Born in the Philippines and raised in Southern California from the age of five, Michelle Chua grew up as the eldest sibling by a wide margin. From an early age, she was naturally drawn to caregiving and often created classes for her siblings, cousins, and younger neighborhood friends. She also spent long stretches immersed in nature, playing and creating outdoors. Her religious upbringing nurtured a lasting spiritual connection that later evolved into a daily meditation practice and a loving relationship with Mother Earth.
Michelle dedicates her life to sharing practices that encourage peace, healing, thriving, inspired creativity, and reverence for nature and pure love, which she believes are part of our true nature.
Michelle Chua is a 500-hour Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher, Certified Reiki Practitioner, and forest-bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) enthusiast who has been designing and leading retreats since 2011. She sees international travel as an opportunity to awaken deeper wisdom about our shared belonging to the Earth and to one another. Guided by soulful, intentional journeys, she facilitates retreats with creativity, connection, reflection, and heartfelt presence.
(Find a full-length bio on her website.)
At the revered energetic center of Lake Atitlan, she brings people together for 8 days of yoga, meditation, breathwork, reiki, sacred Mayan ceremonies, and wisdom teachings—woven together with cultural immersion, mindfulness, and a deep connection to the land.