Ritual & Practice

Ancient wisdom to soothe the overwhelm of our modern world

Jewish-inspired wellbeing for everyone

Michal is an experienced Jewish educator and licensed naturopathic doctor with a passion for an empowered, meaningful, non-judgmental, and accessible approach to both health and Jewish practice. From a deeply rooted foundation in Jewish spirituality, she offers workshops, classes, retreats, mentorship, ritual leadership and other resources for authentic connection to yourself, your family, your community and the world. And who knows? We may just have a little fun along the way! 

Deep Breath Baking

The classic mindfulness-based baking workshop that teaches about rest, nourishment and community.

Ritual Leadership

Partner with Michal for a creative and healing approach to lifecycle and year-cycle ritual.

Classes and Retreats

Community is medicine. Let’s learn, practice and grow together. 

Freebies!

Explore the overflow of Michal’s heart and imagination. Please enjoy and share these resources abundantly!

Deep Breath Baking

Deep Breath Baking gathers inspiration from the Jewish tradition of preparing a special bread, challah, for the weekly sabbath meal. The workshop weaves in mindfulness practices to offer an experience with a simple, universal message: rest is in the recipe.

Deep breath baking is for everyone, no matter your experience with mindfulness and baking, or your Jewish knowledge.  If you can breathe, you can benefit.

Michal created Deep Breath Baking as a student in yoga teacher training in 2009 to teach the importance of rest, nourishment and community.

Since then, she has delighted in offering the workshop to hundreds of participants across North America at community centers, yoga studios, conferences, retreats, offices, private homes and most recently…online!

The classic Deep Breath Baking workshop guides you through the preparation of dough, enjoying the sight, smell, sound, and feel of the process.  While the dough rises, you will enjoy a gentle, slow yoga class.  Once you and your dough have rested, you will put finishing touches on the loaf.  As the bread bakes, you will have an opportunity for “field trips” to the oven, learning how it looks and feels at different stages and enjoying the delicious, nourishing scent that escapes each time you open the oven door.  The workshop ends with reflections on the experience and, of course, a sampling of the goods!

Classic yoga workshop (3 hours):
1 hour of mindful challah dough preparation
1 hour of gentle yoga practice
1 hour of braiding/baking demonstration and reflecting
Participants take dough to bake at home

Mindfulness workshop (1.5 hours):
1 hour of mindful challah dough preparation
30 min of reflection
Participants take dough to bake at home

Virtual offering (variable length):

Ingredient and supplies list provided ahead of the workshop.

  1. Woven throughout the work-from-home day:
    Session 1 (for example Friday, 8-9am): 1 hour of mindful challah dough preparation
    Session 2 (for example Friday, 12-1pm): (optional) 1 hour of virtual yoga class
    Session 3 (for example Friday 5-6pm): 1 hour of braiding, baking and reflecting
  2. Retreat day: a variety of options for timing live video sessions + email/text/recorded video/audio reminders

Deep Breath Baking can be adapted to align with your group’s goals and needs.

A few of the types of groups that have enjoyed deep breath baking over the past decade:

  • Countless Jewish organizations, synagogue groups and conferences
  • Team-bonding/professional development for non-profit organizations
  • Mother-daughter groups
  • Residential retreats
  • Yoga studio communities
  • Wedding parties, including inter-faith couples

Miriam from the Philadelphia Jewish Grad Network wrote about her experience on her blog, 25X52.

Shoshi, who organized Deep Breath Baking with her group in Montreal, wrote a lovely reflection of the experience on the blog, What the BIEC?

