Nestled in the lush, verdant heart of Ubud, the Bali Spirit Festival is a unique experience that goes beyond the boundaries of a typical wellness retreat. Bringing together a vibrant, diverse community of spiritual seekers, yogis, musicians, and artists from around the world, this annual event has earned a reputation for being a transformative journey for the mind, body, and soul. In this comprehensive review and guide to the Bali Spirit Festival, we’ll delve into the festival, exploring the classes and activities offered. This was my fifth time attending the Bali Spirit Festival, and in this article, I share all my tips with you to make the most of the festival.
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What is the Bali Spirit Festival?
The Bali Spirit Festival is an annual event that takes place in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. It is a celebration of yoga, music, dance, and other forms of wellness and spiritual practices. The 2023 festival spanned over four days and attracted thousands of participants from all around the world. The festival features a variety of activities and workshops, including yoga classes, meditation sessions, dance workshops, and healing sessions. There are also talks and discussions on various topics related to health, wellness, spirituality, and sustainability.
In addition to the workshops and activities, the Bali Spirit Festival also features a vibrant marketplace where vendors sell handmade crafts, organic foods, and other sustainable products. There are nightly musical performances featuring a diverse range of world music, from traditional Balinese music to contemporary fusion.
The festival aims to promote health and wellness, cultural exchange, and environmental sustainability. It provides an opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate their shared values and interests.
Why attend the Bali Spirit Festival?
Some of my key reasons to attend the festival (and why I keep going back 😊) include:
- Discover new things: The festival features a diverse range of workshops and activities, which means you’ll have the opportunity to try new things and learn from experts in their respective fields.
- Relax and recharge: Bali is known for its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and serene landscapes. Attending the Bali Spirit Festival is a great way to take a break from the stress and busyness of daily life and recharge your mind, body, and spirit.
- Be hosted by friendly and beautiful Balinese people: The staff at the festival are incredibly friendly and professional. The number of smiles and nice gestures from them is mind-blowing.
- Deepen your spiritual practice: The festival offers a wide variety of workshops and activities that can help you deepen your spiritual practice, whether you’re interested in yoga, meditation, or other forms of wellness and self-care.
- Immerse yourself in Balinese culture: The festival provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in Balinese culture and experience its unique traditions and customs, from music and dance to food and art.
- Have fun and dance: The dance and music program is a significant part of the festival, and if this is your thing, you can dance up to 10 hours a day!
Where does the Bali Spirit Festival take place?
The location of the Bali Spirit Festival tends to change occasionally, so make sure to check for updates for the 2024 festival. Since 2022, the festival has returned to the Yoga Barn, a large yoga complex situated in the heart of Ubud. While this location is smaller than the 2019 venue, it has the distinct advantage of being right in Ubud’s center. If you choose your accommodation wisely, it’s easy to return to your room for a shower or rest between classes. Read on to discover the best accommodation options near the Yoga Barn.
Festival Site and Facilities
The festival site spans several acres and offers a wide array of facilities, including yoga studios, meditation rooms, a healing center, a holistic healing spa, and even two swimming pools, one of which is heated for WATSU classes. One major advantage of holding the festival at the Yoga Barn is that it’s already equipped for yoga classes. Yoga mats and props are readily available in most studios.
In addition to the well-equipped studios, the Yoga Barn also has proper toilet and shower facilities, offering more comfort than typical festival cubicles. However, the venue does have its drawbacks. Due to its smaller size and room capacity, classes can often be full, so planning and early arrival for desired classes can be crucial.
A Diverse Array of Classes
The Bali Spirit Festival offers an impressive variety of classes. With six or seven classes happening simultaneously, it can be somewhat overwhelming, evoking a tangible fear of missing out.
Yoga, Dance, and Music Workshops
Central to the festival are yoga, dance, and music workshops. My personal goal at the festival was to discover new instructors. To achieve this, I strived to attend classes led by teachers I didn’t know and ventured beyond my comfort zone. I attended lectures on diverse topics like relationships, voice liberation, and breathwork.
