Yoga Nidra Teacher
Training & Certification ~ Levels 1 & 2
for Teachers & Health Professionals

 with Julie Lusk, M.Ed., E-RYT-500, YACEP  

Author of

Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief (NHP)

Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation (Llewellyn) 

Numerous yoga nidra, guided relaxation and imagery books & recordings

See Julie Lusk’s qualifications here

Yoga Nidra means “yogic sleep.”  It is conscious, complete relaxation that is tremendously healing for the body, mind, and spirit.  Progressive relaxation skills, specialized breathing techniques, guided imagery, and mindfulness are systematically used to easily create a deeply meditative state that reliably reveals and awakens an inner reservoir of intuitive understanding and unconditional joy. Unique skills are developed for handling stress and tension in the short term and for the long run.  Yoga nidra is fundamental to a complete hatha yoga session and can also be done as a complete practice on its own.

Yoga nidra is based on authentic yoga teachings and backed by contemporary science.  Studies have shown that yoga nidra can boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, decrease pain, and improve other health conditions.  Regular practice can improve memory, concentration, and relieve anxiety and depression.  Using a sankalpa (special, self-selected resolve) during the fertile brain wave states experienced during yoga nidra makes it possible to clear out useless habits and bring about positive and durable changes to one’s personality and life. It’s delightfully replenishing and empowering.

Since yoga nidra is so powerful, it is critical that it is taught to others correctly.  Attending this workshop and training will give you the tools and resources needed to lead others effectively and how to avoid dangerous pitfalls.  You will gain the know-how and confidence needed to offer yoga nidra for groups and individuals.  Your clients and students will feel centered, increase bodymind awareness, enhance relaxation, make positive behavior changes, help heal emotional and physical upsets, and enhance self-understanding.

Who is this yoga nidra teacher training for?

These trainings are appropriate for yoga teachers, therapists, healthcare professionals, pastors, and other helping professionals.  You do not have to be a yoga teacher to do this.  This yoga nidra teacher training is approved for CEU’s by the Yoga Alliance.  Other health professionals may qualify for CEU’s.

Here’s what 3 graduates want you to know!

Register Now! Limited enrollment

• Level 1 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 1
  • • In-Person – Sept 15-20, 2023
    • Hosted by Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
    • Details & registration link
• Level 2 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 2
  • TBA
  • Prerequisite – Level 1
  • Hosted by Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
  • Details & registration link

Level 1:  Yoga Nidra Training Objectives

• Be able to describe the essential principles, practices and benefits of yoga nidra and why it matters
• Describe yoga nidra’s heritage from its ties to yoga to contemporary science
• List the benefits, risks, and ethics of leading yoga nidra
• List the five sequential levels of relaxation: distinguishing characteristics, benefits, and how to experience each one
• Learn and demonstrate how to help others experience progressive levels of awareness that correspond to the layers of oneself, called koshas, that conceals one’s true Self
• Learn and demonstrate how to lead relaxation techniques, specialized breathing methods, guided imagery, mindfulness and other mindbody techniques used in yoga nidra
• Explain how to help clients develop positive, personal characteristics and bring a meaningful purpose to one’s life by setting and using a self-selected resolve, called a sankalpa, during certain stages of yoga nidra
• Know how to create the right atmosphere and select music. Be equipped at handling distractions.
• Demonstrate voice quality, wording, sequencing, timing and pacing
• Experience yoga nidra first-hand and receive its benefits personally
• Practice leading others to gain the skills needed for your classes, clients, and students.
• Get your questions answered.

Watch what these graduates say about their experience

Upon completion of Level 1 training, graduates will:

• Be able to teach yoga nidra for overall health in group and private settings

  

• Use yoga nidra for personal self-care
• Have an understanding of the principles and practices of yoga nidra and its uses and benefits
• Receive a certificate upon completion of the training
• Yoga Alliance Approved for CEU’s
• Obtain CEU contact hours (varies per profession)

Textbooks |

Required
Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief by Julie Lusk 

Highly Recommended
Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation Print Book or Audiobook by Julie Lusk  

Additional training materials will be provided

 Register Now!  Limited enrollment

• Level 1 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 1
  • • In-Person – Sept 15-20, 2023
    • Hosted by Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
    • Details & registration link
• Level 2 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 2
  • • TBA
    • Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
    • Prerequisite – Level 1
    • Details & registration link

Level 2:  Yoga Nidra Training Objectives

Level 2 trainings can be customized to cover these and other topics pertinent to the advancement of yoga nidra understanding, practice, and delivery.  Yoga nidra training from Julie Lusk is required prior to enrollment in a Level 2 training.  If you have successfully completed training from another qualified yoga nidra trainer (iRest, Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra, Marc Halpern, etc), please inquire to see if you are you are eligible for this training.

