COMMUNITY, NATURE & SPIRITUALITY IN BALI
June 15th – June 25th, 2023
Dear Friends,
We would like to invite you on a magical journey to Bali, which is also known as the “Islands of the God’s”. Earlier this year my mother Denise and I took a group to Bali. It was such a memorable experience that as soon as I got back to LA, I contacted my dear friend and senior meditation teacher from the Amrit Yoga Institute John Vosler to join me and take a group to Bali in the summer of 2021. He excitingly agreed and we began making plans. As you may know, Bali is a lush paradise, with perfectly sculpted rice terraces, abundant green jungles, surrounded by the vast Indian Ocean. It is also well known for its spirituality, arts and culture.
This retreat, hosted by Yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra teachers John Vosler and Shanna Hughes is designed to empower, strengthen, and rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit on all levels. The Balinese “live” their spiritual practice on a daily basis; hence this is the best place to expand your mystical awareness. This intimate program will help you bring your yoga and meditation practice more directly into YOUR daily life. We will hold daily yoga and meditation classes taught by Shanna and John, develop your ability to listen and engage with the intelligence of life around you, discover practical ways to follow your heart in daily life, and experience the beauty and true phenomena of being present in each moment.
We have partnered with the Five Pillar Foundation, who are deeply involved in the preservation of Balinese culture and the ancient way of living. The inspired day trips provide conscious travelers with an invaluable opportunity to venture far beyond the beaten paths of Bali, to discover the local rural village life, and to be inspired by the beauty and creativity of Balinese culture. These visits also support and incentivize local communities to keep and maintain their ancestral lands and sustainable ways of living. Most of the proceeds are used to support the local communities they work with and the work of the Five Pillar Foundation.
We hope that you can join us on this healing meditative journey together.
In Deep Gratitude John and Shanna
PS: Space is limited to 24 people for this trip. Please join us for a Zoom call in mid-January 2021 to learn more about this trip. More details about the zoom meeting to come, please email us for more information.
“It was peaceful. We visited places that were serene, holistic, organic, engaging, visual, and for the most part, quiet in a way that allowed each of us to ‘reach inside’ ourselves; it was well organized. Shanna Hughes is the quintessential tour guide/leader. She uses good common sense and judgment, has done her research, knows how to put together a full and interesting itinerary, she’s a good facilitator.” —Anonymous
“Food/Lodging was Superb! Remote but not too far; amenities accessible and within walking distance. I liked not being in the vicinity of the typical sightseer vacationer. I thoroughly enjoyed our partnership with 5-Pillar and our hosts/guides. They were very professional, charismatic, and I think we got to know them on a ‘personal’ level.” —Susan
“All of our trip was wonderful from the beautiful places we stayed to much of the food we ate. One of my favorite parts was visiting the many and varied temples, meditation in many and blessings in all. Also, I loved visiting the villages to see how many Balinese live, work and worship. In our travels to these places we were able to see some of northern and southern Bali, the gorgeous landscape and some of the wildlife.” —Cyndi
A Magical Journey
Day One: <strong>June 18</strong> – OPENING – Special Dinner at Pellatan Palace
- Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar)
- Transport to Hotel Ananda Cottage
- Afternoon free time
- Opening of program – Introductions by Shanna and John, Five Pillar Foundation and participants
- Head to Royal Palace for the tour and dinner with Balinese Prince
- Return to Accommodations
Day Two: June 19 – An Introduction to Balinese Culture and Rural Life
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Drive to Penarungan Village where the local community collaborates together in a community-based tourism program as a way to generate income for local villagers, raise public awareness of the culture, and provide opportunities for young children to learn local dances and musical instruments. We will explore Balinese culture by interacting with local villagers, observing their daily routines, and participate in making local foods and arts. Activities include village walks, making Balinese cakes, roasting coffee, coconut oil making, plowing a rice field with the aid of a cow, planting rice, eating a sumptuous Balinese-style lunch, and learning traditional Balinese music and dance.
- Eat lunch at the village
- Visit Pura Sumuan Tiga Bedulu Temple
- Private group meditation at Temple
- Evening free and dinner on your own
Day Three: June 20 – Women, Society and Daily Life
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Head to PKP Women’s Center. Women play a critical role in sustaining the Balinese culture. They have significant responsibilities in terms of preparing offerings, raising children, and working at home and in the rice paddies. The founder Ibu Sari created the Women’s Centre with the intention of providing local women with resources to help them to cope with their lifestyle demands. The centre offers programs in cooking, sewing, stress management, self-esteem, public speaking, yoga and meditation, fashion, computers, and English. The Centre recently began also offering English classes to children and yoga-meditation classes to men as well. We will have the opportunity to better understand feminine spiritual perspectives in Bali and how this community works to restore the balance between men and women in society.
