It’s interesting how the mind can create suffering by resisting what is or adding drama to the lens of perception around life events that can seem quite neutral to another person with a different history and lens. Have you ever felt so attached to an expectation of how something should be, like a holiday celebration, that any arising event that didn’t fulfill that vision created dissatisfaction? And as one thought of dissatisfaction grows into the next, as the Law of Attraction goes, you sit in a puddle of disappointment, perhaps layered with a defensive mud of anger or resentment? I’ve been there. Or, how about when you suspect you’ve been taken advantage of by someone you feel you’ve supported for so long? Then, one thought after another compounds into a narrative of betrayal, distrust and resentment? I’ve been there too. Yeah, I’m human. And my mind, as is its nature, likes to tell stories. More specifically, the ego tries to narrate life’s events for its self-preservation, sometimes even elaborating stories with imagination and not truth. While our survival seems to be its priority, we can mistake the ego and its thoughts for who we are and forget our own power to oversee it and see life more clearly. But what if I chose not to believe every single thought? What if I remembered that I have a choice whether or not to get strapped into the roller coaster of anxiety, worry and fear? What if I just sat still a moment to see the mind for what it is: in a state of constant change? Not to numb myself, but allow the feelings to arise as catalysts to pay more attention to the thoughts I’m fed without consuming them all. What if I cared about my well-being so much that I decided to just breathe, feel, observe and allow clarity? This is my yoga, and it’s an ever-evolving practice. In January 2020, we'll gather in community live online to explore ways to integrate our yoga practice in our daily lives, through our book club reading, Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World. Join us in the yogic practice of svadhyaya, or self-study, as we apply our understanding of the kleshas, or root causes of suffering.
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Winter Solstice is on Dec. 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, and it’s the longest night of the year. It marks the first day of winter, after which days of sunlight grow longer into spring. As with seasonal transitions, it’s an opportunity for self-reflection and setting intentions for the months ahead. Uniquely on the winter solstice, colder weather and darkness invite introspection about the darkness, or what some may call our shadow self, that resides within us, under the belief that we are intrinsically connected with the natural world and its changes. This inner darkness refers to the qualities, thoughts, beliefs and emotions that may cause us or others suffering, and they are often vulnerable parts of ourselves we have yet to make peace with and discover our personal strengths awaiting on their flip side. For example, someone who is constantly jealous of others’ happiness may realize they are longing to feel happy within themselves, and through consistent inner work, can learn self-confidence, a strong sense of security and ways of perceiving the outside world from a state of alignment to inner joy. The harmful jealousy was a signal for needed change to enable continued expansion or evolution.
Through self-inquiry, meditation, journaling and personal ritual, we can build self-awareness and awaken inspiration for any needed purification, release and redirection. Here are some practices to consider for your celebration of winter solstice:
However you may choose to celebrate, keep in mind the tone you are intentionally setting and how genuine it feels to you. May you enjoy peace, clarity and pure love this winter 2020 and beyond. This was an intense moment, even though it was performance-based. I had to conjure up real thoughts that elicited true raw fear, the role I was dancing. And while dancing, shaking, running and screaming can be helpful outlets to channel stress impulses, can we stay a moment and lean into what's there--what's really alive in us--before trying to rid ourselves of it? Because, as with every earth experience, I believe, there's value in this pause and introspection toward our awakening from the sleep of our conditioning, i.e., the should's/shouldn'ts of how to be human.
