Byron Yoga Centre is blessed to again be part of this wonderful event: John Ogilvie will be presenting a 3-hour immersion on Opening the heart and mind while balancing your chakras, and John will be also personally leading a very special Bali retreat that includes accommodation and VIP tickets to this beautiful yoga celebration. Read more about this vibrant and uplifting festival in Bali…BaliSpirit Festival is a vibrant and uplifting festival which awakens and nourishes each individual’s potential for positive change within, leading to positive change in our homes, in our communities, and around the world. Set in the spectacular grounds of the Purnati Center for the Arts in Batuan, just 10 minutes south of Ubud, the daytime workshops and Dharma Fair enjoy a venue unmatched for its tropical beauty and gentle energy.

The global music concerts take place in Ubud, at the Agung Rai Museum of Art’s (ARMA) outdoor stage, to allow easy access for visitors and locals. This unique series of concerts features and knits together the distinctive traditional rhythms of Africa, Indonesia and Australia with the contemporary music of the rest of the world. Now in its 7th year, the Festival brings together hundreds of celebrated musicians, yogis and dancers from every continent and also become a magnet for fans, students and followers of every calling. Weeks before the Festival, Ubud begins to fill with a colorful international tribe of young people gathering in anticipation of one of the world’s most inspiring events.

The festival contributes to the local community by not only celebrating culture and custom of Bali and Indonesia, but supporting local initiatives like the Ayo! Kita Bicara HIV/AIDS awareness project. Proceeds from the Festival fund the Ayo! Kita Bicara HIV/AIDS awareness project. This project aims to educate Balinese teens about the danger of HIV/AIDS in their community through interactive Edu-spirit workshops in local high schools.

A veteran of Bali’s yoga culture and the BaliSpirit Festival, John Ogilvie returns each year to Ubud to share in this unique spiritual celebration.

“Bali is a very special place, and the BaliSpirit Festival is a beautiful representation of the culture and the spirit found in this part of the world,” he says. “I love being part of the festival and look forward to sharing this event and this place with guests on our BaliSpirit Festival retreat.”

Byron Yoga Centre’s BaliSpirit Festival Retreat is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in yoga and the Balinese culture. This 7-night retreat includes:

• Accommodation – 7 nights
• Daily breakfasts
• Two days preceding the BaliSpirit Festival: yoga classes and philosophy sessions with John Ogilvie
• Five days at the BaliSpirit Festival: VIP pass to all daytime and nighttime sessions, includes shuttle to and from the event Airport transfers

Email for dates and price for 2016: admin@byronyoga.com

The post Find your spirit in Bali this March appeared first on Byron Yoga.

Now in its fifth year, the annual Bali Spirit Festival has cemented its status as Bali’s most popular holistic travel experience, and is gathering steam as one of Asia’s events not to be missed.

In 2012, the Festival aims to build on its wild success, by once again presenting over 100 workshop leaders and world class musicians, spread over five days and nights of yoga, high-energy dance and music, at two gala-style venues.

What sets this Festival apart is its eclectic range of offerings—amounting to a packed menu of benefits for one price of entry–from daytime meditative contemplation to an ecstatic carnival ambience at night; from eco-friendly shopping options to healing arts wisdom and poolside relaxation, from Balinese and Indonesian cultural exchanges to passionate one-of-a-kind global connections.

Festival organizers say that the Festival is “magnified by the magic of Bali,” tantalizing prospective guests who are in search of a vibrant tropical island setting.  The daytime Festival grounds are located just outside of Ubud, the capital of the Bali arts scene, in a natural, outdoor setting, with Balinese offerings and cultural demonstrations held daily.

The outdoor ‘One World’ music stage is set at Ubud’s ARMA museum, amidst sacred trees and decorated with mystical carved stone sculptures.  International musicians play for 4 nights of incredible concerts to a crowd of thousands.

Through all of its many diverse elements and gifts, the Festival’s focus remains true to its founding goals of awakening and nourishing each individual’s potential for positive change within; to inspire positive change in homes and communities around the world.

Festival Co-Founder and Producer, Meghan Pappenheim, underscores these goals, noting that her primary motivation has always been to help restore a sense of joy in people’s lives and to encourage self-belief.

