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Breathwork Teacher & Desire Map Facilitator
 
 
 

ARE YOU READY TO DIG DEEP?

Nothing That Stays Hidden Ever Heals

 
 
 
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Hi, I'm Michelle.👋

I created Pushing Beauty as an expression of my soul, and it evolved into a place that I hope will inspire you to heal. Healing is an opportunity to become fully human. It's your chance to embrace all of who you are right now. No feelings are wrong, no pain is too deep.

Pushing Beauty is a place for you to learn about yourself, and I have a number of ways to help you do that. 

Ultimately, this is a place for you to find the tools to journey inward to becoming fully human, a nicer way of saying:

You're here to learn that it's OK to feel shitty and that you have the power to heal your life.

 

 
 
 

Unbroken:
working through
depression

 
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Depression Happens
For A Reason

In this 6-week program, we're talking about the causes behind depression that you don't often hear about. We're going straight to the root, doing the deep work required to understand how and why depression is showing up in your life. 

Program begins August 12th.

 

 

 
 
 

the bright side
of a broken heart

 
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A book for anyone who has loved & lost, fallen into the dark hole of depression, grieved deeply, or is ready to heal.

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The
Pushing Beauty
Podcast

 
 
 
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Hey there!
I'm Michelle, and I'm here to help you learn how to heal yourself.

You're not broken.
You're not too much.
You are enough.
You're lovable.
You deserve the life your soul desires.

My job is to support you in uncovering these truths for yourself. I'm here to empower you to release your pain and access the wisdom within you.

 
 
 


Love for Michelle

Testimonials

"I had been in therapy for 6 months before meeting Michelle and felt that my issues weren't really getting addressed. Immediately after we began working together I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. If you're thinking of working with Michelle, be ready for change to happen right away! Oh and it's always important to remember that not every day is going to be unicorns and rainbows. Just because you're on a new path, doesn't mean you're not going to have bad days. I learned that it's OK to be emotional and to actually embrace the negative feelings because "this too shall pass."  
—Salina

"I am a big fan of working on myself and tried every kind of healer and healing but breathwork is actually me being my own healer for myself. Michelle leads me through an off the charts playlist and makes me feel safe and comfortable to let it all out. The transformations have been mindblowing (I accomplished a goal I had for years) and I only started working with her a few months ago." 
—Christina

"I want to thank you so so much for holding space for me to feel safe in opening and feeling my feelings. I had berated myself earlier in the day for spending so much on one hour of time. But I can honestly say I can't believe how much healing you can accomplish in an hour! Breathwork has helped me to be more open in my life, to continue forging through my fears of being open/vulnerable/showing my true self - I am finding the benefit of this comfort in vulnerability, and that when I am open, others react so positively to it, and my life is more beautiful because of it. "

—Andrea

"I consider myself very lucky to have found Michelle. She is very compassionate and caring, I felt I was talking to a long-lost friend rather than a coach. I looked forward to my one on one sessions with her, she challenged me to be my best self. Being from India I was aware of different breathing techniques but I really enjoyed the breathwork taught by her, it is the easiest to do! I also did the Desire Mapping Workshop with her in a group setting and her guidance was crucial for me to connect with my innermost feelings and come up with a life plan that works for me.”" —Dhirja

"Michelle’s breathwork sessions are absolutely incredible. She creates a very open and safe environment that allowed me to feel vulnerable. She sensed that I was struggling to get through the first breathing series, and with her calm presence and intuitive cues, guided me through it. I’m so happy that she could tune into my energy and recognize this because I was left in a euphoric state yearning for more. I can’t wait to take another session with her and would recommend Michelle to anyone looking for an incredible guided meditation experience." —Alisa

"I came to Michelle after a devastating breakup. I was miserable and extremely anxious. Michelle helped me focus on what feelings my mind was trying to avoid. Her focus was on helping me learn to love myself. Through Breathwork and Michelle's guidance I was able to control my mind and find hope for my life again. Each week I felt better and better. This work is not a quick fix, but I took it very seriously and showed up for each session. This work has been so encouraging for my life." —Leo

