Hi

I never thought I’d ever be a writer, national speaker or recording artist.  In fact, I had good reasons for those beliefs, but that’s a different story.  But here I am, living proof that if you allow the flow of life, intuition, grace, good relationships, synchronicity, inspiration and action to be your guide and foundation, surprising things happen.  Somehow, your own true purpose and path will find you and support your efforts (yes, it also takes honing your skills and hard work too).

These days, I’m fortunate to regularly offer weekly yoga classes in-person and virtually. National and international  workshops on yoga, meditation, guided imagery and deep relaxation are given.  This combo gives me a nice balance of having the joy and comfort of cultivating ongoing relationships and watching people grow in body, mind and spirit, with the stimulation and challenge of designing original workshops and retreats, meeting new people and traveling to interesting places.

Businesses, schools and various organizations often invite me in to offer training in Desktop Yoga (R), stress management, and wellness strategies.  It’s so rewarding to watch people begin feeling energized and empowered on the spot!

I love learning.  I earned a graduate degree from VA Tech in counseling and have received training in numerous types of yoga ranging from extremely relaxing to quite vigorous. This centered me on the middle path.  There have been plenty of courses and retreats in yoga nidra, meditation, guided imagery, deep relaxation, energy work, and music.  Of course, living life, and my family and friends, have taught me the most.  See more about my education, training, and publications here.

Wholesome Resources is the interesting business I developed over 20 years ago.  We believe that stress relief, wellness strategies, and mind-body techniques are essential ingredients for personal and professional happiness.  We offer training and workshops for large and small groups at both worksites and retreat centers.  Individual mentoring too.

In the past, my work has included being regional director of six hospital-based holistic health and wellness centers (2 yrs), director of a health management center at a large medical clinic (10 yrs), assistant dean of students at a liberal arts college (7 yrs), director of a community college special services program (4 years), volunteer director of the Alive & Well Coalition (5 yrs), an awareness counselor in WV (2 yrs) … and other duties as assigned.

My home, with my husband and dogs, is in the greater Cincinnati area.  For fun, I enjoy making friends, hiking, playing music (flute, drums, harmonium, didgeridoo), making art messes, and reading all sorts of stuff.  I look forward to meeting you!

Julie Lusk, M.Ed., NCC, RYT-E500

Wholesome Resources ~~  Founder & Chieftess

Wholesome Resources and Services Provided

Julie is available as a business and conference speaker and consultant to groups and individuals.  Her books, recordings and other materials are plentiful.

Presenter and Professional Speaker (partial list)

• Businesses: Procter & Gamble, Fidelity Investments, General Electric, City of Staunton, Ethicon/J&J, Xpedx, Convergys, Cincinnati Bell, Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Allstate Insurance and more
• Yoga and Meditation Centers:  Kripalu (19 years), Jesuit Spiritual Center (9 years), Discovery Yoga (4 years), Sivananda / Bahamas, Satchidananda (10 years)– Satchidananda Ashram/Yogaville (7 years) and more
• Colleges and Universities:  University of Cincinnati, Roanoke College, Virginia Tech, University of Western Australia, Hollins College, and more.
• National Conventions:  National Wellness Conference (16 years), NICABM ( 10 years), Speaking of Women’s Health  (4 years), National Flute Convention (2 years), International Symposium on Community Health (Washington, Hong Kong, Japan) and more.
• Non-Profit Groups:  American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Jamaican Cancer Society, Council of Community Services, American Red Cross and more.

Published Books 

• Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation, Llewellyn, Woodbury, MN. 2021
• Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief, New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, CA. 2015
• Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices for Awakening, Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN. 2005
• Desktop Yoga, Penguin Group / Perigee Books, New York, NY.  1998.  Translated into Spanish, Dutch and German
• 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, Vol. 2, Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN.  1993
• 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, Vol. 1, Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN.  1992. Translated into Spanish and Italian

Audio Recordings

• Refreshing Journeys and many others (Whole Person Associates, Duluth, MN)
• Real Relaxation: Yoga Nidra (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Guided Mindfulness Meditations (Health Journeys)
• Yoga Nidra: Guided Meditations for Relaxation & Renewal (Health Journeys)
• Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Power of Presence CD (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Wholesome Relaxation CD (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Wholesome Energizers CD (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Blue Moon Rising CD (Kunaki Publishers / WR)
• Many other

