Culminating 13 months living as a volunteer English teacher in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, I sat at the local beach staring with awe at a most vivid sunset.  Not knowing what the next chapter of my life story read, I knew it was time to turn the page.  My heart-fire had been rekindled by much self-healing-- spiritually, mentally and physically—largely due to my personal yoga practice in asanas (postures), breath and daily living-- having survived the challenges of working and living in an unfamiliar and “less privileged” culture.  With a path now unclear, having left a life with much security in the U.S. for over a year, I was down to the essentials—a suitcase, a yoga mat and a passion to empower others to see their own ability to heal themselves, too, and thrive.  As I sat on the sand, I asked the universe for a sign, a compass to know what to do next.  The next moment, a stranger walked towards me, handed me a stuffed animal, said, “Este es para ti (This is for you),” and disappeared before I could respond.  The random panda bear held a heart that read, “I love you.” I was reassured that my heart, filled with my most joy-inspiring passions, is my compass.
 
I realized what you love most enduringly in life serves a divine purpose to steer you on your path.  Trusting yourself is key.  As a young child, I aspired, “When I grow up, I want to be a teacher on the weekdays and a physical therapist on the weekends.”  Teaching mind-body-spirit wellness through yoga and body-breath connection has filled my heart with gratitude, as we have built this community (Root 2 Rise Yoga) of lovers of life since 2010.    
 
Today I’m honored to share with you the experiences, culture and land that inspired much clarity, simplicity and joy that continue to steer me through life’s journey. Immersing in the pure love evident in nature—from luscious rainforest trees to cleansing waters in rivers, waterfalls, ocean, and even your own purifying perspiration in the warm tropics—I trust you’ll bring home many treasures in your heart from our upcoming trip this summer.  I hope you’ll create the opportunity for yourself to join us in practicing just how to embrace pura vida (or pure life)-- as the Ticos (or Costa Ricans) say.  Root 2 Rise Yoga’s 3rd Annual Yoga, Culture & Adventure Retreat is July 16-23, 2016.  Please visit here to learn about my favorite inspiring destinations and activities there we’ll explore.​Culminating 13 months living as a volunteer English teacher in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, I sat at the local beach staring with awe at a most vivid sunset.  Not knowing what the next chapter of my life story read, I knew it was time to turn the page.  My heart-fire had been rekindled by much self-healing-- spiritually, mentally and physically—largely due to my personal yoga practice in asanas (postures), breath and daily living-- having survived the challenges of working and living in an unfamiliar and “less privileged” culture.  With a path now unclear, having left a life with much security in the U.S. for over a year, I was down to the essentials—a suitcase, a yoga mat and a passion to empower others to see their own ability to heal themselves, too, and thrive.  As I sat on the sand, I asked the universe for a sign, a compass to know what to do next.  The next moment, a stranger walked towards me, handed me a stuffed animal, said, “Este es para ti (This is for you),” and disappeared before I could respond.  The random panda bear held a heart that read, “I love you.” I was reassured that my heart, filled with my most joy-inspiring passions, is my compass.
 
I realized what you love most enduringly in life serves a divine purpose to steer you on your path.  Trusting yourself is key.  As a young child, I aspired, “When I grow up, I want to be a teacher on the weekdays and a physical therapist on the weekends.”  Teaching mind-body-spirit wellness through yoga and body-breath connection has filled my heart with gratitude, as we have built this community (Root 2 Rise Yoga) of lovers of life since 2010.    
 
Today I’m honored to share with you the experiences, culture and land that inspired much clarity, simplicity and joy that continue to steer me through life’s journey. Immersing in the pure love evident in nature—from luscious rainforest trees to cleansing waters in rivers, waterfalls, ocean, and even your own purifying perspiration in the warm tropics—I trust you’ll bring home many treasures in your heart from our upcoming trip this summer.  I hope you’ll create the opportunity for yourself to join us in practicing just how to embrace pura vida (or pure life)-- as the Ticos (or Costa Ricans) say.  Root 2 Rise Yoga’s 3rd Annual Yoga, Culture & Adventure Retreat is July 16-23, 2016.  Please visit here to learn about my favorite inspiring destinations and activities there we’ll explore.

​Follow Your Heart was the appropriate meeting place, a natural foods restaurant that embraces yogi living, for my lunch interview with Janette Ramirez, this month’s featured yogi.  
 
Thrilled to celebrate the completion of her 200-hour yoga teaching certification, Janette radiated with passion for the practice as she reminisced when her yoga practice began in 2011, her first class with us at North Hollywood YMCA.  Through the years, she discovered her favorite yoga pose, Warrior 2, became her progress meter on her yoga journey.  “I remember you (Michelle) used to always correct me because I would over-arch my lower back.  I was all over the place—physically and mentally.”  Over time and much practice, she re-trained her spine to find its upright direction in Warrior 2 and steadied her focus in yoga on and off the mat.  Similarly, she found grounding during major life transitions and awakened her desire to learn more about yoga and pursue teaching it. 
 
With a dreamy smile, she described the moment when she knew she had fallen in love with yoga. In Costa Rica on our yoga retreat, practicing walking yoga in the warm rain, our group gathered in a circle at the beach, “It felt very peaceful,” Janette remembers, “Yoga makes me realize what I want from life.  It got me by my feet and (rooted me) down (to earth).  Yoga is my medicine.  With yoga, I have a balanced life.   If I have a balanced life, I’m healthy.”