MysticMag chats with Michelle Alva who welcomes you to her sanctuary for self-healing, self-love, and empowerment. Her mission is to empower both women, men, and couples through a comprehensive mindset-energy approach, combining modern science and ancient wisdom techniques. As your guide and catalyst, she helps you reconnect with your energetic body, embrace your spirituality, and release past emotions to create a more fulfilling life.
Can you explain the core principles of the Alva Method® Of Healing At The Speed Of Light and how it combines modern science and ancient wisdom for healing?
Well, I’d like to share a bit about my background and how it all unfolded. I began my journey in physical therapy and graduated at the age of 22. Fast forward to today, I’m 50, and I can see how life guided me toward becoming a physical therapist.
At the tender age of 14, I experienced sexual trauma that left me with significant tension in my pelvic region. Growing up in a Catholic environment, discussions about sex were fraught with shame, guilt, and it was a subject I knew very little about. At 14, I had an unwanted sexual experience that left me feeling frozen and caused me to carry a lot of tension in my thighs and pelvic area.
After completing my physical therapy degree, I specialized in pediatric physical therapy. My passion led me toward infant massage, prompting me to seek training in California to become an infant massage instructor. I wanted to teach parents and children with special needs the significance of touch in a loving and mindful manner.
During this journey, I became acutely aware of how our communication through touch profoundly affects our physiology and overall well-being. I stumbled upon a book by Ashley Montague that delved into studies on the impact of touch, particularly in infants. These studies revealed that orphans deprived of physical touch suffered immensely, sometimes even leading to their demise. When pre-mature infants are massaged in the NICU, they leave the hospital on average 10 days earlier… touch stimulates growth and love hormone.
This revelation underscored for me the importance of touch and the intention behind it. In traditional physical therapy, this aspect was often overlooked, with therapists primarily focusing on exercises. Many physical therapists didn’t incorporate massage into their practice, which intensified my interest in touch therapy.
I realized that there was more to teach parents of children with special needs than just exercises like tummy time. Parents needed to understand the significance of holding their babies, making eye contact, and fostering a deeper connection. This journey also led me to discover the importance of hormones like oxytocin, often referred to as the healing, focus, and bonding hormone.
I learned that certain activities, such as gazing into each other’s eyes, massaging, singing, dancing, and even sitting in a circle, could elevate oxytocin levels in humans. Oxytocin plays a crucial role in fostering intimacy, deeper connections, and bonding. I was particularly fascinated by a study that showed people sitting in a circular arrangement had higher oxytocin levels compared to those sitting at square tables.
Additionally, research with rats demonstrated how stressed-out rats experienced an increase in oxytocin levels when placed alongside loving rats who had received oxytocin injections. This reinforced my belief in the power of love and oxytocin.
These discoveries led me to advocate for a simple yet profound message: “Be the love you wish to see in the world.” I encouraged people to focus on themselves, creating their own oxytocin by dancing, caring, being grateful, humming, self-massage, deep breathing, and hugging. I also emphasized the need to connect our hearts with our physical experiences, especially in the realm of sexuality.
In a world where sexuality often lacks discussions and is sometimes associated with taboo, my journey illuminated the importance of involving our hearts in our sexual experiences. I always say, “get your heart on before your hard-on” to remind my male clients and they have mentioned this simple phrase changes everything! Whole-body orgasms and energetic expansiveness become additional avenues to experience love, deep healing, and transformation.
My life’s path led me to the awareness that I could teach people about the healing power of oxytocin, the physiology of love, and the significance of connection and bonding. It’s our innate nature to be vulnerable, intimate, and loving. I found immense inspiration in guiding others to understand the science of love within themselves and in their interactions with others.
While I pursued various modalities and even completed a shamanic apprenticeship, my primary role emerged as that of an educator. People often commented on my positive energy, how my presence made them feel comfortable, and my infectious smile. This was a reflection of the high levels of oxytocin I intentionally cultivated in my life through love, compassion, appreciation, gratitude, forgiveness, and acceptance.
In the present moment, I guide people to examine their relationship with themselves and their environment. Are they in a state of appreciation and gratitude, or are they caught in fear, lack, judgment, and criticism? The Alva method, which I was intuitively guided to develop, is a self-discovery process that empowers and educates individuals on how to re-orient themselves towards love and abundance. Love and connection are forms of abundance, and this method is grounded in the science of the love hormone. This approach also stimulates the Vagus Nerve, and provides an experience of “non-doing”, of surrendering to our Being-ness. Instead of doing, we allow our innate restorative abilities to thrive, “thy will be done” is practiced.
