Retreats
Bali Retreat
19–25 August 2026
Sunday 16 August 2026 saw our group of 15 descend once again upon the beautiful, warm Balinese shores for 10 days/9 nights. This year we hid away at Lumina Sanctuary which is tucked on the outskirts of Ubud providing a tranquil rural atmosphere with breathtaking expansive views of the valley and green rice fields on the other side of the river - perfect for rest, introspection, practice and recuperation.
Lumina Sanctuary:
Lumina, a truly stunning private haven is nestled in a valley alongside the sacred Wos River and very close to the 11th Century Water Temple (Candi Tebing Jukut Paku Cliff Temple which is carved directly into the rock face and surrounded by sacred springs and meditation spaces). The Wos river plays an important role in the Balinese culture and history and is associated with spiritual significance as it is believed to be a source of divine energy and purification. This made it particularly auspicious and perfect for a yoga retreat. We experienced a very moving Opening Ceremony at the waterfall to mark the beginning of our retreat.
Opening Ceremony:
The yoga shala overlooking the lush valley and jungle on three sides and the swimming pool and beautifully manicured garden on the 4th side provided a wonderful, serene, open space to practice and completely lose oneself in the process. There were 10 practices varying in time from 2 hours to 3.5 hours and between these practices we had 3 local teachers come and take us for Meditation, Sound Healing and Kirtan – all adding to the richness of the retreat experience. This year we added a day of Silence. It was wonderful and so nourishing spiritually… the beauty of silence and re-connecting! We also combined our retreat with a group walk to the rice terraces which was great fun.
Meditation, Sound Healing and Kirtan:
Rice Terrace Walk:
The dining and communal areas of Lumina are expansive but so inviting and beautifully maintained and the Indonesian buffet breakfast and dinner delicious, healthy and sumptuous with a daily surprise afternoon snack that we all looked forward to and tried not to miss! The galaks/cottages all look out over the lush green jungle with the river flowing heartily below, the birds chirp harmoniously and where large monitor lizards sun themselves on the rocks through the day.
A treatment room (on site) for massages was very well utilised by most and sitting next to the treatment room was a sauna and plunge pool that were also very popular.
It was indeed, an opportunity to re-connect, rejuvenate, slow down, nourish and care for oneself.
I thank one and all for the trust put in me for this our 4 th annual Yoga Gem Retreat.
Closing Ceremony:
Practice Gallery:
Student Reviews
“Our third time at this beautiful yoga retreat in Bali, and somehow it gets better every year. From the very first moment, everything felt thoughtfully created to allow us to slow down, reconnect and fully immerse ourselves in the practice.
The facilities were truly wonderful, surrounded by nature and designed with such care to create a feeling of peace and harmony. The staff were exceptionally attentive and welcoming, and the food was simply amazing — healthy, fresh, beautifully prepared and full of flavour. Every detail contributed to an atmosphere where it was easy to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself, while the sense of community that developed among the group made the experience even more meaningful. Jolanta always goes the extra mile to give us the best possible experience, just as she does in every one of her classes.
And, above all, the yoga. She has a unique ability to create a space where you feel both supported and challenged to explore your practice more deeply. Her teaching is precise, profound and deeply attentive, allowing us to move beyond the physical practice and develop a deeper awareness of body, breath and mind. With her guidance, we are able to explore a depth and quality in our practice that makes the experience truly transformative.
We leave every year feeling grateful, renewed and inspired — and already looking forward to returning next year.”
Sabina and Ruben
“My 4th Yoga Gem retreat. Another precious opportunity to focus, go within, and take time for myself. Lumina sanctuary was a beautiful oasis on the outskirts of Ubud away from the hustle and bustle. I loved my gorgeous room, the delicious and nutritious food, and the view across the river to the rice fields. And of course the company. As always Jolanta had planned every detail of our programme to perfection, including contingencies to work around delayed flights, various health challenges among the group, and energies that ebbed and flowed. The addition of a water blessing, sound healing, meditation, and Kirtan added to the depth of our experience. Despite my initial trepidation, my favourite day was the one we spent in silence. Thank you Jolanta. Xx”
Lisa
“Wake to birdsong, watch the sunrise over the sacred volcano, & on the mat at 6:30am. Midday Balinese massage. Gather at 4pm for sound healing, kirtan or more yoga. Repeat nine more days. Yoga Gem’s 10-day Retreat offers the yogi and yogini the opportunity to plunge depths not possible during everyday practice. This Retreat transformed my body and awakened my mind. The place was magical. The people mindful and delightful. You’ll want to join the next Retreat. I’ll see you there.”
