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Root 2 Rise Yoga with Michelle Chua
  • Home
  • About Michelle Chua
  • Join eNews
  • Weekly Classes
    • Energy Exchange
    • Free Online Yoga
  • Community Events
    • Yoga & Vegan Nutrition Workshop
    • Integrative Yoga
    • Soul Movement
  • Retreats
    • Earth Day 2023
    • Peru 2023 Retreat
    • Bali 2023 Retreat
    • Custom Retreat
  • Workplace Wellness
  • Private Yoga Sessions
  • Blog
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  • Privacy Policy
Root 2 Rise Yoga with Michelle Chua

A Blog About Living Yoga

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There! by Michelle Chua

1/24/2021
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Ever feel anxiety that you’re not doing enough? In my first few months adapting to volunteer life teaching in Costa Rica, my host family’s most common word to me was, “tranquila,” or relax. In their eyes, I seemed to constantly be seeking something, so often doing and trying to get somewhere and get things done. I mentally kicked and screamed, resisting their slower pace of life that seemed to trust ambiguity and even embrace the unknown through the Costa Rican philosophy of pura vida, or “pure life,” meaning “it’s all good.”
Through plenty of alone time with my inner critic and daily yoga and journaling, I gradually realized that at the root of my relentless pulse to keep busy sat a deep feeling of unworthiness and constant need to feel more useful. Also, I longed for a sense of control to appease my fear and lack of trust in life and myself. Becoming aware of these root causes, I starting giving myself permission to play more, be okay with uncertainty and find a balance between work, rest, play, creating, solitude and socializing. I spoke to myself more kindly and cultivated self-trust. I learned about quality of presence over quantity of achievements.

Slowly I was un-gripping life and letting it flow. Oh, is that what pura vida meant?!

So much changed in the months after, as if layers of tension had melted and I could see and enjoy simple things more intimately. Ultimately, this led to wanting to share the practices that awakened me to inner joy by training to become a yoga teacher.

With gratitude I’ll be sharing these introspective yoga tools that gifted me such grace this Thursday at Integrative Yoga Night focusing on Living in Balance. We’ll calm the nervous system and open the body through gentle Yin Yoga, breathe more deeply using yogic techniques, cultivate nonjudgmental self-awareness through guided meditation, trust our inner guidance through self-inquiry journaling and share insight and support through conversation. This nurturing space is for you to redefine what a balanced life means for you. You might think of it as a mini-retreat at home.
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​Join us for this donation-based Zoom gathering on 1/28 6-7pm PT. Click the image below to RSVP:
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    A Collective Blog about Yoga Lifestyle & Inspiration 
    by Michelle Chua & Guest Authors

    Find Michelle's bio here.

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REviews of Root 2 Rise Yoga with Michelle chua:

Michelle truly lives out what she teaches. She is so much more than a yoga teacher - I learned this when I went on her exquisitely curated trip that she organized to Costa Rica this past June 2018...Hopefully like me, you'll be delighted by her effervescent love of movement, nature, and all people!
-Rebekah B. (Virginia, USA) *See more YELP Reviews
Michelle clearly stands out with her beautiful and bright energy. I love how her practice and teaching encompass body, mind and spirit. She not only teaches yoga but lives and exudes it.
-Marianne Manes (Los Angeles, CA)
Michelle not only teaches 'yoga', she embodies it fully with her heart and soul...
​-Christin M. (Los Angeles, CA) *See more YELP Reviews
Michelle is by far one of the best instructors I've ever had, period. Patient, clear in her explanations and demos, and so encouraging...
-Jessica L. (North Hollywood, CA) *See more YELP Reviews
My first yoga class was with Michelle years ago.  ​You can have the best (yoga pose) sequence and not teach from your heart.  With Michelle, I also feel her passion when I'm in her class.  I can see she loves what she does, and she inspired me to want to teach yoga, too.
-Janette Guzman (Certified Yoga Teacher in Northridge, CA)

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I'm so grateful to have met Michelle! Her kind energy opened up my interest in pursuing yoga and meditation. She is such an incredibly light and soul. She starts with grounding ourselves through mindfulness and breathing exercise. She brings the most authentic energy to the class by sharing the history and understanding behind poses, names, and techniques. I truly appreciate her work and impact on my well-being!
-N.C. on Yelp!
I’ve had dozens of instructors over the years, but Michelle is far and away the best yoga mentor I’ve ever practiced with. She epitomizes grace during these difficult times. Michelle has saved my sanity and my back while working from home, keeping me grounded with her sharing of yogic teachings and meditation techniques. Her repertoire of physical asanas is encyclopedic, and I’ve loved learning new poses and stretching my boundaries. Jump in, all. You’ve got this!
- Cathleen Fager (Attends Zoom Yoga Classes)
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