Being vulnerable is something I've long been trained to avoid, having found myself already categorized as the weaker underdog in so many contexts growing up as a petite female immigrant with a heavy "un-American" accent in LA. And so, in building my internal defenses to feel stronger than I was perceived, my inner sergeant developed such competitive harsh mantras, like, "You need to show you're worthy. Do more! Always be productive and on the go! Don't let them beat you. You need to prove yourself!" I've learned that repeated thoughts become beliefs, even if they're not truth but merely tainted perception, sometimes born out of insecurities. But as yoga has taught, while movement is important, stillness and deep listening are gold, too. Self-inquiry that questions my long-held beliefs has been essential to help unveil illusions I've developed as barbed wire around my heart; The barbed wire helped me feel tough but didn't give room to expand beyond the limiting familiar. It takes courage to sit with the discomfort of emotional pain, but in doing so with love, we can deconstruct the hurtful thoughts that imprison us. Moreover, we can realistically approach the yogic practice of pradipaksha bhavanam, or transforming negative thoughts into their opposite, without spiritual bypassing and ignoring that there's any internal disturbance altogether. If you're feeling called to explore this courageous inner work, it will be the focus of our Zoom workshop, Transform Obstacles into Opportunity (Tools for Clarity), Thursday, 12/17 @6-7pm PST. Learn more or request a recording of the workshop here. How do you connect to your inner calm when you feel overwhelmed by worry, anxiety, anger or fear? Depending on the intensity of my anger or how disoriented I may feel in the moment, different strategies for grounding are more accessible than others. Like, taking a walk outside just isn’t wise at midnight in the dark streets of Hollywood. But box breathing can be just what I can pause to do where I am. It’s helpful to have a variety in your toolbox that you can use at any given moment. Here are 9 you may or may not have tried:
1. Box Breathing (Sama Vitti Pranayama, in sanskrit): Inhale 4 counts. Hold your breath 4 counts. Exhale 4 counts. Hold your breath 4 counts. Repeat slowly and as usefully as you can for 7-10 cycles. 2. Take a walk outside: Get some fresh air and sunshine and just take a break from the physical space and position you were in when you started to feel overwhelm. 3. Orienting (for self-regulation): Slowly scan your immediate environment, using your senses. Listen, see, smell, touch and taste to become more present. 4. Practice being a witness of your mind: Set a timer for 5-20 minutes and sit still silently. Allow your thoughts and breath to flow naturally as you observe them without judgment. Feel your quiet inner presence beneath the thoughts and breath movement. This is also mindful awareness. 5. Hum a monotone: Taking deep breaths, place your hands on your chest center and hum a repeated monotone aloud. Feel your soothing sound vibration, and focus your attention on the sound. 6. Move your body: Let your body just move freely as it needs to release the energetic impulse of stress or overwhelm. Check out soul movement here. 7. Self-Inquiry Journaling: Free-write in a state of open flow, or ask your inner guidance, "What do I need to know right now?" Write a letter to yourself from your inner guidance. 8. Observe nature: Sit or move in nature and pay close attention to a flower, leaf or another object or being that catches your eye. With childlike enthusiasm, take in the details. 9. Walking meditation: Walk very slowly nd feel each breath in and out. Feel your weight distribution in each step. Try silently saying to yourself as you inhale, "I am..." and as you exhale, "Connected to all." As I’ve learned from practicing yoga these past 19 years, the more I use my grounding tools as a daily practice, the easier it is to remember they’re there and to use them when I fall into moments of overwhelm. Learning techniques on your own is one thing, but to have a like-hearted community to practice regularly with can help instill strong habits. Additionally, together you can share ideas, intentions, insights, questions, roadblocks, solutions and encouragement. Moreover, having a mindful relatable facilitator can also help you integrate theory into practice. Check out Tools for Clarity, our live online workshop exploring yoga, meditation and mindfulness techniques that apply yogic wisdom beyond yoga poses to help ground through life's overflowing river. What stories do you tell yourself about other's behaviors or day-to-day events? How much of our mind's interpretations align with the truth of what we're observing? How much of our thoughts, especially habitual ones, cause us suffering, with emotions like anger, resentment, jealousy, self-hatred, guilt, shame, etc, that we keep hidden in the dark side of our moon? These questions were explored ages ago by wise sages, and their insights are still relevant in our common humanity. Under the yogic belief that all is one consciousness, forgetting this as our true nature was identified as the main cause of human suffering. In forgetting that we are not our bodies or even our minds, we succumb to other thought patterns that cause suffering: defining ourselves by our social or familial conditioning and fears, clinging to what's impermanent, resisting life's uncertainties and challenges and fearing death.
So how do we regain clarity amid the mind's tendencies? Cultivating self-awareness is an ongoing practice in yoga and mindfulness, and it's key to empowering our conscious choice to free ourselves from such suffering (as well as the suffering we may project onto others). This light of clarity nurtures the courage and pure love within us to be who we truly are, without demonizing parts of ourselves or each other. Just as the moon is always full, despite our changing perceptions that it's less than, we are more than the thoughts that label or narrow us. This workshop session on Thursday, 12/17, is meant to plant (or water, depending on where you are in your journey) seeds of self-awareness, empower conscious choice and explore practical yoga and mindfulness techniques that help us to lead peaceful fulfilling lives, seeing beyond circumstance and allowing solutions to arise-- when we're in a state of grounded clarity and genuine self-love. Let's work together to build unity consciousness, starting within. Head Between Our Legs by Michelle Chua
11/19/2020
Has this year got you feeling like you have your head caught between your legs? Perhaps that's an understatement. When the wheels of everyday life come to a crash, what's there to do to feel sane? After we've sulked, continue to grieve over what's been lost and maybe even drown ourselves in ice cream or whatever mutes the pain, we're still here now.