One of the highlights this year was the Water Inner Ocean Journey, which took place in a pool heated to 28 degrees Celsius. Although there was a significant waiting time, the experience was undoubtedly divine. If you miss it, there’s an opportunity to catch it on Friday at the Yoga Barn
Jo Phee’s Yin Yoga class was another standout, introducing an innovative yin yoga technique involving a massage stick and acupressure points. I also had the pleasure of attending a Tibetan Heart Meditation with Sanna Kokkonen.
Surprisingly, the most transformative class for me was combination of Mind: Jnana Yoga & Body: Asana, facilitated by Louisa Sear. Despite stumbling upon this class by accident, it was a beautiful revelation. It allowed me to reconnect with my breath and be mindful in an exceptionally simple and profound way. I hope to learn from Louisa again in the future. More information about her retreats and teacher training programs can be found on her website
Healing Activities and breathwork
Beyond yoga, the festival offers sound healing exercises and breathing workshops, aimed at relaxation, concentration, and working with the body’s subtle energies. Various sound frequencies are used to uniquely affect the mind, heart, and soul, taking the festival experience to another level. The Pantheon, a musical journey with binaural soundscapes, is a serene experience not to be missed.
Sound healing sessions provide an excellent relaxation opportunity during a busy day, some even include acupuncture. If you ever feel overwhelmed, the Kush Spa offers quality 30-minute treatments.
Breathwork sessions were some of the popular classes at the festival. People would queue an hour ahead of the class to get a spot.
A world of warnings about breathwork
While breathwork can have many positive effects on mental, emotional, and physical health, it also has potential negative side effects. Not everyone will experience these, but it’s good to be aware of them and listen to your body during breathwork practices. I saw people being carried out of the breathwork classes as they could not walk anymore. I personally experienced negative effects during a breathwork session at the festival and was fortunate to have a friend attending with me who could ensure I was safe.
Here are some potentially negative effects of breathwork that you should be aware of before starting a class
- Overstimulation: Breathwork can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the body’s “fight or flight” response. If this system is overactivated, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress, and restlessness.
- Hyperventilation: Some forms of breathwork involve rapid, deep breathing which can cause hyperventilation. This can lead to light-headedness, dizziness, and even fainting in some instances.
- Emotional Distress: Breathwork can lead to the release of suppressed emotions, which can be overwhelming for some individuals, especially if they have a history of trauma or mental health issues. It can potentially cause feelings of panic, fear, or grief.
- Physical Discomfort: Some people may experience physical discomfort during or after breathwork, including tingling sensations, numbness, muscle cramps, or nausea.
- Altered State of Consciousness: Intense breathwork can potentially induce an altered state of consciousness. This may lead to disorientation, confusion, and hallucinations in some cases.
If you feel unwell during a breathwork session, don’t hesitate to stop and seek advice if necessary.
Dance and Music Nights
Dance and music are intrinsic to the Bali Spirit Festival, with countless opportunities to dance throughout the day. From live music, ecstatic dances, and shamanic dances, to cacao ceremonies, the possibilities are endless. This year, the festival featured two music stages, with DJs playing a more prominent role in the nighttime programming. I really enjoyed the music by Purnama and Catur Hari Wijaya
Experiencing Bali Culture
Gamelan music and dance troupes appear throughout the day, showcasing the talent of local Ubud artists. The Cudamani Gamelan group is always a delight to witness.
Artisans also share their crafts. During one of my visits, children accompanied me and learned wood carving from Kadek and Dirga and received a gamelan lesson from Wayan.
Shopping Opportunities
In addition to the workshops and activities, the Bali Spirit Festival also features a vibrant marketplace where vendors sell handmade crafts, organic foods, and other sustainable products. As a tip, remember to bring enough money, as there are ample shopping opportunities.
