Search Results for: wp-content/uploads/2010/08/library/yoga-mantras-chants/details-yoga-meditations-book-and-cd-set/details-real-relaxation-cd/RicardoLuis@icloud.com

Understanding OM | AUM

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 (4^th state)
4 mind states	Conscious	Subconscious	Unconscious	Turiya (4^th 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

4 Ways to Stop Freaking Out

October 17, 2016 by Julie Lusk

I don’t know about you, but nearly everyone I know is freaking out. Watching the daily news is enough to shake anyone up. Plus, nearly all of us have everyday pressures at work and home that never seem to let up.

Here’s 4 ways to stop freaking out and refresh yourself …

Refresh your mind

a. Take a news fast. Turn off the tube and shut down the smartphone for a while. You’ll be amazed by it.

b. Practice mindfulness . Why jump into a future of doom and gloom. Instead anchor yourself in this moment and enjoy the outdoors, cuddle your pet, have a good laugh.

c. Listen to Guided Mindfulness Meditations: Practicing Presence & Finding Peace. The net effect is calmer nerves, a brighter outlook, stronger memory, sharper focus, and a more balanced perspective. Or get Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief as a book and audio set (New Harbinger, 2015)

Take charge – Chaos or calmness is up to you

a. Quickly reset your nervous system and brighten yourself up with breathing better. It makes a world of difference

b. Completely relax yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and more. Experience bliss with yoga nidra. See a list of yoga nidra benefits here.

c.Take a “2-Hour Nap in less than 10 Minutes.” (free video)

Practice self-care

a. Get some sleep – Oh, can’t sleep? Practice yoga nidra. (1 hour = 4 hours sleep). Listen to Yoga Nidra: Guided Meditations for Relaxation and Renewal It will help you get to sleep too.

b. Eat and drink with good nutrition in mind (mindfully of course). Avoid excessive food, alcohol, caffeine, and sugar.

c. Treat yourself to beauty – outside in nature, museums, get a treatment at the spa

d. Do something you enjoy – exercise, color, sports, see a movie, call a friend, hobbies, etc.

Ask for Help

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Talk with a trusted relative, friend or spiritual adviser. If you want professional help, obtain a referral for services from your local Mental Health Association or the National Mental Health Association.

details SPICES for Life wellness workshop

Book a Professional Speaker for your Employee Training, Conference, Workshop, and Lunch and Learn sessions. Contact Julie Lusk by email or call 513-576-6662

SPICES for Life © Workshop

Discover how to create, balance and enrich professional and personal power through a comprehensive approach to living.

SPICES represents the six components of wellness:

Social
Physical
Intellectual
Career
Emotional
Spiritual Health

SPICES for Life © is a comprehensive approach to wellness and stress management that includes all the components for creating and maintaining professional and personal power.

Wellness goes far beyond the freedom from illness. It emphasizes each individual’s uniqueness along with the importance of self-responsibility and a positive attitude for personal well being.

SPICES represents the six components of wellness: Social, Physical, Intellectual, Career, Emotional and Spiritual health and well being. Each dimension is equally important to living a well-rounded, successful life. Paying equal attention to each aspect by developing and balancing them throughout life is important and results in wholesome living which is stimulating, productive and vital.

SPICES for Life workshops provide an introduction to wellness and motivates people to make appropriate changes for improving health and well-being.

Additionally, SPICES for Life can also provide a structure for a well rounded employee wellness program. Ideally, this format starts with an introductory session which trains participants on the concepts and advantages of professional and personal well being and motivates them to pursue lifestyle improvements. Sessions on each wellness dimension follow to further understanding and prompt individual lifestyle changes that are positive in nature. Each session will help participants:

Understand the dynamics and importance of overall wellness as well as for each dimension of well being
Provide a self assessment to measure personal well being
Motivate participants to identify and undertake lifestyle changes that meet their individual needs

SPICES for Life ™ is working…

The Hurricane Katrina Resiliency Project is using SPICES for Life as a wellness and stress management tool for mental health professionals associated with recovery efforts. Workshops are being held in New Orleans starting in the fall of 2007. (Yes, recovery efforts are will underway).

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine is using the SPICES concept and acronym in a comprehensive health and wellness resource guide for all incoming first-year medical students starting in the Fall of 2007.

Thomas M. Wolf wrote about SPICES for Life in his book: To your Health: Achieving Well-Being during Medical School.

John Travis, MD
Author of Wellness Workbook and Simply Well
“Julie has been one of the brightest gems in the wellness field for the 20 years I’ve known her – she radiates what she talks about.”

SPICES for Life is featured in

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.

Book Julie Now!

Julie travels from Cincinnati, Ohio

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

Greater Cincinnati Area

513-576-6662

email

Guided Imagery Course at Sivananda ~ Bahamas

April 9, 2013 by Julie Lusk

Are you ready to tune yourself up and get powerful and practical tools and techniques to overcome stress, improve your health, and gain amazing insights to guide you forward?

If so, please register for my upcoming workshop on Guided Imagery & More to be held in May at Sivananda Yoga Retreat Center in the Bahamas.

We will explore several wonderful types of guided imagery within the context of the seven major chakras (energy centers) and the five koshas (sheaths). You will enjoy the experience of relaxing deeply and activating your energy by the stunning ocean, surrounded by beautiful gardens and awesome people. There’s also yoga, meditation, chanting, delicious food, and so much more!

You’re invited, so please come and bring your friends. You will benefit no matter what your level of experience is. It’s perfectly beautiful

The Bahamas are very easy to travel to. Accommodations are comfortable and affordable. English is spoken & USA money is used. Passport is required.

9 CEU’s are offered for nurses, social workers, licensed mental health workers and counselors (NBCC).

What: Guided Imagery and Creative Visualization Course

Presenter: Julie Lusk, M.Ed., NCC. Author of Yoga Meditations, 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing, Wholesome Relaxation CD, Power of Presence CD, and many others.

Where: Sivananda Yoga Retreat, Paradise Island, Bahamas (easy cab ride from Nassau Airport)

When: May 24-26, 2013 – Check here for more times, places and dates.

Click here for details and registration info.

Friendship Blessing

February 13, 2017 by Julie Lusk

I’m still on Cloud 9 from our recent Yoga Women’s Retreat & Slumber party. What a joy to be surrounded by friends – soul friends! They are the people, whether known a long time or briefly, that have shaped and supported you into being who you are today, and who you’re growing into.

The Celtic tradition calls one’s soul-friend the Anam Cara. John O’Donohue explains “With the anam cara, you could share your innermost self, your mind, and your heart. This friendship is an act of recognition and belonging that did not set limitations of space or time on the soul. It cuts across all convention, morality and category. In it, you are understood as you are without mask or pretension.”

A Friendship Blessing by John O’Donohue

May you be blessed with good friends.
May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.
May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where
there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness.
May this change you.
May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you.
May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging.
May you treasure your friends.
May you be good to them and may you be there for them;
may they bring you all the blessing, challenges, truth,
and light that you need for your journey.
May you never be isolated.
May you always be in the gentle nest of belonging with your anam ċara.

Please tell us about your anam cara by sharing under comments.