Shaima Boone (23) decided that 2019 was her year. She flew to Bali. The island of "vegan yoginis, spiritual gatherings, cheap food and tattooed surfers," she says. She has now been there for a month and has visited several yoga schools.
These are her favorites:
Single lesson:100K – €6.25
Zen &Unwind is a wonderful class that focuses on lengthening and stretching the muscles in a restorative way. Elements from Yin and Restorative yoga, breathing techniques and relaxation are used. And all this while the sun goes down and you look out over the vast rice fields of Canggu. Believe me, you've never seen so many beautiful colors in the sky."
Single lesson:130K – €8.15
‘If you feel like not standing alone on your mat for once, I advise you to visit UDARA Yoga. This gem is secluded from the busy center of Canggu. It is not only a yoga school, but also a large hotel. The wide range of yoga will make you drool, but my ultimate favorite is Acro yoga. You will practice acrobatic feats together with a partner or a group. It takes strength and focus, but is also a lot of fun at the same time. Tip:don't be afraid, and ask if you can practice with the teacher. Before you know it you are floating stable above the ground and after some directions you can hang upside down like a monkey.”
Single lesson; 140K – €8.80
“This was my first Kundalini lesson. In the Netherlands, the offer is not that large, so I was very curious about this lesson. Kundalini stands for 'awareness' where you are delivered to your highest truth through a combination of breathing, Asana (sitting posture during meditation), Mantra (a sacred sound such as OM), meditation and sound. It may sound complicated, but you can see it as a mind &body lesson that helps you strengthen your nervous system and expand your lung capacity. There is also singing. I thought that was a bit strange at first, but after a few minutes it felt incredibly liberating.'
Single lesson:100K – €6.25
"Because it's off season, it's quieter than usual in Bali. I decided to go to the islands of Lombok, to relax here for a few days. Once I arrived on Gili Air, I immediately started looking for a yoga school. This is not very difficult, because within an hour you have the whole island. H20 yoga, the name says it all, had aqua yoga on the schedule. I was very curious, even though it seemed easy to me. Boy, was I wrong. Keeping balance in the water is actually more complicated. Fortunately, relaxation is easier to find. For example, I held my breath above water for 27 seconds, and 45 seconds underwater. If you have the chance to try aqua yoga for once, I would say:Do it!' Also read the reasons why you probably can't keep your balance.
Single lesson:130K – €8.15
Yin yoga is designed to restore tired, sore muscles. This is done in a calm way by holding different poses for a long time. Great to follow after, for example, a lesson in boxing (yang). So that you give your body time to recover. The best thing about The Canggu Studio is the staff. With my regular subscription I come here practically every day, and I am welcomed with a friend or two together with about 10 cats and a few dogs. An absolute go to when you're in Bali.'
Can't choose? View here which yoga form suits you best.
Follow Shaima's yoga adventure on her Instagram @shaimaboone