The ultimate practical guide to the Bali Spirit Festival
Deciding on Your Program and Self-Care During the Festival
The multitude of excellent presenters can be overwhelming. At every moment of the day, there are at least ten classes or workshops taking place. The fear of missing out can kick in easily.
During my first week-long festival, I ambitiously tried to do everything. I studied the program meticulously, planning to attend four or five classes every day. By day three, I was so sore that I could barely move.
My advice is to explore and be open-minded. I strived to attend classes that were outside of my comfort zone. This approach provided an excellent way to gain new experiences and discover new teachers, so I also made an effort to take classes with instructors that were unfamiliar to me.
Tip: Pace yourself. The event lasts for four days. Try to mix physical classes with workshops and meditation sessions.
Many popular classes have limited capacity. If you wish to attend these, you need to show up early. Usually, they start distributing “queue numbers” about 30 minutes before the start of the class. So, if there’s a class you’re eager to attend, make sure you arrive at least 45 minutes early. The most popular classes, such as the breathwork and WATSU (Water Shiatsu) classes, typically require a 60-minute wait for admission.
Tip: Don’t worry if you can’t get into your first-choice class. There are plenty of other classes available. Some of the best classes I attended this year were unexpected ones that I took when my first choice was full. There are many excellent teachers to be discovered.
Where to Stay while Attending the Bali Spirit Festival?
The festival takes place at the Yoga Barn in the center of Ubud. The best strategy is to find accommodation near one of the entrances.
There’s an entrance at the Puri Padi Hotel on Jalan Hanoman and another entrance on Jalan Suksma Kesuma. Most hotels and restaurants are located near the Hanoman entrance, making it the most convenient option.
The best nearby hotels include the Plataran Hotel ( You can check rates and availability here) and Japa Suites ( You can check rates and availability here)
Another great option is Samastiti Villa, located a 5-minute walk from the entrance of the festival. You’ll enjoy the luxury of your private pool overlooking rice fields in the center of Ubud. Check the villa here on Airbnb but book it direct because the rate is slightly cheaper here. It’s one of the most popular houses on Airbnb in Ubud, so book ahead as they usually fill up two or three months in advance.
The Ubud Treehouse is also very close to the entrance of the Yoga Barn. It provides a peaceful oasis close to nature amid the festival’s chaos. You can even hear the festival’s music from your pool or balcony. Check rates and availability here.
Where to Eat during the Bali Spirit Festival
The Bali Spirit Festival site features about ten restaurants, representing some of Ubud’s most popular healthy eateries, such as Sayuri, Alchemy, Zest, and Pizza Cult. Most offer simple vegetarian and healthy food options.
If you crave more gourmet fare or meat during your week at the Bali Spirit Festival, check out this list of my favorite restaurants in Ubud. The site also houses a bar near the main stage that serves alcohol at affordable prices.
How to Get to Ubud and the Bali Spirit Festival?
Ubud is a 60 to 90-minute drive from Denpasar airport. Most reputable accommodations can recommend a driver to pick you up from the airport. Alternatively, Grab, the equivalent of Uber in Bali, has a stand at the airport. once in Ubud, it is very easy to find local taxis in the street.
Conclusion
I met many people who have been transformed by the Bali Spirit Festival or at least for whom it provided a breath of fresh air in the middle of their busy life. The Bali Spirit Festival is great if you want to sample a huge range of some of the best teachers in the world. It should be a mandatory event for yoga teachers to upgrade their skills 🙂 2023 was another strong edition for the Bali spirit festival, and I hope to attend it again next year.
Attending the festival is also a great excuse to visit Bali and stay longer. For more information about traveling to Bali, including ideas for day tours, and things to visit, check my website. I have reviewed some of the best hotels and villas on the island and also provide suggestions for day trips to North Bali, East, and West Bali. There is a lot to discover in Bali beyond the busy tourist centers of Seminyak and Sanur