Gather in like-hearted community at a hilltop sanctuary with views of the majestic Topa Topa Mountains to re-envision the New Year in loving partnership with nature and your inner nature.  Immerse in practices that rekindle joy, healing and soul perspective:

- Ground in deep shinrin-yoku (forest-bathing), as you receive guidance to connect with Mother Earth and her elements in your personally meaningful way.  

- Embody freedom, release and flow through somatic dance and movement play.  

- Balance your energy and reset your nervous system with Yoga, and Reiki energy healing during a rejuvenating Savasana.

- Sit in compassionate deep listening to your heart.  Create art as a way to let energy flow when you let go of self-judgment.  

- Joyfully nourish your whole being with deliciously nutritious plant-based lunch from a well-loved local cafe.

- Immerse in the natural healing that stems from holding loving space for yourself and each other to just be.

It is an honor to welcome you to this new location + date for our rescheduled New Year Retreat!  Your host is Michelle Chua, Founder of Root 2 Rise Yoga and Reiki. Learn more about her here.

We'll arrive and set intentions for the day inside the sunlit Conference Room, our indoor sanctuary with views of the Topa Topa Mountains.

Somatic dance is an opportunity to open your senses and embody presence, while giving ourselves permission to flow through the day with curiosity and an attitude of play.  Here's a little bit more about it, which I also call Soul Movement.

Nurture your loving relationship with your body through a practice of mindfully paced breath-led movement and practice focusing with alignment-optimized postures, varying from strength-building to deeply relaxing.  Through breathwork, postures and meditation, balance your energy and reset your nervous system to connect peacefully with your inner wisdom.  

Rest deeply within, as you lie down to receive hands-on Reiki with Michelle as your vessel and support.  Reiki is a deep relaxation technique that stems from Japan and allows the receiver to awaken their body's innate intelligence for self-healing.  Mental-emotional and spiritual healing are also promoted.

Michelle is a Certified Reiki Practitioner with a master's level degree in Usui Ryoho Reiki and 2nd level degree in Jikiden (traditional Japanese) Reiki from Kyoto, the birthplace of this energy healing practice.

Delight your tastebuds with a nourishing nutritious meal worthy of a happy dance or two, delivered from a well-loved local cafe!

Nurture your conscious relationship with nature, to cultivate harmony and the spirit of reciprocity.  Michelle will guide you through a mindfulness meditation and invitations for personally connecting with the surrounding natural world. We'll walk mindfully and allow for pauses to gather in circle to share reflections and practice deep listening.

Find a beginner's overview of forest-bathing here.

Find information on Deep Forest-bathing here.

Welcome creative "flow state" as you paint freely and intuitively to the soundscape of soothing live crystal singing bowls and other instruments, facilitated by Michelle. 

Bring the energy of your New Year intentions into your nature art piece that you'll bring home.  This is a process-oriented, not product-focused, space to practice non-judgment, play, spontaneity and self-trust, as you let your paintbrush follow the guidance of your intuition.  

As loving awareness, hold space for each other to share aloud any insights or reflections from the day's activities.  You're welcome to share how you feel inspired to integrate the day's retreat into your next steps forward into your Re-envisioned New Year.  This is a space for sharing from the heart and compassionate deep listening, and sharing aloud is always optional.

Let's close the day offering gratitude to the setting sun, as we may be able to witness Ojai's Topa Topa Mountains dance into her infamous "Pink Moment" from our retreat patio.