Brian
“My 2026 Iyengar yoga retreat trip to Bali with Jolanta and yogi friends was made exceptional by our stay at Lumina Sanctuary. Set deep in a canyon on the sacred Wos River and beside an 11th century water temple, the venue brought a sense of calm that shaped the whole retreat.
The natural breeze through the valley was a welcome relief in Bali’s heat, and the spacious grounds with pools offered plenty of room to unwind, reflect, and simply breathe. The kind and attentive staff added to the feeling of being genuinely cared for.
A highlight for me was the buffet breakfast and dinner — generous, fresh, and full of variety. I even tasted six different colours of rice, which felt like a small adventure in itself.
The Iyengar classes were beautifully structured and well thought out — a good length, with enough time to go deeper into each asana without rushing. It felt like a practice that respected both the body and the environment we were in. The yoga shala was very spacious, light and well ventilated.”
Megan
“I want to thank you for all the effort you put into arranging, and leading, the Bali Retreat experience. Even the two major hiccups – the late change of venue and the flight cancellation, could not diminish what turned out to be, for me anyway, a deeply satisfying and enjoyable experience. The venue – Lumina Sanctuary, proved to be a magical place to spend that period of time in, and the concentration of yoga sessions in such a beautiful environment was a revelation for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions – and the opportunity provided to be able to relax with Łukasz in that lovely setting away from the hurly-burly of daily life. Special thanks must also go out to the staff and management of Lumina for the delicious and healthy food provided, the beautiful and comfortable room and their gracious company.”
Richard
“The Yoga Gem yoga retreat hosted by Jolanta in Bali created a one of a kind opportunity to learn, grow and extend one’s yoga practice safely in the hands of a very experienced teacher.
Importantly, the venue was carefully selected by Jolanta to do our yoga in peace and in a place of spiritual significance. Loved it there.
We were expertly guided and coached through a wide range of asana that sometimes challenged our form and abilities, but Jolanta nurtured the group so that everyone could participate and do well.
One thing I love about Jolanta’s teaching is that she has an in depth knowledge of the non physical side of yoga… which she touched on for those who were interested.
Sound healing, Meditation and Kirtan were scattered through the schedule which made the pace just right!
All in all it was an awesome experience and I would thoroughly recommend joining if Jolanta does do another retreat. She is one special yoga teacher!”
Greg
“Another soul satisfying yoga retreat. Deepen, immerse, breathe and accept what is truly yoga in a very spiritual environment. Forever grateful to have been on my 4th retreat with Jolanta. Thank you”
Lallit
“Thank you Jolanta for putting this incredible project together and putting so much effort into it. You did an incredible amount of work and we all appreciated your efforts.
I think of the retreat with great fondness and I really liked the experience. It was a whole series of my very ‘firsts’, such as being in Bali, staying in the jungle, experiencing Indonesia and its way, having a yoga routine, going away with a like-minded group of people with the single aim of practicing yoga - but also learning about other people’s aspects of spirituality, or exposing myself to other practices such as sound-healing or Kirtan.
And of course, I absolutely loved being in Lumina - a very suitable location for secluded reflection. A stunning place. It had the perfect atmosphere of a retreat away from the crowds and busy lives. It invited one to reflect and contemplate. If I had to choose just one word after my experience, it would be ‘gratitude’. The whole experience of the retreat fostered just that.
The regular, twice-daily yoga routine, the partner work, the silent day, the nourishment from the food - all those things gave me a feeling of rejuvenation. I felt released, alive and almost tingling with electricity after each yoga session.”
Lukasz
“A Yoga retreat was not something we may have ever done on our own. We felt confident participating with Jolanta as our teacher and practicing with people we knew and felt comfortable with.
We loved it all. Everything was extremely well planned and well-paced. Lumina was inspirational in itself. Stunning setting. The villas were very comfortable and private with great indoor/outdoor options.
The space for yoga was great with a beautiful outlook and perfect airflow. Mike and I enjoyed the yoga practices, a perfect length to explore a bit more. I was tired after the partner session and extremely grateful for Lallit’s expertise and patience (my partner for the partner sessions). I also felt as though I achieved a personal milestone.
The meditation and sound healing was wonderful. Kirtan was Ok but a bit lightweight after the other two sessions. Mike loved the water blessing / Opening ceremony at the water spring. He found it very special, magic even, and unique to Bali. The staff at Lumina were terrific, so accommodating and happy and they were happy to share their stories too.
Sitting together at meals and coming together more casually for an afternoon snack was great. It was good to talk and get to know a little bit more about such interesting people.
Jolanta, this was a wonderful experience, a very special time for Mike and I. Very motivating for our yoga practice and an opportunity for some introspection. Thank you so much.”
Marilyn and Mike