Soothe away your worries
If you’re looking to switch off, unwind and bliss out, go to Bali, writes Jo McCarroll.
Whether it is our increasingly hectic lifestyles, or that whole ‘‘end-times vibe’’ we have going on right now, two significant trends have been identified as driving people’s travel choices in 2020.
One is our attempt to reduce stress and anxiety, and the second is the pursuit of spiritual and mental wellness.
And if either or both of those ideas has you rummaging for your passport, there’s a lot to be said for planning a trip to the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, AKA Bali where, over the past decade or so, a whole tourism offering has sprung up around spa retreats, yoga, health food, and spiritual self-care.
So, whether you are on a quest for a serious metamorphic transformation, or just want a jawdropping yoga pic for Instagram, here’s how to justify a short trip to restore, refresh and renew on the Island of the Gods.
You can go on retreat
Bali crams a truly staggering assortment of retreats into its 5780 square kilometres, from those that focus on fitness or surfing or spa treatments to ones that promote yoga, meditation or mindfulness (there’s even a mindfulness retreat where you can bring your kids, which sounds totally relaxing).
I stayed at The Palm Tree House, a women-only luxury yoga and wellness retreat in Canggu, which offers daily yoga classes, an extensive range of massage and Ayurvedic healing treatments, and amazing food.
You can also customise your retreat to focus on surfing, fitness, Pilates or more.
You will almost certainly do yoga
There are, apparently, more than 50 yoga-specific retreats in Bali. But even if you’re not in the market for a full yoga retreat experience, yoga is everywhere.
You can do classes on the beach, in the rice paddies, in the mountains, and at a techno music dance party (Techno Yoga is on every Monday night at the Canggu nightclub, Lost City).
Whether you are a complete yoga novice or can namaste all-day, you’ll find classes and classmates at your level. Danielle Bushell, who took my truly incredible daily yoga classes at Palm Tree House, also teaches vinyasa, hatha and yin yoga at Chillhouse in Canggu. (She hosts full yoga retreats in Bali, too.) You could also try The Practice in Canggu, where you do classes in an open-sided bamboo shala overlooking rice paddies, or one of Bali’s first yoga studios (I believe it’s now the largest yoga centre in Southeast Asia), The Yoga Barn in Ubud.
You can have heaps of massages
Indulge in any spa or wellness treatment you can imagine and, possibly, some you haven’t (you can get a 24-carat gold facial at Goldust in Canggu).
Massage parlours and spas line the streets of beach-side tourist areas, and you can get a onehour massage or reflexology treatment for as little as $NZ10 (though, at that price, it must be said the standard varies wildly and it’s well worth seeking recommendations from locals or other travellers).
It’s obviously worth finding a traditional Balinese massage while you are there. Balinese massage is a full-body holistic treatment that involves a combination of stretches, acupressure, reflexology, and aromatherapy, (I honestly felt like I left my body during one). Try Ubud Traditional Spa in Ubud or the Moroccan-inspired Prana Spa in Seminyak. Many accommodation providers also offer an in-house spa menu, or onsite spa facilities.
You can easily eat vegan
Follow any imaginable diet regime, however currently alternative it might be perceived by the mainstream.
Vegetarian or vegan? Want to avoid gluten, dairy or sugar? Looking to eat sustainably or organically? Or all of the above? There is an overabundance of food offerings in Bali, which cater to the retreat and wellness crowd, so whatever food groove you happen to be in right now you’ll find plenty of places to eat.
Try raw, organic, vegan Alchemy or The Seeds of Life, a raw food cafe and Taoist Tonic Bar, both in Ubud; the primarily vegan and vegetarian (although there are a few pescatarian options, too) Clear Cafe in Ubud and Canggu; or The Shady Shack in Canggu, where you should try the raw cacao avocado mousse.
If you are an avocado fan, don’t miss The Avocado Factory in Canggu, where every item on the menu features that ultimate Millennial bait, including – should you want to retox-post-detox – the cocktails. Do try an avo mojito, served with a frozen avocado stone.
This article was published as part of a partnership with House of Travel.