See what happens inside an 8-day yoga retreat in Bali with 23 people who all showed up with an open heart.
An adventure of self-care, slowing down, making new friends, and living the Bali love.
August 1-8, 2026 | Floating Leaf & Bodhi Leaf Eco-Luxury Retreat Centers, Sukawati, Bali
What does it feel like to go on a yoga retreat in Bali?
It feels like landing in a foreign country after a long flight, having your feet soaked in warm water by a stranger who smiles like they’ve been waiting for you. It feels like sitting in a circle with 22 people you barely know, taking a deep breath together, and tearing up because you realize we are all here for the same reason. It feels like eating delicious farm to table food, sleeping deeply, and somewhere around day three, remembering who you are underneath all the noise of everyday life.
That’s what we created in Bali this August. And I want to tell you how it happened.
An Athlete and A Psychic
My name is Jessi Rose. I’m a holistic fitness professional, athlete, yoga teacher, corrective exercise specialist – and I came to yoga through injury. My body needed it before my mind understood why.
I get to co-create amazing yoga retreats with Stella. She came to yoga as a dancer. As a kid, she talked to flowers and invisible friends. She’s intuitive, energetic, deeply connected to something beyond the physical.
Together, we are the odd couple that somehow makes perfect sense.
Where I’m more analytical – building structure, thinking in systems, a total anatomy nerd… Stella is fluid, tuned into emotion, able to hold space in a way that feels mystical. I plan the map. She reads the terrain. I teach you how your body works. She helps you feel why it matters.
When we describe ourselves, we often say: “led by an athlete and a psychic, we blend logic and intuition.” That’s not just our marketing language – that’s the truth of what happens when the two of us are in a room together. And it’s exactly what this retreat was built on.
How This Retreat Came to Life
Stella and I have been co-creating yoga experiences since 2014, but taking a group to Bali – 23 people, across multiple flights, to a place we had never been – was something new.
The planning took months. We chose the Floating Leaf and Bodhi Leaf Eco-Luxury Retreat Centers in Sukawati, two stunning properties with a staff that turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. We curated activities that balanced culture, movement, adventure, and deep rest. We created a travel guide for participants. We planned themes for each day’s practice.
And then, like every good retreat, we let go of the plan.
Because that’s the real secret of retreat. You create the container, and then you trust what fills it. And both Stella and I believe when you let go of control and trust the process, that is where the magic happens.
Eight Days in Bali: What It Looked Like
Day 1: Arrive & Ground In –
People flew in from different cities, different time zones, different chapters of their lives. We gave everyone the gift of space – unpack, nap, relax, breathe. That evening, we gathered for a Welcome Dinner with traditional Balinese music and dance. The performers pulled us all up to dance – awkwardly, joyfully, without any idea what we were doing, and it was perfect. The evening closed with gentle yoga to lull everyone into a good night’s rest.
Day 2: Open the Circle –
Morning yoga flow followed by Opening Circle. This is one of my favorite moments of any retreat. Twenty-three people sitting together, each one brave enough to have flown across the world for this. We set intentions. We pulled oracle cards. We thanked everyone for showing up. It always gets that beautiful kind of emotional where we remember that we are all here for the same purpose – love and freedom.
After breakfast, the retreat center director, Gus, gave us a beautiful talk on Balinese culture – how Hinduism isn’t separate from daily life here, but woven into every offering placed at a doorstep, every ceremony, every celebration. In Bali, they are always celebrating something. The afternoon was slow: pool, lunch, yoga, a himalayan sound bath after dinner, and then early bed. We believe deeply in easing into retreat, especially after long travel.
Day 3: The Water Purification Ceremony –
We left early to beat the crowds, and I’m so glad we did. At the water temple, we dressed in sarongs, made offerings, and asked permission to enter. Inside, fresh spring water poured from multiple fountains. Each set of fountains carried a different intention: physical health, emotional and spiritual health, prayers for others. We cupped the water in our hands and washed it over our heads and faces three times, then allowed the water to rush over us.
I won’t try to fully describe what that felt like. Experiences like this ask you to be present rather than narrate. All I can say is that I left feeling extremely clear-headed and reverent.
Afterward we visited a coffee plantation tour (skeptical at first, because I heard these were tourist traps, but I ended up genuinely loving it), boxed lunches, and optional shopping. Then half the group visited an artist village where traditional Balinese painting was being taught. The other half went back to the resort. Again – Stella and I like to provide options, so you can choose your own adventure.
Day 4: Adventure Day in Ubud –
The Sacred Monkey Forest surprised me. I didn’t expect to love it… but to experience a place where animals roam freely and get close enough to hop on your shoulders and steal your sunglasses was really special. There was something about being among wild creatures without a cage between you that filled the little girl within me with joy. It was humbling, playful and a little chaotic.
After the monkey forest, our group spent the afternoon wandering Ubud’s markets. It was sensory overload in the best way. Jewelry, statues, clothing.. We all got trinkets to bring home.
Day 5: Slow Down and Enjoy the Spa –
Everyone on retreat received at least one massage. And most people opted to book multiple spa services including facials, mani-pedis, hair treatments, etc. This day was one of the days we stayed “home,” and just did yoga, ate and chilled by the pool – or got a massage.
Day 6: Optional Waterfall Adventure –
We left this day up to each individual. Some chose a two-hour journey to a secret waterfall and temple – which was epic. Some chose a smaller, closer one. Others, like me, chose to rest at home, get another massage, then enjoy my book and a pool chair. Every option was right. That’s the whole point of going on a retreat – there’s no wrong way to practice self care.
Day 7: Priestess Blessing –
Our final full day began with morning yoga, then something I’ll carry with me for a long time: a blessing from a Balinese priestess at her home. We gathered together, dressed in white and light colors, prayed, and were prayed over. It was quiet and powerful. Even some of the staff joined us in the ceremony.
That evening, we all gathered for a farewell dinner. The staff prepared a beautiful meal for us. After dinner, we sat in a circle one last time to close what we had opened a week before.
Day 8: Until Next Time –
We gathered for breakfast, shared photos and contact info. Then we slowly trickled out to our next destinations. Many people made plans for a group dinner for the following week when they got back.
What I Came Home With
After a retreat like this, people often ask: how was it? what did you get out of it?
It’s hard to answer that quickly. The purification temple and ceremonies stay with you. Practicing yoga and meditating as a group stays with you. The feeling of connecting so deeply with a group of strangers stays with you.
For me personally, I came home feeling clear-headed and inspired. I was reminded that the work I get to do – helping people feel better in their bodies – matters more than I sometimes let myself believe. Twenty-three people got on a plane and flew to Bali to do yoga with Stella and me. That is something I don’t take lightly, and I will cherish forever.
Want to Come on the Next Yoga Retreat?
Retreats aren’t just for seasoned yogis. They’re for anyone who needs to step out of their daily life long enough to remember who they are inside of it. Stella and I teach yoga for EVERY BODY. Our group in Bali ranged from strong practitioners to complete beginners. What they all shared was an open heart.
If you have one of those, you’re welcome to join us anytime.
Stay connected and be the first to hear about upcoming retreats – Join our email lists by visiting:
🌿 jessirosemcmaster.com 🌿 stellalunayoga.com
Written by Jessi Rose McMaster | Holistic Fitness Coach | Yoga Teacher | Retreat Host