I’d just like to thank you, once again, for last night. We all had such a wonderful time. Your project is truly a unique gem.
Megan B., Programming and Outreach Associate, The Collaborative

Deep Breath Baking is a wonderful offering, rich and joyous. Michal effortlessly weaves together the teachings inherent within baking bread, highlighting that rest is within the recipe. And we all need rest! Michal is a wonderful teacher, facilitating with so much heart, intention, and love, holding a space for the participants to explore, and delve deeply with curiosity.  The yoga class within the workshop felt so nourishing-really the whole experience felt so nourishing. I highly recommend Michal and Deep Breath Baking!
Emily W., yoga teacher

Michal’s workshop was not only relaxing, but inspiring. I’d highly recommend it for any group!
Marissa R., Event Planner, University of PA

Michal’s taught me to bake bread with patience. I could never get my yeast to bubble until I learned to take deep breaths and wait, a life lesson that easily transfers to the rest of my life.  Plus, now it bubble happily every time. Thanks Michal!
Lily C.

If you are looking to satisfy your appetite for bread, come to Michal’s workshop. If you are looking to stimulate your appetite for a deeper and more meaningful understanding of nourishment, then Michal will be a guide. I have experienced both sorts of appetites at her workshop (in Montreal). As my friend she has taught me so much, and as a workshop leader, she is most generous with these same friendly teachings. Adaptable, sincere, and able, Michal also bakes a mean loaf of challah!
Leah, with Chunks of Energy

Mindfulness_Michal Pearl_Deep breath baking

About

Michal created Deep Breath Baking as a student in yoga teacher training in 2009 to teach the importance of rest, nourishment and community.

Since then, she has delighted in offering the workshop to hundreds of participants across North America at community centers, yoga studios, conferences, retreats, offices, private homes and most recently…online!

Workshop Options

The classic Deep Breath Baking workshop guides you through the preparation of dough, enjoying the sight, smell, sound, and feel of the process.  While the dough rises, you will enjoy a gentle, slow yoga class.  Once you and your dough have rested, you will put finishing touches on the loaf.  As the bread bakes, you will have an opportunity for “field trips” to the oven, learning how it looks and feels at different stages and enjoying the delicious, nourishing scent that escapes each time you open the oven door.  The workshop ends with reflections on the experience and, of course, a sampling of the goods!

Classic yoga workshop (3 hours):
1 hour of mindful challah dough preparation
1 hour of gentle yoga practice
1 hour of braiding/baking demonstration and reflecting
Participants take dough to bake at home

Mindfulness workshop (1.5 hours):
1 hour of mindful challah dough preparation
30 min of reflection
Participants take dough to bake at home

Virtual offering (variable length):

Ingredient and supplies list provided ahead of the workshop.

  1. Woven throughout the work-from-home day:
    Session 1 (for example Friday, 8-9am): 1 hour of mindful challah dough preparation
    Session 2 (for example Friday, 12-1pm): (optional) 1 hour of virtual yoga class
    Session 3 (for example Friday 5-6pm): 1 hour of braiding, baking and reflecting
  2. Retreat day: a variety of options for timing live video sessions + email/text/recorded video/audio reminders

Your Group

Deep Breath Baking can be adapted to align with your group’s goals and needs.

A few of the types of groups that have enjoyed deep breath baking over the past decade:

  • Countless Jewish organizations, synagogue groups and conferences
  • Team-bonding/professional development for non-profit organizations
  • Mother-daughter groups
  • Residential retreats
  • Yoga studio communities
  • Wedding parties, including inter-faith couples

Kind Words

Miriam from the Philadelphia Jewish Grad Network wrote about her experience on her blog, 25X52.

Shoshi, who organized Deep Breath Baking with her group in Montreal, wrote a lovely reflection of the experience on the blog, What the BIEC?

I’d just like to thank you, once again, for last night. We all had such a wonderful time. Your project is truly a unique gem.
Megan B., Programming and Outreach Associate, The Collaborative

Deep Breath Baking is a wonderful offering, rich and joyous. Michal effortlessly weaves together the teachings inherent within baking bread, highlighting that rest is within the recipe. And we all need rest! Michal is a wonderful teacher, facilitating with so much heart, intention, and love, holding a space for the participants to explore, and delve deeply with curiosity.  The yoga class within the workshop felt so nourishing-really the whole experience felt so nourishing. I highly recommend Michal and Deep Breath Baking!
Emily W., yoga teacher

Michal’s workshop was not only relaxing, but inspiring. I’d highly recommend it for any group!
Marissa R., Event Planner, University of PA

Michal’s taught me to bake bread with patience. I could never get my yeast to bubble until I learned to take deep breaths and wait, a life lesson that easily transfers to the rest of my life.  Plus, now it bubble happily every time. Thanks Michal!
Lily C.