"Although I am a deeply spiritual person who is open to new experiences, nothing quite prepared me for the breathwork session with Michelle. It was an intense, out of body experience that opened up a part of my soul that I never knew existed. With her beautiful guidance, she helped me start the healing process of forgiveness and letting go. Michelle she has this ability to create a space full of trust and love, allowing you to explore a deeper part of yourself without fear or reservation." —Michelle

"Thank you SO much, Michelle. You crafted the space so beautifully, and you reminded me of the great, innate power of the breath. With a heart-breaking start to the year, I had forgotten about it. I pivoted away from my pain by drowning my myself in my work and being in service, sometimes as a way to nestle away from the hurt. Thank you for allowing me to feel... That soundtrack though... seriously girl. Thank you." —Tara Bliss

"Before working with Michelle I felt confused and lost. Through working together I feel 100% more grounded. Breathwork grounded me like no other healing method I've worked with before. I have always struggled with making time for myself, and with Michelle's encouragement I began to carve out solid time for self care. I feel so much more connected to my body and am so aware of how much can be learned from the breath and the body. I highly recommend working with Michelle." —Julia

"Working with Michelle has brought me so much inner strength and stability. This is huge for me! Through her amazing listening skills, her intuitive understanding of people and her knowledge, she helped me discover how to access the resources which were in me already but that I could not see." —Marie-Eve

"Working with Michelle really helped me learned that it's okay to feel ALL my emotions but not to define myself by them. This has also helped me dig deeper into what it is I'm really feeling which has helped me continue to discover something new about myself. She really challenged me even if it was uncomfortable. I thought that doing Breathwork over Skype wasn't going to be as effective or that it was going to be weird but it was perfect! You can tell when someone really wants to see you succeed, and with Michelle you can see the passion in her work and how she's rooting for you. The fact that I can keep doing Breathwork and automatically see the effects is amazing. Working with Michelle felt like a different approach to tackling the issues we're all struggling with. She's just wonderful overall." —Alejandra

"I began working with Michelle when I was diagnosed with cancer. Working with her has helped me let go of fear and get centered. There's something about knowing she has my back that makes a huge difference. Practicing Breathwork consistently with Michelle has helped me destress, calm me, and has given me deep insights into myself." —Lindsay

 
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AS SEEN ON

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Dig Deeper is a self-study platform that gives you access to all of my workshops, teachings, and guides.

If you're ready to manage your emotions, release your pain, face the fears that are keeping you small, and open your heart I'd love to invite you to Dig Deeper.

 
 
 
 
