I would highly recommend the Bloooming Lotus retreats. They are perfect for those who want to connect with a kinder, more nourishing way of life, starting with themselves
The facilities and surrounds were like a blissful Bali dream come true. The fantastic timetable, with morning and evening slots for yoga, meditation and workshops, also allowed for free time to explore Ubud and the surrounds via the shuttle bus in the afternoons. Together with the truly delicious meals and the spa treatments available on site, this retreat was nourishing on all levels.
Anisha’s amazing voice was a portal to total surrender and relaxation into my body. I began to rediscover my yoga muscles and most importantly, rediscover my relaxation reflex, something that I had not felt much over the last 3 years. The level and variety allowed you to challenge yourself at your own pace, which was also very restorative. The water purification ceremony at the end really felt authentic: we all felt renewed and recharged. Thank you to all at BL: a very special heart filled place.
Domenic C
The place is set in Magnificent Ubud! Warmth of place and Staff soothes your soul from the time your arrive. The Teaches were amazing and I could have ask for anymore from Teachers Bindi and Theo. Absolute Delight to have crossed paths.
ArjunKingSingh4
The location was stunning, rooms were comfortable and hospitality by ubud corner was top notch. However, the yoga itself was very average. If you are a beginner then maybe the 4 or 7 day retreat is good for you, but if you are in any way experienced at yoga you will understand that all they teach is basic san sals and basic variations. There is also NO ALIGNMENT OR ADJUSTMENTS whatsoever. Bindi also did the same side twice by mistake on her sun sal. One teacher, stacey, taught us some mantras which she clearly didn't understand what they meant when questioned, particularly for ganpati mantra, she should not trivialise or misrepresent Hindu gods the way she did.
Aoife M
Personally what I think always makes a place is the people and BL definitely provided this for my 7 day retreat.
People who are attending are all of an open mind and it’s fantastic to meet people from all around the world, who are open to sharing their own stories.
Furthermore the staff at BL are fantastic from the Yogi teachers to the staff assuring everything during your stay is exceptional. (Here I think there should be a special thank you to Ketut Jus and Sewar who went above and beyond to help - if I have spelt these names incorrectly I apologise profusely).
The place itself takes you out of the madness in Bali and into a beautiful tranquil jungle setting; both this and the accommodation provide for an extremely restful stay.
There is one point to make here though; like all of Bali the place is not without bugs and mosquitoes are rife - come prepared with your insect repellent and citronella.
Thanks BL and to the people who attended my week - you all made it fantastic.
Jenny
My 4 day Yoga retreat at Blooming Lotus Yoga center was absolutely amazing, refreshing and awakening. Even though it is my 3rd meditation retreat, it mades me feel like a new student hearing all the enlightening messages for the first time. Fortunate enough to have Bindi and Stacey as our teachers!
Léane M
I spent an unforgettable week at BL, filling my own cup with positive energy and calm and meeting extraordinary people from all around the world.
Our teacher Bindi, was such an inspiring person; truly wise, kind, compassionate and such a good listener.
The venue, the staff, the food,.... everything was so perfect!
I’m now back home with plenty of tools to reach inner peace... and heart full of gratitude for everything BL and Bindi gave me !
Katrina M
I attended a 6 night retreat at Blooming Lotus, run by Bindi and the BL team in Oct 2019.
Everything about the retreat was amazing! From the yoga, meditation and mindfulness sessions to the beautiful villas with private pools, the vegan food and amazing service from the staff.
The other participants were all of a similar mindsets, all busy people looking to incorporate yoga into their lives, some with no yoga experience others with 10+ years of practice, but all very down to earth (no yoga 'wankers').
The days were also well structured with enough down time to explore Ubud or have a massage or swim and no pressure if you skipped a yoga session.
This was a seriously amazing week and I loved every minute of it!
Cluculzwriter
The online photos don't do the retreat justice. Also, there's a shuttle to Ubud everyday that they don't mention. Lots of shopping, restaurants and sights. But most importantly, like-minded souls who will surely become dear friends. I went to Blooming Lotus Yoga because I sought an escape, a place of refuse from Life's demands. I received so much more. I doubt there's a sweetie, kinder, more qualified teacher anywhere than Bindi. And the staff, they are incredible. I'd be lying if I said I didn't hurt most days, (I hadn't done yoga in years) but I was never made to feel inadequate for not keeping up. In fact, I was encouraged to go at my own pace. I am eternally grateful for everything I experienced at Blooming Lotus Yoga, from the accommodations, to the serenity, to the beauty, to the delicious vegan food, to the staff, to the wonderful guests. I truly believe I came away a better version of myself. Actually, I know I did.
TrailBlazer776527
I could write a few pages about the incredible spiritual experience I had during this retreat. But since most would not like to read in such length, I will keep it clear & concise.
The resort is gorgeous, the staff are beautiful souls that take care of all your needs with a smile one their face (even during urgent matters) and the food is incredible, possibly best I had during my entire trip.
Blooming Lotus Yoga itself was nothing short of a perfect spiritual journey. Bindi and Stacy are incredibly enlightened souls who guide you on your yoga, meditation, healthy lifestyle and just simple ways to get in tune with your own soul. I would love to follow their guidance many more times.
In summary, this was the best thing I have done for myself to date and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
Kate
What an amazing experience. I loved every moment.
Woke up every morning to the sound of the river and lush, gorgeous surroundings.
The accommodation was just lovely, and the private villa was a peaceful place to just "be"
The vegan food surprised me (a meat eater) as to how delicious it was.
