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Anusara Yoga, Meditation, and the Healing Arts of Bali
with Stacey Millner-Collins, Certified Anusara Yoga instructor
Bali, Indonesia
July 21 - August 4, 2011
Join Stacey for a two week spiritual adventure in Bali. Stacey has traveled to Bali twice, spending several weeks there each time, so she knows and loves the country well. In Balinese, there is no word for 'art' since life itself is considered an artistic expression. During these two weeks we will dive into the artistry of the heart! This trip offers an in-depth excursion into the culture of Bali through the eyes of the Balinese, for those who wish to observe, appreciate, and experience traditional healing methods, at the same time enhancing their own health with a traditional massage and in-depth Anusara Yoga practice. There has been a strong, dynamic and extended movement in western culture to explore traditional medicine from many ancient cultures, which received momentum in the early 1970’s. The study of Asian medicine has been in the forefront of this movement, particularly Chinese acupuncture, herbal medicine and the practice of Feng Shui. In Southeast Asia local people have long held their traditional healers (Balian or Dukun) in high regard. With the advent of western medicine, Healers have not been discarded, but seen as adjunct and complementary to what western medicine offers. Besides visiting a western-style doctor when ill, the Balinese consult a Balian, a traditional healer. These men and women work in different ways: some mix herbal remedies; some create drawings of magical inscriptions and symbols to protect the wearer; and some, while in trance, communicate messages from the Bali Hindu deities that dictate the creation of certain offerings and ceremonies. Paramount to the work is the study of the actual practitioners: who they are, the types and varieties, what they do, why they do it, who they work with, etiquette and behavior. Purification ceremonies are an important part of Bali Hindu religious cycles. Usually held during times of stress, plague, transgression, or purification, these ceremonies many times involve sacred masks, and most are held within the village’s temples. Each member of our group will experience a purification ceremony. Since we organized and conceived of the first Yoga in Bali workshop in 1984, there has been an explosion of interest in travelers enhancing their holiday with yoga classes. How this trip differs from others, is not only in the expertise of our honored Guest Instructor, Stacey Millner-Collins, but also that members or our group will receive insight into the culture they are practicing in that few, if any other visitors will receive. You will feel as though you are part of the culture, rather than a tourist. Daily itinerary and costs below
Please contact Stacey at
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for the registration form.
     Thursday, July 21 Day 1: Travel day. Depart USA aboard regularly scheduled Eva Airlines around midnight from San Francisco . Your flight takes you through several meals and free drinks and films. Cross International Date Line and lose one day, which is made up on your return.
Friday, July 22 Day 2: Sanur Arrive in Bali where you are met by your guides and rapidly transported to your hotel in nearby Sanur beach. Evening free to enjoy the beach and pool.
Saturday, July 23 Day 3: Munduk Buffet breakfast followed by introductory session with focus on basic Indonesian manners & customs. Check out and transfer to your hotel in Munduk mountain village and settle in to your beautiful bungalows overlooking the Java Sea. Lunch and then take off for an easy walk to Bali’s tallestwaterfall with a chance to take a dip. Late afternoon restorative Yoga class in the Yoga Pavilion. Group dinner, family-style together.
Sunday, July 24 Day 4: Munduk Morning tea or coffee, then early morning yoga session. Following breakfast and an orientation session focusing on talk on Bali Hinduism, the caste and banjar (community support) systems. Transport by bus to Lake Tamblingan for a walk past several important temples through a tropical rain forest. Guided meditation with your guide in an important lakeside temple. Lunch on the way back. Massages begin. Late afternoon Yoga again, followed by dinner together.
Monday, July 25 Day 5: Munduk Early morning yoga session. Breakfast and third language session followed by a trek through the neighboring countryside: small villages, rice fields, coffee and clove plantations, culminating at the magical Growing Stone. After lunch, massages continue. Afternoon observe a dance class by village children. Evening farewell to Munduk ristaffel and performance of music and dance by the village Gamelan group.
Tuesday, July 26 Day 6: Pemuteran Final Yoga session in Munduk. Final language session, and talk on Rites of Passage in Balinese life. We check out of our hotel and transfer to our seaside hotel in Pemuteran, stopping along the way at the sacred hot springs, and also Bali’s most stunning Buddhist Monastery. Check into our hotel and frolic in the ocean waters.
Wednesday, July 27 Day 7: Pemuteran After breakfast, depart Pemuteran for the nearby West Bali National Park. After checking in at the ranger station, we board our boat for Menjangan Island, and a world-class snorkeling expedition to view the myriad numbers of tropical fish who dwell on the coral reef. Return to hotel. Afternoon and evening free.
