Wholesome Resources

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

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
View Cart
  • Home
  • Julie Lusk
    • About Wholesome Resources
    • About Julie Lusk
    • Education, Training, Publications & Experience
    • Testimonials
    • In the News
    • Tapin Family History
  • Classes & Workshops
    • All Yoga Class & Retreat Schedules | Local (Cincinnati OH area) | National
    • Virtual Yoga with Julie Lusk on Zoom
      • Virtual Yoga Nidra with Julie Lusk
      • Virtual Yoga Postures, Mindfulness & More Class with Julie Lusk
    • National & International Events
    • Yoga Nidra Teacher Training
    • SoulCollage® Workshops – Milford, OH – Cincinnati area
      • SoulCollage® Supplies
    • Private Lessons, Consults, Coaching
    • Yoga on Demand – Coming Soon!
  • Shop
    • Complete Catalog
    • Books in Print & eBooks
    • CD’s
    • Audio Downloads
    • Special Savings
  • Cart
  • Book Julie
    • Yoga Meditation Retreats, Teacher Trainings
    • Business, Organization, Conference Speaker
    • Private Lessons, Consults, Coaching
    • Testimonials
  • Resource Library
    • Yoga Articles, Videos & Links
    • Yoga Nidra: Info & Resources
      • Yoga Nidra FAQ: Real Relaxation, Meditation & Much More
      • Yoga Nidra’s Benefits
      • Yoga Nidra Teacher Training
        • Certified Yoga Nidra Teachers
        • Ethical Matters for Yoga Nidra Professional Training Course
      • Yoga Nidra FAQ on Setting Intentions & Sankalpas
      • Savasana: Yoga’s Relaxation Pose
      • Yoga Nidra and Sleep
      • Yoga Nidra for Complete Relaxation & Stress Relief
      • Yoga Nidra Meditations: 24 Scripts for True Relaxation
    • Meditation, Relaxation, Guided Imagery Techniques & Articles
    • Yoga Sayings, Quotes, Poems
    • Best Yoga Mantras & Chants
    • Desktop Yoga
    • Chakra Chart
    • Wellness
    • Stress Relief
    • Mind Body Mastery
    • Links
    • Disclaimer / Terms of Service
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Archives for metta meditation

Loving Kindness Face Lift

October 6, 2017 by Julie Lusk

Many thanks to Dan Leven for sharing this Loving Kindness Face Lift.  He was inspired by Sharon Salzberg’s book, Real Love.

As he puts it, “It begins with “may my face be happy, may my face be peaceful.”  And then you continue moving through each body part wishing them well in this way… “may my neck be happy, may my neck be peaceful … may my shoulders be happy, may my shoulders be peaceful,” and so on.   You open your heart’s kindness to your whole body (including to your own heart).”

It’s a great way to start and end the day.  I love it.  I really go to town with spreading happiness and peace throughout my entire body.  I enjoy coming up with new places to shower with loving kindness with each practice such as for my brain, blood, eyes and ears – even my hair.  Before long, it’s going out to family, friends, pets, strangers and to all kinds of situations.  This meditation is especially handy when my attention is restless since it lets me jump all around.  It can be any length too – long or short.  It sure feels uplifting.

Dan goes on to explain the science underpinning it.  He says, “the vagus nerve is a core part of our parasympathetic nervous system that has two branches.  One branch is associated with surviving in a perceived life or death situation where our whole body slows down, feigning death (a primitive survival mechanism).  The other branch is about helping us relax and soften into the loving support of others and is associated with the release of oxytocin (the cuddle or bonding molecule).  Both branches are about our relationship to “others”: dangerous “others” or safe and loving “others.”

Here’s the kicker he reports, “the vagus nerve has many fibers that connect to our facial muscles where we reveal our emotions through a plenitude of expressions.  Scientists have logged 21 different emotional expressions that register within the face and there are 8 universal emotional facial expressions that you don’t need a translator to interpret.  So our face can register the vagal response from shock and terror, like a deer in the headlights of a moving car (survival vagus nerve), to happiness and peace, like a contented Buddha face (loving vagus nerve)!  However, we can also create the response as we bring happiness and peace to our faces!”

So the KEY point, according to Dan, “is that as you invite or train your facial muscles to discover happiness and peace you are strengthening the relaxation response that’s linked to feeling supportive or loving connection with others -to feeling safe in the world.”

Come on – Give it a shot!

PS.  May you be happy and peaceful!

Filed Under: Meditation / Guided Imagery, Misc Musings, Relaxation Exercises, Stress Relief / Management Tagged With: loving kindness face lift, metta meditation

My Anthem: In These Arms ~ A Song for All Beings

January 2, 2013 by Julie Lusk

In the midst of personal and global suffering and confusion…

“May all beings be happy, safe and free.”

You can watch Jennifer Berezan sing this metta meditation here.   It’s called In These Arms: A Song for All Beings.  This is my anthem for this this year.

Filed Under: Meditation / Guided Imagery, Yoga and Meditation Quotes, Sayings, Poems Tagged With: In thse arms a song for all beings, Jennifer Berezan, lovinglindness meditation, may all beings be happy safe and free, metta meditation, metta music video

Your Shopping Cart

Items in Your Cart

Your cart is empty
Visit The Shop

Newsletter Signup

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

Recent Posts

  • Get-a-Dose of MindBody Bliss
  • Calling Your Spirit Back
  • Handling Distractions
  • Mindfulness Meditation Warnings & Alerts
  • Yoga Nidra and Your Brain Wave Fluctuations

News Flash

Click here for my latest book & free audio download of the 3 main yoga nidra exercises! It's as relaxing as it is … [Read More...]

Julie T. Lusk, M.Ed.

Wholesome Resources

Milford, OH 45150

Greater Cincinnati Area

513-248-YOGA (9642)

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

Join Our Network

Join Our Network

Please Share This Page

Free Newsletter Signup

Privacy Policy & Use of Cookies

Site content Copyright © 2005-2022 – Wholesome Resources – All Rights Reserved
Site administration by The Small Business Website Guy