I find it interesting that in the eye of the storm sits complete calm, so they say. Our head between our legs may not be comfortable, but it's surely a different perspective. One that can let us see which of our previous ways may have actually been upside down. Or, were preventing our own flexibility for change and growth. Or, were undermining our ability to transcend obstacles and surrender to creativity that flows through all of us--when our minds aren't busy in default mode. Change can be magnificent, said the caterpillar, as I've witnessed some of you creating your delicious lemonade with this year's lemons. It's a state of mind, as yoga teaches, beyond the physical poses. How can we be the eyes, centered in higher vision, throughout whatever storms arise? Not expecting perfection, but aligning with our pure potentiality, knowing that we're in continuous evolution despite each's unique pace. These past months have inspired new offerings that enliven me to share with you. But here's the soonest upcoming...To bring conscious closure to this eventful 2020, join me online with a soulful community on three Thursdays, 6-7pm PT in December for a workshop series birthed from last month's virtual retreat, Tools for Clarity. Each session includes 15 min. chakra-focused all-levels yoga postures and breath work, 10 min. guided meditation and 35 min journaling and group/partner conversation. Each session builds on the next: 12/3 Root in Clarity & Alignment 12/10 Empathy Empowers Peace 12/17 Transform Obstacles into Opportunity We'll dive into practical tools to become aware of our unwanted daily patterns and choose freedom and to strengthen our volition and skillful capacity with wisdom from the Yoga Sutras, mindfulness practices, Nonviolent Communication, activational thought leaders and most importantly, from within. Let's connect in meaningful ways and invite grace as we transition out of 2020. May you ride the waves with peace in your center. Find our workshop details and registration at sliding-scale investment here. Ever feel anxiety about the holidays and the inevitable Thanksgiving feast food coma, cold weather sluggishness and or even slight depression? For decades, I subscribed to my limiting belief that holiday binge-eating and winter colds and flus were a staple part of the holiday season. I gave into eating all my Halloween candy and welcoming the seasonal viruses with poor diet, guilt-driven sporadic exercise as punishment and being down on myself, all under the excuse that I lacked self-control. But I grew tired of this hamster wheel and being seasonally sick, and decided to change--one small thing at a time. A gift of becoming a yoga teacher over ten years ago was feeling inspired to make the kinds of choices I wanted to help others to see they had, because I wanted to lead by example (as I was always taught, being the oldest of 5 siblings). Choice is powerful, and we exercise it constantly through action or nonaction. And by being consistent in these choices, I gained my trust in myself. And by gaining self-trust, I knew I was stronger than my habits. Anyone can create new habits that better serve how they want to feel and be. Join our community supporting each other in our choice to celebrate health and peace these holidays! I've put together my top 5 Favorite Ways to Stay Fit and Peaceful During the Holidays. Enter your info below to request a copy! Nature is Medicine by Michelle Chua
11/17/2020
Ever feel quarantine fatigue? I don’t know about you but if I’m indoors for too long without sunshine, fresh air and trees, I feel antsy—sometimes even sad or depleted. Regardless of how busy my day may seem, it’s essential that I commit to daily quality time in nature. I feel happier, stronger and more connected to life, Spirit and my true self when I do. Do you feel a difference when you do or don’t spend regular time in nature?
