Bali yoga and wellness retreats and going at it on your own

February 03, 2020

Bali is one of over 17,000 islands that make up Indonesia, offering an idyllic beach and mountain holiday escape to almost ten million tourists per year. While many people visit to frolic on the beach, Bali has also become a destination for yoga lovers who are looking to combine the pristine surroundings with some ‘ommm’ time at yoga and wellness retreats.

The beauty of Bali is that it offers a range of options, from luxury wellness retreats to more intense yoga retreats and teacher training. There are also options to attend drop-in classes, and these can be combined with budget-friendly homestay accommodation. Below, we look at the different options in more detail.

Luxury Bali wellness retreats

These options are perfect for those who are interested in a relaxing yoga and wellness retreat.

Swasti Eco Cottages

Swasti means “healing” in Sanskrit and that is the central focus at Swasti Eco Cottages. Located on a beautiful and tranquil piece of land, you can combine daily yoga, meditation and sound healing practice with organic treatments and massages at the spa. Their cottages are inspired by carvings from native Indonesians and are built using recycled wood.

Udara Bali

Udara Bali combine yoga, spa and detox at their integrated healing yoga resort. Ideal for both individuals and retreat groups, all yoga classes are free for hotel guests. There are specific spa and detox packages, which are focused on alleviating the stress of modern living and tending to personal wellbeing.

Bali Floating Leaf

Floating Leaf has been described as one of the best yoga retreats in Bali (and the world)! Their luxury retreats cater to both individuals and groups and their approach is based on the idea of “three paths to peacefulness and prosperity” - equilibrium between the gods, nature and humankind. They are committed to Bali’s environment and to being a model for true sustainable living.

Bali yoga retreats by A-list international teachers

Another option is the retreats organised by top-class international yoga teachers, who also offer training for budding yoga teachers.

We’ve outlined some of our recent favourite Bali yoga retreats and training sessions below, but you should make sure to keep an eye on what your favourite teachers are doing.

Patrick Beach at Samadi

Samadi Bali in Canggu is a centre dedicated to healing and renewal, with designer accommodation and a vegetarian kitchen. This is the perfect place for yoga teachers to organise a retreat, workshop or teacher training.

Recently, Patrick Beach, a world-renowned yoga instructor, arranged a 300 hour teacher training session at this centre.

Meghan Currie at Udara Bali

We’ve already mentioned Udara Bali, which is an ideal place to truly unwind and relax. They also offer the opportunity for teachers and leaders to host their own retreat, with hassle-free organisation from their experienced staff.

Meghan Currie has been practicing yoga for 18 years and her style of teaching inspires curiosity and playfulness. In January, she hosted a week-long Bali Reset Retreat at Udara Bali.

Bali on a budget - alternatives to yoga retreats

If you are a pure yogi on a budget who is planning a trip to Bali for a few weeks, you might want to consider making you own plan as an alternative to a typical yoga retreat. To see your dollar go the distance, we’d recommend staying in Ubud, the laidback arts and culture centre of Bali, in a guesthouse or homestay accommodation.

With accommodation secured, you can enjoy classes and workshops of yoga, breathwork and meditation between two amazing studios which we explore below. These studios offer upward of 10 classes per day and you can purchase unlimited passes.

The Yoga Barn

At The Yoga Barn, you can take part in a variety of yoga classes and workshops, including the styles of Vinyasa Flow, Power, Pranayama, Restorative, Iyengar, Kundalini, Yin & Anusara.

There are more than 15 classes a day and passes are offered for 1, 3, 5, 10 or 20 classes. Alternatively, you can purchase an unlimited monthly pass which we would recommend if you’re staying in Bali for a while.

Radiantly Alive

Classes at Radiantly Alive are varied, including Flow, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Restorative styles, as well as practice sessions for handstands, arm balances and more. Again, you can purchase passes for 1, 3, 5, 10 or 20 classes, or weekly, fortnightly and monthly passes.