Name: New Year Retreat***POSTPONED to later date TBD***
Start: 2025-01-19T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-01-19T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007

Root 2 Rise Yoga & Reiki with Michelle Chua

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1 review

Jan 19, 2025

Group size: 1 - 35

New Year Retreat***POSTPONED to later date TBD***

Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007

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Root 2 Rise Yoga & Reiki with Michelle Chua

Email address verified

1 review

Jan 19, 2025

Group size: 1 - 35

***Due to the Eaton Canyon fire nearby, the LA Arboretum is closed for cleanup and providing a care shelter for children who lost their schools from the fire. We are currently waiting for news of when we can reschedule our retreat for potentially February, pending the air quality is healthy. If you're interested in joining this retreat, you're welcome to email [email protected] to be on the email list for news when the new date is confirmed.

Welcome the new year with intention in the nourishing sanctuary of nature! Immerse in tree wisdom, cultivate clarity, play in creative flow, nurture conscious relationship with our Mother Earth and your inner nature, reflect and rejuvenate your whole being and connect with like-hearted community in sacred space.

Our day will include Guided Deep Forest-bathing (Shinrin Yoku), Meditation, All-Levels Physical Yoga and Breathwork, Group Reiki Energy Healing, Meditative Painting with Soundbath, Somatic Dance (Soul Movement), Reflection, Conversation and Healthy Plant-based Lunch at the Peacock Cafe.

Your host is Michelle Chua, Founder of Root 2 Rise Yoga and Reiki. Learn more about her here.

Lunch at Peacock Cafe
Healthy Plant-based Meal
Guided Yoga Class
(Hatha/Vinyasa/Yin) All levels, including beginers, are welcome.
Group Reiki
Reiki Energy Healing Session for Deep Relaxation and to promote clarity, vitality and peace
Guided Meditation
Beginners welcome.
Guided Forest-bathing
Called Shinrin Yoku in Japan, it's a practice for attuning to your sensory connection with nature and nurturing conscious relationship of reciprocity with Mother Earth.
All Art Materials
For Meditative Painting while immersed in a Soundbath of Singing Bowls and other harmonious instruments (A "process-over-product" practice for awakening flow state and inspired action)
Soundbath
With crystal singing bowls, rain stick, bells and other instruments to promote focus and ease during Meditative Painting
Somatic Movement
To an ecclectic musical soundscape, for awakening creative flow and joy and promoting embodied presence
Parking & Admission
To The LA Arboretum, includes admission for the day

Super Early Bird Discounted Admission

Available until January 6, 2025

While your admission is non-refundable, you are welcome to transfer your ticket to a friend who can take your place if you need to cancel. Just email Michelle before the day of the retreat to inform her: [email protected]

$124

Early Bird Discounted Admission

Available until January 13, 2025

$144

Regular Admission

Available until January 18, 2025

$164

Follow-Up 90-Minute Private Reiki

$65

For a Discounted Offer, support your continued New Year rejuvenation and intentions for inner and outer peace, vitality and well-being, as best aligned with your soul's vision. Nurture deep rest and awaken inner knowing with a comprehensive 90-minute session in the style of traditional Japanese Jikiden Reiki or Usui Ryoho Reiki. Choose to receive the session at Michelle's LA-based home studio or at your home or space in Los Angeles area.

Please book your appointment with Michelle directly for a date through June 1, 2025.

9:00AM
9:00AM
Opening Circle & Somatic Dance in the Oak Room
We'll arrive and set intentions for the day inside the cozy Oak Room, our indoor sanctuary that overlooks the sunlit courtyard beneath the Peacock Cafe.

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.
Read more
9:45AM
9:45AM
Guided Group Deep Forest-bathing in the Gardens
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.
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11:15AM
11:15AM
Hatha/Vinyasa and Yin Yoga for All Levels in the Oak Room
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.
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12:10PM
12:10PM
Group Reiki Energy Healing During Savasana
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.
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12:45PM
12:45PM
Plant-based Lunch at Peacock Cafe
Enjoy a delicious vegan lunch, catered by the Peacock Cafe, to nourish you with clean energy in mind, body and spirit. During lunch on the patio, you just might catch a visit from our lovely peacock friends!

Save room for a healthy dessert treat later ;-)
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1:45PM-3:00PM
1:45PM-3:00PM
Meditative Painting with Soundbath, Group Reflection & Closing Circle
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.

Then, we'll sit in circle to share any reflections while being witnessed with deep listening and compassion.
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3:00-5:00PM
3:00-5:00PM
Free Time to Explore the Gardens on Your Own
Cap the day's group activities with a solo stroll or gather with your new retreat friends to explore the rest of the LA Arboretum on your own.
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9:00AM

Opening Circle & Somatic Dance in the Oak Room

We'll arrive and set intentions for the day inside the cozy Oak Room, our indoor sanctuary that overlooks the sunlit courtyard beneath the Peacock Cafe.

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.

Root 2 Rise Yoga & Reiki with Michelle Chua

1 review

Michelle Chua founded Root 2 Rise Yoga and Reiki in 2010. She is a certified Reiki Practitioner, Forest-bathing Guide and Registered Yoga Teacher who is dedicated to her personal practice of living and loving wholeheartedly. She is inspired to facilitate experiences in which humans can awaken soulful connection with themselves, each other, Mother Earth and the life energy that animates us all. May we root in our true nature and rise together thriving! Find her more detailed bio at Root2RiseYoga.org/About-Michelle-Chua

Michelle is by far one of the best yoga instructors I've ever had. In addition, she's so kind and sweet. My first class with her was at LA fitness 8 years ago and I never forgot how good she was. Years later, I stumbled into one of her classes at the Ymca and I was so happy to find her. Then, I was lucky enough to participate in her Pura Vida retreat in Costa Rica this year. It was an amazing experience for me. She planned the trip so well. In addition to yoga, she had so many other physical and social activities planned for us. Her energy is so pure, vibrant, and infectious, that everywhere we went became alive. In addition, she drew the most amazing group of people into her practice and to this yoga retreat. I am grateful to have made so many friends through Root 2 Rise yoga and I look forward to many more retreats, hikes, yoga classes and/ or anything else Michelle plans for us. I would recommend Root 2 Rise yoga to anybody -Ani A