Thursday, July 28 Day 8: Depart Pemuteran for Ubud Stopping along the way at Pura Ulun Danu, Bali’s most beautiful temple floating in a crater lake, and the fruit and flower market, where you have a chance to sample some of Bali's unique tropical fruits, and peruse the variety of spices the islands produce. Arrive in Ubud, Bali’s cultural center, and settle in to your bungalows. Late afternoon yoga classes resume.
Friday, July 29 Day 9: Ubud Early visit to the temple of Tirta Empul in Tampaksiring for a purification ceremony in the sacred waters, said to have healing properties. In the afternoon a guided tour of one of Ubud’s most important art museums, and visits to some important artists and carvers. Late afternoon yoga. Dinner in Ubud and evening performance of the Kecak dance, and Fire Trance Dance.
Saturday, July 30 Day 10: Ubud Free Day. Your trip leaders have some time off and you are free to plan your day as you wish. Optional evening performance of traditional dance.
Sunday, July 31 Day 11: Ubud Morning yoga with Stacey. After breakfast depart on our second island tour for the terraced rice fields and craggy mountains of East Bali. We stop is the aboriginal village of Tenganan to watch the double ikat weaving process (created only two places in the world), and a demonstration of Balinese lontar (palm leaf books) being etched. Lunch at Candi Dasa beach, and then a stop at the Elephant Cave, and 11th century Hindu temple before returning to Ubud and your afternoon yoga class.
Monday, August 1 Day 12: Ubud Morning Yoga and breakfast. Then a visit to an esteemed traditional healer with a chance for a “check-up.” Late afternoon Yoga with Stacey.
Tuesday, August 2 Day 13: Ubud Final free day in Bali. Last chance to shop, get a massage, lounge by the pool, or take a hike through the rice fields.
Wednesday, August 3 Day 14: Ubud Depart Ubud for south Bali. Our first stop to see the Barong dance in Batubulan village, enacting the traditional battle between good and evil. Journey on the capitol city of Denpasar where we have a guided tour of the anthropological museum and visit the family compound of your guide. Enjoy a traditional lunch created by the family. Return to our hotel in Ubud for afternoon Yoga. Farewell to Bali dinner. Thursday, August 4 Day 15: Travel Day USA Depart Bali or stay on for further adventures. Itinerary may change subject to unplanned opportunities. Although no one is required to attend any activities, there will be no refunds for missed activities. Anyone who leaves the itinerary at any time, for any reason, is on their own. Included:
• RT transfers, airport to hotel and return (except those doing their own air) • Transfer to Munduk • Waterfall Hike through coffee & clove plantation • Lake Tamblingan tropical rain forest Hike • Rice field trek to the Rock That Grows • Transfer to Pemuteran w/ stops at the Holy Hot Spring and Buddhist Monastery • Classical Dance performance in Munduk: • 3 dinners in Munduk, breakfast every day, traditional lunch • World-class Snorkeling at Menjangan island • Transfer to Ubud with stops at Ulun Danu and the fruit and flower market • Authentic Purification ceremony at Tirta Empul • 2 performances of traditional dance in Ubud • East Bali Tour, including Tenganan aboriginal village and Goa Gadjah elephantcave • Visit to and esteemed traditional healer with an opportunity for a check up • South Bali tour including performance of Barong dance in Batubulan, anthropological museum, and tour of traditional family compound with lunch.
Not Included: laundry, visa fee ($25.00), airport taxes (currently $17.00), overweight fees, additional sightseeing, tips, meals not noted. Snorkeling equipment rental.
Price: Cost from Atlanta: $3572.00. Do your own air deduct -$1850. Cost from Charlotte: $3752.00. Do your own air deduct -$1930.00. Based on two persons sharing a room with bathroom. Single supplement available. Minimum 12, maximum 20 participants. The price of airfare may rise. Participants are urged to sign up early to ensure space, price control. This trip takes place in the height of High Season, when the weather is the best, but flight seats might be scarce. Single Supplement: Single travelers may sign up for accommodations desired on a shared basis; roommates can be chosen from other tour members. If a roommate is unavailable, the participant will be notified of the adjusted price for a single supplement: $324.00. Deposit: A deposit of $350.00 per person is due at the time of booking. Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure. Deposit, minus a $75.00 cancellation fee, is refundable until 45 days prior to departure. After tickets have been issued the airlines will extract a cancellation fee. No refunds will be made after departure.
full registration information coming soon!        
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