“I want to give us the opportunity to just “be”; to awaken to one’s own expansion. Then we can go back into life and hopefully have an awareness about changing,” Pappenheim said. “At this festival, we drop little hints that you can make a change in this world just by being you”.

And as a result, guests leave the Festival “inspired and energized” by an electric atmosphere of culture and community that merges health, wellness, positive change, entertainment and education guided by one proactive vision of making a difference both locally and globally.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

In 2011, over $17,000 was raised by the Festival and its partners to benefit a local AIDS/HIV education initiative run by the Festival. This project has impacted hundreds of school-aged Balinese teens, raising awareness about the disease’s alarming rate of growth on the island.

For 2012, Festival organizers have gone GREEN by forging a new environment and poverty relief partnership, which involves the reforestation of one of Bali’s poorest and most arid regions. As part of the partnership’s promotion, each Full Festival Pass holder will have supported the planting of a bamboo shoot to reverse the rapid loss of the Desa Ban region’s essential forest ecosystem.

With yoga, dance, music, culture, community service and more on offer, the BaliSpirit Festival will continue to attract travelers of all persuasions seeking an enlivening and exciting experience of a lifetime.  You’re invited to be part of this unforgettable celebration that “will change your world.”

Join John Ogilvie for a Bali Spirit Festival Retreat. Arrive and practice with John before and after the festival and enjoy all the festival has to offer.

For Bali Spirit festival tickets, class times and information, visit www.balispiritfestival.com

The post The 5th Annual Bali Spirit Festival appeared first on Byron Yoga.

Suddenly, the overhead fans go on and I can focus on the sound of the nearby ocean, and more importantly, the instructions from Byron Yoga Centre founder John Ogilvie as he guides a flowing, early morning practice in the spacious beachside yoga shala.

“The next one is multiple choice,” proffers Ogilvie, before expertly leading almost 50 students safely through six options, ranging from a relaxing Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) to—for those so inclined—Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand). “Whichever option you take, yoga should always be performed joyfully,” Ogilvie adds, as he assists individuals with their choice. “That’s what I like to see,” he nods to one student who, post-Handstand, has flopped onto the floor laughing. “Rolling on the floor, full of joy.”

On India’s south-east coast, it’s easy to be joyful. We are tucked up three kilometres outside of the French colonial town of Pondicherry, which at only 220,000 people, is almost a village by Indian standards.

As the birthplace of yoga, India is a must-see for those interested in the roots of the practice. Opportunities to practise asana, meditation, pranayama and yoga philosophy abound. Dancing Shivas adorn café walls, and the “namaste” we so often hear at the end of our yoga classes is the greeting of choice throughout much of the country. Its chaotic nature, however, can pose a challenge for first-time visitors.

Having visited more countries than I can count, India is undisputedly the most frustrating of the lot. The simplest task can take hours. Travel between towns chugs along at 30 kilometres an hour, even in a (cheap as chips) private taxi. Personal space is nonexistent. Yet India’s appeal is so far beyond compelling, it’s actually life affirming. Somewhere amongst the noise, the heat and the persistent interest from locals in your every move, the country weaves its magic on visitors. You may leave vowing never to return, but India is likely to get under your skin in a way that six months later will leave you yearning for more.

Which explains why the perfect entree to yoga in India may be attending a western-run retreat. This one, at 14 days, is simultaneously tailored towards teacher trainees, graduate teachers and yogic holidaymakers like myself (known here as “retreaters”). With patience and what appears to be complete dedication, a 10-strong teaching faculty (led by Ogilvie) spend days and nights ensuring that our group of 48 not only learn what they’ve come here for, but also enjoy India in the process.

Retreat rhythms

Byron Yoga Centre teaches Purna Yoga, a flowing practice where plenty of attention is paid to alignment, pranayama and meditation. Trainees and graduates have come for an intensive experience, and there’s no doubt that’s what they get. With classes and workshops on everything from asana to yoga philosophy between 6am and 9pm, they’re immersed in some serious yogic learning.

As a retreater, my world is far more relaxed. Nothing is mandatory, so I soon fall into a blissful daily rhythm, beginning with one of the stronger classes at 6am or 7.30am (or on the four days when Ogilvie is on the morning schedule, or I’m up for three and a half hours of yoga before breakfast, I do both).

