7-day silent zen meditation and yin yoga retreat in bali

Join us at The Yogi's Garden, in Payangan, Bali for an 7 days / 6 nights silent zen meditation and yin yoga retreat.

The first five days will be spent in silence and the schedule will include zazen (seated meditation), Kinhin (walking meditation), mindful walk in the surrounding jungle, Yin Yoga and dharma talks by Hamid.

Traditionally at the end of a silent retreat, the participants all leave with a little time to discuss the thoughts and feelings that came up for them during the silence.

However, at this retreat, we will have a group meeting on the day before we end  during which time we can share and open up with regards to whatever we have processed during the meditation sessions and our time of inner retreat.

We can explore further different aspects of the teachings to offer a framework to help you make better sense of your experience, so as to support incorporating it into your daily lives. This is an opportunity to spend time away from distractions and dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to meditation. When the ripples of an over-active mind are calmed as you focus your attention on the present, the look you take at your life deepens.

Connecting your mind through Zen meditation will help you see the world and yourself with a greater sense of clarity. 7-day intensive silent meditation retreat with dharma teachings, group encounters, and yin yoga.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

hamid ebadi

Hamid has been a student of Zen for thirty years and was ordained as a monk in 2000. He is a disciple of Zen Master Ryotan Tokuda who in 2011 gave him sanction to teach. Hamid is a counsellor in practice. He has spent over ten years in India and Indonesia where he has taught meditation, philosophy and comparative spirituality. He first came to Bali in 2012 where he is living now. The teachings are inspired by both Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, particularly Zen Buddhism.

sarah loveband

Sarah is a yoga teacher and physiotherapist from Sydney, Australia.

Sarah was first introduced to yoga and meditation during her childhood as both her parents explored transcendental meditation and Ayurveda. It took two decades before Sarah would follow suit and began exploring yoga classes on her own. Sarah found the yoga class to be a magical place in which she could access a sense of safety, peace, and freedom.

In 2012 Sarah attended a yoga teacher training course and it was during this course that she was introduced to Hamid Ebadi. It has now been 10 years since that time and the experience, insights, and wisdom gained through Hamid's mentorship moved through Sarah’s world view, yoga teachings, and into her physiotherapy practice. Sarah intention as a yoga teacher is to facilitate your exploration of present moment awareness through felt experience in the body.

Sarah has experience working on retreats in Sydney and Bali, and has taught in large class situations however prefers to work one-on-one with clients or in small groups.

Training:

2012: Level 1 Teacher Training - (200hr) - (in the lineage of Sri, T. Krishnamacharya) with Santosha Yoga Institute, Canggu Bali.

2013: Diploma of Yoga Studies (500hr) under Michael De-Manincor (student of Desikachar) - The Yoga Institute, Sydney (in the lineage of Sri, T. Krishnamacharya)

2013 – 2015: Vedic Chanting & Yoga Sutra study with Pamela Tyson, The Yoga Institute, Sydney.

2014 & 2015:  Svastha Yoga Therapy Program with Ganesh Mohan (son of AG & Indra Mohan, direct students of Krishnamacharya).

2015:  Pre & Post Natal Yoga Training Santosha Yoga, Canggu Bali.

2018: Yoga Synergy Teacher Training - (200hr) with Simon Borg Olivier, Goa India.

2020: Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Charles Sturt University.

ABOUT THE RETREAT CENTRE

The Yogi’s Garden offers a unique experience of “the real Bali” at their private retreat, wellness and educational center set within a working farm less than an hour from bustling Ubud.

Let your eyes soak in the views of Bali farmland, jungle, and mountains – especially the great Mt. Agung. When the sky is clear, this holy mountain is visible from the yoga shala, dining area, and the main guest residence, as well as many special look-out spots tucked around the property.

