The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1326760
convenience of luxury due to the diverse travel culture of Bali. e scenery of Bali is another reason I chose the location (for the retreat). You not only have the jungle, but you also have the sea, the mountains, and even the vibe of a small city. I try to bring the students to experience all three sectors of nature. e rice fields, temples, and mountains are breathtaking and it is epic to experience the sunsets over the water. It's so beautiful. I have led other retreats but none of them have all of the elements the way that Bali does, and the traditional culture ties everything together. What do you hope your students gain from the retreat experience? I hope my students will have reset their own mindset and walk away with memories and experiences that will open them up to endless possibilities. e first step of the student booking their retreat is their first step in taking accountability to change their own lives. e rest of the journey is simply an experience to help unfold and nurture self-discovery - whether it is what they are passionate about, what, type of energy they want in their lives, or where they can challenge themselves. Of course, I want them to learn the physical practice of yoga, but what I really hope is for them to bring home the experience of living life to its fullest meaning. What does a typical day on the retreat entail? We start quite early with a morning practice and meditation to the sunrise and then we have breakfast together. Breakfast is different every morning, but it is usually something light like a smoothie or acai bowl, and everything is freshly prepared by private chefs. Aer breakfast, there is generally some relaxation time which the students can spend at the pool, at their villas, or with spa treatments. Traditional Balinese massages are amazing and we usually have a private massage therapist with us at the resort who we highly encourage the students to visit and experience. e amount of yoga we practice on the retreat combined with the jet lag makes a massage the perfect way to get to that ultimate state of relaxation. On some days we have workshops to learn about the physical practice of yoga – asana - and specific skills such as flexibility or strengthening. On other days, we have planned excursions to visit the temples, sights, Balinese swings, and rice fields, or simply a trip into town to do some local shopping or dining. Photo by @guiselacoradophotography Photo by @guiselacoradophotography V U E N J . C O M 147