Yoga Teacher Training Bali | The Magical Pull of This Island

For decades, the beautiful island of Bali, Indonesia, has been steadily growing as a Yoga Mecca for people to come and practice, immerse, retreat, train, and teach. Yoga teacher training Bali experiences are world-famous, with many yogis who are looking to deepen their practice and to teach this tradition having yoga teacher training Bali as their top option.

Travelling to South East Asia for personal pilgrimage, as well as experiencing rich culture and spiritual tradition is something millions of people take part in each year. So again, as a tiny island tucked away among the hundreds of islands in Indonesia, what is it about a yoga teacher training Bali that’s so popular?

The main question may very well be whether to do a yoga teacher training Bali or one in India. Here are some of the reasons why people choose a yoga teacher training in Bali as a more preferable option, rather than India.

CEREMONY AND RITUAL

The way in which this island operates under the Balinese Hindu tradition, steeped in ceremony and ritual, rooted in the energy of devotion on a daily basis, gives travellers a unique experience of witnessing historical spiritual practices thriving still in the modern era. Much like the ancient practice of yoga only continuing to expand in people’s awareness in this day and age. Beyond the sun and sand seekers coming for more of the beach Bali vibe, there are many people looking for more spiritual connection, healing, rest and self-reflection - the very essence of daily life on this island completely supports this energy. The slower pace of life - affectionately known as ‘Bali Time’ - also allows us to slow down, unwind, and actually have time to immerse ourselves in a practice such as yoga.

People who come to Bali will rarely ever visit just one time. There’s a certain magical pull that Bali has on people. It’s said that people are drawn to Bali when they are ready, and they’ll be guided to stay for as long as that needs to be. Those who are only ready to dip their toes in the water, well - they’ll most likely stay for that sandy beach holiday. For others searching for more substance, Momma Bali can take hold for weeks, months, and even years, for people who never had a plan to do so. Radiantly Alive Yoga is located in the cultural center of the island, Ubud, which literally translates to ‘healing’. Yoga is one of the main reasons people come to this spiritual hub. Allow yourself to immerse into different practices for self-nourishment.

YOGA TEACHER CERTIFICATION BALI

Yoga teacher certification Bali happens through completing a training with a registered yoga school. Certification here through a yoga teacher training Bali will allow you to teach all around the world, especially when you register with the online international yoga board known as ‘Yoga Alliance’. Many studios around world require formal registration in this way - not all schools are registered here though. So that is something to watch out for, when you sign up for a training.

The first training people will take begins with one of the 200 hour yoga teacher training Bali options, in any style. This is also usually labeled as ‘level 1’. 200 hours is an immersive experience, usually completed over a time-span of 21-28 days. You’ll also find a range of offerings for 300 hour yoga teacher training Bali, which are the level 2 experiences.

Beyond that, there are short courses, from 10-75 hours of additional training certifications that take place, generally taken as further education after completing an initial Level 1 option of a yoga teacher training Bali.

Yoga Teacher Training Ubud

Back when the first yogi’s from Java entered Bali, Ubud was already defined as a special place for spiritual practice. The oasis-like setting of the embrace of the green jungle, cooler air and healing springs and waterfalls seem picture perfect for diving deeply into a practice of coming back to our natural essence, that is yoga.

The town of Ubud is where people have travelled to for decades as a personal retreat experience. Now you’ll find organised retreats, courses, holiday cultural packages, day trips, workshops, dances, and of course, the most famous yoga training bali experiences out there. When people consider doing a yoga teacher training indonesia, they’re really not just thinking about Bali, but it’s Ubud that comes to mind.  

All styles of yoga can be found in the most well known international studios here in Ubud. From Hatha, Yin, Bikram, to Vinyasa and even Aerial Yoga, there’s a wide range of offerings that are taught here by world-class teachers. As many yoga-enthusiasts travel to Ubud to meet like-minded people, deepen their own practice, learn and rest with an open and welcoming community, it’s become a place that is sought after for people to live and teach and share their own styles - whether in classes, courses, workshops or trainings.

