Bali, thanks for the time

Some musing and teaching on retreat this year…

It comes as no surprise that retreating in Bali has touched the hearts of so many people over the years. This year 20 of us ventured to the Island of the Gods to do yoga, connect and enjoy being in this beautiful and uniquely traditional Hindu part of Indonesia. Despite what some may debate, Bali has a dual reputation of being a ratty tourist destination and, at the same time, a spiritual island steeped in the unique culture of it’s people and land.

We go to this particular place, Alam Indah, in the village of Nyhu Kuning which is on the outskirts of Ubud central because it is laid back, and still a short walk into Ubud. This year, we had the whole venue to ourselves which is a balinese villa style hotel, a very private little village in the jungle.

People when they arrived are always in awe of the gorgeous well kept tropical gardens and the yoga space where we met twice daily to practice. We hang out together or not, people find there’s an abundance of time to themselves to retreat into.

I’m not the sort of teacher that beckons followers to my call, but rather invite students to come and experience what it’s like to explore their practice on a retreat, where they carve out time and space. There’s always an exciting dual purpose for most people, having a holiday whilst doing something they love. My own experience attending retreats were only in Australia, and suffice to say they mostly involved being in teacher training so that’s a very different experience, as one of my colleagues put it, a time of concentrated study that can go on for years for Iyengar yoga teachers in training.

This year’s group came from Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and from as far as the UK. A dedicated group at various stages of their yoga journey. Some were yoga teachers, some who had trained to teach, some long time practitioners, some wanting to gain more experience. A few others travelled as accompanying family members but didn’t do the yoga. As the week went by, all kinds of social connections were realised within group and it was just wonderful to watch new friendships bloom. Because yoga does bring people together, or at the very least enable us to blend with people from all walks of life and views, often described as ‘likeminded’, a term which is not entirely accurate and low-key makes me cringe. Yoga is secular as much as it is, or should be, accepting of all opinions and ways of life. It does open us up to a space of generosity and empathy, which during this retreat was definitely shared within the group, over and over.

The mornings are always so blissful there, even for me as the teacher at work. We started early with sitting meditation, adding time each day to develop more mindfulness. The jungle around us is initially very quiet then gradually awakens with a unique vibration, it’s incredible all be it a test of our focus in meditation! Next is a couple of hours of yoga, some mornings with pranayama. It’s fair to say that everyone has some level of expectation on retreats and as teachers we aim to deliver what yoga is all about, across the board. I think if people go to their weekly classes the expectation is more about touching base with the practice, focussing for the week, and stretching. The experience of a retreat on the other hand can move deep into our core being.

What I found most heartening was the level of dedication to connect to the practice. Some people confided that they wanted more ‘advanced’ yoga, others where surprised that they ‘could do’ certain things. When I read the room, and particularly in Iyengar Yoga, I’m taking into account where everyone is at, to the best of my experience and ability. As we had 8 days together, there was some time to put things into place, individually and collectively.

Sometimes we are not aware of how deeply we hold stress.
It is the ‘pandemic’ of our souls.

It’s not that we can rid it out of our lives, healthy stress helps us thrive. But when it gets into our brains and nervous systems, we are always in fight / flight with ourselves.

BKS Iyengar said,
“Yoga is the method by which the restless mind is calmed and the energy directed into constructive channels.”

But he also said,

“Without certain stress, the true asana is not experienced, and the mind will remain in its limitations and will not move beyond its existing frontiers.”

So, it’s definitely the goal of yoga to find not only balance between these two, but to recognise which camp we sit in. Asana requires effort, but to what measure? Some struggle to do the simplest of poses and then again other poses are a breeze. Certainly there is a willingness to do everything.

Over the week, nothing could have created more stress for one of the yogis whose partner travelling with them fell ill and needed to stay in hospital for some days. No, it wasn’t Bali belly, but a condition that developed just before they arrived. This group of yogis, what a kind and generous lot! We worked together in a kind of unsaid code, silently carrying them to heal and destress as much as possible under the circumstances. The hotel staff went above and beyond to help and that proves to me year in and year out how professional they truly are, even though they seem so laid back. A full recovery was made which was very happy news!

On one morning we visited Tirta Empal, the Balinese holy springs, and prayed for health, wellbeing and all the things that might matter to us and each other in life. We do this as a nod to the ceremony of life. Yoga also helps us to see more clearly, without the fog, what drives us, what makes us whole and how to keep stock of what is important to us. One of the fountain’s purpose is to help bring more love into your life, or as the locals say help your family love you more. So it came as a lovely surprise that one of the yogis announced their engagement just this week!

After breakfast, we’d sit around and chat or others would go off for the day exploring. We had a very healthy WattsApp group to plan meet ups, share photos and keep connected to daily goings on. Bali has great technology these days so whilst we can sit in the spoils of its incredible history and culture we are right at home with our tech needs. Some had zoom meetings and did some ‘WFH in Bali’ and although they’re supposed to be on retreat, I think it’s a whole new world these days where the tendrils of our outer worlds need to be incorporated but over the week this becomes less important. To be on retreat comes with a mutual understanding that you’re out of contact with commitments. Then there is a real chance to disconnect, and to fully retreat.

