oneworld retreats in ubud

mm
By: Ariadna Bakhmatova
Edited date: October 24, 2022Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

ONEWORLD retreats are spacious and cozy Balinese style 14-room yoga retreat venues set in the jungle overlooking a gorge and a river with stunning views of rice fields all around. As you wonder around, you discover new beautiful pockets of the venue, just as you keep unveiling your own inner peace whilst there.The view at the open yoga pavilion was no less spectacular. Resident yoga teacher, Wayan, delivered a very thoughtful, meditative yoga practice with a deep sense of connection to self.  

On my arrival at the retreat center, I was lucky to have joined a very special ceremony taking place on the last morning of the regular signature yoga retreat “Escape the World:” the “letting go” ceremony. A group of us sat together in a circle at a yoga shala. Being guided by the retreat leader, we all learned how to make traditional Balinese offering of a bamboo box of flowers. My first handicraft experience since pre-school went surprisingly well and was quite rewarding. Then, the main part, the fire ceremony took place. Each of us wrote down a list of things we wanted to let go of. We then slowly and meditatively burned those pieces of paper, as we sat in front of the teacher, one by one, lighting them from the candle and leaving the ashes in a big communal basket full of flower petals. After the last piece of paper had burned, the teacher silently led us to the water and sent the basket floating down the river. Ceremoniously, we all threw handfuls of flower petals into the river. Two minutes later, the basket with the ashes disappeared into the jungle; our first step towards letting go was done.

A powerful start to the weekend it was. Having just arrived at the retreat, I was already overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions surrounding all kinds of issues that no longer serve me.

A soothing full body massage was just what I needed after a three hour journey from the north of Bali very early that morning. I love Spa rooms with a view; you feel like you are in the middle of rice fields, which made the experience quite special.

The Spa is nothing too fancy, but the quality of treatments and service are excellent. I’m a big fan of little details that turn a treatment into an experience: the Spa therapists introduce themselves as you arrive; you fill out the form before each treatment to indicate the level of desired pressure (and, thankfully, the therapists do deliver what you are requesting); you can adjust the volume of the background music in the room; a feedback form at the end of each treatment; a yummy ginger tea; and endless caring smiles from the therapists.

On the second day of my stay at the retreat, I got to experience the signature Chakra Dhara treatment. I love my Ayurveda; the sense of warm oil on my skin is the most soothing and relaxing thing ever. This 2.5 hour Ayurvedic ecstasy included a full body massage and Shirodhara treatment, which sent me into the deepest relaxation state ever. Life can be so utterly blissful sometimes!

In between treatments, I was experiencing another dimension of ONEWORLD pleasures: glorious food – healthy, organic, creative, local, and bursting with colors and flavors.

All in all, my spa weekend was both inspirational and pleasurable. I cannot wait to go back there to join one of the retreats; having experienced a taster of what the place has to offer, I can only imagine how its own healing energy can magnify the retreat experience. All the amenities and services offered made the stay very comfortable and nurturing – a truly memorable experience overall. 

For more info on Bali’s best spots for the modern yogi STAY | SPA | PLAY | EAT | SHOP | YOGA – Download our ULTIMATE BALI GUIDE for free.

Read next >> jungle room bali


| Email |