crucial to health, happiness and well-being.  It is estimated that 60 to 90 percent of medical conditions are stress-induced or worsened by stress.  This is costly in terms of medical bills, absenteeism, and loss of productivity.  An obvious remedy is to learn self-care techniques that both reduce stress and help one cope with the effects of stress.

DARE to Relax ä is a wellness-based relaxation training and stress management program that is practical and well rounded.  The format includes a balance of factual information and experiential activities.  Participants will:

  1. Understand the dynamics of stress and it’s causes
  2. Understand the positive and negative effects of stress
  3. Learn how to reduce stress using the self-care principles of DARE to Relax ä

Diet: Nutritional considerations are discussed.  For example, stress depletes Vitamins A, B, C, and calcium.  Dietary recommendations are given to maintain proper nutrition.

Attitude and Awareness: The stress response is activated by the way a person perceives an event.  Becoming aware of stressors can help a person modify their thoughts and behavior so their reactions are healthier.  The mind/body connection is addressed and mind/body interventions are demonstrated and practiced to reduce stress.

Rest, Relaxation and Relationships: Discovering the difference of active and passive relaxation is taught.  A relaxation exercise is done so participants can learn experientially.  Information is covered on the recent research on relationships that shows the negative effects of loneliness on health.

Exercise: The benefits of exercise are well known.  In particular, physical activity helps burns off the bio-chemical effects of stress.  Participants are encouraged to maintain a practical exercise routine.

DARE to Relax Testimonials

Ethicon Edno-Surgery, Inc.

100% rated the content as excellent or above average

100% rated the speaker as excellent or above average

100% rated the program as excellent or above average

  • Everything was interesting.  I liked the relaxation exercises.
  • I learned relaxation tips to gain more energy.
  • I learned how to relax in short periods of time.  I liked the 2-minute nap.
  • I learned techniques to help relax and reduce stress.  I hope some of these techniques will help reduce my stress at work.
  • The program reiterated things I know, but was good to have confirmed.  I liked the stretches.
  • I learned to release stress with little time and quickly.  How food plays a part in stress and illness.  The instructor had excellent content.  Very beneficial.
  • It’s important to take time to relax and reduce stress.
  • I appreciated the ideas that were relevant to my situation.
  • Thank you

Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems

100% rated the content as excellent or above average

100% rated the speaker as excellent or above average

100% rated the program as excellent or above average.

  • The stress fighting techniques allow me to be more focused and therefore a better team player
  • How to relax at work when things get you down.  Reinforced healthy eating and its benefits
  • Things I can do to minimize the effects of stress on my life
  • The info and exercises motivated me to start exercising again and to start yoga
  • To try and think more positive thoughts
  • I’d like more information on journaling
  • The info on the mind/body connection was excellent
  • Stop being a perfectionist – I am one and it is stressful
  • You have reinforced the idea that I can do anything I put my mind to!!

Mike Sterling, Director of Human Resources, The Art Institute of Ohio writes:

Dear Julie:  Thanks for sharing the Dare to Relax session with our staff.  I have received several positive comments about it, especially the “2- Hour Nap in 10-minutes” segment.

Our staff received several valuable tips on reducing stress and the consequences of stress at work and in our personal lives.  It was definitely time well spent. Mike

Rebecca Laney
Director, Center for Yoga and Health

Julie is a petite powerhouse!

SPICES for Life is featured in

Stress Solutions Now - Instant PDF Download!
Stress Solutions Now - Instant PDF Download!
Improve your mind, body, and spirit with this amazing manual. This instant download gives you stress relieving solutions that work every time. First, you get quick, easy ways to identify sources and symptoms of stress. Next, you'll learn simple techniques for getting genuine stress relief. Finally, you'll benefit from 6 wellness strategies for living a worthwhile life, 8 practical solutions to handle stress with ease, and find out how to make remarkable improvements at work and home.
Quantity:  
Price: $5.00

Book Julie Now

Julie travels from Cincinnati, Ohio

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

Greater Cincinnati Area

513-248-9642

email

SoulCollage® Workshops – Zoom

Experience the Magic of SoulCollage®

Info & Registration

SoulCollage® is a fun process of making small collages from pictures and images that catch your eye. It boosts creativity, intuition, and self-discovery using a special and unique process to nurture your well-being. It’s different than typical collages, scrap-booking or vision boarding. It’s a special way to give expression to your inner voice by making collages and through conversation. Register now to find out for yourself.  

No artistic talent is needed – cutting and pasting is all that’s required. New and experienced folks are welcome.  Scroll down to pre-register.

