21-nov-2024, It’s already more than seven weeks that I am working on a special project in Leiden, The Netherlands. As much as I enjoy being in my home country, I mis the sunny weather of Bali and looking forward to get back into my regular yoga practice. In the past few months I haven’t really been practicing on a regular basis, except for a few classes here and there.

I need to kickstart my yoga practice and what better way to get back into the practice than by doing a short retreat in Bali? It will be my second one this year and I am doing it with the same yoga friends as from the previous retreat in Mallorca. I attend the four day Surf and Yoga retreat in Canggu (Bali), organized by a brilliant yoga teacher: Zee Latifa. I have attended Zee’s class once before, and I enjoyed it very much. I am very excited for the retreat! I am pleasantly surprised to learn it’s a very small group; only five people with myself included. Three of them already being a friend of mine; Anggina, Marina and Barbera. The fourth person, Bima, is a friend of the group and soon to be my new friend. It’s only been two days since I arrived in Bali from Europe, so I am fighting a jetlag but the idea of a yoga retreat gives me plenty of energy and motivation. So let’s go…

DAY 1: The retreat is held at the Ubuntu Bali Eco yoga retreat (bed & breakfast), near Canggu. The rooms are built in a traditional Indonesian Joglo style with an outdoor (private) bathroom. It’s completely built with hardwood and has a distinctive pointy roof. It’s basic but for the short time we are here, I like it. I am easy going and I don’t ask for much.

At five pm the group comes together in the smaller yoga studio for the opening ceremony. Everybody is dressed in white and the ceremony is led by the B&B host. A priest is present to do the blessings so that our practice may be fulfilling and rewarding. We are encourage to spread the love and peace to ourselves and others. It is only a short opening ceremony but very powerful, as I think it brings the group together as a whole. We express our reasons for being here and what we hope to get out of it. It is a nice start of a beautiful time to come. What I like most about this group is that it is small and I know most of the people. I feel like we are going to do this as one. In addition, this also gives a strong feeling of belonging in the group and being accepted as who you are. It is a very kind and loving group!

The retreat I did in Mallorca, last June, was also a beautiful experience but with a group of 30 people, I never felt like it was one big family. In such a big group, smaller groups will form automatically. Unlike the retreat in June, this retreat here in Canggu is a very wholesome experience with our teacher Zee included in the family. I liked the fact that she joined the activities as well.

After the opening ceremony it was time for our first yoga practice of the day. We did a ninety minute Vinyasa flow practice in the main yoga Shala. It was a great practice and flow. A good warm up to get the blood pumping and our sweat on, but not too hard either. We still have three more days to go so we shouldn’t burn all of our energy on the first day. A nice cold shower after the practice and I am refreshed again.

For dinner we go to a Vietnamese restaurant; HoiAn by MeVui. It’s a nice place where I have already been a few times, so I know the food is good and authentic. I order my favorite Vietnamese dish; Bun Cha (Caramelized pork belly in a broth alongside fresh rice noodles, fresh vegetables, herbs and fried spring rolls). It is my go-to dish in a Vietnamese restaurant. This evening I am unfortunate, as the others had already finished their meal, mine hasn’t even arrived yet. I am  waiting for almost an hour and this was ridiculous so I just cancelled the order. I filled up on some appetizers and I finished the meal of my friend, so I still leave with a full tummy. Everything worked out fine and we had a great evening.

The day is not finished yet, there is one last activity in the main Shala; a guided Vipassana session. Vipassana is a way to see things as they really are. It is a form of meditation where you sit absolutely still for the whole hour, even wiggling your toes or fingers should not be done. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation, basically it is a mental training for a stronger mind where you focus on your breathing and do a self-body scan. I have meditated before but not for a whole hour in where I should not move. This is going to be interesting.

Sitting still for one whole hour is just as hard as it sounds. Zee starts an audio recording and an older Indian gentleman guides us through the practice. This guidance is very helpful, and as he reminds us; “nothing is permanent, and certain sensations will pass. Welcome the unpleasant feelings to create a stronger mind”. It is a very interesting experience but I am especially happy when I can move again. During the meditation I almost fell asleep a few times, and now that the hour is over I can finally go to sleep for real. I am completely zen and relaxed now.

Good night Everybody, see you tomorrow.

~ THE END ~