Disclosure: I was invited by Zen Resort for a wellness retreat in Bali
A wellness retreat in Bali was just what I needed after weeks with lots of diving, being sick (first a twisted ankle, then the evil C), and generally feeling a bit run down. It was just my luck that I had already organized a trip to the beautiful Zen Resort for the end of my stay.
Zen is located in the north of Bali in Umeanyar, and it was actually my first time visiting this part of the island. Things are a bit more laid back in the north with less traffic, more green, and a stunning coastline. All in all, the perfect setting for a wellness retreat in Bali.
A Wellness Retreat in Bali at Zen Resort
To be honest, there is no shortcoming of wellness retreats in Bali and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect at Zen. Their unique retreats that combine yoga, pranayama and diving had initially appealed to me but I didn’t know just how special my stay would be.
Unlike other wellness resorts, they are not a one trick pony, but offer a holistic approach to wellbeing. You can choose between wellness, slimming, stress relief, diving and free diving packages, and most of their Bali wellness retreat packages run from 3 to 21 nights.
It’s hard to put in words what makes Zen so special. I guess you could say that it is a wellness resort in Bali that is woo-woo in the best way possible. And it’s hard to ignore that everything feels a bit magical here.
The concept is based on their so-called Zen Resort Wellness Innovations. They offer forest immunity, have a healing tree which is miraculously blessed by Tibetan monks every 8 years, a long list of Ayurvedic treatments, and meditation on an energy site. And then there is Dr. Mahendra Shah, the creator of Zen and his sidekick Mr. Mo – a friendly Husky with a brown and a blue eye.
One of the things you will immediately notice: none of the offers are in your face, and you can commence your wellness journey in your own time. Once you arrive, you have time to settle in, are greeted with a traditional Balinese massage, and soak in a flower bath. Each step of the way, it’s up to you to choose just how much you want to immerse yourself in Zen’s magic. This approach is intentional. Healing takes time, and sometimes the acceptance that you may need healing even longer.
Another highlight you may or may not notice is that everything runs like clockwork at Zen. The service excels with Balinese friendliness and attention to detail. But there is more: you can feel empathy and compassion from each employee, an important part for the guests’ healing journey. At the same time, I have not seen better operations at many 5-star hotels. Every person seems to know your name and miraculously knows where you need to be at any given time. No small task, considering that I couldn’t even remember without my itinerary in hand.
Ayurveda & Food
Once you are ready, you will have an Ayurvedic consultation with Dr. Mahendra. It is up to each guest whether they want to follow a specific diet, simply have some dosha powder with their meal, or order wine with the amazing food that is served at Zen.
As with most Bali wellness retreats, full board is included when staying here. Usually, I am not a fan of full board options. Unless you are at a fancy Maldives property, I tend to find them lacking. Not so at Zen. Lunch and dinner offer 3 courses and for each course you will have a few options to choose from. For mains, you will have the choice of homemade pasta (yes, the pasta is freshly made by a local Italian chef), Balinese dishes with fish or chicken, vegan, and vegetarian plates.
Most of their produce comes from their own gardens, fish is locally caught, chicken and eggs are free-range. Portion sizes are purposely kept small, but you can always order more if you are still hungry. A nice touch from the kitchen: you can order 2 half portions of the mains if you cannot make up your mind.
A specialty which is always available: moringa soup. Moringa is considered a superfood and grows in the adjacent forest. It is either used freshly in soup or dried for tea. As a non-soup fan, I can confirm – it is delicious!
Breakfast and lunch is served in the garden, while dinner is set up at the restaurant. As it is common with health retreats in Bali, meals are taken at a communal table. Mind you, if you are in the mood to be alone or are keen for a romantic dinner, the staff will put you at a separate table.
Wellness & Yoga
An integral part of Zen is the Amaris Spa. In your room you will find a robe to wear to the spa where Ayurvedic and Balinese treatments are done. Every massage starts with a prayer chant done by your therapist/s to align your energies, or simply said – to get you in the mood.
Depending on which retreat you book, you get a certain number of treatments included. A favorite of mine was a four-handed Ayurvedic massage, which was absolute bliss (unfortunately I slept through half of it) thanks to the harmonized movements of the therapists.
Don’t be surprised when you arrive: like most Ayurvedic spas, there is little room for modesty here. You will disrobe and wear some kind of cotton knickers that are tied around your waist. Let’s just say – they move a lot, and I am pretty sure my therapists saw every part of my body.