The name “Alva” signifies “Amplify Love Vibrate Abundance.” It reflects my desire to counter the prevailing trends of competition, capitalism, and division in the world. Oxytocin is about unity and inclusivity, where everyone benefits because we see ourselves as sacred, whole, and complete beings who affect each other. In our world, there’s often separation and a lack of support. I felt that by making it my life mission to teach about the love hormone, people would naturally seek more connection and care, realizing that their default state is naturally designed to be one of inner connection and love.
How do your healing sessions, whether in person or long distance, help individuals process and release emotional and physical pain? What makes them transformational?
When I work with individuals, whether in person or on the phone, they often lay down on their bed, in a specific therapeutic posture which I learned about in Physical Therapy and yoga, and I guide them through a process where they are connected with my voice. During these sessions, I focus on teaching people HOW to surrender and allow their innate healing physiology to take over. One essential aspect of this process is instructing them on how to breathe using their diaphragm.
I draw inspiration from the work of Lisa Miller, who authored the book “The Awakened Brain.” She discusses how individuals tend to experience lower levels of depression and anxiety when they have a connection to a higher power. There is a step by step process which I have perfected for clients to obtain optimal results, to learn with ease and sessions typically commence with participants leaning back and feeling supported, acknowledging the presence of an unseen realm of support that we can all tap into. It’s a sort of spiritual awakening session, where we connect with this higher aspect of our existence.
Starting with the act of leaning back and learning how to breathe deeply with the diaphragm, we also incorporate the “E3 Breath” technique. This method teaches people how to expand their fascia and, in turn, expand themselves and their energetic field. Many of us hold tension and contract our bodies, so through my guidance, even just using my voice, individuals can learn to open up their bodies, extending themselves like a five-pointed star. This expansion isn’t just physical; it also has a profound impact on their mindset.
Our bodies are a manifestation of our subconscious thoughts, and the way we posture and hold ourselves is deeply intertwined with our mental state. Therefore, I assist people in altering their thought patterns, beliefs, and perspectives on life by guiding them to change how they perceive their bodies, posture, and breath. As they breathe and expand their chest and body, it triggers a profound shift in their mindset, nervous system, and energetic-field, and their overall being.
Could you elaborate on how The Alva Method® empowers individuals to be their own source of self-healing and what techniques or approaches are involved?
Techniques such as the E3 Breath, Sacred Surrender, and Letting Go Rituals, teach us how to expand and lengthen our breath, effectively energizing ourselves. Our breath is a potent tool for self-energization, yet many of us tend to breathe shallowly, missing out on the fullness of life.
Another approach I’ve delved into involves teaching myself how to enrich my connection with my own body by expanding my breath. It’s not a task or chore; it’s a profound journey of self-discovery. Through this process, I’ve developed a deep intimacy with the way I breathe, recognizing that I am primarily composed of energy, around 99%. I’ve come to see my body as the sacred vessel of my soul.
When I touch myself in a loving way, anywhere on my body, I begin to nurture a different relationship with myself. I start to perceive myself with love, peace, and a sense of nurturing. This practice has been especially beneficial for those who, like me, have been overly critical of themselves or have faced challenges such as auto-immune issues, chronic pain, anxiety, or depression.
As I engage in this practice of mindful touch, deep breathing, and expansion, I cultivate a harmonious relationship with my inner self. This often leads to the release of pent-up emotions, simply through relaxation and the stimulation of oxytocin, the same hormone released during activities like breastfeeding, crying, experiencing joy, or having an orgasm.
By honing my ability to be present with myself, I uncover and acknowledge suppressed emotions, allowing myself to experience everything that needs to surface. I’ve noticed that as I boost my oxytocin levels and self-love, emotions like shame, fear, helplessness, and frustration naturally cleanse and dissipate.
This practice empowers me to become my own source of emotional cleansing and healing, offering a sense of clarity and renewal. While seeking guidance from experts and enjoying massages or sessions can be valuable, my ultimate goal is to walk through life with the knowledge of my inner power to transform, heal and process emotions. I firmly believe that we possess the capacity to heal ourselves; we are our own medicine.
What role does love play in the healing process, as mentioned in the ALVA Method, and how does it relate to processing emotions and achieving balance?
The most significant insight I’ve gained is the profound connection between love and acceptance. It’s about embracing every facet of our being, even when faced with challenging conditions like cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, or anxiety. When we extend acceptance to these aspects of ourselves, it’s as if we’re forging an alliance within, unifying all parts of who we are.
