Awaken Curiosity. Embrace the Unfamiliar.
Lea Bender, E-RYT 500 and Rachel Bowditch, PhD co-lead an unforgettable journey to Bali.
The Retreat
We invite you to embark on this journey as a blank slate, a fully present witness.
This retreat is an opportunity to move deeper into presence and self-evolution, opening yourself to what Bali has to teach you.
Through yoga practices and cultural immersion, we will cultivate our inner and outer awareness; re-awakening our natural state of curiosity as we embrace the creative energy of Bali, known as taksu.
- 8 days, 7 nights at a beautiful retreat center surrounded by rice paddies
- Private chef preparing healthy Balinese and international cuisine (all meals are vegetarian, buffet style)
- Daily group yoga and meditation (yoga props included)
- Learn traditional Balinese spiritual practices with a disciple of a master Balinese priest
- Visits to sacred sites, local artisans, and traditional Balinese performance led by our experienced local guide
- Trips to natural hot springs, waterfalls and the Monkey Forest
- 60 minute Balinese-style massage
- Full use of our retreat center with open air yoga shala, private swimming pool, Wifi and A/C
- Airport transfers (for flights arriving on 7/12 and leaving on 7/19)
- Unlimited filtered drinking water, tea, and Balinese coffee
- Daily fresh green juice and coconut water
Take a video tour of our private retreat center!
The Island
Bali, a land of jungles, rice paddies and volcanoes, is one of the estimated 17,508 islands that make up the country of Indonesia. But culturally, the Balinese are quite different from the rest of the country. For the Balinese, ritual and ceremony are a daily practice and mark every rite of passage from childbirth and coming-of-age ceremonies to marriages and funerals. Ceremonies are filled with sacred masked and dance performances of Legong and Barong as well as Wuyang Kulit (Balinese shadow puppetry).
In Bali, every aspect of life is shrouded in ritual. Every doorway has an offering. In every corner of the island are temples and altars of all shapes and sizes.
Ubud
Ubud -located a short drive from our private retreat center- is considered the cultural heart of Bali. Strong yogic traditions make Ubud a mecca for yoga teachers and students alike, as well as those who want to experience the natural beauty of Bali and the Balinese people. Although Ubud is a bustling town and a major global destination, once you are outside of Ubud (where we will be staying), it is calm, peaceful, and quiet.
Learn some fun facts about Bali
SAMPLE SCHEDULE (some details may change)
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Day One
July 12th
- Welcome Ritual and Restorative Yoga
- Welcome Dinner
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Day Two
July 13thMorning meditation and yoga with Lea
Breakfast at Retreat Center
Workshop with Rachel and our cultural guide Thomas to learn about Balinese ritual, culture, and healing/Learn about Balinese temple attire and temple protocol.
Lunch at Retreat Center
Visit Kebaya/Sarong shop to buy temple attire
Visit local artisans: Traditional weaver from the Royal Family and Sacred mask carver
Low Flow Yoga, Meditation and Yoga Nidra with Lea
Dinner at Retreat Center
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Day Three
July 14th
Morning meditation and yoga with Lea
Breakfast at retreat center
Visit Pura Besakih temple complex, Bali's most important and sacred temple
Balinese offerings and prayers at temple (optional)
Packed lunch provided by Retreat Center
Low flow yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra with Lea
Dinner at Retreat Center
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Day Four
July 15th
Morning meditation and yoga with Lea
Breakfast at retreat center
Visit Tegalalang Rice Terrace, one of Bali’s most photogenic—and most-visited—destinations. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains wide, undulating layers of rice paddies, kept alive by an ancient, sophisticated irrigation system and farmers who tend the terraces just as previous generations have done for millennia.