Iluh who has been at Zen for many years is in charge of the yoga and meditation sessions. Each morning starts with stretches, pranayama and meditation overlooking the forest and the ocean. While I am usually not one for getting up at 6 am, it quickly became the favorite part of my day. Afterwards, she teaches yoga on the rooftop and an additional class during sunset. The perfect way to start and end your day at Zen!
Healing Retreat Bali
Healing rituals are another big part of Zen. To be honest, I was skeptical at first. While I am susceptible to the ideas of the healing power of trees and energy, I thought I had done my share after visiting a Balinese healer. Once I arrived I got curious though and thought I may as well give in to my curiosity and stop my inner eye rolling. It couldn’t hurt, could it? Luckily you can take those things at your own pace with the staff always there to guide you when you are ready.
My little journey began with a walk in their forest, called the Zen Shirin Yuko Forest Immunity Facility. The area was cultivated over the last two years when there were few guests at Zen. It is perfect for a leisurely stroll to soak up some green energy, splash in a rejuvenating spring, or eat some fresh cocoa. The latter was an unexpected delight for me, since I don’t really like cocoa once it becomes chocolate. But the fresh fruit tasted like mangosteen and was delicious.
There is also a special clearing with trees that seem to be made for hugging. Too woo-woo for you? Just give it a go! Tree hugging is good for you (and they feel almost soft) and nobody will see you (unless you go in a group of some avid photographers).
Another beautiful experience is ZENTSU, a kind of rebirthing session done floating in the pool. You have the choice to either use a full-face mask or a floaty neck pillow, so your face stays out of the water. I opted for the latter as I am not a fan of those full-face masks and wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
While I had a rebirthing session during a previous Bali wellness retreat which was quite emotional to say the least, this one was entirely different. Floating in the pool, Iluh moved me around, rocking me in a fashion that is supposed to emulate being in the womb. Unlike last time, I didn’t have the urge to call my mother afterwards, but simply felt wonderfully relaxed and quite literally held.
At the end of your stay you can do a combined floral gratitude and fire ceremony. For the first one, you write down a set number of things and experiences you are grateful for and make a pattern with flower blossoms for each item on your list. Afterwards, you write down a negative experience you want to let go off and burn it.
Probably the most significant experience for me was my time at the healing tree, the Zen sanctuary. You sit in front of the tree and connect to the energy in the ground in a sort of meditation. While sitting there you will replay uncomfortable, sad, or hurtful situation. Thanks to the tree and its energy you can change the outcome, maybe forgive a person who has hurt you, meet a person you have lost and let them go. Honestly, it is hard to put in words but quite powerful. At least it was for me.
Only during that last did I realize that I probably needed more than a single session with that Balinese healer. Maybe Eat Pray Love at Zen was the way for me.
Why you should book your wellness retreat in Bali with Neue Wege
Neue Wege is a German company that specializes in Ayurveda, yoga and wellness retreats around the globe. Do you know exactly what kind of health retreat you want or do you just have a vague notion of ‘I want to do something good for myself’? Either way, they will be able to find the perfect spot for you!
When I was in Bali I visited a few of their partner resorts and while they all fall under the category of ‘wellness resort’ the differences were huge. And behind a screen, it can be hard to navigate those difference and find the right place for you. Do you want a hardcore Ayurveda retreat to get your health in order, do you want to do lots of yoga, detox or have free-flowing cocktails, or find a place where the whole family will have a fantastic vacation? Neue Wege will help you through the jungle of wellness resorts out there to find the perfect one.
In addition, they offer all-inclusive packages with flights, transfers, and a booklet with all the information you may need. Especially as traveling is still a bit tricky these days with entry requirements changing quickly, flights being chaotic, and a general confusion of how safe it is to go places, it is so nice to have a trip organized in one go.
The best thing about Neue Wege: they not only offer set retreats at one resort, but can also put together individual itineraries. While I consider most of their destinations very safe for solo travelers, I know just how helpful it can be to have someone take care of logistics for you if you are heading to a new destination. Especially in a place like Bali where public transport is non-existent and roads can be, ehem, interesting, I loved having a designated driver who knew exactly how to get me from A to B safely.
If you are interested in doing a wellness retreat in Bali or maybe an Ayurveda retreat in Sri Lanka, give them a shout so they can find the most magical place for you!
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This post is incredibly exciting! The holistic approach at Zen Resort, combining yoga, Ayurveda, and mindful healing, sounds like the perfect way to rejuvenate both mind and body—especially with their unique focus on personalized wellness and attention to detail!