Yoga Retreats in Bali - aattapaattam.com

Yoga Retreats in Paradise (Bali)

Bali is a paradise for practicing Yoga. Bali is known for its stunning natural beauty, including lush greenery, rice terraces, picturesque beaches, and serene landscapes. Practicing yoga in such a tranquil and visually pleasing environment enhances the overall yoga experience.

Yoga retreats in Bali are unique often set in breathtaking locations, like jungle villas, beachfront resorts, or tranquil mountain retreats. The peaceful surroundings and connection with nature add to the transformative nature of the practice.

Bali’s yoga community is vibrant and welcoming, making it easy for yoga enthusiasts to connect with like-minded individuals, share experiences, and form lasting bonds. Bali has skilled and experienced yoga teachers from around the world.

There are two main ways to practice yoga in Bali. You can either stay in a picturesque resort for a week with a well-known yoga teacher or reside in places like Ubud and attend yoga studios for a week or more. I have experienced both options and would like to share my experiences here.

Practicing Yoga in a Resort

Practicing yoga in a resort in Bali provides a luxurious and exclusive yoga experience set in a picturesque environment, led by well-known yoga teachers, and accompanied by specialized retreats and wellness packages. The following are a set of advantages and characteristics of practicing yoga in a resort in Bali:

Serene environment for Yoga: Resorts in Bali often boast picturesque settings amidst nature, providing a tranquil and visually appealing backdrop for yoga practice. This will enhance the overall yoga experience and relaxation.
Exclusive facilities with well-known Yoga Teacher: Resorts usually offer high-end amenities, spacious yoga pavilions, and often conducted by well-known yoga teachers leading the sessions.
Holistic approach to yoga practice: Resorts often integrate yoga with other wellness services such as spa treatments, Ayurveda, healthy meals, and workshops, offering a comprehensive wellness experience.

I stayed at Como Uma, a resort in Ubud, and attended a week-long retreat led by a Bay Area yoga instructor. The yoga pavilion in the resort overlooked a river in a jungle-like setting. We were flowing, moving and sweating doing juicy Yoga practice. It was a magical week filled with excellent yoga practice and relaxation on one of the most beautiful islands on the planet.

: Yoga Pavilion at Como Uma resort in Ubud overlooking a river in a jungl-like setting.

Practicing Yoga in a Studio in Towns like Ubud

Practicing yoga in a yoga studio in town offers a more varied, cost-effective, and community-oriented experience, providing you with the opportunity to connect with local culture and practitioners. The following are a set of advantages and characteristics of practicing yoga in a studio located in towns like Ubud in Bali:

Variety of Classes and Instructors: Yoga studios typically offer a wide range of classes and instructors, allowing you to explore different yoga styles and find what resonates best with you.
Cost effective, flexibility and convenience: Yoga classes in town are more affordable than resort retreats. Yoga studios have more flexible schedules giving you the freedom to choose classes that suit your timetable.
Community Connection: Yoga studios often foster a sense of community, enabling you to meet like-minded individuals, attend events, workshops, and establish a deeper connection to the local yoga community.

Let me first outline the advantages of practicing yoga at Yoga Barn.

Yoga Barn

Yoga Barn is a well-known and highly regarded yoga studio and holistic healing retreat center located in Ubud. Here are the highlights of Yoga Barn:

Variety of Yoga Classes and Holistic Wellness: Yoga Barn offers a wide range of yoga styles, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and more. Classes cater to practitioners of all levels, from beginners to advanced, and most sessions have a duration of 90 minutes. In addition to yoga, Yoga Barn offers healing and wellness services such as sound healing, breathwork, meditation, Ayurveda, acupuncture, and various holistic therapies. I got KUSH Thai Massage for an hour costing 400,000 IDR ($26 USD). It was excellent.
Excellent experienced Instructors: Yoga Barn hosts highly skilled and yoga instructors from around the world, providing high-quality guidance and instruction to participants. Many instructors specialize in specific yoga styles and wellness practices. I took Kundalini, Vinyasa Flow, Hatha Flow Yoga Nidra, Yin and Fly High Yoga. All were excellent and experienced teachers. I thoroughly enjoyed my yoga practice in the Yoga Barn.
Garden Kafe: The Garden Kafe is an on-site cafe within the Yoga Barn complex that provides a variety of healthy and nourishing meals for visitors. The Garden Kafe offers a diverse menu containing vegetarian and vegan options. The menu focuses on using organic and locally sourced ingredients to promote a health-conscious dining experience that complements the yoga and wellness offerings at Yoga Barn. Visitors enjoy the ambient environment in an open-air setting surrounded by greenery, making it a peaceful place to unwind after class, rejuvenate, work for extended hours, or simply relax and chill without any distractions. The Garden Kafe often serves as a gathering spot for the Yoga Barn community, providing a place for visitors to socialize, connect, and share their experiences in a friendly and communal atmosphere. I enjoyed the healthy food from the Garden Kafe many times before or after the class. I highly recommend to eat food there even if you do not take a Yoga class in Yoga Barn.

Ganesha in the Yoga Barn Courtyard
Statue of Vishnu in the Yoga Barn Gardens.
Goddess statue in a Yoga Pavilion on top of the reception area
View of a Banyan Tree during a Kundalini Yoga class
View of a garden with goddess Saraswati and Budha during a Yoga class

Challenges in commuting to the Yoga Studio in Ubud

I stayed in a villa in Nyuh Kuning and practiced yoga at Yoga Barn in Ubud, which is 2.3 kilometers away.

Road traffic in certain parts of Bali, especially in Ubud, can be very heavy. Walking along the side of the road for a few kilometers is challenging due to the high volume of scooters, motorcycles, and cars, resulting in significant pollution. It is more feasible to walk before 8 AM or late in the evening rather than during peak traffic hours.

For these reasons, I recommend that if you plan to practice yoga at Yoga Barn, consider staying either at Yoga Barn or in close proximity to avoid attempting to walk across the town in heavy traffic, which can be very unpleasant.

Transportation recommendation in and around Ubud

I used the Gojek application on my cell phone. Using Gojek, you can travel to various places either on a motorcycle with the GoRide option or in a car with the GoCar option. The prices are very affordable compared to hiring tourist cars to travel from one place to another. Riding in a GoCar using Gojek cost me around $16 USD to go from Ubud town to international airport at Denpasar, whereas hiring a taxi or tourist car would cost a minimum of $30 USD for the same distance. The Gojek service is excellent and reliable. Traveling from one place to another within Ubud (3 KMs) costed me around $1 USD using GoRide.

This interesting experience happened to me. I wanted to travel from one place in Ubud to another. It costed me 30,000 IDR (roughly $2 USD) using GoCar option. Due to the larger denomination of the local currency, I got confused and accidentally paid the Gojek driver 300,000 IDR (roughly $19 USD). He accepted the payment and left. Within a few minutes of making the payment, I realized my mistake and texted the Gojek Service center via chat, explaining them that I had overpaid by mistake. Within half an hour, Gojek confirmed the issue, trained the driver to alert the rider about over payment if this mistake happens in the future. Gojek immediately refunded me the extra amount I paid ($17 USD). I’m impressed by Gojek’s excellent and efficient service.