I Spent 4 Days At A Yoga Retreat In Bali & This Is How It Went
Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat
Just outside the center of Ubud is a picturesque, luxury retreat called Blooming Lotus Yoga. With panoramic views of rolling hills covered in lush greenery, it’s the perfect space for veteran yogis, enthusiasts and novices alike. I spent four uninterrupted days there, attempting to run away from my thoughts. I wanted to escape the world but failed to succeed. Instead, I found something far better — perspective. Who knew a little meditation could be so powerful? Here’s a little bit about my experience, including what I learned and what it’s like spending time at a yoga retreat:
Why I Chose To Stay At A Yoga Retreat
If I’m being honest, the main reason I chose to stay at a yoga retreat is because I was stressed TF out. I’ve had so much on my mind lately — my recent (well, not so recent anymore) breakup, work, family, adulting — you know, life stuff. But what’s been bothering me the most is that I’m a thirty something year old, and I still have no idea what I’m doing with my life. Ya, ya, I know I’m not the only one. Hush — I don’t want to hear it! It’s just that I thought I’d have at least some aspect of my life figured out by now, but I’m really just out here winging it without a clue — straight up Cher Horowitz-ing it! And if you don’t know who Cher Horowitz is, we can’t be friends. Well, maybe… but you’re on extremely thin ice.
The thing is, yes, I’m a lot wiser than I once was. I have a better job, I have more money… I mean, I’m not ballin’ or anything, but I’m no longer riding the struggle bus and eating instant ramen for every meal of the day. Yet, at the same time, I also have no future plans. I don’t know what I’m doing with my life, where I plan to be in the next 5, 10, 15 years… I’m just kind of floating. And the one time that I thought I had everything figured out — I came out to my friends and family, I had a good job, I had a remarkably congenial and stunning girlfriend who I wanted to spend forever with, and I finally had a plan — BOOM! Life threw a curve ball at me. Straight up sucker punched me. And for what? I mean, I guess I still have the job and the plans could potentially still work, it’s just that everything looks and feels a lot different than it did a few months ago. And before you say something rude, I’m not complaining, I love my life, and it is what it is, but at the same time, what exactly is it? I’m so damn confused.
Any way, I’m going off on a tangent. You want to know why I’m here. I’m here because I felt the need to get away — from stress, from work, from life. And one lonely morning, around 2 AM I mysteriously ended up on the Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat website looking for a way to heal my soul. And with a credit card in hand, I booked a four-day stay.
A Short Story — My Experience at Blooming Lotus
It was raining and I was sitting on the curb, outside, across from a small, run down but slightly charming warung, waiting for my Gojek to arrive and take me from the center of Ubud to the Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat. 30 minutes and 50k IDR later, I was greeted by benevolent smiling faces and one of the most spectacular views I’ve seen in a while.
The grounds at Blooming Lotus are remarkably beautiful — stunning actually — like a page from National Geographic’s Top Travel Destinations. I was overwhelmed by the property’s beauty the moment I stepped out of my Gojek. I felt like a celebrity, because surely I’d never be able to afford anything remotely similar back home… At least not without selling a kidney on the black market first (that’s a total exaggeration by the way, but you get the point). As I made my way to the check in desk a kind gentleman grabbed my bags and offered me water, tea, and a savory Indonesian coconut pancake. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the days to come, but in that moment, I knew I was in the right place at the right time.
After sheepishly devouring my pancake and checking in, one of the staff members gave me a tour of the property and the villa where I would spend the next few days. “Wow, this is literally my life right now.” That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I stared at the infinity pool I shared with my villa mates. I felt extremely blessed, but it was only few seconds later, when those humble thoughts were followed by “I wish ‘she’ was here with me”. “She’d absolutely hate this retreat but oh my gawd, she’d love this villa.”
Saraswati villa entrance.
The shared villa pool overlooking the community pool and spa.
The Community pool at Blooming Lotus.
A few hours later, following a short nap, a bit of exploring the grounds, and an informative orientation I was off to enjoy my first yoga class of the evening… Let me just say, I fully expected this to be a light, relaxing, easy class, but boy, was I wrong. I quickly learned that yoga is not for the weak. Classes at Blooming Lotus were intense. Not a hard intense, but challenging, both physically and mentally.
I woke up the next day with sore muscles and intrusive thoughts, but I came back for yin yoga and did it all over again the net day, and again the day after. The first two days, I’ll admit, I was embarrassed by my lack of flexibility, frustrated by my inability to focus, and slightly pained by my forgetfulness of certain poses and sequences — but none of that really mattered. The retreat was filled with a diverse group of individuals, all different backgrounds, races, experiences, and skill levels. And although we all appeared to be very different, we were all there pushing our bodies in unison. It was from this experience that I learned, you don’t have to be the best at what you do, you just have to do your best.