Julie is uniquely qualified to show you how to write your own scripts. By writing Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation, she worked with the leading yoga nidra experts worldwide. This gave her a comprehensive perspective on all the major yoga nidra methods available and how to apply them in a wide range of settings, purposes, and populations.  You’ll confidently write scripts based on the spirit of classical yoga and backed by modern, mind-body science.

• Use and deepen one’s understanding of yoga nidra’s purpose, principles, techniques and delivery
• Demonstrate advanced skills, techniques and variations in leading:
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Breath-work
  • Guided imagery
  • Mindfulness
  • Other mindbody techniques
• Design and demonstrate how to write one’s own scripts
• Demonstrate how to adapt yoga nidra for specific needs and populations such as:
  • Stress management
  • Physical health (health concerns and medical conditions like insomnia, inflammation, hypertension, etc.)
  • Mental and emotional well-being
  • Behavior change
  • Various age groups / in diverse settings
• Explain and integrate chakra theory and techniques to enhance yoga nidra
• Use of mudras (hand gestures) to enhance yoga nidra
• Demonstrate how to integrate yoga nidra into one’s classes, workshops, and with individuals
• Get practical tips on designing, marketing, implementing, and evaluating yoga nidra workshops

Upon completion of Level 2 training, graduates will:

• Be able to teach yoga nidra in groups and private settings in sync with the purpose of the particular training
• Use yoga nidra for advanced personal self-care
• Have an understanding of the advanced principles and practices of yoga nidra and its uses and benefits
• Receive a certificate upon completion of the training
• Yoga Alliance Approved for CEU’s
• Obtain CEU contact hours (varies per profession)
  

  ---

Textbooks |

Required
1. Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief by Julie Lusk
2. Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation Print Book or Audiobook by Julie Lusk 
3. One additional Yoga Nidra book of your choice

4. Additional training materials will be provided

Register Now!  Limited enrollment

• Level 1 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 1
  • • In-Person – Sept 15-20, 2023
    • Hosted by Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
    • Details & registration link
• Level 2 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 2
  • • TBA
    • Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
    • Prerequisite – Level 1
    • Details & registration link

Trainer 

Julie Lusk, MEd, E-RYT 500, NCC, focuses on opening, balancing, and strengthening the body-mind-spirit connection through yoga, meditation, transformative relaxation, and guided imagery based on more than 30 years of study and experience. She is an internationally published author and recording artist whose books include Yoga Nidra Meditations,  Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation and Stress Relief, and Yoga Meditations: Timeless Mind-Body Practices for Awakening and 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing, Vols. 1 and Vol 2. Julie is president of Wholesome Resources.  The retreats, trainings, and seminars she presents are relaxing, reflective and revitalizing.  She is talented in bringing the best out in others through her depth of knowledge, natural lightheartedness, and caring nature.  See additional qualifications here.

Contact Julie Lusk to schedule a training for yourself or for your yoga studio, meditation center, or special group.  

Yoga Alliance Approved. 

Call 513-248-9642 (ET)

Register Now!  Limited enrollment

• Level 1 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 1
  • • • Online – Jan 5 – 28, 2023
      • Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
      • Details & registration link
• Level 2 – Yoga Nidra Training & Certification – Level 2
  • • • TBA
      • Satchidananda Ashram – Yogaville in Virginia
      • Prerequisite – Level 1
      • Details & registration link

Playing your Native American Style Flute | There are no wrong notes! All notes harmonize melodically. Reading music is not needed.

Go HERE for handy playing tips, flute care & troubleshooting for Native American style flutes.   

Music Learn to play songs using a unique way of ‘reading music.’  Pictures of what notes to cover and uncover are used instead of reading traditional music.  This makes learning very easy to play. Here is the basic scale. 