E-Books 

• Mind Body Mastery:  Guided Imagery, Meditation, Real Relaxation
• Stress Solutions Now
• Power Napper – Guided Relaxation
• 108 Easy Energy Answers
• Yoga on the Go (coming soon)
  
• The Original Desktop Yoga (coming soon)
• Desktop Yoga Strategies to Calm Down, Get Energized, Spark Creativity & Reduce Frustration (coming soon)

Clients

Her clients have included Procter & Gamble, Fidelity Investments, University of Cincinnati, General Electric, City of Staunton, Ethicon/J&J, Xpedx, Convergys, Cincinnati Bell, Lewis-Gale Medical Center, Allstate Insurance and more.

Julie has developed stress management materials and wellness programs for such organizations as the City of Staunton, Roanoke College, Medco Health and many others.

Her relaxation, imagery and affirmation CD’s are being used on an ongoing basis at Good Samaritan Hospital, American Heart Association, Hospice of Cincinnati, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, American and Jamaican Cancer Societies, VA Tech and other organizations nationwide.

Media

She has appeared as a guest on numerous radio and television shows for CBS, ABC, FOX, ESPN and NBC affiliates, as well as South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Metro News Radio.

Yoga Journal, New Woman Magazine, Cincinnati Enquirer, Business Courier, Vegetarian Times, Body& Soul Journal for Holistic Living, Cincinnati Woman, IDEA Today, Roanoker, Wellness Management, among other publications, have featured Julie’s work in articles.

Julie’s Professional Awards and Commendations include 

• National Certified Counselor since 1985.  Julie was a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia for 20 years
• Registered E-500 Yoga Teacher via the Yoga Alliance since 2001
• YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider) since 2015
• Award for Excellence in Health Promotion – Wellness Councils of America
• Outstanding Community Service Award – Council of Community Services, Roanoke, Virginia
• Business Associate of the Year- American Business Women’s Association    

Please contact Julie Lusk now.

513-248-9642 (yoga)

Click here to email.

What is the Mind-Body Connection?

The mind-body connection recognizes the reality that the mind and body are intimately and ultimately linked as one.  There is absolutely no separation.  What is thought or felt always resonates throughout the body moment by moment through a bio-chemical reaction.  This reaction is either life and health enhancing or defeating.  It has also been verified that each emotion has a distinct biochemical signature that affects mental and physical health.

Researchers report that meditation, controlled breathing, deep relaxation and directed, guided imagery can boost the immune system, alter blood pressure, decrease pain, and help with problems such as infertility and insomnia.  These practices often help people cope with and recover from unpleasant medical procedures as well as the effects of stress from daily living.  Furthermore, the refinement of consciousness that takes place leads to spiritual growth and maturity.

Positive aspects of this connection consist of and contribute to:

• The ability to accomplish dreams and goals
• Feelings of contentment
• Living in balance
• Physical, emotional, and mental well-being
• Awakening the spirit
• Finding peace and happiness

On the other hand, the mind-body connection can also:

• Undermine one’s health physically, mentally and emotionally
• Create negativity
• Block the flow of creative and healing energy
• Contribute to illness, injuries and disease
• Cause unhappiness and dissatisfaction

Transformational tools that activate and assist this process include:

• Focused breathing
• Guided imagery and creative visualization
• Meditation
• Mind-body fitness modalities like yoga and tai chi
• Affirmations
• Honest expression and congruence of thoughts, feelings and actions

Mind-Body-Spirit Tools

• Take a 2 Hour Power Nap in 10 Minutes
  It’s easy and effective.  Don’t wait!  Take a power nap.  It’s only a click away.
• Crown Pull
  Stimulates blood flow to your brain. Reduces mental congestion. Helps overcome insomnia.  Strengthens memory. Opens the crown chakra to higher inspiration.
• 3 Thumps
  Stimulates your energy, boost your immune system, and release stress, relieve pain.

Take a 2-hour Power Nap in 10 minutes

Trouble sleeping? Insomnia is at epidemic proportions and has dreadful consequences.  A few problems associated with inadequate sleep include feeling irritable, exhausted, lowered immunity, poor mental / emotional health, and heart disease.

