There are few things in
the world that will get me out of bed at 4:30 in the morning.
Practicing yoga and mediation at sunrise overlooking an active volcano in
Bali, Indonesia is one of them.
After sweating profusely
from every pour in my body for four days straight, I'm surprised to
find myself shivering uncontrollably as I sit in the dark on my yoga
mat in a blustery wind with 14 other people from my yoga retreat.
Draped in blankets, we sit
in silence as the sun casts its first rays of light over the lush,
tropical landscape surrounding Mount Batur. Low clouds hang like
cotton candy over the top of the volcano and surrounding hills,
creating a mystical backdrop for our practice.
The cool, violent winds
that cut through my blanket like a knife and wreak havoc with our
yoga mats makes it difficult to find any inner peace. I can't wait
for the practice to be over. Within an hour, however, the chill that
gripped my body is once again replaced by constant sweat as I coast
on a bicycle down a narrow road in the Balinese countryside for 22
km, dodging potholes, animals, people and the odd vehicle thrown in
between.
Adrenaline pumps through
my body as I release the breaks and let my bike go fast. A smile
etched upon my face, I quickly pass our guide and leave the pack,
whizzing past dazzling green rice fields and sweeping views of Mount
Batur.
I feel like a child again,
riding my bike without a care or worry in the world — which is how
I felt after spending five days at One World Retreats near the
bustling little tourist town of Ubud.
Chalked full of shops
selling massages, clothing, and every trinket known to man, Ubud has
become one of southeast Asia’s yoga hotspots, attracting people
from around the globe looking for a retreat from the world in a
tropical paradise teaming with unique culture.
Experiencing a yoga
retreat in Bali had been on my travel wish list for a few years. I
not only wanted to further my yoga skills, but also learn how to
meditate to clear the constant string of endless thoughts swirling
through my head. I was also in need of a time out from life.
Each morning at 6:30 a.m.,
I awake to a bell ringing outside my door, notifying me that it’s
time to get ready for two hours of yoga and meditation in a studio
that’s open to nature. Bordered by a small creek to the west, the
eco-friendly retreat is surrounded by rice fields and jungle teaming
with unfamiliar sounds that immediately put my mind at ease. Staying
here is an escape from the world.
Some people come to the
retreat to open their mind and gain clarity on their life while
others come to further their yoga skills or simply get pampered for a
week with spa treatments and delicious healthy meals.
On the last day, we burn
pieces of paper containing negative thoughts we want to let go. The
ritual is a powerful one, with some of the women in tears as they
watch their demons go up in flames.
Retreat owner Claude
Chouinard has heard many success stories from those who’ve attended
the retreat and made some big changes once they've returned home.
“It’s fantastic. It
makes me feel like my life is worth living. I’m a person that
believes in serving,” said Chouinard, who hails from Quebec,
Canada.
“They’ve opened their
mind to small rituals and meditation. They are now more open.”
I left the retreat feeling
more relaxed and worry free than I’ve felt in years. It’s a
feeling I want to stay with for as long as I can as I continue to
wade through the journey of life.
