“The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh Hi friends!
How is your start of 2026? I hope it has been gentle and kind. Mine has had a couple of unexpected bumps that sent my nervous system into a whirl . . .and I have to tell you. I am so grateful for the regulatory tools I can reach for within my body and the practices I have in place. Something I am beginning to practice is setting a priority for each day. One specific thing I am focusing on. Sounds simple, and it is. I’m learning that when I write down my priority? This simple act serves as an accelerant for my focus. When I layer in thinking about a couple of actions that will support my priority? This brings my outcomes to the next level. It moves the needle even further in the direction I want to go. Sprinkle on top some reflection time and explore how things went? Now we’re really creating the shift! Here’s the thing. This takes a bit of time. Not much! But yes, time. And guess what? Somehow, my days are feeling more spacious. I think with a more focused energy? There’s less that distracts and depletes me. Something else giving me hope and nourishment these days? The Walk for Peace. If you haven’t found this one yet, you might also enjoy following along. It’s the 2,300-mile journey of Buddhist monks, and their incredible dog, Aloka, who are walking from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. It is scheduled to last 120 days. Today is Day 75, so there’s still lots of time to get inspired. Their stated mission is “to raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world.” And their daily commitment to this, one step at a time, is powerful. May we all take one powerful step this week. In the direction we want to move. We’re worth it, ~ m
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“Let nothing dim the light that shines within.” ~ Maya Angelou Welcome 2026!
My girlfriend Theresa sent me a Monk Manual for Christmas. I didn’t know such a thing existed, and my initial response? Resistance. It looked like a complex, and time-consuming chore. The rather large, and thick, yearly “planner” felt oppressive. Like yet another daily “to do” that I really do not have time for. Maybe the gift would become something I found space for on a bookshelf and did just that . . . shelve it. But I left it out. On our dining room table, with its pretty ribbon, just to see what might emerge. The next day, I softened my own edges of resistance and opened myself up to curiosity. Theresa knows me very well. We talk openly and in-depth. She’s a thoughtful gift giver. Why did she choose this for me? With the awful weather and MIke’s holiday break helping to shift us into a slower gear, I eventually curled up with the Manual. I found its language and message compelling. I realized there were loads of free online support materials accompanying the manual that were thorough, thoughtful, and helpful. I fully agree with the concept that most New Year’s Resolutions don’t pan out because people set the goal too far away from their existing patterning. I talk in my own yoga classes about how small shifts in our thinking, our being, and our doing create big transformation. That intentions aren’t magical thinking. That showing up for ourselves, for our vision, for what we want more of happens one breath, one small step, one action at a time. Pretty soon I was literally sharpening my pencil, digging around for a decent eraser, and jotting down thoughts and ideas . . . or, more accurately, themes and habits. On this New Year’s Day, my theme is Gratitude. I like the concept I picked up from Richard Rohr . . . of practicing gratitude until you are grateful. To support my theme of gratitude, I have chosen one habit to focus on. Because we know simply naming what we want doesn’t happen magically. We have to actually practice it. Move the needle into a different groove for our own internal patterns. So, my habit I am focusing on this week? No Complaining. That’s it. I’m going to try not to complain this week. And I’ll see what happens. Oh, I’m also trying a Gratitude Minute when I first wake up. Simply breathing in gratitude for whatever surfaces in that moment. I’m loving this practice. And guess what? It’s not time consuming. Nor complicated. Small things. Big impact. I’m here for it. Here’s to moving the needle and basking in the light, ~m 
“Wholeness happens when we’re fragmented. We are walking incomplete,” ~ John Paul Lederach Merry Christmas! 🎄
For many, it’s a busy time. So I”ll be brief. 🥰 This year, the holiday season has brought me extra challenges around staying present, and finding contentment, with what actually is. There’s still a sliver of me that wants the holiday season to replicate all the wonder and ease it did when I was a kid. Back then, it really did seem like the gift of my brand new, handmade wooden balance beam, simply appeared. Magically! Of course, I now understand that my Dad spent HOURS and HOURS, on top of his long working hours, to lovingly craft that for me in our basement. Somehow, without me knowing! It took planning. And effort. And commitment. And cleanup. And I’m certain it wasn’t always easy, nor fun. My wish for us all is that we can be present with what is. Honor the multitudes of every moment. And still find glimmers of magic. Here’s to resourcing ourselves and moving towards the light. 🎄 With tenderness and love, ~m 
“While we can’t control what’s happening around us, we can cultivate the capacity to be with what is with more ease, joy, and freedom.” ~ Sebene Selassie Hello!
