Michelle Alva Blog / 04.08.2012

  On Sunday, September 9, 2012 The Yoga Aid World Challenge will be held in cities all over the world to raise money for various yoga charities across the globe. Over 500 yoga practitioners and community supporters are expected at South Florida ‚Äòs Yoga Aid World Challenge at the 7th level of the 1111 Lincoln Road Parking Complex, Miami Beach.¬† Doors open at 9am; Yoga begins at 10:30am. The fundraising event will consist of a 2-hour yoga practice of 108 Sun Salutations to benefit Yoga Gangsters, a South Florida non-profit organization founded by Yogini Terri Cooper that serves the community by providing free weekly yoga classes to at-risk youth in inner city schools, hospitals, rehab centers, foster neighborhoods, jails and through other non-profits. Last year, the event attracted more than 500 participants who raised more than $40,000 for Yoga Gangsters, enabling the organization to reach approximately 1,200 underserved kids,...

Michelle Alva Blog / 01.08.2012

Free Your Mind and Body with Aqua-Savasana- Mindful floating on water. Summer is the perfect time to practice yoga in the water and experience the magic of the ocean. A wonderful spiritual practice is when we experience and surrender the different sensations that mindful floating brings. I skipped along into the ocean this morning, and laid my body on it’s waters. I floated with a big smile on my face. I felt my heart swell up with gratitude as I felt the sun’s rays above and the rhythmical waters down below. I felt cradled by the warm waters and their soft current as it began to take me away from the shore.  I felt safe to let go and trust the gentle morning tides. I knew as I closed my eyes I would be wisped away wherever these gentle tides needed me to flow. I allowed my...

Michelle Alva Blog / 11.07.2012

Rhythmical movement to music benefits our whole body, mind and spirit. Dance is used in many different cultures as a form of creative self-expression, social interaction and exercise or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. Dance serves as a way of connecting to how you feel and express yourself! Research has shown that exercise is a natural anti-depressant. When you are feeling depressed or stuck, you can use dance as a form of exercise to elevate your mood. During my transition through divorce, I used dance as a healing modality and sometimes even woke up at night to dance and move my emotions. Dance served as an outlet for me to allow my feelings to be expressed, instead of suppressing them. Rhythmical movement stimulates Oxytocin, the healing and pleasure hormone. Dance is such a great way to "pleasure" yourself in a sensual way! Dance helps us to move through...

Michelle Alva Blog / 04.07.2012

According to a recent study by the American Cancer Society, women who reported more than six hours per day of sitting were 37 percent more likely to die during the time period studied than those who sat fewer than 3 hours a day.   Try these 3 essential exercises (Part 1 of 2 series of exercises) to release the tightness and stress of chronic sitting. These exercises are designed to impact your mind, body and energetic body.¬† They integrate the use of your postural, movement and respiratory system to bring you to a state of mental, physical and energetic balance. Your body loves to move, extend, lengthen and expand! This ensures your energy is flowing at it's best! Take time to walk, climb stairs, dance and do a form of physical exercise that you love!¬† This ensures that you are living your life to the fullest!     3...

Michelle Alva Blog / 28.06.2012

Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you feel weighed down or stuck without any way out? Too often we become attached to people, places or things and have a hard time letting go. Sometimes we hold on even if we are no longer growing or feeling uplifted. Predictability makes us feel more calm and safe, however, nothing is really ever edged in stone.  We never really know what is going to happen in the future, we only know the NOW...

Michelle Alva Blog / 20.06.2012

Many of us experience pain, distress, and sickness throughout our lives.  How we cope with our suffering affects how much pain we perceive and our overall health.  Sometimes we get upset with what happens to us and we feel angry that we are sick or experiencing pain, this only makes things worse. How we look at pain, distress and suffering is our choice. We can see everything as a blessing and accept it without judgement.  We can also learn to activate our innate self-healing abilities to assist the suffering in flowing and releasing as it wants to.  We give our pain and distress more power when we become frustrated and judge or label our suffering. 3 Ways that Suffering Helps Us To Grow, Heal and Learn:
 1. Suffering makes us feel more and align with our true purpose or heart's desire. Some of us live our daily lives in...

Michelle Alva Blog / 13.06.2012

The human brain produces approximately 70,000 thoughts on an average day. Too often the thoughts we select lead us to experience stress, pain or fear. Singing the Hebrew prayer "Hayotzeir" as played in this video by the music of Rabbi Marc Labowitz and The TAO Orchestra is a way to experience the present moment and focus the mind on the direct experience of Divine Love. Create an intention before you sing and dedicate your prayer to someone or something.  In this video, we sing with the intention of opening our hearts so we all may open ourselves to the love that is flowing through us when we simply allow ourselves to BE present. Sing with us as you watch this video and experience the benefits of this sacred song and hold the intention of unconditional love flowing through you. Notice the benefits. When you sing with the...

Michelle Alva Blog / 06.06.2012

If you sit in a chair for more than 6-8 hours a day, you reduce your life span by 33% according a recent report by the National Cancer Society. According to a 2009 study published in Clinical Psychology Review, one out of every five individuals experience some form of sexual abuse. Too often we hold emotional and physical tension, pain and stress without knowing how to let go, heal and increase pleasure in our bodies. When we move, our bodies are happiest and healthiest! Daily exercise ensures optimal mental, emotional and physical health.  Belly Dance is a great way to have fun and exercise. Side to side pelvic and hip movements lubricate your hip joints and the muscles around your hips to help stimulate bone density. These rhythmical movements stimulate circulation of your hip joints, lymph fluid, blood and energy meridians. Your abdominal corset, low back and...