Sunday, April 28, was the day all of our guests were to arrive at the Ananda Cottages for our yoga retreat this year (2013) in Ubud, Bali.  I had spent the last week preparing brochures, pamphlets, spa treatments, gifts, and more so that everything would be ready to go . . . → Read More: Arrival and Day 1: Yoga Retreat in Ubud, Bali]]>

Beautiful Ananda Cottages

Sunday, April 28, was the day all of our guests were to arrive at the Ananda Cottages for our yoga retreat this year (2013) in Ubud, Bali.  I had spent the last week preparing brochures, pamphlets, spa treatments, gifts, and more so that everything would be ready to go for the group when they arrived.  I was extremely excited to meet everyone in person after months of emails and excitement leading up to the trip.

Everyone settled into their rooms and seemed pretty exhausted after their 25-35 hour trips to get to Bali, but nonetheless they all had smiles on their faces and were obviously excited to be here for this retreat that we had all been looking forward to.  Our first night we had a welcome dinner at the Ananda Cottages, and when we walked up our jaws dropped at the beauty of this buffet.  There was curry, fried rice, noodles, salad, soup, desserts; everything looked incredibly delicious and so colorful! We spent the evening eating everything (which was just as delicious as it looked!) and getting to know one another.  I could tell right away that our group had a wonderful energy.  There were so many different personalities and energies and it all seemed to fit together like puzzle pieces.

Welcome Dinner

I made a short and not very elaborate speech illustrating my experience here in Bali.  I had spent almost six months in Ubud over the last two years doing my 200 hour teacher training and assisting on another.  This place was my home away from home, and I had a huge passion to share it with everyone.  Brooke (my assistant) and Jason (my fiancé and adventure guru) introduced themselves as well, explaining their roles and their excitement to be sharing this experience with our retreat group of 11 people.  We all finished eating and went off to bed exhausted but ready for what would come tomorrow.

-

Monday, April 29, was the first full day of our yoga retreat.  Brooke and I headed to our yoga space at the Ananda Cottages.  It is the most amazing studio I have ever seen.  Set amongst the rice fields, nestled away from the main property, it was the perfect size for our group and had an energy that was almost palpable as you entered.  We prepared our music, props, and cushions for all the retreat members as they entered the studio and were blown away by the very same feeling we had as we entered the space.

Class started at 7:30.  I led pranayama followed by a grounding asana class.  We wanted people to feel connected to the Earth and get the blood flowing through their joints again after spending so many hours traveling and in the air! The practice was a little slower but steady and strong.  Brooke and I moved through the room giving people adjustments, helping them to feel more grounded and comfortable in different asanas.  We finished our practice with guided meditation led by Brooke, and you could feel the group falling in and becoming more connected each minute.

Amazing View from our Yoga Studio

Our Yoga Studio with Newly Harvested Rice

Each day after yoga we had a breakfast buffet waiting for us.  More delicious choices of eggs, vegetarian options, toast, and best of all: the fruit! Sonia was so excited at all the tropical fruit that was available I think she stuck just to that on the first day and ate about 14 mangosteens! This was a fruit I was not familiar with.  You crush it open and inside the shell are white, soft pods that are sweet and absolutely delicious! I think they have the highest antioxidant quality of all fruits but I can’t promise that.  We ate, and ate, and ate.  Brooke ate her eggs with ketchup and a banana with jif peanut butter; as they say, “you can take the girl out of America but not the America out of the girl!”  We dispersed from breakfast, many people heading up to Bliss Spa for one of their spa treatments, others just relaxing or going to the pool.

Girls at Yellow Flower Cafe

At 2 we met for our walking tour into Ubud.  I had something up my sleeve and decided to take them the back way through all my favorite little restaurants in Penestanan to see where Jason, Brooke and I were staying, and to check out my favorite little pants shop called Wikan that my friend Nyoman owned.  A few nights prior she had spotted me on the street and, even after not having seen me for one and a half years, called my name and ran out and gave me a big hug.  Its great to feel so connected to the people here!  Everyone was charmed by Yellow Flower, and when we got to Alchemy we had to all get goji energy bars and delicious green juices.  I think Alchemy had never been bombarded quite like that before and it was quite a sight to see!  When we got to Wikan the girls went on a shopping spree and Nyoman’s eyes lit up in excitement.  She gave them “good price because you Heidi’s friend!” 

