Bali Wellness Retreat Highlights 2016

 In August 2016, Bula Wellness led a group of yogis to Bali for 7 nights/8 days of yoga, healing, cultural exploring, giving back and so much more.  

Retreat Testimonials:

- From Melissa (Bali Retreat Participant)

“As each day passes upon returning from Bali, I’m trying to keep it alive within my heart. When you go on any vacation and decompress from daily stressors in life, it’s always hard to return and jump back into the swing of things. Coming back from this trip has been especially hard, as a piece of my heart was cracked open and a spark deep within me was discovered and ignited. We were exposed to so many deep soulful experiences, it’s hard not to return unchanged and untouched.

I thought I’d share some of the soulful lessons I was reminded of while in Bali:
 
(1) Live SIMPLY, but beautifully. There is beauty in not having, needing, or wanting much and still feeling fulfilled and content with what is. Find beauty in the small things each day, as they are what add up to the big things.
 
(2) Live from a space of deep and true GRATITUDE. I say true because I think sometimes we can say we are grateful for things in life, but not all these expressions are heartfelt and at times, almost just said to move through the motions. Each day the Balinese begin their day by making an offering. These offerings are called, Canang Sari, which translates into “a sense of beautiful purpose.” It is their way of expressing their gratitude to the Gods and all of life, even the dualities. I believe that because this is part of their culture and they are taught to start their day like this from such a young age, it creates this beautiful flow of positive energy, almost like an ocean current that you might not fully be aware of until you’re pulled into it. And if you don’t believe in this flow of energy, look up a video of the traffic in Bali (maybe Ubud) and watch how in sync everyone is, it’s almost like watching a dance between lovers unfold.
 
(3) Go with the FLOW. Don’t try to control. Everyone is so relaxed and just moves throughout their days gracefully. We were told that there is no “time” in Bali. Everything appears to unfold naturally the way it is intended to, with effortless ease. Again, maybe the undercurrent flow of positive energy has something to do with it, and of course trusting in the universe!
 
(4) Live from the HEART. When I say heart, I am referring to our soul, as the heart center houses our spirit. We were taught that everyday in Bali, and perhaps each hour, represents a spiritual significance that is celebrated either through ceremony or daily rituals. It’s not uncommon to be driving through a village in the middle of the afternoon and stumble upon a beautiful ceremonial procession. When your soul is fulfilled, you have all you need.

(5) Seasonal and fresh food is NOURISHMENT. The Balinese definitely eat seasonally and because of their climate they have a variety of foods to choose from year round, this can be a tricky way to eat in the states, especially those of us in the north. I can say that my body felt so nourished the whole week I was there by eating fresh foods - my cells were buzzing. I was also able to go off dairy and sugar for the week, as those are not staples in their diet. What a difference!

By no means are these the only spiritual lessons I was reminded of, but merely a glimpse. If you can take anything away from this, I hope it reminds you of the beauty in living simply, graciously and soulfully”
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-From Debbie (Bali Retreat Participant)

I had the absolute pleasure of embarking on a wellness retreat to Bali led by Jodi (magical goddess!) in August 2016, which included yoga, meditation, an enlightening session with a Balinese healer, cultural excursions and much more. I observed, learned and experienced so much in the week we were there.  Visiting this beautiful place gave me a new perspective on many aspects of life. The Balinese people live simply and are so happy, so grateful, so proud of who they are. This experience has made me stronger, braver, more thankful and completely open to Eastern healing.
 
Jodi planned a perfect week for us. I loved every experience including all of the beautiful, healthy, traditional, delicious food! Her yoga classes were heavenly and I highly enjoyed the foot massage and acupuncture! She provided us with so many opportunities to experience Balinese culture. I hardly felt like a tourist, which felt amazing. Jodi chose two incredible and luxurious resorts in different parts of the island. I think having two locations was very important and provided us with different experiences. Even though Floating Leaf was remarkable and so unique, it was really nice to be on the beach at Poinciana.  
 
A brief description of each resort experience:
 
  1. We were so fortunate to stay at Floating Leaf Eco-Luxury Retreat, among the beautiful rice fields of peaceful Sukawati for the first 4 days of our trip. The resort is breathtaking, in every way. The views, especially at sunrise and sunset, were magnificent. Our meals were healthy and delicious, filled with fresh, organic food, juices and smoothies. It was seriously astounding how well we ate!  Mikaku and Putu, including their staff, were incredibly warm and so hospitable- always there for anything we needed and treated us like family. The accommodations were beyond exceptional, including a gorgeous, relaxing pool and an amazing open-air space on the top floor to practice yoga. In addition to all of these wonderful things, Floating Leaf works closely with the community and provides visitors a wonderful opportunity to donate items (medical supplies, clothing, art supplies) to impoverished villages. It felt absolutely wonderful to do this. I am so incredibly grateful to Jodi and Floating Leaf for everything, including my session with a Balinese healer!
 