SoulCollage easily becomes very empowering due to combining the proven process with the special supplies used. A personal deck of cards are made one at a time to weave parts of yourself into wholeness.  You’ll learn to consult your cards using a simple, yet elegant, process for gaining insights, answering questions, and getting more meaning from life.

5″x8” mat boards and special see-through sleeves are used.  To spark your creative imagination and intuition, it’s customary to use pictures with no words on them. Precut images are supplied from a variety of sources. Your own photographs and images can be added. Participants typically make from 1 to 6 cards during a session.

  • You use your own supplies for Zoom workshops. ♥ BUY supplies here if needed.
  • All materials are supplied during in-person workshops – even snacks.

Comments from Participants

“I like the sense of community, the creativity, using my intuition, looking at images and finding beauty and meaning.”

“I like how it helps me see life through a different lens, a different perspective.”

“I love the soul-searching, self discovery, and connecting with others.”

Julie Lusk is a trained SoulCollage facilitator since 2015. She loves sharing it with others.

2026 SoulCollage Schedule 

  • Come to one, some, or all!
  • All times are in the Eastern Time Zone
  • Schedule is subject to change
  • Click here to contact Julie Lusk to save your spot or make inquiries.
Jan July
Feb 21  |10 – 1:30 pm on ZOOM Aug 8 | 10 – 1:30 pm on ZOOM
March Sept
April 18 | 10 – 1:30 pm | on ZOOM Oct 24 | 10 – 1:30 pm on ZOOM
May Nov
June 20 | 10:30 – 2 pm on ZOOM Dec

Registration

  • SoulCollage peoplePay online below OR send a check to payable to Julie Lusk to 5678 Willnean Dr., Milford, OH  45150
  • $30 on Zoom for a virtual workshop from your own home using your own materials. Purchase supplies and have them mailed to you in advance if needed. Options include just cards & sleeves or a complete workshop supply packet including instructions, mat boards, sleeves, frame, glue stick, and a variety of inspiring, trimmed images. Get supplies here.
  • Register now for all 5 in 2026 for $125 to save time and money.
  • Schedule is subject to change.  Verify dates and times here. 
  • Cancellation/ Refund Policy: Contact Julie for details. No refund or credit for no shows.
SoulCollage (r) Workshop
SoulCollage (r) Workshop
Register now! Checkout at "View Cart." A confirmation email is sent prior to the SoulCollage workshop with details and directions.
Price: $40.00
Price: $30.00
DATES & QUANTITY : :
Name of Participant(s):
Your Price: $ 
Quantity:  

Go to CART to review your order & check out.  

Julie T. Lusk, M.Ed.
Wholesome Resources
5678 Willnean Dr.
Milford, OH   45150

Greater Cincinnati Area

 

Holiday Energizers

by

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.

[Read more…]

Book Julie

WR logo masthead

Julie Lusk

Julie Lusk, M.Ed, has over 30 years of experience in stress relief, wellness, yoga, meditation and guided imagery.  She is a 6-time internationally published author, accomplished recording artist, educator & speaker.

She worked in health care management, higher education, counseling & community organizing.  Thousands have benefited from her volunteer work.  Read more…

Her company, Wholesome Resources, believes that stress management, wellness strategies, and mind-body techniques are indispensable to be competitive and successful in today’s world and essential for professional and personal growth.  Training, presenting, consulting and resource materials are all available.  Read more…

Yoga, Meditation, Guided Relaxation & Imagery Training:

Julie regularly offers workshops at yoga studios, meditation and retreat centers.  It’s easy to arrange for her to come to your place for an evening, weekend, or longer.  Topics include:

 See more – Click here

Stress Management and Wellness Speaker

Invite Julie as a conference speaker, business speaker or lunch and learn presenter for your organization or meeting.  Julie has written five books and produced numerous audio recordings on these subjects.  Review the testimonials page and look at the client list (PDF). Topics include:

See more – Click here 

Resource Materials

See Julie’s books, CD’s and other good things.

Book Julie Lusk Now!

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

Greater Cincinnati Area

513-248-9642

Not Sleeping Soundly?  Here’s Help

by

Have you ever felt like you were ‘half-awake or only half asleep’ all night?  Me too.  It’s so frustrating, especially knowing that you have a big day ahead and want to be feel sharp and well rested. Perhaps you don’t want to miss a moment of your vacation or there’s an important conference you’re excited about.

half asleepAs it turns out, half of your brain can sleep while the other half stays awake, according to sleep scientist Masako Tamaki and her colleagues at Brown University and reported in Current Biology*.  They found that this usually happens when sleeping the first night in a new place, like a hotel, friend’s house, or while camping.  The second night is much better.

