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Before Leaving Asia . . .
My final treat to myself before I leave Asia was to attend a 6-day yoga retreat in Bali. I've never had a yoga practice although I’ve dabbled in it from time to time. It was awesome! A balanced program of yoga/meditation for 3 ½ hours a day, ayurvedic massage and excellent chef prepared meals, coupled with a few outside cultural activities.
First, my room. It was big, airy, open with a lovely terrace and an inspirational view. To capture the view and the inspiration the room is furnished with water colors and paper. Tuesday was a day of silence when we were encouraged not to speak to each other, or even to read, but only experience, perhaps paint or write or walk. We all agreed it was wonderful. On that day all three meals were served in the privacy of our terraces.
A visit to the Tirta Empul (Hindu)Temple and springs for a purification and healing ceremony was a high point for me. We all dressed in sarongs to enter the temple where a priest prayed and we made offerings of flowers. We then prayed and submerged in the spring under 12 fountains, and finally prayed again with the priest. After prayer, the custom is to place a few grains of rice on your forehead and throat, a flower behind your ear, and tie a three-colored string to your wrist representing the Hindu Gods (our Trinity?). It was powerful for me was because I prayed for healing and I got it. When I went to Bali I was using an inhaler and oral meds for respiratory problems (complements of Vietnam). After a few days I didn't need them anymore. Prayer? Change of environment? Yoga? Healthy food? Combination? Who knows – who cares? Thanks Be to God.
On Wednesday morning we go up at 4:30 and went to the Gunung Batur Volcano to practice yoga at sunrise in the shadow of the volcano. WOW!
The food was beautifully presented, well prepared, balanced and delicious. Every morning freshly made yogurt, a fruit plate, mixed fruit drink and a variety of bread and muesli and black rice pudding. Of course coffee for us caffeine addicts. Lunch was usually a big beautiful fresh salad of greens. No red meat or pork was served, but who cared? Only fresh, beautiful, nourishing meals.
And the final component; Ayurvedic massage, said to balance the chakras or key energy points in your body. It is performed with respect to the unique personal pattern of the mind, body and soul so they can resume harmony with the universe. I don’t know about chakras or energy points, but I know that after 3 hours of yoga daily this old body sure appreciated that massage. It was wonderful, performed with strong, kind and loving hands.
Aaah, the Balinese people. Their life revolves around their faith. They are smiling and serene, peaceful and prayerful. There are prayer baskets everywhere, on every path, in front of every door, before every God, lovely little baskets made of palm leaves and filled with flowers. Balinese women make 75 prayer baskets every day for offerings. The children learn in their first years of school about prayer, how, why, when. Our last beautiful exercise to close the retreat was to make and offer prayer baskets.
My pitiful words can't come close to imparting the magic of Bali, so of course I attach some photos.
June Bayard
June 2010
Bali
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