From there we took cabs/motorbikes to the Market in Ubud, everyone was anxious to get there and we had walked quite a bit already.  When we arrived we instantly got bombarded by the people selling everything you can imagine: clothes, trinkets, masks, souvenirs, oils, paintings, etc.   I think we were all pretty overwhelmed after the civility of Nyoman’s shop in Penestanan, but I taught the girls how to bargain and it went something like, “300?! No, no, 100! Good price for you, good price for me, you happy, me happy, we all happy!!” Haha.  It was a great time.  We bought some clothes, bags, sunglasses, and Brooke and I got the most delicious cucumber and lotus flower essential oils that we used in Savasana for the rest of the retreat.

Shopping at the Market

We all dispersed a little from there but some of us decided to go to a little place called Bar Luna.  Its tucked away in a tiny alley and has wonderful food and great cocktails! We all laughed when Sandra ordered a Lychee Breeze and it came out a quarter empty (or 3/4 full?) but thats just how they do cocktails in Bali. We relaxed and chatted, had some snacks and some drinks.  It was a great way to wind down after our busy day shopping.  Jason, Matt and Justin were supposed to meet us here but they got lost in translation and thought we were meeting at CASA Luna; oh well, it’s Bali, and here we go with the flow!

Everyone was on their own for the rest of the night.  I think some people got spa treatments, some went to the Yoga Barn, and some to dinner.  Brooke, Jason and I went to Yellow Flower Cafe for dinner and reflected on the first full day of the retreat.  We all agreed that we loved our group and felt more like we were hanging out with good friends in Bali than working.  We left looking forward to day two, but sad that day one was already over, as we knew this week was going to fly by!

Technorati Tags: Bali, bali yoga, bali yoga retreat, ubud, Yoga, yoga retreat, yoga retreat bali, yoga retreat ubud

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23, 2013  /PRNewswire/ — What happens when you take a bunch of new yoga . . . → Read More: Yoga Retreats Bali to Help the Fight Against Poverty]]> Set in the lush tropical surroundings of Bali, Indonesia, YogaRetreats-Bali.com is excited to offer a luxury yoga retreat being held April 28-May 4, 2013 designed to refresh the mind, body, and spirit while also giving back to charity.

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 23, 2013  /PRNewswire/ — What happens when you take a bunch of new yoga friends and put them together on a stunning tropical island for a Yoga Retreat that will benefit charity?

You have a vacation like no other; the YogaRetreats-Bali.com 2013 Yoga Retreat, being held April 28 – May 4 in Ubud, Bali. Whether a rookie, or an experienced yogi, anyone who participates this April will create lifelong memories, reach new levels of relaxation and expand the boundaries of their yoga practice.

One of the most unique aspects when comparing this trip other yoga retreats is that YogaRetreats-Bali.com has named a local charity that is dedicated to helping the people of Bali get out of poverty, as recipients of 10% the retreat proceeds. Participants will leave reality behind as they immerse themselves in tropical paradise, and at the same time helping others in need.

Included with the cost of the 2013 Bali Yoga Retreat:

-Transportation to and from the Bali airport.
-6 nights accommodation at the beautiful Ananda Cottages.
-Breakfast daily (vegetarian options).
-Traditional Balinese welcome dinner.
-Daily yoga and meditation(optional).
-1 full body massage + 1 spa treatment (Ayurvedic Shirodara options).
-1 Day excursion to Uluwatu (includes lunch, surfing with a guide or yoga on the beach).
-Ayurvedic lunch and cooking class with Ayurvedic Doctor.
-1 Visit to Ubud Yoga Barn for additional yoga class.
-Good-bye dinner at Ubud Lotus Temple with cultural performances.
-Daily cultural activities.
-Memories of a lifetime!
-Much more!!

Yoga Retreat Prices:

-Private Room Occupancy Single: $1450 (*$1300)
-Shared Room Occupancy: $1350 (*$1200)
-Couples Occupancy: $2000 (*$1800)

(*Book before 1/30/13 and get $150 off, groups [n/a couples] of two or more booking together can receive an extra$100 off each!)