I recommend the hot stone massage
I really enjoyed the teaching and groupwork element and took away meditation learning that i am using at home. The yoga i enjoyed for what it was. Although i didn't learnt a lot in terms of new technique, i was just happy to be doing yoga in a magic setting twice a day. Gold
4 day retreat wasn't long enough... wanted to stay longer
Thank you bindi for your teaching. You were just full of joy
ciara110
I have just finished a week long yoga retreat in Blooming Lotus. Overall it was everything I wanted it to be and more. The setting, accomodation and grounds were beautiful and so peaceful. The yoga Shala is overlooking a jungle and was a lovely setting, with the sun setting during our evening practice.
I was happy with the food provided, although some people in my group were unhappy with having the exact same breakfast each day and it did get a bit monotonous after a few days.
Villas themselves were nice, I shared with a stranger and it was fine although the glass door in the bathroom gave full view , which meant that if I was using the bathroom my roommate could not use the wardrobe area at all as they are directly beside each other. Maybe this would be ok for a couple or very close friends but for two strangers it is not at all ideal- perhaps consider blurred glass for the single sharing rooms?
The classes themselves were great and the teacher Stacey was a delight, she was so knowledgeable and I really felt like I learned a lot from her. She radiated calm and kindness and was a fantastic teacher. I will say, if you are looking for challenging yoga and to improve on the physical aspect of yoga this retreat is probably not for you. They do state this on the website though which is fair enough. I found that the classes focused a lot more on meditation and the yoga was just a very simple asana practice, but didn’t mind this too much. Overall I would recommend this retreat and would return, it was a great experience.
julia d
There is no doubt that the setting is really beautiful! The accommodation is very comfortable and villas have a shared kitchen which is useful but not very well equipped. It was amusing that the only glasses in the kitchen were wine glasses (Blooming Lotus is dry!). The villa’s pool only had 3 loungers for 6 people which was somewhat frustrating. The setting of the main pool was lovely but so scruffy and unloved and the pool itself didn’t look v clean. Spa is average at best. The food on the whole was good but there could have been a little variation at breakfast - it’s exactly the same every day . The daily shuttle to Ubud is an asset but it would have been nice to be told about local festivals etc and given the option to experience more of the local culture. As for the yoga - the teachers were absolutely lovely but there was hardly any actual instruction or correction to poses and I felt there was far too much focus on breathing techniques and meditation. The classes were way too big, so much so that you were always mindful of knocking in to someone. This was extremely frustrating for everyone. There were 27 people in our group for the first 3 days, some of whom weren’t even staying at Blooming Lotus!! Not 16-20 as per the website! Really there should be a second teacher to walk the room and help correcting poses and assist with the more challenging poses. I don’t think I progressed at all - very, very disappointed with this aspect. Personally I felt there was far too much focus on meditation and not enough focus on the physical aspect of yoga. And the overcrowding in the shala was such a negative.
Meghan M
This was my first yoga retreat and my experience was incredible. I'm writing this review months after my trip to Bali, and my memories of this retreat are still so vivid. The staff was outstanding Lisa especially, who was such a light throughout my 7-day stay. The living space was kept immaculate by the cleaning staff, the food was, of course, delicious (a bit expensive) and above all the lessons taught here was mind opening. I completely enjoyed the entirety of this trip. A must for anyone visiting the surrounding area.
mikayla mikayla
Competing the YTT was one of the best things I have done fore myself. I left their filled with love and new friendships. It is one of the few places that really teaches you what yoga truly is.
I encourage everyone to go for a yoga or meditation retreat or a YTT. It is a life changing experience and you get to be surrounded by breathtaking views in the beautiful place of Bali.
SofiaOhman
When I first realised that this was not about "western yoga" (asana/poses) but more so about meditation and "really yoga" I was quite disappointed. But after one week I already started to experience the benefits from meditation and I am so GRATEFUL for my experience at Blooming Lotus. The teachers and staff were wonderful, the food perfect in all ways and my private villa had everything I could wish on. The only thing I can think of that I would have liked different is a little more hands on during asana since it helps me alot, but I know that's very individual. Anyway : I strongly recommend this retreat for beginners!
Christy Milligan
There really are no words for the experience I had at Blooming Lotus Yoga in Bali. This 200 hour yoga teacher training was absolutely incredible. The teaching, the accommodations, the food...everything was more than I could have expected. Mandy, Lily, & Ramananda went above and beyond to make sure we all learned what we needed in a safe learning environment. I highly recommend this training and honestly can't wait to go back. I was able to visit rice fields, Bali swings, a traditional balinese village, as well as a beautiful Bali beach. I had the trip of a lifetime and made friends of a lifetime...from all over the world. THANK YOU Blooming Lotus Yoga, Mandy, Lily, Ramananda, and BALI...you did not disappoint. Until we meet again. :) Namaste
Alexa Ines
I had a friend recommend Blooming Lotus to me, after a year of practicing yoga. I was looking for the perfect place to reset & rejoice, and she assured me that this was the exact place for that. Since I made the wonderful & daring decision of traveling to Bali & Singapore as a solo traveler, I have received nothing but kindness & extreme hospitality from the Blooming Lotus team. Arriving a day early, they eased all of my anxieties and offered for me to stay an extra night, as well as be picked up at the airport by a member of their team. The gratitude I have for them will only expand, as I look forward to spending my 7 day yoga retreat at such a warm and professional place like Blooming Lotus. I wouldn’t have been able to make that leap of faith, without the reassurance and kindness I received.