It’s our brain’s attempt to protect us by going into survival mode.  What happens is that the right half your brain sleeps while the left half stays alert, standing guard.  How strange is that?

Scientists measured the slow-wave activity of the brain, something that occurs during deep sleep.  They measured brain activity during light sleep by first playing a tone and then a different tone was played.  Surprisingly, the brain reacted to the variation in sound only on the left side of the brain – the right side stayed asleep.

Next, they played a sound loud enough to awaken someone. They found that when it was transmitted into the right ear, the subjects in the experiment woke up faster than if it was sent to the left ear.  The right ear is associated with the left side of the brain.

It stands to reason that it would be the left side of the brain that stays on duty since it is known to be objective, analytical, and rational and would be more prone to be protective whereas the right side is best at intuition and abstract thinking.  Could this phenomenon be at play when sleeping in an unsafe neighborhood or household?  What about when having to keep an ear out for a child or sick person.  More studies are needed.

Sleeping ‘half-way’ is involuntary and the brain’s way to keep you alert enough to save yourself if something bad happened and most likely associated with the flight-fight-freeze response to stress.  Because of this, scientists think there’s not much you can do about it other than to accept it rather than letting it bother you.  Some suggest going two nights ahead of your big day since it’s so hard to sleep that first night.

Here are my suggestions:

  • Make the room feel familiar and safer to you, tricking the brain into sleeping better. Try using a familiar scent – lavender is calming and aids sleeping.  If you’re used to sleeping with a fan whirling away, bring one with you.  Using your own pillow makes sense too.
  • Try yoga nidra. It’s a comprehensive practice done lying down to go far beyond deep relaxation and mindfulness to a place of natural peace and quiet that is tremendously restful.  Along with being a special type of meditation to increase uplifting levels of awareness, it can also be practiced at bedtime as a sleep aid.  Layers of stress are cleared out so they don’t follow you to bed and disturb sleeping.  In fact, while not a substitute for actual sleep, one hour of yoga nidra practice is equivalent to 4 hours of sleep. This is due to the types of brain waves experienced along the way. Proven relaxation skills, specialized breathing techniques, guided imagery, and mindfulness are systematically used. Learn more about yoga nidra here
    Use a yoga nidra recording. See below for recommendations. Download it to your listening device, put it on airplane mode, and listen by putting the ear buds or the device itself under your pillow.  It will transmit right through your pillow and not disturb your sleep partner.
  • Use a mudra. They are yoga positions for the hands.  Curl your fingers into a fist.  On the same hand, touch the tips of the thumbs to the tips of the first finger to form a circle.  Rest your hands with your palms pointing down.  It helps bring on sleep and reduces stress by promoting a sense of safety and security.  Learn more about mudras here.
  • Breathe slowly and smoothly. To calm your nervous system, breathe in to the count of four or five and then breathe out for five to ten.  When you get distracted, gently go back to focusing on your breathing.
  • Use the Moon Breath to calm your bodymind and brain by combining a mudra with breathing. Bend your index and middle finger of your right hand to your palm, leaving your ring and little finger softly extended.  Softly press your right thumb to your right nostril and inhale through your left nostril. Next, release your right thumb and press your ring finger to your left nostril while exhaling.  In other words, in left / out right / in left / out right and so on.  Learn more about this and other practices in Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices for Awakening (WPA, 2005)
  • Follow the guidelines for good sleep hygiene.  Here’s the Mayo Clinic’s 7 tips for doing so.  Read How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep – The Ultimate Guide.  It’s excellent.

So even if you can’t sleep as soundly as you might like due to your brain’s insistence on staying half-awake, at least you now understand the reason why. The above suggestions may lull you to sleep, and if they don’t, you will at least make use of the time in a positive, productive way.

Sweet dreams!

Sleep Well | Yoga Nidra CD
Sleep Well | Yoga Nidra CD
Use deep relaxation, soothing flute music & ocean waves to go to sleep. "I slept like a log." Downloads available. By Julie Lusk, Yoga Nidra Meditations author.
Quantity:  
Price: $9.99Price: $16.99 

Reference:      Current Biology Volume 26, Issue 9, p1190–1194, 9 May 2016

Resources:     Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief by Julie Lusk (NHP 2015)

Yoga Nidra: Guided Meditations for Relaxation & Renewal (Health Journeys 2016)

 

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 Julie Luskworkshop 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 CDs include Wholesome Relaxation, Power of Presence, Blue Moon Rising, and many others. Learn more at WholesomeResources.com

Donate to support my website & our dog Breezy … Click her pic. Thanks!

Join Our Network

Join Our Network

Free Newsletter Signup