Classes at Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat
During the four-day yoga retreat, I enjoyed morning Sunrise Sequence and evening Sunset Sequence Vinyasa Flow classes with optional workshops that focused on learning techniques like meditation and breath work. Although the classes at Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat were difficult, classes were suitable for all levels and helped me unwind with gentle and nourishing postures that focused on healing and letting go.
Each day of the retreat we learned two asana flow sequences that emphasized alignment, flow and mindfulness. And as each day passed, the classes begin to feel less like a slow-burning death and became more and more relaxing. By day three I started to let go of my ego and became less embarrassed by my lack of flexibility. I started to focus more on breath work and poses. And by the last day my mind felt clearer and my shoulders less heavy. The stressors that held so much weight on me when I first arrived seemed to disappear and I began to be thankful for the moment that I was in.
The Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat Schedule
One thing that I loved about booking a stay at the Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat was that everything was preplanned. I didn’t have to worry about making an itinerary for the day or deciding what I wanted to eat for breakfast or dinner, that was already done for me. But if I wanted to skip a workshop or class, there was no judgment, I just did it. However, I learned that there was no need for that. Free time was scheduled and I used it to visit the city center, lounge by the pool, and enjoy the spa services at Blooming Lotus. In case you’re wondering what each day looked like, I’ve included the four-day schedule below:
DAY 1
1:30 – 3:00 pm Check-in
3:30 – 4:00 pm Orientation
4:00 – 4:30 pm Workshop
4:30 - 6:30 pm Yoga Class
6:30 pm Group Dinner
DAY 2
7:30 – 9:30 am Yoga & Meditation
9:30 - 10:30 pm Breakfast
10:30 - 11:30 pm Yin Yoga Class
4:30 - 6:30 pm Yoga & Meditation
6:30 pm Group Dinner
DAY 3
7:30 – 9:30 am Yoga & Meditation
9:30 - 10:30 pm Breakfast
10:30 - 11:30 pm Workshop
12:00 & 3:30 pm Shuttle Depart/Return
4:30 - 6:30 pm Yoga & Meditation
6:30 pm Group Dinner
DAY 4
7:30 – 9:30 am Yoga & Meditation
9:30 - 10:30 pm Breakfast
10:30 - 11:30 pm Final Ceremony
12:00 pm Checkout
Free Time at Blooming Lotus
The retreat consisted of more than just asana poses and meditation. Each day, after breakfast, we had free time to take the shuttle to the city center, explore the grounds and enjoy the spa. A shuttle bus to Ubud center is available twice a week at Blooming Lotus. And on the property, there are many amenities to enjoy. Each villa comes equipped with a beautiful infinity pool, shared kitchen and living space. In addition there is a larger community pool for all to enjoy. At the retreat, you can also schedule a massage, or book a mani/pedi at the spa. There are also many places to explore nearby. A short walk away, you can visit local shops, temples and restaurants. You can even relax by the river right next to the property. Here I saw school children splashing in the river water and playing.
Food and Lodging
As I mentioned earlier, each villa comes equipped with an infinity pool, shared kitchen and living space. This was shared amongst myself and two other guests. We each had separate rooms with a private bathroom. The room itself was simple, clean and stylish.
My bedroom in a shared villa at Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat.
As you would probably expect from a yoga retreat, Blooming Lotus focused on delicious and nourishing meals. In this case, everything was vegan. And no, I did not expect that. Meals were provided twice daily and included breakfast and dinner. But it’s up to guests to provide their own lunch and snacks. Don’t worry though, room service is as available and food can also be ordered at the front desk.
BBQ veggie burger with side salad and rainbow fries.
Indonesian coconut pancake.
Granola bowl.
Pancakes and fruit.
What I Learned During the Yoga Retreat
According to the Blooming Lotus website, the goal of the retreat is to help you master your body, mind, and relationships — to clarify your life’s purpose so that you can reach the next level of vitality, vibrancy, success and happiness in your life. In the four days that I stayed, I learned a lot. A lot about yoga, and a lot about myself. And even though I didn’t figure out my purpose in life while I was there, I was able to let go of my fatigue and frustration. I worked on healing my heart, and learning new skills. I woke up each day able to breathe a little better, stretch a little further, and feel a little more confident. And in doing all of these things, I realized that no matter what it is that I’m going through now, everything is going to be okay. No matter how frustrated I was with my situation, with my journey, with my life, this was the path that was meant for me, so why not learn to love it?
Would I do it again?
Although the retreat wasn’t what I originally expected, it was transformative in so many ways. Prior to booking, I thought yoga retreats were only meant for experts or people who could bend like rubber bands. But now, I can see that even beginners like me can benefit from experiences like this. This retreat was a fun way to try something new, to meet new people, to enjoy a break from reality, and to grow as a person.
If nothing else, I hope that my yoga retreat experience serves as a reminder that you don’t have to be the best at something to give it a go, and that you don’t have to be fearless to try something new. So, back to the question, would I do it again, absolutely! My time spent at Blooming Lotus Yoga Retreat was truly an unforgettable experience.