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Yoga in Bali

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Yoga in Bali

There is a saying: “There is no Yoga without Hinduism and no Hinduism without Yoga.” Yoga might have originated in India hundreds of years ago, but it’s the beautiful island of Bali that’s become the yogi’s preferred destination in the region.

India has chosen Bali as the location of the world’s first International Yoga Day, to be held on Sunday 21 June.

The day was proposed by the Indian prime minister to the United Nations with the goal being to promote universal aspiration of physical and mental well being by way of practicing yoga.

The Consulate General of India, confirmed the day’s activities will commence at the Bajra Sandhi Monument located in Renon at 7am with an attempt at breaking the world’s largest practice of yoga.

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It is understood the event is to be coordinated with the Provincial Government and local yoga institutions. The day’s activities include tutorials by influential yoga practitioners and competitions for the best male and female yoga practitioners on the day with official schedules set to be released over the coming weeks.

The sense of true inner peace found in Bali’s light breezes resonates from the daily rituals and humble devotion of its people. The Balinese people practice Bhakti, an unconditional gratitude for life that permanently resides in the heart.

Here, the art of yoga is a way of living, and they say it has to be “caught” rather than learned. So here are some of Bali’s best yoga studios where you can seek the spirit of yoga.

The Yoga Barn is Ubud’s most popular yoga mecca among spiritual seekers and vegans. The onsite Garden Kafe serves living vegan foods, the sophisticated in-law of raw foods.

This is a place to connect with the masses. Classes run throughout the day, held in large studios. So if you prefer your yoga in an intimate group setting, then the herd mentality here might overwhelm.

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Intuitive Flow, Ubud and Yoga teacher Linda Madani is known for being emotionally intense, occasionally bursting into tears in the middle of her studio. First timers either love her approach, which involves lots of chanting that’s intended to heal the spirit, or they find themselves wishing they could leave.

It’s certainly an authentic and alternative experience that takes a “let it all out” approach to healing as opposed to those eerie silent journeys of other studios.

Yoga classes at Prana Spa Bali is for the lady who prefers a luxe spa treatment after her yoga session. Serious yogis might have something to say about this. Along the lines of “Why have you come all the way to Bali to practice yoga in an indoor studio that looks like a Moroccan king’s harem after a furniture fire sale?” The answer: Creative Power Flow and the Elemis fruit active glow facial.

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The Power of Now Oasis appeals to the ocean loving yogi who wants to hear the sound of the waves breaking gently on the shore. In keeping with the holistic nautical theme, the studio is built entirely out of bamboo and shaped like a green turtle’s back.

High Vibe Yoga is an excellent place for yoga retreats, workshops and 200 hour teacher training. In fact, education is their core purpose (you won’t find many classes here at all). Group sizes are small and the studio has a casual atmosphere – all to make your learning experience easy.

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Shankari’s Yoga Retreat separated itself from the Ubud and centrally located yoga cult, and placed itself in along the Sacred Balian River. It’s a beautiful part of Bali where development drops off drastically. The black sand beaches and completely deserted coastlines are absolutely stunning. This is a great spot to lose your geographical sense of bearing.

Blooming Lotus Yoga which offers students the opportunity to experience one of the most unique, affordable and intimate Bali yoga teacher training courses, yoga retreats & meditation retreats Ubud has to offer. Listen to the sweet sounding birds, the trickling waters of the holy river below, and be absorbed in the breath-taking views of our jungle location- as life at our Bali yoga retreat center transforms your life.

Yoga includes meditation and exercises to help you improve flexibility and breathing, decrease stress, and maintain health. People have practiced yoga for thousands of years in India. Yoga is based on the idea that the mind and body are one. Practitioners believe that yoga improves health by improving how you see the world, which calms the spirit and decreases stress.

Most people who try yoga for meditation find that it increases their flexibility and reduces stress. If you suffer from a long-term (chronic) medical condition, you can often combine yoga and conventional medical treatment.

Several studies have shown that yoga helps lower blood pressure, improves a person’s sense of well-being, reduces fatigue, and can help people who have asthma learn to breathe more easily.

There aren’t too many bad experience stories when it comes to yoga nor have I heard of any yoga participant’s health levels decreasing after commencing yoga, its low impact nature is great for anybody of any age.

7 May 2015
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