For those looking to make positive changes in their life, Bali Bliss Retreats offers an all-inclusive five day holistic health and wellness experience where guests can relax, recharge and rejuvenate. Situated atop the breathtaking limestone cliffs at the stunning Uluwatu Surf Villas, the Bali Bliss Retreats experience promises a stimulating and transformational journey hosted by yoga instructor and business founder, Nadine Lafleur.
The program includes invigorating yoga, calming meditation, accommodation and a cleansing plant-based cuisine. On arrival, guests are transported from the airport by drivers to serviced villas where they are greeted by a team of wellness professionals including yoga coaches, surf instructors, massage therapists and retreat guides.
With a recent report by the Australian Psychological Society finding that workplace stress is costing the Australian economy $14.81 billion a year, Bali Bliss Retreats is a timely offering for the booming global $494 billion wellness tourism industry. The retreats are ideal for busy professionals needing a release from the demands of work, mums seeking a solo break, couples wanting to reconnect, honeymooners and babymooners, and groups of friends looking for a memorable experience together.
According to Nadine Lafleur, “Travellers today are searching for new experiences that allow them to detach from their everyday life. My retreats are designed to deliver a complete mind, body and soul experience with all meals prepared fresh on-site by raw food specialists and vegan chefs. It is a truly transformative retreat where guests can regain control of their lives.”
Daily yoga and meditation sessions cater for all levels of ability and are taught by qualified experts. To complement the yoga program, the gourmet plant-based cuisine is designed to assist the cleansing process by eliminating preservatives, stimulants and refined ingredients for a full detoxification that will benefit the mind and body.
Uluwatu is also a stunning surfing location with tropical temperatures, crystal clear water and first-class waves all year round. With private beach access via an idyllic cliff staircase, a plunge pool, lush gardens and lawns overlooking Temples surf break, a Bali Bliss Retreat is a one-of-a- kind experience.
We spoke to Nadine Lafleur, yoga instructor and Bali Bliss Yoga Retreats founder.
As a yoga instructor in Sydney and owner of Bali Bliss Yoga Retreats, what do you feel are the biggest benefits of yoga?
The challenge with teaching yoga is that many students come to class to get a lean, strong and supple physique. This is totally fine for some, yet yoga offers so much more than visible benefits if you let it. You may have heard people say that it is a lifestyle. I believe that to gain the most benefits from yoga, you must dive into yourself and learn about your own passions and life goals first.
Philosophy, joy and happiness are intrinsic and naturally inherent within all of us, so to make yoga part of your life, you need to know what will make you happy. A yoga retreat is a fantastic opportunity to take the time and find your aspirations to start your lifelong yoga journey.
What is the difference between Yoga and AcroYoga?
While yoga is an individual practice, AcroYoga creates community by using teams of two or more to create poses that originate from traditional yoga. Your regular set-up is a group of 3, consisting of a base, a flyer and a spotter.
When you fly for the first time, you will understand how much of the practice’s focus is on trust and surrender. As a base, your nurturing and supporting nature will kick in. When you take the spotter’s role, your communication and observation skills will be most challenged.
In short, AcroYoga can teach you things about yourself that even a seasoned yogi has not yet uncovered. And most of all, it’s so much fun to feel like a child again.
The process of detoxing is a holistic experience of mind, soul and body. What is the importance of food in this process and do you have any tips for easing our way into a diet detox?
When we detox at Bali Bliss, we take away the usual culprits such as alcohol, caffeine, refined sugar, meat and hydrogenated oils. The reason for this is to give the body a break from having to deal with toxic input. At the same time we create a sacred space where our retreat guests have the opportunity to pause mentally and spiritually, enabling them to clear toxic influences from their minds at the same time that they clear their bodies.
Many guests find the change in physical input challenging. Hence, I recommend 3 things to help deal with the initial change in diet:
Firstly, if you suffer from coffee headaches or hunger pangs, you may opt for weaning yourself off your habit step by step. Cut down instead of taking away your morning coffee all of a sudden. When you’re hungry, try to have a few almonds or a piece of raw chocolate as a snack, rather than diving straight into the lolly box.
