Peace Retreat at Descanso Gardens

Sunday, May 18, 2025
9:00AM - 3:00PM
With Michelle Chua

Advance Registration Required
Limited to 25 Participants
$88-111

Nestled among glorious spring blooms and ancient Oaks in Descanso Gardens, at the newly renovated Japanese Tea House, nourish yourself in a restorative day of Yoga, Mindfulness, Forest-bathing, Meditation, Somatic Dance and Reiki energy healing -- practices that awaken loving presence, inner stillness and harmony with the world around you. Treat yourself to a day of rejuvenation or gift this day retreat to a mother you'd like to appreciate! No prior experienced needed to participate in all activities.

Meet Your Facilitator,
Michelle Chua

Photo by Nat Armenta

Michelle Chua has dedicated the last 15 years of her life to supporting peace and wellbeing among diverse people by facilitating classes, nature immersions, play*shops and international retreats that integrate the practices of Yoga, creative arts, mindfulness, meditation, Reiki energy healing, multi-cultural appreciation, somatic dance, plant-based nourishment, forest-bathing and other nature-loving practices.

As a former elementary schoolteacher in California and in Ghana and Costa Rica as a volunteer, she loves to curate experiences that promote play and authentic connection to promote open heart-mindedness, freedom and conscious relationship with Mother Earth. Michelle is registered with Yoga Alliance as a 500-RYT and Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), has earned multiple practitioner degrees in both Usui Ryoho and traditional Japanese Jikiden Reiki and is certified in Deep Forest-bathing. READ MORE...

Intended Flow of Activities:

Below is a tentative timeline for our day's flow and may vary according to our group's needs. Please plan to arrive early and stay after the retreat to enjoy your personal time at the gardens.

8:45AM Arrive early to park easefully and find us at the Japanese Tea House.

9:00 Opening Circle + Mindfulness Ritual with Tea for cultivating presence

10:00 Somatic Dance + Gentle Yin Yoga for embodied awareness

11:00 Pranayama + Guided Meditation + Journaling for introspection + insight

11:30 Soundbath (Meditation on Sound) for Inner Harmony

12:00PM Group Reiki Energy Healing for Deep Relaxation with Live Vocals by Guest Musician Hunter Hawkins

12:30 - 1:30PM Lunch on your own (Enjoy a meal at the onsite cafe or bring a picnic lunch)

1:30 Forest-bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, to nurture loving relationship with the more-than-human natural world

2:30 - 3:00 Closing Circle

3:00 - 7:00 Optional: Enjoy free time exploring the rest of Descanso Gardens on your own, taking personal time to reflect and integrate your retreat experiences into your life at home.

What To Bring:

Yoga mat and any props you may have, such as 2 blocks and a strap
A blanket and pillow and any other accessories, such as an eye pillow, to support a comfortable extended Savasana during the Soundbath and Reiki
Any needed natural sun and insect protection
Comfortable walking shoes for strolling the gardens
Journal and pen
Optional: Your picnic lunch in a cooler (Picnic lunches are only allowed outside Descanso Gardens' main gate at the picnic tables by the parking lot.)

Address of Descanso Gardens:

1418 Descanso Dr, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
Parking is free in the main lot, with overflow parking farther away. Our retreat is held in the Japanese Tea House as a private event.

Reserve Your Spot

To reserve your spot on this retreat, please complete the form below and submit your energy exchange according to the pricing at the date of your submission, as listed below. Your energy exchange includes all curated activities listed in the itinerary above and your full day admission to Descanso Gardens.

Cancellation Policy: Any cancellations after May 1st are non-refundable.

Registration for May 18 Peace Retreat at Descanso Gardens

* Indicates required field

Total # of People You're Registering for: *

ENERGY EXCHANGE (Pricing based on date of registration):

By April 21 - $88 per person
By April 30 - $99 per person
After April 30, if spots are still available - $111 per person

Total Amount of Energy Exchange: *

Please submit your energy exchange via Zelle to Mary Chua at [email protected] on the same date as this registration form. You will receive email confirmation when it's received. If you prefer to pay via credit card, a 3.5% fee will be added. If you click credit card payment below, you'll receive an email invoice to complete your payment.

Choose your payment method: *

I'm sending it via Zelle. Credit Card: Please email me an invoice to complete.

Your Email ***PLEASE ADD [email protected] to your email contacts to ensure you receive your pre-retreat information, and it doesn't get lost in your junk folder. *

Phone Number *

Name of Main Contact Person: *

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Type the first and last names of each person you're registering for, if other than yourself. If you're not registering for yourself to attend, like if this is a gift for someone else, please indicate that below. *

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Have any questions about this retreat? Email Michelle here. Or, call (818) 235-9067.

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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 YE LP 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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Now offering private reiki sessions for stress relief and to promote healing.

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)