- Lunch provided by Ladies of PKP
- Sharing class led by Ibu Sari
- Head back to accommodations for free time and dinner on your own
- Depart for Gunung Sari Balinese music and dance performance
Day Four: June 21 – A Journey to the Highlands
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Ubud Cooking class – You will experience how to cook some Balinese Vegan recipes from scratch. We will be taken to a traditional vegetable market to pick fresh ingredients and learn about Balinese spices and herbs. We will walk back to the kitchen through paddy fields and will then learn how to cook some delicious dishes, which we will all eat for lunch. Head back to accommodations for free time and shopping in town.
- Dinner on your own
Day Five: June 22 – Purifying ceremony at the national cultural heritage site
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Tirta Empul, Bali, is one of the largest and busiest water temples in Indonesia. The temple was founded in 926 A.D. and is dedicated to Vishnu, who is the Hindu God of water. The name of the temple actually means ‘holy water spring’ in Balinese. We will engage in a beautiful water purification ritual Explore, shop and have lunch on your own in Ubud
- Head back to accommodations for free time
- Dinner on your own
Day Six: June 23 – Travel to Northwest Bali via Lake Beretan
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast – Check out
- Head to Lake Beraton for lunch. At 375.6 hectares in area, Lake Beratan is the second largest lake on the island. It is considered to be an important source of irrigation in Central Bali by local villagers. Built in 1633, the Bedegul water temple was erected to honor Danu, goddess of lakes and rivers, who ensures bountiful harvests for farmers. Today, the Bedegul is one of the most photographed temples on the island and is regarded as Bali’s beloved icon.
- Check in at Amertha Bali villas
Day Seven: June 24 – Melating & Batu Kursi Hills
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Melating Temple – Throughout Bali, there are nine sacred temples dispersed throughout the island, representing the centre of Bali and the eight different directions. Representing the Northwest is Melanting Temple, located at the foothills of Pemuteran. Melanting Temple is unique in that it is painted in bright, vibrant colours—primarily using a jade green. As we pass through the main gate guarded by two green dragons, we will walk through two adjacent temples before arriving at the main temple of Melanting. We will also engage in a meditation ritual at all of the three temple spaces. The meditation ritual typically consists of flowering offerings followed by a blessing of holy water from a temple priest. Sarongs are required and provided.
- Lunch back at Pemutran
- Free time
- Late afternoon head to Batu Kursi Hills to catch sunset
- Meditation on hill
- Dinner on your own
Day Eight: June 25 – Snorkeling at Menjangan & Batu Kursi Hills
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Menjangan Island – Pulau Menjangan contains well-preserved sea beds and is a popular snorkeling and diving spot. On the reef drop-off, you will find angelfish, clownfish, and swimming amidst the coral. Menjangan is a snorkeling spot not to be missed in Bali. Menjangan is part of West Bali National Park and is accessible only by boat. Boat transport and snorkeling gear will be provided.
- Lunch after returning
- Free time
- Dinner on your own
Day Nine: June 26 – Banjar Hot Springs
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Banjar Hot Springs – Situated in the middle of a jungle in north Bali, Banjar hot springs is comprised of three pools of water. Geothermally heated spring water flows out of spouts shaped as sacred nagas that are believed to protect the wellsprings. Banjar Hot Spring is regarded as a holy temple for purification by the local population.
- Lunch
- Free time
- Farewell dinner on beach
Day Ten: June 27 – Travel to Sanur via Jatiluwih
- Morning Yoga – Yoga Nidra and breakfast
- Check out and head to UNESCO Heritage and lunch – Jatiluwih is known for its dramatically deep and beautiful rice terraces. This area contains 60 hectares of rice fields that gently follow the hillside typography of the Butukaru Mountain range. The rice terraces are maintained by the traditional Balinese Water Management System collectively operated by local villages known as subaks. Jatiluwih is recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site.
- Head to Hilton garden Inn and check in
- Dinner on your own
Day Eleven: June 28 – Fly back home
- Breakfast and head to airport