There’s plenty of research about the benefits of nature immersion on your mind, body and spirit. An article on IonLoop explained that negative ions are found in high quantities in dense forestation and can absorb through your skin and lungs. Once absorbed, they may help to lower inflammation, reduce stress and boost serotonin—a feel-good hormone. A June 2019 scientific report concluded that spending at least 120 minutes in nature per week is associated with good health and wellbeing. Japan has a health practice called nature bathing, or shinrin-yoku, in which you fully immerse your senses in nature and among its health benefits is a stronger immune system and uplifted mood. But I think the best research is hands-on—Do it yourself. Notice how 20-60 minutes a day of being amongst the trees, sunshine and fresh air affect you. I challenge you to try it for a week, and revisit this post to share your findings in the comments below! Since July, the month he transitioned 17 years ago, to his bEARTHday yesterday, I've felt my dad's presence more strongly--from seeing his name, Milo, boldly painted on rocks I passed while hiking or biking in different places in nature to a physical injury that called me to look deeper into my energetic predisposition (as I believe that physical dis-ease is often a symptom of energetic imbalance). I got to thinking about how alike my dad and I are, despite the walls we built between us during his human being. I've been feeling more and more the strength of the bridges he's been building from the other side, from his greater knowing, as a call to healing patterns. The pandemic and other recent awakening events may have spurred many of us into profound introspection, questioning lifelong or generational patterns--from spoken and unspoken worldwide traditions to personal triggers and emotional reactions. And how we may blindly perpetuate patterns that continue to harm--from disciplining children by instilling guilt and shame to constantly comparing yourself to others to deem your worthiness. But how empowering it can be to notice, to become aware. To realize that no matter how long "it's always been done this way," we can choose to not become a slave to those patterns. We can choose to forgive and to heal ourselves, those before us and those after us, realizing there's so much interconnection. Those darn emotions I sometimes condemn myself for having, like anger, resentment, fear and shame, are all tools for healing--because they provide awareness. And with awareness, comes choice. Go back to the norm, just because it's familiar (even if you were suffering) or evolve into the unknown, with trust that you are inherently part of a Greater Knowing. After all, yoga is ultimately a path to Self-realization, or union with our true nature--the eternal part of ourselves that's beyond generations of imprinting and our habits. It's the limitless Self that transcends the boundaries of fear: pure love. Thank you, Dad, for the bright light you shine. Camilo Ngayan Chua 11/16/48 - 7/19/03 Hiking Topanga Overlook, October 2020
Fear can sometimes feel so much bigger than us, especially when fed by the steroids of our imagination. Fear of change can paralyze us from choosing to improve our work situation or fear of the unknown can keep us clinging to a painful relationship that’s not serving us, just because it’s familiar. So, how do we find light within fear?
Today’s full moon Halloween got me thinking about the masks we wear--not the ones to protect each other during COVID—but the costumes of what we’re afraid of, like murderers, or who we’d like to be, like our favorite superheroes, or how we’d like others to see us, like a sexy nurse. Dressed as symbols of death, we make light of our fears, such as abhinivesa, or the fear of death that yoga philosophy lists as a root cause of suffering, and flirt with flaunting them. What if we took to this practice more regularly, that is, acknowledging our fears and befriending them, as Mindfulness Teacher Pema Chodron would say. Late author of Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, Marshall Rosenberg, pointed out that our so-called “negative” emotions, including fear, function to mobilize us to address our unmet needs, such as the basic human needs to feel worthy, accepted or safe. The perception that fear is a messenger to help us know how to live a more fulfilled life might inspire us to see some light. I had the honor of hosting a group online retreat yesterday, called Ground into Clarity, in which we worked to dismantle a self-limiting thought, such as self-criticism or negative self-judgment. I was inspired by the courage our group practiced in peeling the layers of inner talk to understand the underlying belief and need beneath them. Interestingly, fear was a common ingredient in our self-limiting thoughts. Fear of disconnection is Author Brene Brown’s definition of shame through her research and expertise in vulnerability. In one self-limiting thought, we uncovered anger as a protective mask over deeply rooted shame. With practices of self-empathy and compassion shared with each other, we empowered the courage to understand the need being expressed by this fear. With an open heart we were able to see fallacy in an underlying belief: My worthiness of love as a human being depends on others’ approval of my behavior. Then, light began to seep in through the cracks and awakened a belief that was more aligned to our true nature, or pure goodness: I am worthy of love, period. Continuing to water this seed through various practices of Pradipaksha Bhavana, which The Yoga Sutras' teaching to transform negative thoughts to positive ones, life-enriching affirmations replaced the hurtful fear-based ones. While this was the start of planting a new garden that will need to be nurtured with daily love to thrive, it demonstrated how we can use fear to serve our well being, rather than inhibit it. As with any challenge worth tackling, perception makes a difference. We can feel powerless by feeding inner talk that belittles us and deafens our ability to listen to the truth behind our emotions, or we can see the inner talk for what it is—just talk. Our awareness is power. Through the yogic practice of svadhyaya, or self-study, coupled with ahimsa, we can listen to the messages from our fears compassionately, and choose how we tend to the inner garden of our minds and hearts. As is the practice on the full moon, we can let go of what no longer serves our well being—releasing the repeated thoughts, or beliefs, that poison us. And so, we let our inner light shine greater than the shadow we may have once misconstrued as an enemy. |
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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! 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. Michelle not only teaches 'yoga', she embodies it fully with her heart and soul... Michelle is by far one of the best instructors I've ever had, period. Patient, clear in her explanations and demos, and so encouraging... 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. |
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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! 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! |
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