The Ubud Highlands Yoga Retreat


Bali, but deeper. A week of yoga, culture, nature and very good living in the mountains surrounding Ubud. After 12 years of bringing Mana guests to Bali, we're returning to the island we love, but this time, we're heading inland. We've watched Uluwatu and Bingin change over the years. More people, more traffic, more villas, more coffee shops. All understandable. Bali is rather good at attracting people. But we found ourselves missing the Bali we first fell in love with. The green. The rituals. The rice fields. The culture woven into everyday life. So we're going back to the source. Into the mountains and rice fields surrounding Ubud, where life feels a little slower and Bali's connection to nature, community and spirituality is still very much part of the landscape. And for us, that feels deeply connected to yoga. Bali isn't simply a beautiful backdrop for a yoga retreat. Yoga is part of a much bigger philosophy of life here — one that is woven into daily rituals, relationships, nature and community. Offerings outside homes. Temple ceremonies. Balinese Hindu traditions. A deep respect for the natural world. These aren't concepts to discuss on a yoga mat. They're things you can see, hear and feel around you. It's one of the reasons we've kept coming back for 12 years. This time, we're giving ourselves more space to actually experience it. The Experience This isn't a retreat where every minute is scheduled. And it isn't seven days of being told to find yourself either. It's yoga, meditation, culture, nature, excellent food, good conversation and plenty of time to do very little. Mornings begin with movement and meditation. The days might take you into the rice fields, to a waterfall, through an art gallery or simply to the pool with a book. We'll explore yoga philosophy, pranayama, nervous system regulation and the ideas that sit underneath the physical practice. And we'll leave enough space to wander, nap, swim, adventure out, talk and remember that having time to be is invigorating. The Yoga Each morning, Patty leads an energising vinyasa practice designed to build strength, cultivate energy and wake up the body. Afternoons slow things down with yin, guided relaxation and Yoga Nidra. Along the way, we'll explore yoga philosophy, anatomy, breath and the nervous system — connecting traditional teachings with what modern science can tell us about how we actually function. Because yoga is much more interesting than touching your toes, and considerably more useful when you know how to take it off the mat. The Bali Culture After 16 years of traveling to Bali, we're still curious about it. We'll explore the island beyond the villa: rice fields, temples, waterfalls, local villages, galleries, artists and the creative culture that has made Ubud such a fascinating place. There will be art, ceremony, beautiful architecture, extraordinary food and plenty of opportunities to experience Bali rather than simply photograph it. We don't want to tick off a list of cultural experiences. We want to slow down enough to notice where we are. That's usually when the good stuff happens. The Ubud Highlands We're trading the coastline for jungle, rice terraces, tropical gardens and mountain air. Our home for the week has been chosen for its beauty, privacy and sense of place. Outside the villa is a world looking similar to a storybook, and we'll spend the week journeying through its beauty. It's luxurious and feels like living in Bali's heart for a week. Somewhere to swim, read, eat, move, sleep deeply and reset around the pool, at the table, on your yoga mat, and in your day. The Food Food is a big part of experiencing Bali. We'll enjoy beautifully prepared meals featuring fresh local ingredients and the extraordinary flavours of Indonesian and Balinese cooking. Breakfast after yoga. Long lunches. Dinners around the table. Because eating well isn't only about what's on the plate. It's also about sitting down. Taking your time. And actually tasting it. Our Villa We have run a lot of retreats in a lot of locations, we've learnt something important: Our guests like beautiful accommodation. Honestly, so do we! This next chapter of Mana comes with a step up in where we stay, too. Our Bali home is luxurious, considered and surrounded by the lush landscape of the Ubud highlands. Beautiful rooms. Thoughtful design. Tropical gardens. Places to swim. Space to read. Somewhere genuinely lovely to come home to. Luxury, for us, isn't about excess. It's about having the details taken care of. Beautiful rooms with detailed bedding, a conversation that changes your perspective, an exceptional meal and an afternoon discussing yoga philosophy, a gorgeous pool and a morning learning something fascinating about your nervous system. We don't think luxury and depth are opposites, in fact they make a rather good combination. Rest Come because you love yoga, or you need a break, or because you're curious about Bali. Come because you've reached the point where doing something entirely for yourself sounds like a very good idea. Whatever brings you here, we'll send you home with more than beautiful photographs. You'll be more rested, curious, inspired, more limber, and with a better understanding of what your body, mind and life have been trying to tell you. Because that's what keeps bringing us back to Bali. Not just the beauty or the yoga, but the reminder that there are other ways to live.