What makes us leave home and come together in person to share Yoga?
In this episode, Rosalind and I reflect on our recent gathering in Bali. We speak about the deeper meaning of these meetings, the beauty of Balinese blessing culture, and what it really means to offer something useful in a spiritual tourist economy. We talk about the vulnerability of seekers, the nature of real practice, and the kind of intimacy that arises when people meet without pretense. This is not about chasing transformation. It’s about remembering the ground we already stand on.
Themes
Bali as a spiritual gathering place and why people come here
Blessing culture: what is it and how does it work
How do we justify going to a Yoga gathering. Is it selfish?
The difference between information-gathering and experiential learning
Personal practice as the foundation of everything
The healing power of dear friendship grounded in Yoga
How do we welcome a genuinely wide range of people?
Key Quotes
“Yoga is participation in the given reality.”
“There’s no need to get to what you already are.”
“The gathering is the icing on the cake. Zoom is the cake—we already have it.”
“People come to Bali looking for something, even if they don’t know what it is.”
“There’s a relief in realizing there’s nothing to become. You already are.”
Key Takeaways
Place Carries Power – Bali holds a blessing culture that people can feel in their bodies.
Gatherings Create Intimacy – In-person Yoga opens a space for deeper relational presence.
Practice Starts with You – The daily rhythm of breath and movement is where change happens.
Transmission Is a Felt Thing – Yoga is shared in silence, in contact, in attention.
Seekers Need Care – Honest offerings matter in places shaped by spiritual commerce.
There Is No One to Fix – Yoga reveals freedom through untraining, not accumulation.
Resources Mentioned
The Heart of Yoga course: https://www.heartofyoga.com
Timestamps
00:03:00 Spiritual tourism in Bali and the vulnerability of young seekers
00:04:00 Balinese culture of blessing and its emotional impact on visitors
00:06:00 Difference between consuming Yoga and receiving something useful
00:08:00 Breath, body, and reality as the foundation of transformation
00:10:00 In-person gatherings as transmission and embodiment of teaching
00:26:00 Global gatherings as a path to genuine friendship and support
00:28:00 Post-retreat support and integration back into daily life
You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it.
Learn more and access the course at https://www.heartofyoga.com. Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations.