'I've tried every wellness experience in Bali – these are the best'

Bring home some of Bali's magic

The Indonesian island is famous for surfable waves and yoga retreats. But, as one stressed writer discovered, a host of more holistic options could work magic on your life.

The first time I escaped to Bali, it was after a serious case of work burnout. But before I knew it, my ‘just a few months’ of vacation respite turned into two years living on the Indonesian isle.

During my soul-enriching time there, I enthusiastically explored all manner of holistic health and wellness experiences to help heal my mind and body from the stress I had arrived with. I embraced everything from ecstatic dance (yes, it’s a thing), Theta healing, Kambo (aka frog medicine), foot reflexology, colonics, fasting, group psychotherapy, lymphatic drainage, Melukat (water purification ceremony), aerial yoga and bone setting. You name it, Bali has it – and I’ve likely tried it. 

Yet my most profound experience happened by accident. A few months into my stay, I injured my shoulder and a friend recommended I visit a UK-trained osteopath called Phil (no last name necessary, Eat Pray Love-style). 

I presumed Phil would be offering me a standard chiropractic treatment, but instead I stumbled into a new world of body-mind therapy that would become integral in my healing journey.

A practitioner of somatic therapy (a burgeoning area of psychotherapy where body and mind are treated as one integrated whole), Phil developed his own method from decades of expertise across osteopathy, psychotherapy and alternative healing. 

The catalyst for it? He noticed clients would return with the same persistent issues or pain despite ongoing treatment, and it led to a realisation that focusing on the body or mind separately has limited success – an emotional component needed addressing in order for people to truly heal.

In a nutshell, somatic therapy sessions – beloved by high-profile names from Laverne Cox to Gabby Bernstein – are tailored to an individual’s needs using techniques like sound, breathwork, osteopathic adjustments, shaking, stretching, trigger point therapy, vocal expression, qi gong movements and physical tools like a tuning fork. 

Sightly apprehensive, I put myself into Phil’s well-trained hands. The first session began with a chat about how I was feeling (normal, so far) before I clambered onto the massage table. I was asked to use deep, slow breaths to calm my nervous system while Phil ‘sense checked’ my body, inquiring if any areas felt ‘stuck’ or painful. He held, moved or adjusted while I communicated what I was seeing or feeling. Sometimes I saw colours, which were often accompanied by an emotion, belief or memory. 

There's more to Bali than zen yoga retreats and great surf breaks.

Afterwards, I left feeling lighter, calmer and more centred. I went to see Phil many times and as trust developed between us, the work deepened and our sessions felt like guided journeys that allowed me to meet unconscious parts of myself, working through everything from repressed pain to anger and grief. 

Travel often leads to life-changing experiences, and I found a way of knowing myself more deeply than I could’ve ever expected when I packed my bags for Bali. I’ve since left Ubud, but this profound work travels with me. 

Now when I feel stuck or find myself dissociating with things like mindless social media scrolling, I know a good dance, stomp and limb shake is all that’s needed to process emotions stored or ‘trapped’ within my physical body. While it may sound woo and slightly Goop-y, it worked for me. And when it comes to wellness, that’s all that counts.

Wellness obsessed? Try these Bali must-dos

Hot bucket-list health experiences for a truly transformative trip

Tri Desna Healing: Ubud, Bali

Bali has a long lineage of healers, and at Tri Desna you can experience Melukat, a water purification ceremony that cleanses body and spirit. The practice ends with a floral blessing ritual, leaving you feeling instantly at peace.

Wondersculpt: Canggu, Bali

Banish bloating, improve skin texture, ease stiffness and boost circulation at Wondersculpt, where wood therapy is combined with Brazilian moulding methods to help tone your body. 

Light Sound Vibration, Desa Potato Head: Seminyak, Bali

Take sound healing to an immersive level: custom water beds with built-in speakers vibrate sound through the body, alongside synchronised light frequency to stimulate brainwave states.

Anti-gravity Yoga: Various locations

Don’t let gravity get you down. In this fun aerial class, you’re suspended via a hammock while using a mix of yoga asana, Pilates, callisthenics and acrobatics for a full-body workout. Try it at Umah Shakti, Sanur; Adda Yoga, Canggu; The Mulia, Nusa Dua; Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, Ubud.

Alchemy Bali: Ubud & Uluwatu, Bali

Alchemy is legendary in Bali’s plant-based scene for creative, gluten-free, mostly raw food. Vitality permeates the entire chain, from local, organic suppliers with regenerative practices to biodegradable takeaway containers. The one-stop wellness shop also boasts a Yoga and Meditation Centre.

Originally published as 'I've tried every wellness experience in Bali – these are the best'