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.

Guided Relaxation is another 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.

→ Listen to Take 10 free of charge. It’s an excerpt from the Power Napper eBook by Julie Lusk that includes relaxing and refreshing exercises.

Take a FREE 2-Hour Nap in 10 Minutes Now.

Click on the Picture.

PS.  Benefit from the 2-Hour Nap in 10 minutes often by coming back to this website again and again.

PPS. 

Power Napper - Instant PDF Download!

Enjoy relaxation like you've never felt before. Guaranteed! Learn to take a 2-hour nap in 10-minutes! Audio file included! Spark your energy and erase tiredness with proven techniques to clear your mind and refresh your spirit.

PPPS.  Explore more mind-body exercises in Julie Lusk’s books and CDs, featuring deep relaxation and yoga nidra, guided imagery, and meditation.  

Crown Pull

Stimulates blood flow to your head.  Reduces mental congestion.  Helps overcome insomnia.  Strengthens memory.  Opens the crown chakra to higher inspiration.

o   Start with your thumbs on your temples with fingertips resting at the middle of your forehead.

o   Apply pressure and slowly pull your fingers apart, stretching the skin.  Breathe deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth.  Repeat if it feels good.

o    Place your fingertips at your hairline and repeat the stretch.

o    Repeat this pattern starting at the top, center, and back of your head.  Continue until you reach the base of your neck.

3 Thumps

Stimulates your energies, boosts immune system, and releases stress.  Relieves pain.

• Place the fingers of either or both hands in the center of your sternum at the thymus gland.  Tap for 15 – 20 seconds.  Use your thumb and all your fingers.  As you tap, breathe slowly and deeply in through your nose with your tongue at the roof of your mouth and out through your mouth.
• Tap or rub the neuro-lymphatic spleen points firmly for about 15 seconds.  They are beneath the nipples of the breasts and down one rib.
• Tap or rub the spleen acupuncture points located on the sides of the body about 4 inches below the armpits. As you tap, breathe slowly and deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth.
• In the future, use either the neuro-lymphatic spleen points or the spleen acupuncture points if one set is more tender than the other.

Get more info on the Mind-Body Connection

Power Napper - Instant PDF Download!

Enjoy relaxation like you've never felt before. Guaranteed! Learn to take a 2-hour nap in 10-minutes! Audio file included! Spark your energy and erase tiredness with proven techniques to clear your mind and refresh your spirit.

Wholesome Relaxation

Written and narrated by Julie Lusk.
Original instrumental music by Tom Laskey

Wholesome Relaxation CD

Experience deep relaxation, inspiring imagery and affirmations to enhance your personal health, increase strength, and improve your overall well-being. This is used by Good Samaritan Hospital, American Heart Assn, American Cancer Society and others. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...

 ~~~

Wholesome Relaxation CD
Track Sequence and Sampler

Listen to Wholesome Relaxation to experience deep relaxation, inspiring imagery and affirmations to enhance your personal health, increase strength, and improve your overall well-being.  It will help you reduce worry, help you sleep soundly, relieve stress, improve your outlook and more.

1. Introduction (3 min.)
   Tips to get the most from your Wholesome Relaxation CD. May skip after first play.
2. Wholesome Breathing mp3( 8:40 min.)  Dissolve tension and experience feeling relaxed and calm.
3. Magical Sea (11:30 min)
   Enjoy an inspiring walk along the water’s edge using guided imagery.
4. Affirmations mp3(8:21 min)
   Awaken your courage, contentment, and a positive outlook.

Wholesome Relaxation is being used by:

• American Cancer Society
• Wellness Community
• Virginia Tech
• Good Samaritan Hospital
• St. Elizabeth Medical Center
• Lewis-Gale Medical
• Jamaican Cancer Society
• Cancer Family Care
• Mary Maguire Foundation
• More

Wholesome Relaxation CD

Experience deep relaxation, inspiring imagery and affirmations to enhance your personal health, increase strength, and improve your overall well-being. This is used by Good Samaritan Hospital, American Heart Assn, American Cancer Society and others. CLICK the blue title link above to find out more...