I often guide my clients to perceive physical discomforts, such as shoulder tension or headaches, as messages from their own bodies—a wisdom within, urging them to awaken to something deeper. Love, in its truest form, is a catalyst for growth, liberation, and freedom. The more we practice acceptance, the more compassion and forgiveness naturally flow. These become channels for release.
By remaining present with our sensations and enveloping them with love and acceptance, we open ourselves up to processing whatever we’ve been holding onto. In essence, this process is driven by oxytocin, often referred to as the love hormone.
Understanding the science of love empowers us to navigate our relationships more authentically. It prompts us to question whether we genuinely love ourselves. If we find ourselves ensnared in constant self-judgment and criticism, that’s not love; it’s an absence of acceptance.
So, the key is to delve into the science of love, the physiology of love, and utilize that knowledge to nurture our relationships, beginning with the one we have with ourselves. It helps us discern whether we are genuinely in a state of love or merely holding onto something that no longer uplifts, expands, or fosters growth. Real love, at its core, is rooted in acceptance. And this begins with a person being motivated to discover themselves as love, and those individuals who are ready and willing to be open to expanding in love create miraculous and magical results! Those are the people I choose to work with.
Can you provide more insight into the various practices incorporated in the ALVA Method, such as Tantra, Hypnosis/NLP, Sound Healing, and Yoga Therapy, and how they contribute to healing and empowerment?
It all originated from my background in physical therapy, which teaches us about biomechanics, efficient body movement, and therapeutic positioning. This foundation has been invaluable, whether I’m working with someone on a massage table or guiding them to lean back on my body. My knowledge of the human body, the musculoskeletal system, and my physical therapy background-pelvic floor speciality, ensures safety, efficiency, and effectiveness. It all begins with proper positioning, posture, and alignment.
My journey continued with yoga and belly dance, which called me to connect with the idea that we are not just physical beings but energetic ones as well. I also delve into energy healing and therapeutic touch, which allows me to help people expand their awareness beyond their physical bodies. This shift in consciousness helps individuals detach from labels like name, age, or diagnosis and experience a profound sense of oneness with the universe.
Tantra has been instrumental in integrating all these elements. It guides me in helping people explore their blind spots. Many have undergone various forms of therapy, but this approach empowers them to become the creators of their own healing processes. It’s about cultivating self-healing, release, surrender, and self-awareness. I also bring my expertise as a hypnosis practitioner, NLP practitioner, and PSYCH-K® Facilitator into play. I use language to enhance the efficiency of healing and processing, teaching clients to replace “try” with “choose” and to shift their mindset.
For instance, instead of saying, “I’ll try the exercise,” we embrace “I choose to engage in this exercise.” We recognize the power of our words and how they influence our reality. It’s an approach that empowers clients to become more conscious of their language and use it to influence their sub-conscious mind and re-program ourselves towards empowered living. This combination of E3breath, mindset, and energy work results in deep and profound, transformative experiences for people in our sessions. It’s all about fostering love, expansion, and abundance.
In the world today, we’re witnessing a lot of chaos, the misuse of power, exploitation, and a lack of understanding when it comes to our own sexuality and its transformative and healing potential. This approach that I’m passionate about teaches people to embrace their authentic power fully. It encourages a connection with one’s sexuality or sexual energy, which is also the energy of creativity and healing, often associated with oxytocin.
Many spiritual practices often overlook or avoid discussing sexuality, but this approach acknowledges that our soul lives in our physical bodies, and our sexuality is a part of our human experience. In yoga, for instance, there’s a practice of meditating on the sensations in the body, including those in the genital area. It’s about embracing all aspects of ourselves, and this inclusivity is a form of abundance.
Furthermore, this approach emphasizes that we are all interconnected. What affects one person in one part of the world can ripple through the entire global community. It reconnects us with a sense of oneness and unity. I genuinely believe that by awakening to the power of love, people naturally move away from conflict, exploitation, and the misuse of power.
My mission is to share this approach with the world because I envision a future where more and more people awaken to the power of true love and deeper connections. When we truly understand and embody love, everything that is not aligned with love will naturally dissipate. This is why I’m dedicated to training individuals, both men and women, in this approach. “To be love” is the medicine of the future because love is an inherent part of our being, and it has the power to transform our world.” I look forward to teaching millions of people this approach as the students that I have now, who are amazing individuals who are feeling the calling to BE the Love and contribute to a thriving world. This is my life’s mission. I have created over 100 meditations on my You Tube Channel MichelleAlvaTV and love for people to subscribe to my channel and enjoy the experience of the ALVA Method.
If you would like to find out more about Michelle Alva, visit https://michellealva.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@Michellealvalove/
