From 20 - 26 July 2025, 19 of us from around Australia and New Zealand gathered in Ubud, Bali for a week long retreat hosted by Yoga in Daily Life Melbourne, in collaboration with Swami Madhuram Puri. What we experienced was more than just a getaway - it was an authentic experience of yoga, stillness, community and the wisdom teachings that continue to ripple through us even now.

 

 

 

Bali is changing - it's getting busier every year - but nestled among Ubuds lush rice fields, our yoga retreat felt like a world apart. Just a short walk from the lively streets and vibrant markets, we were still far enough removed to feel immersed in nature's calm. The luxury of quiet, the gift of shared space, and the opportunity to practice without the demands of daily life made this retreat truely special.

 

It was so nice ...

• so nice to have the whole venue to ourselves.
• so nice to wake with the sunrise and move in silence to the yoga shala.
• so nice to gather as strangers and leave as friends.
• so nice to explore some of the teachings of yoga in a way that felt practical, grounded and relevant.

 

Throughout the week, Swami Madhuram, Gita and Yoga Mudra guided us in both practice and reflection - anchoring us in ancient wisdom while encouraging us to apply it in the world we live in today. Two teachings in particular resonated that we thought to share with you:

 

 

1. Your Individual Impact Matters

 

In today’s world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or powerless. Wars rage, the climate changes, and our news feeds overflow with uncertainty. "Can my effort really make a difference?" we wonder.

 

From the very first day, Swami Madhuram reminded us: Yes. It can. And it does.

 

Your inner peace is not seperate from world peace. Every compassionate action, every quiet moment of awareness, every time we choose understanding over judgement, love over fear - it matters.

 

He shared a parable:

A frog and a dove were watching snowflakes fall on a branch.

The frog remarked, "They are so light, they'll never break it."

But the dove was counting:

6,567,932...933...934 ...

And then, with the 6,567,935th snowflake - the branch snapped.

 

We don't know which effort will be the turning point. But we do know that every effort counts. So we practice. We show up. We try again.

 

 

2. Understanding Raga & Dvesha - The Push & Pull of the Mind.

 

These Sanskrit terms - raga (attachment) and dvesha (aversion) - appear throughout ancient yogic texts. Together, they form a cycle of longing and resistance, desire and fear - they are part of what creates our mental suffering.

 

Put simply:

• Raga is our clinging to pleasure. Attachment. Desire.
• Dvesha is our pushing away of pain. Aversion. Repulsion. The rejection of what we fear or dislike.

 

They are our likes and dislikes. We began to notice how often our thoughts were shaped by these reactions - chasing the comfortable, avoiding the uncomfortable - often without even realising it.

 

To add to this we also explored the teaching that - what is good and what is pleasant are not always the same thing :)

 

So what to do?

Here's how we practiced untangling from this cycle:

 

• Present Moment Awareness

Just being - without needing to fix, avoid or control. Over and over, we returned to this space.

 

• Seeing as a Neutral Observer

Can I notice without naming? Instead of judging a moment as "good" or "bad", we practiced relaxing into it. Letting it be.

 

• Cultivating a Beginners Mind

Every yoga practice is different - even when the sequence is the same. In Bali's warmth, our winter bodies softened, and with the freshness of a beginners mind we allowed the experience to unfold into what was needed for us at that time.

 

• Nurturing Curiosity

Curiosity as a spiritual practice is a willingness to be open, to explore and understand more fully. It helps us to step beyond our fears, beyond our fixed likes and dislikes. It invites us to explore - within and without.

 

• Listening Deeply

In the stillness of Self-Enquiry Meditation, we listened, not just with our ears, but with our whole being. We noticed the triggers of raga and dvesha within us, and from that awareness, the freedom to choose something different.

 

 

Closing Thoughts: The Inner Journey is Ongoing

Our time in Bali reminded us that yoga is not just something we do on the mat - it is a way of seeing, being and relating to the world.

 

Whether you were with us in Ubud or are reading this later, we hope these reflections inspire you to stay close to your own practice - not out of pressure, but out of care.

 

Care for yourself.

Care for others.

Care for the world we're all part of shaping - snowflake by snowflake.

 

With gratitude to all who joined us.

We return home, well rested, and a little more aware.

 

Until next time - Hari OM.

Yoga in Daily Life Melbourne

 

Bali 2026 - see the booking details here.

 

written by Gita in collaboration with Swami Madhuram

04.08.2025