SoulTribe Does Bali

Our Yoga, Fitness & Adventure retreat to Keramas, Bali in September 2018 was one for the books! 16 people from Australia, New Zealand and the US joined forces for an unforgettable week in one of the most culturally rich and spiritually moving places in the world.

We stayed at the amazing Hotel Komune on the South coast of the island, right on a black sand beach with some pretty impressive retreat accommodations!

We had the choice between Resort Rooms, upgraded rooms with AC and all the amenities you would need, or Beachfront Pool Suites, which were on another level! Each room had access to a pool overlooking the ocean - just walk right out of bed and into the water. Dreamy!

One of everyone’s favorite spots of the resort was the Beach Shala where we practiced yoga every morning; a rustic space overlooking the ocean with the sounds of the waves breaking right there. It was a magical way to start each day and a special place to host our first welcome dinner.

When we weren’t lounging at the beachfront pool sipping cocktails, we were getting our butts kicked in Gary’s workouts, venturing out on excursions and exploring some of Bali’s most beautiful landmarks. We explored Ubud, hiked the Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and trekked up and down hundreds of stairs to Tukad Cepung Waterfall, a stunning waterfall inside a cave.

One of the most exhilarating moments however, was making it to the top of Mt. Batur to see the sun rise above the clouds. Imagine setting out at 2:30 am on a 3 hour hike uphill in the dark with your head lamp and making it to the second highest point in Bali to watch one of the most stunning spectacles of nature.

The hike down is equally beautiful and challenging, walking on the edge of a volcanic crater formed decades ago. Experiences like that have a way of making you feel both really small and insignificant, and super connected to everything around you. If you ever make it to Bali, the Mt. Batur hike is a must do!

We took a day to be a little more introspective and focus inward with a visit to a Master Healer followed by a water purification ceremony. At 93-years-old, he is the oldest living healer who studied with the original masters. Healing techniques include acupressure, energy work and herbal remedies to diagnose and heal both physical and emotional symptoms of disease. Everyone tends to have a very different experience but overall, it’s quite impressive to see the the relief some people feel after spending a few minutes with him.

Water Purification ceremonies are a powerful way to set intentions and clear out emotional and psychic blocks through the use of mantras (statements), offerings (baskets of flowers and incense) and a physical cleansing of oneself in the pure spring waters of the fountains. It’s a refreshing experience and a beautifully symbolic way to clear the slate and step back into your life with renewed faith in and commitment to yourself.

Back at the resort, we had two opportunities to play with one of our favorite activities - standing on our hands and on our heads! Our Inversion & Arm Balance workshops are for all levels - whether you’ve never done it before or whether you practice them regularly.

There is nothing like the sense of accomplishment you get from achieving something you initially thought you couldn’t do. Standing on your hands or on your head is not about strength, but about mindset. We help you go from “I can’t” to “OMG I’m doing it!!” Life looks completely different upside down, and sometimes we all need a little change of perspective! We absolutely love teaching you the tools you flip it on its head and believe in yourself!

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Bali is definitely on our repeat retreat list! We’re planning another adventure there in September of 2019. Keep your eyes on the site for exact dates. This is a really special experience and we hope to get to share it with you soon!

Nathania StambouliNovember 23, 2018