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Instagram Inspiration

This is an excerpt from At Blackwater Pond, the first Mary Oliver poem I ever heard, read by @billygill in a yoga class probably seven years ago. The words resounded so deeply in my being that I knew I needed to read it over and over again. I think these words are still my favorite. Mary Oliver’s work has touched so many of us, has helped us through our dark moments, and has inspired our souls. Her presence on this planet was important and profound, and I’m so glad her work will live on. My word for the year is plain, simple, good ol’ down and dirty FUN. I was on the verge of using Radiance, but FUN feels like a big permission slip I need to grant myself. It has already infused itself into the seemingly unexpected nooks and crannies of my life. This year I call in FUN in the subtleties. I want to have FUN moving my body, making my meals, driving my car, adventuring through life, talking to my clients, buying my groceries, and healing myself. It has been several grueling years of processing deep heartbreak, grief, and depression. Now even as sadness releases I can find joy on the other side. I can cry deeply and laugh right after. I am so grateful to be on this ride of life, in this body, with this soul. This year I want to express my gratitude by having a whole lotta fun. You can read about my 2018 Annual Review and how to create your own via the link in my profile. PS Working on deepening my intuition this year and this deck found its way to me twice so I bought it because it feels fun. ✨ I have a New Year ritual where I look back on the previous year to see how much I've grown, what I've learned, and how I can apply that wisdom to the next year. I take a holistic approach, reflecting on what I was going through in my personal life, what lessons I was working through, what I was teaching, and what clients and students were responding to. Essentially, I'm taking a look at the exchange of energy and my relationship to my life throughout the previous twelve months. I have been doing these reviews for over five years and have begun sharing them publicly the past few years. You can read about my biggest lessons and learnings of 2018 and get instructions on how to do your own Annual Review via the link in my profile. Relentless Healers is open for February! This is a 1:1 program where we’ll work together weekly or bi-monthly on whatever is keeping you stuck and in pain. I have space for only a couple new members. Link in profile for more details or head to my Stories. Wrote these words during my 2017 Annual Review and they still give me goosebumps. Going to the darkest parts of my being has taught me that joy and pain are two sides to one coin. Boundaries can be loving and firm and forgiveness is always in my heart. My 2018 Annual Review is now live as well as instructions if you need some guidance in creating your own. Link in profile. In every newsletter I send out I share Something You Can Do For Yourself. This was what went out yesterday. If you want to receive my Monday Morning Newsletter each week, click the link in my profile and scroll to the bottom and select “Sign Up For My Newsletter.” TRIGGER WARNING: This might be triggering for those with a history of abuse. I watched all of the episodes of Surviving R. Kelly. Never again will I listen to or dance to his music. It’s difficult to put into words how fucked up it all is. So many women and girls have been abused who shouldn’t have been. His music teacher in school knew there was something wrong. People who were employed by him or just in his sphere were complicit for YEARS. There was at least one known racist juror from R. Kelly's child pornography trial who claimed on camera that he “didn’t like the way the girls looked and didn’t believe them.” If white girls were the victims it’s likely R. Kelly would be in prison today. To this day he has women who are brainwashed, living in his home, being abused by him. Families don’t have communication with their daughters. Many women have been deeply traumatized. These women and girls matter more than his music, his fame, and his musical legacy. Prove that they matter by at least watching the docu-series if you can (I understand it is sensitive for those with a history of abuse) and especially if you are white. #muterkelly Your healing isn’t a bootcamp. You don’t have to whip yourself into shape. You can hold your hand through your healing. You can take breaks. You can pause on the sideline. You can hug yourself and acknowledge that rest has a purpose (#restingisaverb). You can do it with kindness, sweetness, and compassion to yourself. I told a client this in a Breathwork session the other day where she was being hard on herself, and she said, “But then I’ll never get there.” There’s nowhere worth going if you can’t get there by treating yourself with love and respect along the way. One of my favorite Louise Hay affirmations is, “Love happens.” It’s simple as the some of the most profound truths are. In many of my private sessions lately I have been having my clients say, “Healing happens.” It often brings up a lot of emotion when you connect to the truth that you are actually healing. So many people don’t believe this work can work for them, and then they realize it does. That they are not an exception. Healing is our right, and it’s available to us all. Healing Resources: Check out my article, “You Can Heal Yourself for Free” via the writing page of my site pushingbeauty.com One of the things I find myself teaching on again and again is how to honor our own needs. There are some needs that remain constant like being heard, respected, and valued. There are other needs that occur in cycles like rest, healing, playfulness, alone time, and companionship. It’s our job to listen to our needs and provide for ourselves. It helps us avoid burn out, and it develops a sense of self respect and self reliance. “You are being cleared out for something better to come in.” Book link in profile. If I had stopped Breathing after a few sessions