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Shocking News about Sitting Quietly

July 14, 2014 by Julie Lusk

Does it sound appealing to you to have a little time all to yourself? Is some peace and quiet something you yearn for?

What if you were asked to sit still in a room by yourself for 6 to 15 minutes? Could you make it without your smartphone, tablet, a book, something to doodle on or listen to? As it turns out, this is really hard for most people.

In a study published in Science on hundreds of participants in a series of 11 experiments, over half the volunteers reported it as not enjoyable on a 9-point scale. It was hard to concentrate and their minds wandered. It was not fun at all. In fact, one experiment showed that 67% of men and 25% of women chose to give themselves a mild electrical shock instead of being quiet doing nothing. This was even after testing out the shock beforehand with most saying they would pay $5 instead of feeling the shock again. Click on the image for more info.

Really? A lot of folks would rather be shocked than have quiet time? No wonder it’s so hard for people when waiting in line, stuck in traffic, or lying awake at night. Is that why so many people avoid meditation even when knowing how beneficial it is? Does it mean that people don’t value ‘think time’ or daydreaming? Perhaps, so many people don’t like time for aimless thinking because they don’t know how to tame their mind or have forgotten how to be quiet or don’t value it. What are your thoughts on this?

Unstructured ‘think time’ happens throughout the day, doesn’t it. Is that why so many people grab their smartphone as soon as a free minute appears? This even happens while driving. Have you had the urge to check your texts, email or the weather at a stop light rather than look out the window or even listen to the music playing? You’re not ‘alone.’ According to this study, half of us don’t like having quiet “thinking time.”

So now what? I think it’s a good idea to learn how to get used to having free time again by learning some healthy mental habits. This would take the stinging frustration out of waiting, for example. It will even build up your brain power.

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section. I’m curious about what you have to say.

Here are some great ideas for when free time comes about accidentally or on purpose.

[Read more…]

Details Chakra Chart

Finally! It’s all in one place. This Chakra Chart is complete.

Chakra Chart

Finally! A complete Chakra Chart with all the chakra names, locations, colors, sounds, yoga postures, breathing techniques, psychological & energetic influences and more. There's handy tips for using the chart on the reverse side. It's 8 1/2 by 14" and laminated. CLICK on the blue title link above to find out more...

Learn all about the chakra names, locations, colors, sounds, crystals, yoga postures, breath work, goddess archetypes, psychological & energetic influences and more.

It’s laminated and 81/2″ by 14″ with information on both sides.

This chakra chart is handy and helpful!

Learn more about chakras here.

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How To use the chart for balancing your chakras.

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the chakra names, locations, and characteristics of each chakra. Here are some ideas for getting started.

: This Chakra Chart (C) is for personal use only and not duplication. Get your beautiful, laminated chart at http://WholesomeResources.com

Balanced Chakra Energy: Maintain balance with continued healthy attitudes, behaviors, emotions and appropriate yoga postures, breathing practices and activities.

Unbalanced Chakra Energy: Examine the chakra’s lessons, rights, responsibilities and challenges to determine what areas need improvement and make suitable changes. Practice the breathing practices, yoga postures and other healing activities and healthy behaviors. Set an intention and enhance it with the musical notes, instruments and crystals. Practice self-care and get competent help from others as needed. In addition:

Excessive Chakra Energy: Use the chakra’s balancing color. Chant or sing the vowel sounds to send and release excess energy. “Too much of a good thing” is harmful so decrease behaviors that are excessive.

Deficient Chakra Energy: Use the chakra’s emanating color. Chant or sing the bija mantra sounds to increase and attract energy.

The Chakra Chart was originally published in Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices by Julie Lusk.
Sources include Anodea Judith, Jeff Migdow, Barbara Pritchard, Gene Jackson and Rosalyn Bruyere.