Vinyasa yoga is growing rapidly here as some of the most popular yoga teacher training Ubud options, with this breath-centered practice already being a popular choice for western countries. As most tourists travelling to Bali for yoga are familiar with Vinyasa yoga, it makes sense that the trainings taking place cater for this preference. Vinyasa yoga, as a dynamic heated and graceful practice, also holds within it philosophical roots and grounding.

For example, our own Radiantly Alive Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training is one of the most well known trainings not just in Bali, but in Southeast Asia and beyond. If you’re interested in more information about our yoga teacher trainings, or any related topic like the many benefits of the magical place that is Ubud, our home, just click the button below to get in contact with us.

Yoga Teacher Training Indonesia | The Lesser-Known History of Yoga in Bali

Indonesia itself is actually predominantly a Muslim country, though Bali has found its own spiritual roots which have drawn from more Indian influence. In actual fact, most of Indonesia was originally more in line with Hinduism, due to the first century traders who brought wisdom from the Hindu epic texts, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Javanese took on this spiritual tradition and ingrained it in the culture, especially in passing down stories through puppets, dance and community gatherings.

It’s been said that when the trade routes changed, Islam came into Indonesia with the Arab Muslim traders, and the local rulers adopted this way of being in the 13th century. The region continued on with it, especially when the colonial era entered, it became a way to rally against the colonialism spreading. Since Bali is a small island on the edge of the Indonesian islands, it’s believed that Bali was isolated from the shifts of the trade, and continued on with its practice of Hinduism, to shift to what we know now as ‘Balinese Hinduism.’ As Hinduism is the religious context for the Yoga tradition, Bali offers its own take on the spiritual landscape in line with Yoga practice.

In terms of yoga practices in the history of the island, legend goes that an East Javan Yogi named Hyang Pasupati travelled to Bali in 109 AD to explore the regions mountains and coastline for the rich spiritual energy he felt deep in meditation. He took his children and followers of his form of Kundalini Yoga practiced since Hinduism entered Indonesia, to the island of Bali to meditate and bathe in ritual, and later set up temples in Ubud (then known as Ubad). Though history is fragmented in what we know in terms of the melding of Yoga into the everyday culture, what we do know is that one of the many forms of yoga practice, known as Bhakti yoga, is what Balinese have been naturally practicing for centuries. The local tradition has been always more permeated in this form of practice, with more Western influence of Yoga asana (physical practice) coming to the island much later.

Bhakti is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘devotion’, and on this island, the entire Balinese form of Hinduism is immersed richly in this aspect of practice. Daily offerings are made twice a day to appease the gods, not to mention lavish creations for ceremonies which happen very often for things like temple celebrations, full moons, weddings, Hindu holidays and many more occasions.

India of course, being the birthplace of Yoga, is steeped in Yogic traditions in an everyday sense. Bali is India’s spiritual sister island, with an incredible mix of history and modern amenities.

It’s not really a ‘one or the other’ type situation when it comes to comparing Bali and India. Yoga teachers love to return to Bali after their yoga training, even if they visit India, Thailand or other popular destinations for a different experience. Frequent visitors affectionately refer to each other as Ubudians, who have come to love the peaceful vibe, the cacao ceremonies, the rich culture, closeness to nature, all the while maintaining an attractive standard of living.

Bali is known as the ‘Island of the Gods’, and for good reason. You’ll see numerous statues of Hindu deities we know and love from the yogic tradition, with a Balinese twist. Tourists get a strong sense of their devotion to their religion with Balinese often inviting visitors to experience their Bhakti traditions. They genuinely welcome guests to witness and even take part in many ceremonies across the island’s 20,000 temples. The warm and welcome energy that Balinese express is another reason why people feel comfortable to explore spirituality here, beyond the Bali culture, and into what spirituality means for them.