Secondly, if you are used to eating a fair amount of meat, you may opt for the protein-rich breakfast option to keep you nourished. Your body is a creature of habit and doesn’t like sudden change, so be kind and patient with it.
Thirdly, by adding flavour and texture to our menu, our guests perceive the food as a treat rather than a detox program. We offer delicious salads, raw vegan cakes and home-made lemonades with a world of flavours, and even let them take home our recipes to continue their healthy eating journey in their own time.
What is your number one coping mechanism for handling the stress of everyday life?
Breathe! Because if you don’t breathe, you die. Jokes aside, if you slow down your breath, your mind will follow and your worries will trickle away.
Just take a few minutes in a quiet space (preferably by the water, as water is our magic elixir), close your eyes, and breathe in as slowly and deeply as you can and breathe out even slower (this is a cooling breath, great for fiery situations). Repeat 15 to 20 times and see how you feel. I promise it will change your outlook.
What insights do you have in dealing with and managing toxic relationships?
Most of us have had more or less severe toxic relationships in our lives – it could be with a nagging colleague at work, a teacher, or a partner. In most cases it is simply impossible to walk away and avoid nasty situations.
The first step in dealing with a toxic relationship is to identify it as one. Often we don’t even notice that it exists, instead blaming ourselves or others for disruptions in our natural state of happiness.
I have been there myself, when I finally admitted to myself that my husband and I were sharing negative vibes with each other when we should have been supportive and loving.
Once you realise what is happening, take a breath, use tact to address the issue and then clear the air. Sometime this means making changes to the relationship, taking time off or giving each other space. Whichever course you choose, you must find the strength to end or the desire to continue the relationship by making necessary adjustments.
Because of technology, sometimes the lines between work, family and ‘me’ time become blurred, leading us off track from our goals. How can we stay focused on achieving what we set out to do?
One exercise I pose to all of my retreat guests is to craft a mission statement that encapsulates your vital being. With this guide, any decision or situation that arises is easily manageable, as we make our choices according to our mission. For example if your mission is to be a nurturing mother, and then a stressful work situation arises that requires you to put your family last, you can come back to your mission and everything else will become secondary.
At the retreat we are in the right time and space for defining our mission. These five days provide us with the perfect opportunity to step out of our routines and roles, think about the bigger picture, why we are here and what we need to do to live a happy and healthy life.
Do you feel that travelling helps us move ahead in life, how?
There is nothing like travelling that can open our mind and expand our knowledge. The main reason for this is that we have to leave our bubble, move along the edge or even step outside our comport zone, be ok with imperfection and practice curiosity.
We not only become better people by expanding our horizons, but we also do ourselves a favour by placing less importance on the small stuff once we see how insignificant it is in the scheme of things. Like J.R.R Tolkien says: ‘Not all those who wander are lost.’ Life is no journey without wandering.
What are some of Bali’s best kept secrets?
Beyond the main strip, Bali is abundant with hidden beaches and coves that are unspoilt and uninhabited. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), the average tourist doesn’t bother discovering the real Bali and returns with the impression of crowded and polluted beaches outside their expensive hotels. This is why we chose our retreat location off the beaten track in a gorgeous clean coastal setting.
Where are your favourite places in Australia to explore?
Having traveled around Australia extensively when I first moved to this stunning country, I discovered the vast beauty that Australia offers. But my favourite place to spend time is the New South Wales coast.
From Byron Bay’s surfing mecca and Port Stephens’ sand dunes, to the Royal National Park’s dramatic cliff drops and Jervis Bay’s crystal beaches, there is so much variety in natural beauty that never ceases to leave me in awe.
Where are your favourite places in Australia to eat and drink?
By the water for sure! I love cooking so having a picnic on the beach is my ideal scenario.