If you are looking to satisfy your appetite for bread, come to Michal’s workshop. If you are looking to stimulate your appetite for a deeper and more meaningful understanding of nourishment, then Michal will be a guide. I have experienced both sorts of appetites at her workshop (in Montreal). As my friend she has taught me so much, and as a workshop leader, she is most generous with these same friendly teachings. Adaptable, sincere, and able, Michal also bakes a mean loaf of challah!
Leah, with Chunks of Energy

Ritual Leadership 

For the past fifteen+ years, Michal has woven together wellness and Jewish inspiration through workshops, retreats, class series and mentorship. She has been honored by invitations over the years to lead life cycle rituals, such as:

  • pre-birthing blessings
  • Brit Bat (baby naming ceremony)
  • B-Mitzvahs
  • pre-wedding blessings
  • mikveh (ritual immersion in fresh water)
  • interfaith wedding officiating
  • grief and loss ritual
  • funeral/shiva/memorial services

Birth Blessing

Michal planned a beautiful birth blessing gathering for me before I had my son. As a first time mom, it was an invaluable experience that I didn’t know I needed. Who wouldn’t feel brave to jump into the unknown world of birth and motherhood with all your closest friends telling me one by one why I’m going to be a great mom. In the middle of the darkest covid restrictions, she gathered a group of friends on Zoom, but made it feel like we were all in the room together. Michal led songs and shared meaningful insights on birth and motherhood and had clearly spent time prepping those who joined and her own part, so it was a smooth and calming experience. Michal is an expert group facilitator who brings kindness and thoughtfulness to any group event. She’s just the best!

Brooke R.

 

B’mitzvah | Coming of Age

Michal was bat mitzvah madricha for both our our daughters, Natalya and Tamar. Both experiences were productive and wonderful, for all concerned. The bat mitzvah process is, in large part, about welcoming a child into an adult role in the Jewish community. Michal was a fantastic guide for both of our daughters – nurturing and encouraging them, and challenging them when it was needed. She worked studiously to prepare lessons for them, to get them to examine scripture with a critical eye, and to understand their historic role in fighting for a just world. Carolyn and I are incredibly amazed by, and proud of, our two smart, strong young women. Michal certainly has played an important role in who they’ve become and are becoming, and we are forever grateful to her for that.

Jonathan R.

Wedding | Union

Michal has a depth of knowledge and thoughtfulness that made learning about Jewish rituals feel accessible and fun! She was our wedding doula and helped us to bring meaningful and grounding moments into our wedding planning process, that otherwise was feeling a bit stressful. 2 years later I am still so grateful for the rituals she facilitated for us. They are some of my favorite wedding memories!

Emily G

Grief | Loss | Transition

I spoke to Michal because I knew she had great background and experience thinking about Jewish rituals for life cycle events. While there are certain rituals proscribed by Jewish tradition, I wanted to tailor one to my own needs. She helped me figure out what parallels I wanted to draw with my wedding experience in order to demonstrate the end of the relationship. Through a few conversations we brainstormed ideas of what to do and came to a wonderful conclusion a few weeks later.

Brian C.

Classes + Retreats

Coming soon: community is medicine! 

“God, The Universe, Nature, Allah, Adonai

What’s in the Name that I call it by?

One or the other doesn’t seem to be better 

But I’ll use any name if it will bring us together.”

From Michal’s song, In the Name

Let's keep in touch!

 

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"I feel like I am on a greater mission. To learn to hear my own intuition.
I needed to practice, just like anything else.. This fine art of trusting myself.
But intuition can be kind of hard to find. And it sure can help to have someone remind me
Once in a while of my deepest desire. To live a life that’s truly inspired!"
- from Michal's song, "Only a Path"