Breakfast becomes my favourite time of the day. Our group is an international crowd, dominated by Australians, but includes English, Japanese and Canadians, and as many people are travelling alone, it quickly becomes a friendly one. Over fruit, porridge and chai, I join in chats that range from something that happened in class, through to post-retreat travel plans and other topical issues, like where to find the best crepes in Pondicherry, and which of the essential oils sold at the nearby Sri Aurobindo Ashram shop doubles as a natural insect repellent.

I seal more than one friendship over my regular trips into Pondicherry, a 20 minute-drive away by three-wheeled tuk-tuk. This town was badly hit in the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004, but it seems to have recovered well, with tourists back in strong numbers. There’s a bustling Tamil area, filled with tailors willing to custom-make salwar kameez, the traditional unisex shirt-and-pant outfit, as well as market stalls that sell everything from “om” T-shirts through to Krishna colouring books; and a French quarter features Western clothing at Indian prices. Of course, there are also temples, ashrams and plenty of India’s mandatory madness.

When it’s all too much I simply jump back into a tuk-tuk and escape to the retreat venue, Kailash Beach Hotel. With helpful staff and a blissfully serene location, it’s the perfect antidote to the intensity of India. Behind the hotel walls lie lush green grounds dotted with Hindu statues and a generous-size bedroom that allows me regular opportunities to recharge, while I decide what to do next. On occasion that’s a walk into the nearby fishing village, where students’ presence is welcomed with much enthusiasm. While the sound of the waves from the ocean is a comfort, the nearby beach is underwhelming with its litter and dark-coloured sand, so I favour the hotel’s quiet pool area for some pure relaxation.

As a retreater, I can do up to four yoga classes a day, which are all held in the beachside yoga shala (trainees and grads spend a lot of their time in another part of the resort). There’s also an evening talk and meditation. I commit to early mornings, but mostly, the heat and the spectacular swimming pool conspire so that I miss most of the 2.30pm classes, my third option for the day (taught by a rotation of graduates and trainees as part of their teacher-training program). Usually, I manage to dry off in time to become a regular at 4:30pm practice, a 90-minute class featuring different themes and teachers each day. I quickly get hooked on the diversity of my afternoon practice, which could be a chakra-balancing asanas, partner yoga session or a vinyasa practice with live music. Weeks later, I still remember my joy during a restorative practice–no matter how long I practise yoga, there’s nothing that makes me happier than an extended period of time lying about on a bolster.

Expert guidance

While I find a middle path with the classes, I’m fully committed to taking up all options for exploring India beyond the retreat venue. Husband and wife Stephan and Bettina Kahlert from the Byron Yoga Centre faculty travel regularly to India, where they design an excursion program spanning from the sensual (shopping for essential oils at the above mentioned Sri Aurobindo Ashram) to the spiritual (an exhausting, but memorable daytrip to the sacred mountain, Arunachala). Both are serious yogis, not tour guides, but you’d never know. The two pull off an excursion program so fabulous it quickly becomes a highlight of my retreat experience.

Of course for some, the joy of doing a retreat means not needing to leave the retreat venue to focus on all aspects of yoga practice. While I love the balance of both worlds, I soon start to appreciate the diversity of what’s on offer behind the retreat’s walls. Each teacher’s style is different, but all include meditation, various pranayama and at least some chanting in their classes. They are also universally accepting—embracing the fact that everyone is different, and that the practice that’s right for some, will be wrong for others. Given that everyone’s energy levels wax and wane over the fortnight, it’s an approach I’m grateful for. My own collapse comes on about day four, after the excitement of arriving wears off. I spend a long time in a self-imposed Savasana (Corpse Pose) after adapting the postures to make them suit my energy levels. Most nights I fall asleep within minutes of my head hitting my pillow at about 8.30pm.