What a big week. We have new moon tomorrow, and then we’re right into Solstice. The word Solstice is a combination of the Latin words sol (the Sun) and sistere (to stand still). So, as we move towards the longest night of the year, I hope you find moments of deep relaxation and true rejuvenation. In my meditative moments, I’ve been feeling into the Sanskrit word, śraddhā (pronounced, roughly as, SHRA-dha). Yes, it’s a term centered upon faith, devotion, or conviction. All of that can be directed towards spiritual teachings or a spiritual path . . . and it’s also about a profound inner steadfastness. I imagine it as something that dissolves self-doubt. A powerful antidote to those (sometimes very LOUD) voices of my own internal critic. In other words, it’s about choosing to trust your own path, your own instincts, your own compass . . . even if the results are not yet showing up externally. And, it’s about staying committed to this . . . not with rigidity, or harshness . . . but in a way that nurtures a confidence from showing up for ourselves and our knowing. The word śraddhā can be broken down: śrad meaning, heart/truth dhā meaning, to place/hold Put it together? That which is held in the heart, or that which is holding the heart As is the case with most Sanskrit terms, there really isn’t a single-word translation into English. Some might say, “faith” or “purpose” as shorthand, but it’s just that. Short of the full context. I think whatever it is that truly holds our heart? Must be a positive energy that bubbles up from deep internal knowing. And that’s worth showing up for, time and time again. This helps me navigate the busyness of the season. It reminds that everything is right here within. And, if that gets taken out of focus, I can always re-read the quotation up above. 👀⬆️ Here’s to exploring it ALL with more ease, joy, and freedom. Spots are filling, and I hope you will secure yours for my favorite practice of the year. Please join me and Teresa Van Eyk: Winter Solstice and Sound at the Saugatuck Yacht Club. Sunday, December 21 | 6 - 7:30 P.M. Happy meditative moments, everyone. In service, ~m 
“The contentment found in gratefulness is not about ‘standing still’ but about showing up to your life and being present, always aware of the invitations before you; a receiving rather than a seeking.” ~ Joe Primo Hello my friends!
I love the season we are in. As we approach the longest night of the year, the return to the light, the change of seasons and the new year . . . there’s such a supportive atmosphere for contemplation. Yes, reflection. More importantly, looking forward. It’s a time to pause. To hush. And to celebrate. In my classes we’ve been doing some extra twists, and movements, and pranayama that help to rinse and release. That way, anything stagnant has an opportunity to begin gently moving. And, we’re focusing on our pathway forward. Firm in our foundation. With a clear view. And a focused vision. It’s incredible how breath and movement readily embodies, and supports, all of this powerful work within. It’s not magic. It may not be quick. But it’s happening. And it’s transformative. There’s something so powerful when we come together in community and do this kind of practice. We all benefit. And, we weave our thread of support into one another’s lives so each of us are uplifted. I’d appreciate if you could join me for my favorite class of the year. Winter Solstice and Sound at the Saugatuck Yacht Club. Sunday, December 21 | 6 - 7:30 P.M. If you’re looking for a powerful way to commit to your pathway forward, consider a fully-customized Sadhana. This is a daily practice that you and I create together. It’s wonderfully distilled to accelerate what it is you are seeking. The practice doesn’t have to be long. Or complicated. It will facilitate powerful shifts within. Have questions or feeling curious? Simply reach out, and we’ll talk more! Okay, keep it cozy everyone! And carve out some time to come into greater focus for yourself. Your pathway. Every day I’m noodling around for my single-word resolution for 2026. Not sure I have it yet. I think this year it’s going to be in Sanskrit? In service, ~m P.S. Javi cracks me up in his bandana after being groomed 😄 
“A practice of gratitude is not about dismissing sadness, anger, fear, or confusion. Rather, it offers us the opportunity to see that we often experience multiple feelings at once; to welcome joy into the same places where we hold grief; to turn our attention to what is quietly growing and breathing day by day, which to our possible surprise, includes ourselves." ~ Kristin Lin Hello, friends!