• Fundamentals
  • Scales and Arpeggios.  Get started on the minor pentatonic and major scales. Enjoy advancing to arpeggios, the blues scale, mixolydian and mode 4 pentatonic scales. All on 1-page! Get a chart of musical terms and markings to read timing, embellishments, etc.
  • Templates Julie devised in 2020 to write out your own music. Simply use the staff paper lines to make 6 vertical circles for each finger hole. Next, pencil in the circles to show which holes to cover.  Lyrics go on the dotted lines in between.  The half page format has room below for notes and instructions. Use the full page format for longer songs. Happy creating!
  • Chakra Tone Chart See the yoga (Vedic) and Tibetan notes and tones used for balancing chakras by either increasing or decreasing their energy with sound. Yoga (Vedic) notes and tones are based on the diatonic scale. Tibetan tones and notes are based upon the perfect 5th.  Try both to see what is best for you.  Learn more about chakras here.
  • Easy Hand Warm-ups Here’s a great 5-minute series of hand movements & mudras to help your fingers, wrists & hands with easy-to-remember names for each one. Great for musicians & anyone with stiff, painful fingers, hands or wrists. Learn the Hakini Mudra, Beak, Bug, Claw, Paw, Seed, Web, Wings, Eagle & Hridaya. Thank you Christine Stevens at Upbeat Drum Circles for interviewing me.

• Songs
  • Cherokee Morning Song (Wendeyaho) arranged by Clint Goss
  • Cherokee Lullaby (traditional) and a Peace Mantra variation by Julie Lusk
  • Creative Spirit by Julie Lusk
  • May Peace Prevail by Julie Lusk
  • Metta May We Be Well by Julie Lusk

• Embellishments
  • Bird and animal sounds

Lessons | Learn to play music quickly and confidently with lessons.  Here are some of our favorite teachers. Most teach online and in-person. Look for them on YouTube and get their newsletter.  

• Christine Stevens. Take her free course on 3 tips for playing Native Flute for Sound Healing, at Upbeat Drum Circles on YouTube  and on the Shift Network.
• Clint Goss Music Facilitation and World Flutes.  He offers a free 800 page Flutopedia Manual that is amazing.
• Julie Lusk offers online and in-person lessons to learn to play the flute as well as how to play the reverie harp, tongue drum, thumb piano, and other similar instruments.  Music lesson details and registration or  Contact Julie here.
• Jonny Lipford Music
• Miami Valley Flute Circle of Ohio
• Stellar Flutes provide flutes, video lessons, and kits to make your own flute.

Handy Links

• MusicSmith Flutes Info 
• Store| Native American style wood flutes for sale
• Playing tips, flute care, troubleshooting
• Flute Music | Scales | Embellishments | Lessons
• Musical Sound Bath Tune Up
• Music lesson details and registration
• Contact us anytime.

Contact us anytime about flutes & lessons

By appointment only ♥ Not a retail store.

by Julie Lusk

30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing provides

• Reliable ways to relax, get stress relief and boost your energy
• Ways to look inside yourself so you can make valuable, well-informed decisions.
• Uncover a powerful resource – our intuition and instincts
• Safely benefit from your true feelings

PRINT BOOK: 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing - Volume 2 - NEW Print Edition

Enjoy and benefit from over 30 scripts for learning and leading guided relaxation and imagery techniques. Volume 2. CLICK on the blue title link above to find out more...

EBOOK Edition: 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing - Volume 2 -EBOOK Edition

Enjoy and benefit from over 30 scripts for learning and leading guided relaxation and imagery techniques. Volume 2. CLICK the green title link to find out more...

30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery and Inner Healing is packed full of

• Fresh, easy-to-follow relaxation scripts
  to use personally or with others
• Designed for professionals and semi-professionals
• Includes strategies for stress relief and relaxation training exercises
  • Progressive muscular relaxation
  • Breathing techniques
  • Creative visualization
  • Guided imagery and guided meditation
    

    

Benefit now – Buy now

• Discover answers you’ve been searching for
• Benefit from the power of relaxation to heal
• Manage your feelings smoothly
• Gain personal power and peace

Table of Contents:  30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing   –  Vol.  2

Julie Lusk
Whole Person Associates Publisher

Becoming Relaxed
The cornerstone of all guided imagery work lies in the ability to relax the body, mind, and emotions. This is true whether you would like to awaken your intuition, communicate with your inner guide, connect with nature, or benefit from the healing visualizations. You will be wasting your time if you don’t relax first.

