Traditional Balinese Yoga & Shamanic Healing: A 14-Day Culture & Wellness Escape in Bali

Mornings start early with yoga in the shala — Watukaru style, which blends Hatha and Balinese Hindu ritual. Some days that's a strong physical practice, other days it's slower, and there's pranayama and chakra work woven in. Breakfast follows, usually fruit, rice, and coffee, and then the day opens up. On alternate days you'll have a one-hour Balinese spa treatment — massage, body scrub, that kind of thing — which is genuinely one of the better parts of the fortnight.

The cultural programme is what makes this different from a standard yoga holiday. You'll go to a waterfall for a melukat purification ceremony led by a local priest. You'll spend a morning making coconut oil from scratch. There's a Balinese cooking class where you learn to make base gede (the spice paste that goes into almost everything) and a language class that gets you past 'thank you'. One afternoon is spent planting or harvesting rice depending on the season, and one evening there's a beach BBQ with yoga on the sand beforehand.

The retreat is based in a spiritual village in the centre of Bali, not on the coast. That means no beach on your doorstep day-to-day — the beach trip is a day out. The setting is rice terraces, jungle, and temple ceremonies you'll hear before you see. The village is quiet; the loudest thing is usually the gamelan practice or a rooster.

Balitrees Retreats runs several retreats from this same village, and this one is their longest and most immersive. The teachers are local Balinese practitioners who've grown up with Watukaru yoga and the associated rituals. You'll also meet a Balinese shaman for a blessing ceremony during the two weeks — it's a real ceremony, not a performance for tourists.

Evenings are low-key. Dinner is around 7pm, usually vegetarian-friendly, and after that people tend to sit and talk or go to bed early. There's no bar on site. If you want nightlife, this isn't the retreat for that — but if you want to sleep well, you will.

What's included

- 14 days / 13 nights accommodation - All yoga and meditation sessions - Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner - 1-hour Balinese spa treatment every other day - Balinese cooking class - Balinese language class - Coconut oil making workshop - Rice farming experience - Waterfall purification ceremony - Shamanic blessing ceremony - Traditional dance and martial arts performance - Beach BBQ and beach yoga day - Use of pool and retreat facilities - Wifi in common areas

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an extra fee) - Additional spa treatments - Alcoholic drinks - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Optional excursions not listed - Tips for staff