  1. We stayed at Poinciana for the last three nights of our retreat. Poinciana is in North Bali, set on the edge of the Bali Sea against a backdrop of amazing mountain ranges. Absolutely beautiful and peaceful. Having the last day of our trip to just relax, reflect, swim, and soak in the sun was perfect and much needed. One morning, all four of us got into jukungs- Balinese boats (2 in each boat) at 5:30am and we were led through some rough waters (fun!) to see the moonset and sunrise. My friend and I almost couldn't believe it. Never have I had a sunrise experience like this. It was unforgettable.
 
There were so many awesome experiences. Some of my favorites included:
 
  1. In Bali, you will find temples everywhere. There is at least one in every village. On one our first mornings in Bali, we went to the home of the most sacred healing springs in Bali, Tirta Empul. Balinese Hindus from all over Bali journey to the natural springs to help cure their ailments, spiritually cleanse themselves, and return to their villages with holy water to use for a variety of purposes. Here, we participated in a purification ceremony. It's almost impossible to fully describe the actual experience except that it was profoundly inspiring for me to be part of such a special Balinese ritual. I truly felt my soul cleansing. The holy water is fed into a series of stone fountains in which the devout Balinese Hindus will ceremoniously bathe (with the exception of two fountains which are reserved for the deceased). This is what we did, each of us wearing a traditional sarong. The water was especially clear and refreshing.
 
  1. One morning, we brought much needed school supplies to Elementary school #7 in Sukawati. We were greeted with so many smiles and excitement; it was hard not to feel overwhelmed with love. While we were there, we had the wonderful opportunity to teach these fabulous children English through games, yoga and songs. They may not have much, but they have peace and happiness in their hearts. This experience really put life back home into perspective for me. It was one of my favorite experiences in Bali. I love these kids! 
 
  1. One of the most strenuous, yet rewarding excursions was a trek in the remote Muntigunung region of northeast Bali. This trek was such an amazing opportunity to discover an untouched side of Bali and to learn about the challenges faced by locals and how help has been provided. Around 8am, we began our trek high on a ridge overlooking Holy Mt. Agung, the volcanic lakes, and the Bali Sea with a local breakfast filled with delicious fruits- dragonfruit, passion fruit, snake fruit and mangosteen (my favorite). From there, we continued mostly downhill on mountain pathways, through plantations and forests, and through some of the most rugged and driest terrains in Bali. The views were spectacular and at every turn we saw another amazing panorama. But goodness, it was hard work!! After about two hours of trekking we reached Muntigunung, and the first village where a water tank had been built. This village today specializes in making baskets. After taking a small break sipping coconut water right from the coconuts, we continued 25 more minutes until we reached another village that produces amazing quality hammocks. From there we were driven (thank god!!) to a cashew farm. I didn't take the tour because of a cashew allergy but I did get to have some delicious cold rosella tea and mango in the process of being dried. Oh my goodness, so delicious. Needless to say, it was a long day physically and emotionally. (Huge blisters to prove it!) But it was an experience I will never forget.  
** My only critique was not being aware of the intensity of the hike beforehand. If I had known about the narrow paths, steep declines, etc, I would have been more prepared by wearing hiking boots/better sneakers and a backpack instead of a shoulder bag.
  1. We were blessed to be welcomed into a local village’s Full Moon Ceremony (Purnama). The full moon in Bali is considered to be a special day for ceremonies and festivities. Hundreds of temples all over the island celebrate. Balinese believe that Purnama is an auspicious day when Gods descend to the earth and give their blessing. We were led by a guide, who welcomed us into his village's ceremony.  I remember how tired I was from the trek that day and I didn’t know how I was going to muster up the energy to attend, but I’m so thankful I did. This was an amazing opportunity to be part of such an important Balinese tradition.
  2. Lunch in Ubud at Clear Café needs to be mentioned!!! Clear Café is one of the most amazing restaurants I have ever eaten in. Their philosophy is “eat the food you wish to be”. Amazing views and beautiful, delicious organic food. 
 
If you get the opportunity, take a trip with Jodi!! You will be so happy you did! This was a once in a lifetime journey that I will never forget!!