Guests will find all the amenities, yoga, meditation, activities, spa treatments, massages, pampering, relaxation and more for about HALF of the price of other yoga retreats.

Interested parties are encouraged to contact YogaRetreats-Bali.com as soon as possible with any questions or booking requests as space is EXTREMELY limited!!

Follow us: Twitter@yogaretreatbali
Like us: Facebook/yogaretreatsbali

Our Press Release Above has us featured in major news stations across the world including KUSI, ABC, Reuters, Fox, and more!

Technorati Tags: Bali, charity, fight poverty, ubud, Yoga Retreats

Technorati Tags: Bali, new years resolutions, resolutions, yoga retreat

Pak Berag is very excited with his new . . . → Read More: Yoga Retreats Bali Announces Charity Benefactor]]> In a concerted effort to continue our commitment to helping others, Yoga Retreats Bali has announced it will name a charity benefactor that will receive 10% of the proceeds from the 2013 Bali Yoga Retreat, being held April 28-May 4, 2013 in Ubud, Bali.

Pak Berag is very excited with his new home. It has a small bedroom and terrace with wooden fired stove. Nothing fancy but significantly better than before.

After extensive research, the YogaRetreats-Bali.com team is excited to name BaliCharity.org as our charity of choice. The reason we chose this charity was simple, in a country that is notorious for charity fraud, BaliCharity.org is an organization where you can actually SEE exactly where the donation money is being spent. In their case, it is to help rid Bali of poverty.

Excerpt from the BaliCharity.org website “about us” page:

BaliCharity.Org is an initiative brought by Private Leisure International as one of its sustainable corporate social responsibility (CSR) program dedicated to alleviate poverty in Bali. At the initial stage funding is mainly come from certain procentage taken from each and every sales we made, before cost. It was taken out of income, not profit.

We do understand that so much we are eager to help, alone we can only make a very small impact. Therefore we designed it as an initiative, which means we encourage anyone to contribute in any way they can. For Private Leisure’s holiday rental and tour clients who are interested to get involved the company will provide a complimentary car, driver, and guide so you can visit them, ask them what they need, and make your donation yourself. We also encourage our partners and vendors to get involved in our programs.

Regardless the rapid growth of tourism industry as the main economic wheels of Bali and we continuously seeing increasing number of luxuryous facilities both for visiting tourists and local residents, there are still a lot of people living far beyond the poverty level. Pay your attention to look at them and you feel guilty for wasting a lot of fortune on tertiary needs whilst there are a many struggling to cover just their basic needs.

Wisna, Private Leisure International’s Managing Partner, who sit in the middle

We really wanted to give back to the people we have come to love and to a genuine organization that is actually making a difference in the lives of local people on Bali. This is why we chose to name BaliCharity.org as our charity benefactor. After the retreat, we will donate 10% of our proceeds to BaliCharity.org to help with their continued efforts against poverty in Bali!

Yes, Bali is quite a . . . → Read More: 2013 Yoga Retreat: Why Bali?]]> Welcome! My name is Heidi Schubert, lead yoga instructor and organizer for our yoga retreat in Ubud, Bali from April 28-May 3, 2013. This post in intended to address the questions that continue to pop up about the retreat, the main one being, “Why all the way to Bali?”

Yes, Bali is quite a long trip from anywhere in the United States.  So, I’ve decided to answer this question in order to explain to you why Bali is worth it!

My story starts a few years back when I decided to do my 200 hour, yoga teacher training on Bali in the fall of 2010.  The training itself was 6 weeks, but I planned some extra time before and after to travel around and really explore the island.  I think my total “planned” time in Bali started around 2 months.

To be honest, I was really nervous the first time I travelled there.  I had really never been to a third world country other then Mexico so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  Would the poverty be overwhelming? Would the bugs eat me alive? Would the heat and humidity be unbearable? Was it safe? I really had no idea….

Now I’ve travelled a fair bit; Europe, Caribbean, Mexico, Japan, Canada, good portions of the US and Hawaii, but NOTHING I had experienced before was anything like Bali.

The culture and religion is Hindu (appropriate since this is the religion where yoga originated) which genuinely helps creates an ideal atmosphere to immerse yourself in a yoga (training, retreat, all of the above). The climate and weather are actually perfect; warm and humid but not to the point of being uncomfortable.