One yogi said she was so sick of reading (for work I think) she didn’t even want to read a menu and was so happy with set menus and our buffet breakfasts. She just wanted to stare over the valley, into space she said. We can all fully relate to this. To empty to mind, sit quietly and just observe, peel away all the things that require us to always make decisions.

Another, penned a poem about yoga and her take on what goes on and read it to us..

You people who come to yoga
(Breathe in breathe out) dedication to Suzi

You people who come to yoga
may not find the place where the body
meets the breath & reins in the
mind that would be dreaming of a place that isn’t here

Yoga is here if coming to yoga to be present
to be in the pose -too hard, too easy too evident
What is evident is what you are challenged by (breathe in breathe out)
What is evident is what is faced on the mat- that thing you do (and keep doing)
on & off the mat in & out of the yoga class ( breathe in breathe out)

You people who come to yoga
may softly, curiously come to notice a disregard of expectations around what went before
Not focus on the future
Come to present ground
If being here is something you might do letting go of making the shapes, exercise,
stretching or performing better than those other people
Who come to yoga (breathe in breathe out)

Thanks for an epic retreat one & all! – Dimity

Each afternoon we did a more restorative practice. Towards the end at dusk the mozzies start to appear. There was a bit of slapping and shared spraying with various repellants and ‘sarong savasana’ but in the end I’m fairly sure the restorative practices were a welcomed and settling end to the days. Restorative isn’t always just laying around, I often say. It’s the work-in that with practice resonates in harmony with our need in the west for constant activity. Savasana, in itself, needs space and time to truly experience what it’s all about. In daily life where we need to ‘envelope time’ it is more about timing the savasana rather than giving savasana time. Even when I hold the monthly restorative sessions online, the poses are timed for the purpose of keeping the mind alert and the body responsive. So on retreat, we get to give savasana it’s time and it’s important place in the practice.

In the evenings, after the yoga day is done, dining out in Ubud is really great and has got even better this year. There’s a big variety and some fairly fancy restaurants. Lucky for us we had fantastic Sydney chef in the group who naturally vetted some different places for us. There’s also a few favourite cafes just down the road from the hotel which serve very fresh dishes and good coffee and are popular with people who’ve been coming to this retreat over the years. We also did a few dinners in town, great food and company! But with all the choices it was also really comforting to just stay ‘home’ in our little village compound and be served dinner in the outdoor restaurant cocooned by the night jungle, buzzing and croaking with frogs.

Overall, and despite a variety of personal situations that were happening with people during their time on retreat, there is a great sense of support in yoga itself and with yogis generally, even if you’re not privy to people’s lives. The space is held by all and that is a generosity that can’t be quantified. When people go on retreats there is an opportunity to peel off the layers, egos and expectations we put on ourselves and see what it gives back to us. We learn about unconditional love, surrender and hope.

What we see about ourselves mostly happens after we get back to our regular lives and oftentimes it’s in the reflection and insights experienced in the challenges of yoga that supports our self awareness from which we can keep learning and growing. It sounds a bit cliche, but yoga proves this time and time again.

Read a few comments on the retreat below, and thanks to you who wrote some really kind words!
Suzi CS

they wrote…

When I heard about Suzi’s retreat in Ubud, I jumped at the chance and what a fabulous experience it was. Suzi is so knowledgeable, clear and encouraging and so able to cope with a class of different levels of experience. I’d stopped practising Iyengar yoga during the pandemic so my body needed to click back in, which it did over the week. I also hoped to feel inspired to resume my daily practice once I returned home. What a treat to spend 4 hours a day doing yoga in a very special part of Ubud with an excellent teacher and a lovely group of other yogis. Our small traditional hotel felt like we were in an idyllic Balinese village, miles away from the chaos of Ubud town centre but actually it was only a 15 minutes walk away. Each morning we started at 6.30am with meditation in a pavilion overlooking the beautiful tropical gardens which glowed gently in the early soft sunlight – what a perfect way to start the day. My practice improved and I learned so much about ways to continue to improve it. The others were a great group of very friendly people who offered each other kindness and support. The lovely accommodation, outings and meals were all perfect and the Balinese staff were so kind and thoughtful and went out of their way to make sure our needs were met. I would absolutely recommend this retreat to those wishing not only to develop their Iyengar knowledge and practice with such an expert teacher, but to those wanting to savour the bliss of old Bali and the joy of being with other like minded people. Thank you Suzi for your support and kindness and for a very special week. I feel deep gratitude to you and can hear your words as I return to daily practice. – Susy

This is the second time I’ve been to the Bali retreat and I just LOVE it. The program Suzi puts together is perfect. From the accommodation in the stunning gardens of Alam Indah …. Nothing more magical than doing yoga in an old established tropical garden. An intensive program that hones in on techniques and breath work and meditation. Got to meet lovely people and eat beautiful food. 10 out of 10 from me! Thank you Suzi for the great experience and yoga. – Fiona

I wanted to send a personal thank you for all your care, attention and advice in our yoga sessions and in fact in all aspects of the retreat. It’s difficult to deal with students of different levels of experience and I really appreciate the time and attention you gave me. I feel a lot straighter and, dare I say, a little stronger and more flexible than when I arrived in Bali and feel inspired to continue once we are home. – Don

Thank you for such an amazing retreat. You really are a pro Suzi. Loved the yoga and a great crew. Of course you make it look easy but I know a lot of thought goes in lot all the little things – Jane