Practice the following exercises until you become comfortable doing them. The method used for relaxing isn’t important; being able to relax is. Relaxation opens the door to your inner resources. Try out each exercise several times and choose the ones that work best for you.

After you’ve mastered the relaxation exercises, explore the different types of guided visualizations in the other sections of this book, or of those from volume 1.

• Relaxing while Lying Down
  Learn to  lie down and relax by alternately tensing and relaxing all muscle groups and by mentally releasing tension. (10 minutes)
• Expanding and Contracting
  This short relaxation exercise, performed while lying down, combines progressive relaxation with breathing and body scanning techniques. (4 minutes)
• Magic Carpet Ride
  This deep breathing exercise works well for people who have difficulty with relaxed breathing. (15 minutes)
• Threshold Relaxation
  In this exercise, you will slightly tense a specific part of their body until it begins to feel tense. Once tension is felt, it is held a moment and then relaxed. Threshold Relaxation teaches participants to be sensitive to small changes in the body. Through practice (several times a day at first) the body learns what relaxation feels like in each muscle and how to regulate itself in automatic and unconscious ways. (12 minutes)
• Heavy
  This script helps you experience the freshness of spirit and calmness of mind that results from passive attention to the rhythm of their breathing and the relaxed heaviness in their hands and feet. (15 minutes)
• Warm
  This autogenic relaxation routine asks participants to gently focus on warmth spreading through their bodies, bringing complete relaxation and a sense of personal peace and renewal. (15 minutes)
• Relaxation Training for Children
  This entertaining relaxation script is perfect for children (and adults) because it teaches them how to tense and relax their muscles while utilizing their fantasy and imagination skills. (12 minutes)

Nature and the Environment
This section contains a variety of guided meditations that will help deepen your ability to relax and sharpen your ability to visualize, whether you visualize by using your imagination to see, feel, smell, or hear the scenes described. When you practice using all your senses, your experience will be enriched.

Getting in touch with nature is soothing, inspiring, and healing. To get the most out of these visualizations, first take the time to thoroughly relax. Remember to briefly describe the content of the guided visualization to the people you are working with. If a particular setting makes anyone uncomfortable, select a different script.

• Finding Your Own Sacred Place
  Participants are gently guided into a relaxed state of being and then given instructions for discovering and exploring a comfortable, personal sacred place. (20 minutes)
• Mountain Tops
  A mountain top is the setting for this relaxing journey to relaxation and renewal. (8 minutes)
• Caribbean Vacation
  This guided meditation promotes inner peace, beauty, renewal, and release of negativity. Participants are encouraged to feel connected and grounded to the universe. (10 minutes)
• Mighty Pine
  Participants take an imaginary walk into a grove of trees to find a mighty pine tree from which they draw strength and energy. (10 minutes)
• Listening to Mother Earth
  This script can help participants experience their connection to Mother Earth and learn from her wisdom. (5 minutes)
• Flying
  This script begins with a relaxation exercise that emphasizes the feelings of heaviness and lightness to help participants more fully experience the imagery of flying. (20 minutes)
• Hot Tubbing
  Participants experience feelings of peace and understanding by imagining they are lounging in an outdoor hot tub. (5 minutes)

Inner Answers
Using the guided imagery exercises in this section will help you listen to what you already know. In other words, you will awaken your intuition to help you be consistent and in alignment with your own inner, individual truth.

These scripts are written to unlock your creative potential, provide you with insights, help you see patterns and possibilities, and understand yourself better. In order for this to happen, it is crucial to relax your body and quiet your mind first. So be sure to use a relaxation exercise whenever you are instructed to do so.

Read Awakening Intuition by Frances E. Vaughan for more information about accessing your intuitive self.

• Cruise Meditation
  This script helps participants receive special messages from their own personal inner guide. (8 minutes)
• Imagery for Nurturing Your Inner Child
  In this guided imagery, each participant is invited to meet and lovingly nurture his or her inner child. (10 minutes)
• Your Private Space
  This visualization works well with individuals in weight classes and in other classes dealing with the need for boundaries, protection, positive body image, healing, and unconditional love. (15 minutes)
• Body, Mind, Soul
  Help your clients get in touch with their body, mind, and soul while they increase personal awareness and create personal strength and well-being. (8 minutes)
• Visiting Your Heart’s House
  In this script, participants equip themselves to meet lifeís challenges by receiving insightful and helpful gifts from an ancient chest located in their heart’s house. (18 minutes)

PRINT BOOK: 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing - Volume 2 - NEW Print Edition

Enjoy and benefit from over 30 scripts for learning and leading guided relaxation and imagery techniques. Volume 2. CLICK on the blue title link above to find out more...