Haven-like as the resort is, some of the chaotic elements of India refused to be contained by a well-organised schedule and a serene location. Ayurvedic massage is included for all participants, but within days the word has spread that this Ayurvedic experience is unlike what most had hoped for. Having experienced the long sweeping strokes and oily dousing of Ayurveda on a previous Indian visit, I’m quietly confident I’ll enjoy the experience regardless; but after 45 minutes spent gripping the side of the wooden table to avoid sliding off, and a momentary dose of blindness when the massage oil drips down my face into my eyes–enjoyable isn’t the thought that crosses my mind. But it’s here that the magic happens: I leave relaxed. How, I wonder is this possible?

It’s a question that travellers to India eventually ask themselves. There are times when a visit to the birthplace of yoga feels hard, or tiring, but beneath that are moments of such sheer joy that I know that I’ll soon be yearning for more.

Fact file

Byron Yoga Centre runs 14-day India retreats annually. The next retreat is held on November 6-19, 2011. Prices start from $1850, including twin-share accommodation at Kailash Beach Hotel, up to four yoga classes a day and all meals. Teacher training and graduate retreat programs also available. Visit www.byronyoga.com

Getting there Pondicherry is a three-hour drive from Chennai. Return flights to Chennai from Australian cities can be snared for as low as $600 return if you keep an eye out for deals (visit www.airasia.com or www.planmytrip.co.in). Flight options from all capital cities are listed on Byron Yoga Centre’s website. Free airport transfers are available if you book the recommended group flights. Visit www.byronyoga.com

This is an edited extract from a story first published in Australian Yoga Journal May/June 2011. Sue White is a Sydney-based freelance writer and long-time practitioner of hatha yoga. She stayed as a guest of Byron Yoga Centre. www.yogajournal.com.au

The post A taste of India appeared first on Byron Yoga.

Every time I go to Bali, the moment I step out of the airport into the steamy, nasi-goreng scented air, I start smiling. I just can’t help myself. Smiling is contagious in Bali. In the street, in your hotel, strangers greet you with a broad smile, as if you’re a long lost friend.

I am reminded of Elizabeth Gilbert’s uber-famous novel, “Eat Pray Love”, in which she adopts, during her time in Bali, a daily ‘smiling meditation’ given to her by her idiosyncratic Balinese Guru.  Sometimes the simplest things can make us happy.

For the aspiring or already dedicated yogi, Bali has it all. A rich culture steeped in Vedic history, an endearing people who live simple lives, and a beautiful, tropical location in which to roll out our mat, on a well-earned yoga-holiday.

And the centre of yoga in Bali?  The charming mountain town of Ubud, of course.  Seasoned travelers to Bali will already know Ubud as the hub of traditional Balinese art and culture. What you may not know is that it’s now also the home of a vibrant yoga-culture driven by locals and ex-pats alike.

In fact Ubud now hosts ‘Bali Spirit’ an annual festival celebrating all things yoga. Byron Yoga Centre Director, John Ogilvie, recently returned from Bali Spirit abuzz with the experience of ‘eating, praying and loving’ yoga for five days as both a teacher and participant of the festival, claiming it was one of the foremost experiences in his life. High praise indeed!

“The whole community feeling there was bright and enthusiastic,” enthuses John. “There were a vast variety of workshops from Watsu to Acro-yoga, with teachers and participants from across the globe”.

When I asked John about Ubud’s evolution as a yoga-destination, he says:

“There’s so much yoga available in Ubud. Everywhere you see people carrying their yoga mat bags. There’s a feeling that people are passionate about a lifestyle that involves yoga and healthy eating and contemplative conversation”.

For the soul-traveler it’s intoxicating to wander the historical streets of Bali, your senses stimulated by the smell of incense wafting from the intricate flower offerings placed at the doors of shops and residences. To spend time in a country with its roots in the Vedic Culture and a living embodiment of Bhakti Yoga can only be inspiring for the yoga practitioner.

“Everywhere you turn you see the Hindu Temples,” says John. “People make their daily offerings, where they can focus on living a better life”.  John thinks Bali is a natural place to engage in something like yoga for stress relief and personal growth.

To taste the joys of Bali first hand join Byron Yoga Centre for a Retreat, Level 1 Teacher Training, or Graduate Program this August, held at Casa Luna’s Honeymoon Guesthouse, right in the heart of Ubud.

The post Bali: the land of smiles and yoga appeared first on Byron Yoga.