I just dropped off Javier at the groomer’s. Simply getting there on our slippery back roads feels like an accomplishment. Especially with our boy in full trembles at my side. Javi has decided that ANY time he gets into a car, he might be going somewhere terrible and torturous. 😩 I’ve tried driving him around to lots of fun places (Grandma and Grandpa’s, doggo friends’ houses, his favorite hiking spots . . . ) so he knows odds are good he’s NOT going to the Vet or the Groomer. And, honestly . . . should the groomer be lumped into this same category? The woman who grooms him, LOVES him! When it comes to that appointment? I’m thinking Javi should embrace the spa day. 😉 Turns out, even for my little nine-pound wonder, life is complex. And talk about complex. This time of year can really do it for many of us. The Holidays contain lots of cheer and loads of sparkle. And, they can also be full of stress, difficult get togethers, challenging conversations, pressures on finances, etc. That’s why I chose this week’s quotation. It’s a long one. Give it another good look. 👀 I used to want certain things to be FULL of joy. Nothing else allowed in. Example: decorating the house for Christmas. My idea is that this activity should be full-on-holiday-cheer. Holiday music! Twinkly lights! Sparkly decorations! Everyone happy and sparkly, too. 😉 Maybe that’s real for some of us, Or maybe that happens once or twice. But frankly, that’s not the reality in our house. Invariably, some of the lights are not working. And, they’re tangled. We can’t find the box of red candles. Javi is chewing anything and everything that hits the ground. And now, with the house looking extra chaotic because we’re only half way through, we’re late for a dinner get together. This whole decorating thing is feeling like a bit too much. Why did it we do it this way? Can’t we carve out more time so it feels spacious and a bit more festive? Is there something wrong with us that we aren’t enjoying this more? Isn’t this supposed to be festive and fun? Again, the quotation. ⬆️ If we are trying to eliminate aspects of our emotions, we are probably setting ourselves up for a reckoning. So, rather than enter an activity insistent upon joy, or fun, or ease, or whatever else we are wanting . . . I propose coming in open to the actual experience. That way, when frustration, or anger, or resentment, or impatience, begins creeping in (or BURSTING through!), we can be with that as well. If we are open to the multitudes, we can more readily recognize whatever shift is happening. We can acknowledge it. Say hello to it. And then make conscious choices about what direction we want to move from there. We can take steps as to how best help ourselves. Then, we can continue moving the needle in the direction we want to go. Softening our jaw. Relaxing our shoulders. Taking a few, beautiful breaths. I hope all our holidays sparkle. And, I’m all about staying regulated. ♥️ Oh, and why not continue celebrating the smalls? Life’s little perks and pluses that are happening all around us. One beautiful way to celebrate yourself this season? Join me for my favorite practice of the year: Registration is open ✨ Winter Solstice Yoga + Sound experience at the Saugatuck Yacht Club Sunday, December 21 | 6 - 7:30 P.M. With love and light, ~m P.S. I promise! Pictures of Javi, next week! 🐶♥️ 
"Behold this day, for it is yours to make." ~ Black Elk Hi, friends!
I am grateful for you. Thank you. And, I look forward to connecting again next week, ♥️ One reminder before I go: Registration is open 😍 Winter Solstice Yoga + Sound experience at the Saugatuck Yacht Club! Sunday, December 21 | 6 - 7:30 P.M. You’ll leave relaxed and renewed as we turn towards the light. 💡 Join us! Deep gratitude, ~m 
"Make a habit out of celebrating the small moments in healing, gratitude, and growth." ~ Alex Elle Hello, everyone!
Thank you for this moment. This opportunity for us to connect. I hope our time together today is of service. Whenever I travel, and have an immersive experience, I try and gift myself some extra space for processing and integrating upon return. Oh, and I definitely offer myself lots of extra grace. ☺️ It’s such a privilege to get out there, and I never want to lost sight of that. I know when I am gone there’s even more Mike needs to do to keep our household happy. Especially during his final exam week . . . with tons of extra grading and preparatory work for his new classes, plus the start of his 7th grade boys’ basketball season! 😔 Life can be complicated. I’m astounded by how much is always happening, seemingly all at once. The pace, and the volume, of inputs can be pretty jarring, and taxing, and overwhelming. So today, as we build into the holiday season, a reminder: make a habit of taking small breaks for yourself. Go ahead, make that cup of tea. Put on that soothing, or energizing, music. Change into that cozy set of clothes. Connect with that friend you love. Feel the ground underneath you. Stare at something beautiful. Step outside and breathe in nature. And then, celebrate! Celebrate something in yourself. I love the Alex Elle quotation. ⬆️ Today, I’m celebrating my growth as a trip leader. Are there things I can do better? Absolutely! Is there more for me to learn? You betcha! And, I am growing . . . and I am grateful for that! So, that’s it! What are you celebrating within yourself today? I’d love to know. 🥰 Drop me a line. Shoot me text. Oh, and in the exciting news column: you can now register for our Winter Solstice Yoga + Sound experience at the Saugatuck Yacht Club! Sunday, December 21 | 6 - 7:30 P.M. You’ll leave relaxed and renewed as we turn towards the light. 💡 Join us! In gratitude, ~m 
"May we each discover our own form of spiritual electricity -- and light up our world." ~ Eileen Rivers Hello friends!