EBOOK Edition: 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing - Volume 2 -EBOOK Edition

Enjoy and benefit from over 30 scripts for learning and leading guided relaxation and imagery techniques. Volume 2. CLICK the green title link to find out more...

Healing
The mind and body are one, and what you believe and feel are reflected in your body. Sometimes your thoughts may lead to illness, aches, and pains; and other times, they can lead to exhilarating feelings of joy, pleasure, and peacefulness. Likewise, the condition of your body and the way it is feeling affect your thoughts. This is why it is impossible to worry when you feel relaxed.

Much of the benefits derived from the following healing imageries come from the necessary first step of calming and centering the body and mind. Therefore, it is important to perform a relaxation exercise whenever a script calls for one. Read the works of Bernie Siegel, Jeanne Achterberg, Joan Borysenko, Patrick Fanning, and Deepak Chopra for an in-depth look at how and why healing imageries work.

• Healing Firemen
  This visualization was developed for aiding in the healing process for any illness. It is particularly well-suited for cancer patients who are receiving radiation treatment or taking drugs. (12 minutes)
• At Peace with Pain
  This visualization is designed to help meet the challenge of severe and persistent pain. It relies on the paradox of acceptance and surrender as a way of gaining power, not of giving up. (20 minutes)
• Pond of Love
  In this script, participants sit beside an imaginary pond that radiates love. Endless variations can be created by substituting different characteristics and virtues radiating from the pond. For instance, the pond may be full of peace, understanding, or forgiveness. You may also want to let participants choose the characteristics on their own. (8 minutes)
• Inner Smile
  This gentle relaxation exercise has its roots in Zen meditation and will leave participants feeling inner harmony and happiness. (10 minutes)
• Thoughts Library
  This script can help participants control wandering, stressful, distracting thoughts by having them exchange these thoughts for relaxing ones. Participants visualize putting away unwanted thoughts in a book with vinyl see-through pages and then opening up another imaginary book to experience a relaxing and beautiful ocean scene. (15 minutes)

Personal Growth
Many people find it hard to make decisions, and many others find it difficult to make positive lifestyle changes. If this is true for you or your clients, try out these guided visualizations. Give your body and mind the chance to work for you instead of against you.

Read Creative Visualization and Living in the Light by Shakti Gawain for a description of the principles used in these scripts.

As always, be certain to use a relaxation script whenever advised to do so, and feel free to modify these scripts to fit your situation.

• Visualizing Change
  In this script, participants spend time exploring and visualizing a desired behavioral change to enhance the change process. (10 minutes)
• Stop Smoking Relaxation Exercise
  This script is intended to be used in conjunction with a smoking cessation program or a strategies for quitting program. It begins with a passive progressive muscle relaxation exercise to put participants at ease then offers positive suggestions on becoming smoke-free. (18 minutes)
• Imagery to Increase Basal Metabolic Rate (Learning Script)
  This and the following imagery script focus on weight control by having participants imagine increasing their basal metabolic rates (BMR), which stands for the number of calories burned at rest. (12 minutes)
• Imagery to Increase Basal Metabolic Rate (Shorter Script)
  This script should be used after participants have gone through the preceding script several times. (8 minutes)
• Peace for People Experiencing Grief
  This gentle and loving script helps people deal with their grief by guiding them to a special place full of beauty and healing energy. In this place, the grief and pain surrounding loss begins to be soothed and relieved. (25 minutes)
• On Being a Wellness Professional
  This guided visualization helps participants discover a career path to follow that is in keeping with their inner talents and interests. Although it is written with a focus on professionals in the field of wellness, it can be adapted for almost any profession. (15 minutes)

PRINT BOOK: 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing - Volume 2 - NEW Print Edition

Enjoy and benefit from over 30 scripts for learning and leading guided relaxation and imagery techniques. Volume 2. CLICK on the blue title link above to find out more...

EBOOK Edition: 30 Scripts for Relaxation, Imagery & Inner Healing - Volume 2 -EBOOK Edition

Enjoy and benefit from over 30 scripts for learning and leading guided relaxation and imagery techniques. Volume 2. CLICK the green title link to find out more...