Packed lunch at a waterfall
Visit to the Monkey Forest and Ubud Artisan Market
Return to retreat center for Low flow yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra with Lea
Dinner at Retreat Center (or choose to stay in Ubud and have dinner out)
Return to Ubud to attend Traditional Balinese Performance in Ubud (Kecak, Barong, and Legong)
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Day Five
July 16th
Morning meditation and yoga with Lea
Breakfast at retreat center
Visit Ulan Danu temple on the lake. Balinese prayers and offerings at temple (optional)
Packed lunch provided by Retreat Center
Afternoon of restoration and relaxation at Mt. Batur Hot Springs
Low flow yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra with Lea at the retreat center
Dinner at Retreat Center or on your own in Ubud
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Day Six
July 17th
Morning meditation and yoga with Lea
Breakfast at retreat center
Visit Holy Water Temple Tirta Empul. Tirta Empul Temple is the temple of Tampaksiring built around a sacred spring. Tampaksiring dates the spring all the way back to 926AD, and there are fine carvings and Garudas on the courtyard buildings. The temple and its two sacred bathing spots have been used by the Balinese for over a thousand years for good health and prosperity, as the spring water really does have the power to cure. Regular purification ceremonies also take place here. Balinese offerings and prayers at temple (optional)
Lunch at retreat center
Open time at retreat center for massage, rest, swimming etc or visit to a traditional Balinese Healer for purification and cleansing (this is an add on)
Low flow yoga, meditation and Yoga Nidra with Lea
Dinner at retreat center (or on your own in Ubud)
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Day Seven
July 18th
Morning meditation and yoga with Lea
Breakfast at retreat center
Relax on Padang Padang beach with packed lunch provided
Visit to Pura Ulu Watu Temple
Balinese offerings and prayers at temple (optional)
Dinner on the beach/Closing Ritual
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Day Eight
July 19th
Breakfast at retreat center
Airport Transport
Retreat Leaders
RACHEL BOWDITCH spent the first 18 years of her life living overseas in Italy, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Singapore and Israel. She has a deep personal connection with Bali, growing up in Southeast Asia (Jakarta and Singapore) from age 8 to 16. She visited Bali for the first time when she was 8 years old and that experience changed her life and instilled in her a love of performance and ritual. She has been to Bali several times since, most significantly in 2016, where she spent a month studying traditional Balinese dance and mask carving with Nyoman Seitwan in Ubud as part of the Dell’arte program.
Rachel holds a Masters and PhD in Performance Studies from NYU where her work focused on ritual and performance theory. She is currently a Professor of Theatre at Arizona State University and is the author of four books including On the Edge of Utopia: Performance and Ritual at Burning Man; and most recently A Sourcebook for Rasaboxes and Other Exercises. She has presented her work and taught workshops nationally and internationally.
LEA BENDER E-RYT-500, combines over three decades of yoga practice with intensive study of philosophy, anatomy and therapeutic techniques to offer students a fully integrated experience. Lea received her 200-hour RYT certification from Jaya Yoga Center and her 300-hour Advanced RYT certification from Abhaya Yoga, both in Brooklyn, NY. In 2018, Lea transitioned to teaching yoga full-time. Lea believes that yoga offers a path to physical and mental wellbeing for every age, body and ability and can be taught to anyone, anywhere. Her classes are experienced as moving meditations, where the student is able to both embody and witness their physical experience as it happens. Outside of yoga studios, Lea has taught in many diverse settings, from Rikers Island to Omega Institute. She also leads annual retreats to Costa Rica and other international locations.
ROOMS AND RATES (Rates are per person.)
2026 RATES COMING SOON!
RETREAT REGISTRATION CLOSES FEBRUARY 15, 2026
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Price includes
What’s Included
- 8 days, 7 nights at a beautiful private retreat center surrounded by rice patties
- Our own private chef preparing healthy Balinese and international cuisine (all meals are vegetarian, buffet style)
- Daily group yoga and meditation (yoga props included)
- On-site cultural workshop to learn traditional Balinese spiritual practices with disciple of master Balinese priest
- Visits to sacred sites, local artisans, and traditional Balinese performance led by our experienced local guide
- Trips to natural hot springs, waterfalls and Monkey Forest
- A 60 minute on-site Balinese-style massage
- Full use of our private retreat center with open air yoga shala, ozone swimming pool, Wifi and A/C
- Airport transfers for flights arriving on the 6th and leaving on the 13th
- Unlimited filtered drinking water, tea, and Balinese coffee
- Daily fresh green juice and coconut water
What’s not Included
- Airfare
- Tips for local staff & taxi drivers
- Travel/Trip Insurance
- Trip insurance and health insurance are recommended to cover the costs associated with any unforeseen circumstances.