all those years ago, I would not be who I am today. Each time I chose to lay down a Breathe, layers were shedding and I felt different. But it's the cumulative effects that show me how much I have transformed. It's not just about what Breathwork has done for me, but it's also about what my choices have taught me. Every single time I chose to lay down and practice Breathwork I was choosing to love myself. Regardless of what happened during the session, I made a choice to love myself. If, during that session, I allowed my heart to open wider and truth to be revealed to me, I was also part of that process. If, in that session, I remained closed and resistant, it was still OK because of the cumulative effect. Eventually, as I continued to choose to do Breathwork, I would open incrementally. I learned to trust the process and through that process, I experienced what it means to heal myself. We have become habituated to simple solutions and immediate results. Breathwork is not that practice, though some people find it at just the right time when a single session cracks them open and they commit for life. That wasn't my journey. Breathwork was hard for me in the beginning. I wasn't cracked wide open the first, second, or twentieth time, but eventually, the shell surrounding my heart parted ways and I allowed the love to begin to flow more freely. Wherever you are on your healing journey, it's OK if it feels hard. That's when you showing up for the work means even more. It doesn't matter if it doesn't feel like things are changing right now. Trust that something is happening and keep showing up. Sometimes we can't see how much we are changing until we see the cumulative effect later on. This is from my newsletter that goes out every Monday. To sign up head to the link in my profile. While you’re there you can also check out Getting Started with Breathwork if you don’t already have a Breathwork practice. I wholeheartedly believe we find who we are meant to find and that there is a place for us all. Image of pamphlet from Ai Weiwei’s Life Cycle Exhibit. One spot left for a private Breathwork session on Tuesday. 3:30 spot open. Link in profile to scoop it up. So many people have a hard time resting because they believe they aren’t being “productive.” But resting is a verb. It's an action. It's productive. It contributes to your well-being, your health, and your sanity. I rest because I love myself. I rest because it feels good. I rest because I like to. I rest because I need to. I rest because I value resting. Here is to a fully rested and restorative 2019. BREATHWORK FOR THE NEW YEAR My monthly Breathwork workshop at @onedowndog is tomorrow(Wednesday)! Get clear on what you are ready to let go of and what you want to call in. No experience necessary. Tickets via @onedowndog. 📷 @helloitspaulina Showing Up For Yourself might mean canceling on friends because you really need some alone time. It might also mean realizing you’ve become a flake and acknowledging that to those you care about. Showing Up For Yourself might mean starting to eat Paleo. It might also mean becoming vegetarian when you realize eating Paleo doesn’t feel good to your body. Showing Up For Yourself might mean sleeping in till 9 (10?!) on the weekend because it was a rough week. It might also mean waking up at the crack of dawn to drive to the desert. Showing Up For Yourself might mean saying yes and it might mean saying no. It might mean changing your mind. It might mean trying something you never thought you would. It might mean breaking someone’s heart. It might even mean breaking your own heart. Showing Up For Yourself in the ultimate sense means that you make choices that honor your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual needs as they arise. This is how we take care of ourselves. This is how we love ourselves. There is no one in the world who can do this for you but you. Read the full article by heading to PushingBeauty.com and clicking Writing and “What Showing Up For Yourself Means & How To Do It.” DESERT DETOX SOLO RETREAT NOW OPEN I bought Fox & Feather Cabin five years after I fell in love with the high desert. It has been the perfect place to get away from the high energy of the city and let my nervous system detox. The sacred land of this property has helped hold me as I healed, and I knew I wanted to begin to share it along with my work Desert Detox Solo Retreat is for you if: Your heart has been broken, you’re grieving, or you’ve fallen into depression. You’re reaching burn out from all that’s on your plate and need an emotional and spiritual detox. You have a book to write, art to make, or need solitude to reconnect with your creativity. This offering is intended for those who can handle solitude, want to connect with nature, and are in need of some additional support. (If you would like to simply book the cabin for general enjoyment you can do so via @foxandfeathercabin.) You can book the cabin for one, two, three weeks or the entire month. Preference will be given to those interested in longer stays. Each week you’ll meet with me virtually for a healing session. You will also receive access to Dig Deeper, my online healing hub full of workshops, and you will be able to work with the ones I suggest for you during our off days. In our session we’ll discuss ways you can deepen your healing during your time in the desert. Applications are open for February and March. Link in profile for more info. From today’s newsletter. My favorite comments about my book are ones like these, where we discover there are others who feel just like us. When I was grieving it felt like there were few people who truly understood the depth of my pain. Hearing from my (mostly older) friends about their great losses gave me reassurance. My story is far from original. People have written about heartbreak for centuries, though this book isn’t really about a broken heart. It’s about the pain that ushers us into the journey to reclaiming the lost parts of ourselves. The choice to learn through my pain has literally been life changing.