How are you doing with the adjustment into Daylight Savings? ⏰ And, how spectacular was yesterday’s Full Moon, SuperMoon?? 🌕 Last week I wrote about staying regulated while moving through the world. I love this as a practice, and I definitely need more practice. 😌 I’m going to keep this going. As a primary focus in my day to day. Why? Because I’m already noticing things in my patterning that I can shift. And, when I create that shift, things are lighter. And more beautiful. In addition, I moved a couple of things forward that have been stagnant for a while now! Example: I love knitting. Once Javi came into our lives, I put away all my knitting projects in the basement. I’m talking deep storage. This past week? My Mom had a knitting question for me (and that’s some strange role reversal right there! 😉). So, I (rather reluctantly) dug out a bunch of my things. And then, Darcy started asking questions about knitting. Could I teach her? Now, I’m about to finish a beautifully cabled scarf I started 3 years ago, and Darcy has successfully knit several rows all on her own! 😊 In a different moment, a dysregulated moment, I may have gotten out what my Mom needed and hurriedly put everything back away. Unable to hear, feel, notice the pull for me to return to this thing that I love. In this moment of trying to stay regulated . . . more present and connected . . . I felt nudge, after nudge, after nudge to continue exploring. To take time with all the projects I had started. To see what might be possible today. Getting back into my yarn and my needles has been so fun, and now that I”m sharing it with someone I love? It’s even more rewarding! Speaking of people I love, last week the Hope College Men’s Soccer team became the MIAA regular season Conference Champions. For the first time in 20 years 🧡⚽️💙 Inspired by how my Aunt and Uncle showed up for me so long ago, having Evan here for his college years has been truly special. I can’t believe he’s already a Junior, and I’m super excited for this year’s Championship Season. Next week though, I’ll be in Nicaragua. Leading a trip to one of our Farm-Direct partners, El Recreo. Before I go, a couple of reminders:
Keep it regulated, everyone. ♥️ With love and light, ~m 
Regulation is the ultimate win. In a breath-in-the-body, I-know-my-center kind of way. It's not easy. Especially when there's pressure, conflict, rage, grief, or even just the ache of being a messy, imperfect human. But staying regulated—emotionally, physically, energetically—means I don't have to abandon myself in order to prove myself” ~ Kris Carr Hi friends!
This weeks’ sunny start in West Michigan has been glorious! I’m grateful for the blue sky and the sunshine because it makes everything seem just a bit brighter. ☀️ I read an email newsletter a few days ago that is really staying with me. In the best of ways. Kris Carr wrote about preparing herself for a really difficult conversation and found that she was rehearsing the whole thing in hopes of coming out “on top.” Then, something shifted for her. She quieted herself enough to hear a little voice that said, “The goal isn’t to win, it’s to stay regulated.” I’ve often thought about our ability to respond rather than react. If we can take the moment to check in, to breathe, to move, before reacting in a situation? We have a better chance of responding in a way we’re going to feel good about rather than reacting in a way we might regret. The chemicals in our brains are powerful, and if we’re reacting from a place full of cortisol? We’re definitely not at our best. 😫 However, what if we added to that? What if we went beyond that by avoiding the cortisol bath altogether? What if while moving in the world for the next week, we made it our goal to stay regulated? There’s something about that as my moving meditation that instantly softens me. I view life as a breath by breath, moving meditation. What if I kept that breath rhythm as my regulation metronome? I think it would help me drop my shoulders a bit more and relax my jaw. If I keep my focus on remaining regulated as I move about the world? I imagine it will be like having an internal bright blue sky and burst of sunshine. Need more inspiration or guidance? Take another look at the quotation above ⬆️ To close it out today, a note to any and all of you who have ever attended Yacht Club Yoga. Thank you! 🙏🏽♥️ My initial six-week attempt at having Saturday class at SYC back in 2017? Class been happening consistently, year round, ever since. It’s a VERY special place to hold practice, and I love being there with all of you. This winter, due to my travel schedule, our Saturday Yacht Club Yoga class will be taking a bit of a sabbatical. Just for a few months. No Yacht Club Yoga, November - February. I promise, we’ll make a spectacular return sometime in the Spring (mid March?). I hope you’ll ALL come out and join me. And, we’ll have one VERY SPECIAL opportunity to gather at SYC to celebrate Winter Solstice on Sunday, December 21. Please save the date to join me and Teresa Van Eyk for gentle movement, meditation, and sound. It’s my favorite class of the year. ✨ ~m |
AuthorMichelle Shaw: Archives
December 2025
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