- Food and beverages purchased outside of the retreat center
- Temple Attire (cost is approximately $20 USD)
Optional Add Ons
- Cleansing ceremony with a master Balinese healer
- Spa services (available on site)
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Payment Terms
All rates are in USD.
A 33% deposit is required to hold a spot.
Second payment of 33% is due by March 15th, 2025
Final payment is due by May 15th, 2025
75% of total cost is refundable if canceled 90 days or more prior to the retreat.
50% of total cost is refundable if cancelled 60 days or more prior to the retreat.
No amount is refundable if cancelled less than 45 days prior to retreat.
In the unlikely event that the retreat is cancelled by the organizers, you will be 100% fully refunded.
Trip insurance and health insurance are strongly recommended to cover the costs associated with last minute cancellations or any unforeseen circumstances.
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Pre-Trip Planning
THINGS TO EXPECT AHEAD OF TIME (IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ)
- Weather: Bali is a tropical country on the Equator and the weather is hot and humid. Bring hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. While July is the dry season, it does sometimes rain and when it rains, it rains hard.
- Bugs: retreat center is surrounded by lush green vegetatian and rice patties so be prepared for mosquitos, bugs, and other small critters. We recommend you bring your favorite bug spray.
- Bali traffic: Bali is a major tourist destination and the roads from the airport to Ubud are congested with traffic like any other major Asian city. The trip from the airport to Ubud is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic. Roads in Bali tend to be twisty and bumpy. It might seem chaotic but the Balinese are very good, calm drivers and go with the flow.
- Temple Attire: One the first day of the retreat, we will be doing a workshop of Balinese healing and ritual with our cultural guide/consultant on proper temple wear and we will go shopping together as a group to purchase sarongs and kebaya (white ceremonial shirts) required for entering the inner sanctuary of the temples we are visiting. Estimated cost for both is $20 USD (not included in retreat price).
- Airport Tranport: The airport pick-up/drop off is only included if you arrive/depart on the day of the retreat. Otherwise you are responsible for your own transport (transport is very easy to get at the airport and can be coordinated at our retreat center if needed, but this will be at your own expense). We cannot be responsible for delayed flights.
- Tap water in Bali is not safe to drink. Our retreat center will provide safe, clean drinking water in separate vessels, however tap water should never be consumed or even used for brushing your teeth.
- Dining: Meals at the retreat center are served as a buffet. Generally you will not be ordering from a menu. We will have a fantastic private chef for our group. Please send all dietary restrictions ahead of time. You are also welcome to dine out in Ubud (at your own expense).
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Packing List
WHAT TO BRING:
- Dress light: the climate in Bali is hot & humid. Restaurants, stores, and transportation generally do not have air conditioning.
- Pack light: yoga clothes (100% cotton recommended), shorts, tanks & tees, light dresses, bathing suit, and 1 long sleeve. Polyester and jeans will be too hot for this climate. Bring layers for your comfort on the flight, but you will not need any warm clothing once in Bali.
- Shoes: we reccomend waterproof sandals and light socks/sneakers for hiking. Heels are discouraged because the sidewalks are often uneven and the landscape is hilly.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Toiletries
- Passport (expiration must be at least 6 months from time of travel)
Temple Wear (required):
- Kebaya is the customary dress worn by Balinese women. It is beautiful and colorful, typically styled with a v-necked blouse of silk or lace, a sarong skirt and finished with a sash tied at the waist. You may bring a long sleeve white cotton shirt ahead of time or purchase a Balinese temple shirt, sarong, and sash at the market (for under $20). Temple wear is required to enter any temple in Bali.
- **Note: If you opt to wear a tank top that is fine but you must cover your shoulders with a shawl.