Chakra Chart
Finally! A complete Chakra Chart with all the chakra names, locations, colors, sounds, yoga postures, breathing techniques, psychological & energetic influences and more. There's handy tips for using the chart on the reverse side. It's 8 1/2 by 14" and laminated. CLICK on the blue title link above to find out more...
Quantity:
Price: $11.99Price: $13.99

Take a 2-hour nap in 10 minutes

June 9, 2014 by John

Take a 2-hour nap in 10 minutes. It feels great!

https://wholesomeresources.com/3169/3169/

Eye Exercises to Improve Vision

October 20, 2018 by Julie Lusk

Computer and device screens seem to torture your eyes causing them to become tired and dry in no time at all. Poor lighting, glare, dry air, and constantly staring at the monitor all contribute to eye strain.

Chances are good that it’s hard to recognize how exhausted your eyes are until they feel tired and dry or your head aches. Here are a few preliminary steps you can take to avoid such strains:

If possible, adjust the screen colors so they aren’t too hard on your eyes; try soft colors for a nice change.
Avoid glare by choosing a place for your computer that doesn’t reflect windows or lights. Remember to wipe your screen off regularly.
Remember to look away from your screen every fifteen minutes or so. It’s too hard on your eyes to do such close work without a break. Do it now!

Eye Movements

After a while, eye muscles tire out and it becomes harder to focus. To prevent this from happening, you can practice these eye movements. They will strengthen your eye muscles and eyesight and stimulate the brain. Visual, auditory, and sensory perception can increase. Do them sitting up, standing, or lying down.

Here’s How

Start doing the eye movements slowly and pick up the pace after you can do it smoothly without jerks.
Switch off by first paying more attention to the eye movements than to the visual effects. Next, take a moment to focus on both ends of they eye stretch.
Remember to keep your head still as you do the eye movements. Let your facial muscles relax as well.

First Variation: Up and Down

With your head and neck evenly aligned and movement-free, look up as far as you can and try to see up and over your head. Then look down as if you would like to see under your chin. Keep doing this for about 15-20 times in a row.
Follow this by bringing your eyes back to center and blink them a couple of times.
Afterward, rest with your eyes closed and take several deep breaths.
Smile

Second Variation: Side to Side

This time look quickly to the right and try to see behind your ear, then rapidly look to the left and try to see behind your left ear. Keep looking back and forth for 15-20 times.
When finished, bring your eyes back to center.
Blink a few times and rest them with your eyes closed.
Smile

Third Variation: Eye Circles

Keep your head still and look up. Circle your eyes in a clockwise direction three times.
When finished, bring your eyes back to center and rest with closed eyes for a few breaths.
Circle your eyes in a counterclockwise direction three times.
Blink a few times and rest them with your eyes closed.
Smile

Palming will rest and relax your eyes, calm your nerves, and quiet your mind. Your respiration will increase as long as you remember to breathe deeply and fully.

Rub your hands rapidly together with your palms and fingers touching. Keep rubbing until you feel the generation of some heat and energy.
Next, rest your elbows on your desk.
Cup your hands and gently place them over your closed eyes (no glasses). Let the warmth and darkness soothe your eyes.
Take several long and easy breaths as you imagine the tiredness being released with your out-breath, and energy and vitality returning with your in-breath.
Smile

Chidakasha: Quieting the Mind by Stilling the Eyes Using the sense of sight is a very effective centering technique. Doing so can have a beneficial effect on the brain as well. Have you ever noticed that you can still see even with your eyes closed? All that is needed is to try. You might see it as darkness, designs, colors, spots, or a combination. It does not matter. What matters is passively focusing your attention on what is being seen and watching it as it changes. Have fun watching whatever appears as it comes and goes on the inside screen of your closed eyelids. This brings you into the moment and quickly settles down mental restlessness. Yogis refer to watching this inner space of consciousness as Chidakasha. ( Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief, page 115)

Note: If somebody catches you doing this, be prepared to say something clever like, “Can’t a person even pray around here?” Your other option is to tell them what you’re doing and have them join in.

Notice the benefits and smile.

This one of the many exercises you can do while at your keyboard, in your car, or whenever you want to feel better.

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 workshop 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 audio downloads and CDs include Wholesome Relaxation, Power of Presence, Yoga Nidra Essentials, Blue Moon Rising, and many others. Learn more at WholesomeResources.com

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.