All the meal served at the retreat from vegetables sourced from their own organic farm.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Day 1

1pm: Arrival

3pm - 430pm: Water purification ceremony with a Balinese priest at a nearby waterfall

5pm - 7pm: Opening ceremony and 30 minute introduction to Balinese culture, traditions and spirituality

7pm: Dinner

8pm: Continuation of introduction, start of silence and first meditation

10pm: Sleep

Day 2 - 5

6am: Wake up

630am - 815am: Zazen (meditation)

815am: Breakfast

9am - 1030am: Yin yoga

11am - 1245am: Zazen (meditation)

1245pm - 3pm: Lunch and rest

330pm - 430pm: Mindful walk (those who wish to meditate more can stay behind and practice during this hour)

5pm: Tea and snack

530pm: Talk given by the retreat facilitator

630pm: Gather around the bonfire

7pm - 8pm: Dinner

8pm - 945pm: Zazen (meditation)

10pm: Sleep

Day 6

6am: Wake up

630am - 815am: Zazen (meditation)

815am: Breakfast

9am - 1030am: Yin yoga

11am - 1245am: Group discussion (continued after lunch if necessary)

1245pm - 3pm: Lunch and rest

330pm - 430pm: Mindful walk (those who don’t want to come for a walk, can do an extra meditation here)

5pm: Tea and snack

530pm: Talk given by the retreat facilitator

630pm: Gather around the bonfire

7pm - 8pm: Dinner

8pm - 945pm: Zazen (meditation)

10pm: Sleep

Day 7

6am: Wake up

630am - 815am: Zazen (meditation)

815am: Breakfast

930am - 1030am: Zazen

1030am - 12pm: Closing ceremony and break silence

12pm: Fire purification ceremony with a Balinese Priest

1pm: Lunch

3pm: Leave the retreat centre

COST

The cost starts from 1150 euros and depends on accomodation type. A deposit of 200 euros will be required to secure your spot with the balance to be paid 30 days before the start of the retreat.

The following accomodations are available:

“The Taj”

The Taj is Yogi Garden’s 8 room, Indian design-inspired main guest residence. All rooms have beautiful jungle views and windows facing Mount Agung. There are several accommodation options in the Taj:

• 1 person shared twin room (1450 euros): Spacious shared deluxe twin en suite room with private veranda, private toilet and shower. Amenities include: refrigerator, hot water kettle with tea/coffee, shower stocked with soap, shampoo, hairdryer, A/C and fan.
• 1 person or 2 people sharing a private room (2600 euros for a couple/ 2200 euros in single occupancy): Spacious private deluxe double ensuite room with private veranda, private toilet and shower. Amenities include: refrigerator, hot water kettle with tea/coffee, shower stocked with soap, shampoo, hairdryer, A/C and fan.
• 1 person sharing a four person dorm rooms (1150 euros):

“Lumbung”

The Lumbung is surrounded with a beautiful jungle view and nice airflow. It composes 3 traditional huts in single occupancy all with private verandas. Shared toilets and showers in the dormitory area on Taj. Hairdryer and Fan by request, hot water kettle with tea/coffee station, locking cabinets for each guest.

• 1 person private single room (1200 euros)

 (The Lummbung huts are booked-out for this retreat. Please choose another accommodation type. )

“Gladak”

The Gladak comprises 3 rooms in a Javanese design-inspired wooden house, surrounded by beautiful garden views. There is a private bathroom in each room.

• 1 person sharing a twin en suite room (1350 euros)
• 2 people sharing a private en suite double room (2300 euros)

" Little Sweets"

Spacious single room with a stunning jungle view. The units have shared bathrooms and toilets in the corridor and come with a ceiling fan. The rooms have high ceilings and come with a fan.

.1 person private single room (1400 euros)

NUMBER OF PLACES

Limited to 30 people.

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

• All meals from dinner on the first day of the retreat to lunch on the final day
• Yoga matts and props
• Meditation cushion (if you have a preferred cushion for meditation, we recommend bringing your own)
• Accommodation and bedding
• Instruction on meditation technique
• Meditation and yoga each day
• Dharma talk each day

NOT INCLUDED

• Flights
• Travel insurance
• Transfers to retreat centre
• Toiletries
• Massages: Massages are 200k indonesian rupee for one hour balinese massage. You can book as many as you want during the retreat.

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICY

The cost for the retreat starts at 1150 euros and depends on the accommodation type. A deposit of 200 euros is needed to secure your place and the balance is payable by bank transfer 30 days before the start of the retreat.

Cancellation policy

• Up to 30 days before the retreat: Your deposit is non-refundable, but we will refund any balance you have paid.
• Less than 30 days before the retreat: The deposit is non-refundable and your balance can be transferred to a future retreat of your choice.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the retreat, including photos of accommodation options, read our detailed practical information here