In the heart of the island is Ubud, an absolutely beautiful place that surrounds you with tropical greenery, flowers, and rice paddies from all sides.  But honestly, the best part about Bali to me, is the people.  Its hard to explain and understand this completely until you go there, but the people in Bali are truly incredible.  As an American, it was nice to travel to a foreign country without feeling like you’re being discriminated against because of your government or by being perceived as “a rich American”. In Bali people are ALWAYS smiling, genuinely happy that you are there, and extremely content in their very humble, simple lives. I think they might have the biggest hearts of any other culture of people on the planet .

Despite extending our stay, the time went by SO fast.  As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun! In fact, Jason and I had such an amazing trip that we seriously pondered the possibility of buying land and building a house with a little yoga studio in it. Unfortunately, it turns out that the Indonesian government has made it extremely difficult for foreigners to operate a business there full time, but we can moonlight as locals by hosting retreats. Yay!

After an extended stay of nearly three months, I remember crying on the plane when I left; so sad to leave a place that really felt like a home away from home.  We decided right then than there that we had to go back. Very fortunately, I had an opportunity to return the following year to teach on the same training I had taken the year before to get my certification. Obviously I was SO excited and returned in the fall of 2011, scheduled to stay for just under another two months.

When I arrived I felt a sense of relief being back on Bali again. Surrounded by the people I’ve come to love, I couldn’t stop smiling . I saw people I had created relationships with from the previous year who remembered me like I was there yesterday. I couldn’t wait for the deep massages, mouthwatering meals, beautiful sunsets, sunny days and warm nights. I even looked forward to the bath water warm rain showers that would surely come. And of course the main reason, I really looked forward to being able to practice yoga again in the most beautiful landscape and culture that I’ve still ever experienced.

When I left for the second time, I didn’t know when I would be coming back (again crying…). I promised myself that I would come back to Bali as often as I could and at some point I would hold a yoga retreat there.

Just to make sure, before I planned everything for this retreat and made the financial commitment to make our dream a reality, Jason and I even went to Costa Rica for two weeks, hoping to find a similar place, climate, and culture that was closer to home. The whole time we were in Costa Rica I was disappointed that I wasn’t back in Bali. As fun as Costa Rica was, there just isn’t the culture, the art, the food, the vibe, the PEOPLE.

Nothing has come close to comparing with Bali.  NOTHING.

That is why that after much deliberation, many discussions with my students and lots of traveling to explore other options, we’ve taken the plunge and planned this yoga retreat for April 28-May 3, 2013.  All of our students agree, it’s during a great time for a yoga retreat since it is after tax season (few!), around mother’s day (great pampering gift for moms), just before the high travel season in Bali, and at a time when the weather will be great .  You’ll notice our retreat prices are far below those of other retreats being held in Bali.  That’s because we genuinely want to make it easy for you to join us on this amazing island and share the experiences of what yoga is all about.  We’ve spent enough time here now that I personally consider myself somewhat of a “local” in Ubud, and is exactly the feeling we want to give YOU when you experience this incredible island for yourself.

Lastly, all I can say again is that BALI IS WORTH THE EFFORT TO GET THERE.  If you’re even considering this life changing adventure, I can personally promise that you will NOT be disappointed. And when you do join us, I can also promise that you will leave with all the same rich experiences and memories from one of the most amazing places in the world. Come fall in love with this magical place too…

I hope to see YOU in Bali this spring!

Love and Light,

-Heidi Schubert

To see more details about the Yoga Retreat from April 28-May 4, 2013 in Ubud, Bali click HERE

To see a tentative retreat schedule click HERE

For retreat reservations click HERE

Book your spot in our 2013 yoga retreat by the end of January to receive an Early Bird Discount! Also- book with a friend and receive an ADDITIONAL discount of $100 off per person! *not applicable to couples rate.

JUST ANNOUNCED: YogaRetreats-Bali.com has committed to donate 10% of retreat proceeds to a local bali charity dedicated to eliminating poverty on Bali.

Technorati Tags: Bali, retreat, ubud, Yoga, yoga holiday, yoga retreat