wellness wonderland: a guide to ubud, bali

A month ago, I was lucky enough to spend a week in the beautiful Ubud, Bali. I have been to Bali twice before and visited Ubud previously in 2017. It’s my favourite destination in Bali. Ubud is often described as the authentic cultural and artistic heart of Bali. Surrounded by rice fields and dense jungle, it makes you feel at one with nature. I know that sounds cliche but it’s true. When you are woken up by an array of different bird sounds and you see an expanse of greenery in front of you, you can’t help but feel calmer and more at peace. It is one of the locations in the famous book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert which was later turned into a movie of the same name starring Julia Roberts. For many people, myself included, this was one of the reasons I wanted to travel to Ubud. I wanted to experience my very own mini spiritual awakening in Bali.

Image sourced via Viator

Over the years, I have become notoriously bad at relaxing. This is not a flex at all. This is bad. I often feel like I have to be productive during my downtime, instead of just being present and truly enjoying myself. I am easily distracted like a lot of people in this digital age. Ubud is the antidote to this behaviour. It will enchant you with its whimsical sights and sounds and lure you into a state of tranquillity and honestly, it’s alarming how quickly you lean into this new reality of relaxing. This is why you should book your next holiday to Ubud. Do I have you convinced yet?

You might be wondering if it’s worth travelling here because of all the tourists that travel to Bali every day. This should not deter you. You could say the same thing about a lot of places around the world. The great thing about Ubud is that there is a mix of locals, expats and tourists and this is what makes Ubud such a bustling, cultural hub, attracting people from all walks of life. Ubud is famous for its health and wellness with many retreats, wellness centers, gyms and healthy cafes popping up daily. It is the perfect place to travel if you want to make healthier choices.

RESTAURANTS AND CAFES

Yellow Flower Cafe

This cafe uses locally sourced, organic produce and is Balinese-owned. It is a beautiful and charming oasis and is the perfect spot for a healthy but satisfying breakfast. They even host a delicious buffet every Sunday night that showcases what Balinese food has to offer. They pride themselves in having good quality produce and they exclusively cook their food in coconut oil with a dusting of turmeric. I recommend trying their turmeric latte, their shakshuka, the green papaya salad, their smoothie bowls and Nasi Goreng. If you want access to this food right in front of your doorstep, they also have two Airbnb villas that you can stay at which is super convenient. Check out their Instagram page for more information on their food and accommodation.

Alchemy

One of my favourite places to eat in Ubud. Your gut will be happy and healthy here with all their nutritious food options. They believe in the healing power of Mother Nature and all their food is organic and made with love. Their food is simple but delicious. This is the place to go if you are after good quality vegetarian and vegan food. They trust in the medicinal power of food and offer a large range of health tonics and teas. Cool off with their cold-pressed juices and smoothies and if you are after a bite to eat, you can’t go past their poke bowl, jackfruit wrap and their banana pancake stack.

Sayuri Healing Food Cafe

Stepping into this cafe, you know straight away that you will be served delicious and nutritious food. The special thing about this cafe is that they experiment with your favourite comfort meals and transform them into delicious, healthier versions. Try out their Reuben sandwich, mac & cheese bowl, breakfast burrito and croque monsieur. They also offer many cooking workshops and you can even take it a step further if you are into culinary arts and become a certified plant-based chef.

Clear Cafe

Like many of the cafes in Ubud, they believe that all their food should be organic, natural and delicious. Healthy does not have to be boring. You will be impressed with their menu as they have something for everyone. They offer well-known dishes from around the world from Pad Thai, sushi, tacos, curry and Nasi Goreng. If you want variety, this is the place to go to.

Bali Buda

This is both a health food store and a cafe. This is a great place to shop if you are staying in a villa with cooking facilities as you can buy fresh, organic good quality fruit and vegetables and products. When travelling, it can be hard to eat healthy but Bali Buda makes it easy for you, whether you want to eat out or cook at home. Australians are known for loving avo toasts and they do a scrumptious avocado smash here that does not disappoint. Try some of their homemade traditional drinks like their Jamu Asam Kunyit. A Jamu is a traditional, immune-boosting tonic. This one contains turmeric, tamarind, lime and raw honey.

YOGA & GYMS

The Yoga Barn

The Yoga Barn is a beautiful wellness center that offers many activities and services to nourish your mind and body. You can drop in for casual classes or buy a 3-day or up to 20-day class pass. They offer different types of yoga from yin, vinyasa and hatha yoga and they even do crystal bowl meditation and ecstatic dance classes. During ecstatic dance, they play music and you can move in whatever way you want. There are no instructions and no one to follow. You feel the music and let your body move in whatever way it wants to. It is very freeing and because everyone is doing it, it’s not embarrassing either.

Gymnasium Bali

If yoga is not your thing, this is a gym that has all your regular gym equipment like weights, treadmills, bikes and ellipticals. You can buy a day pass, weekly or monthly pass and have access to all the equipment and personal training sessions. They even have fun gym classes such as boxing, pilates, aerial yoga, HIIT and dance classes. This is a great gym to visit if you want to work on your fitness while on holiday.

Ubud Yoga House

Before this year, I had dabbled in yoga here and there but I was never consistent with my practice. This year, yoga has become part of my non-negotiables and I love doing yoga classes at least two to three times a week. It is so fun trying out different places and seeing what different teachers bring to the class and it’s even more fun trying out classes overseas. Ubud Yoga House is more beginner-friendly and the location is stunning, right in front of luscious rice fields.

SPAS

Ubud Traditional Spa

This is a family-owned spa that prides itself on its authentic, traditional Balinese spa services. Located on the famous Champuhan Ridge trekking route, being surrounded by nature will have you feeling grounded and relaxed in no time. Make sure you treat yourself to their Bali Traditional Massage. The spa menu is simple and affordable but you do not compromise on quality and ambience. You will be coming back for more.

Spa Alila

For a more luxurious experience, head to Spa Alila to be treated like royalty. Located over a luscious, green canopy, you will feel as though you are one with nature. Choose the Gentle Purification Facial for glowing, hydrated skin and the Shirodhara experience for a tranquil and rejuvenating Ayurvedic mind and body therapy.

ACCOMMODATION

Padma Resort Ubud

I was lucky enough to find an amazing deal on Luxury Escapes (I have used them many times before and they do not disappoint). If you want to experience luxury accommodation on a slight budget, this is the way to go. You will reach a new level of zen lounging by their infinity pool and bar. They also offer a large range of free activities included in your stay such as morning yoga, archery, golf and art classes. Go on their agroforestry tour to see their fruit and vegetable gardens, which they use at the resort restaurants and cafes. This resort is located 30-minutes from Ubud center with free, regular daily shuttle buses to and from the resort.

Alaya Resort Ubud

If you want to be closer to the hustle and bustle of Ubud center but still want to experience luxury accommodation, look no further than Alaya Resort. It neighbours the famous monkey forest and overlooks beautiful rice fields. Wake up refreshed with a yoga class and detox your system with a Jamu-making classes. Finish off the day at DaLa Spa and choose between their many relaxing massages, facials and scrubs on offer.

RETREATS

While I did not go on a wellness retreat while I was in Ubud, this is something that has been on my bucket list for a while. Here are some retreats that I would love to consider in the future.

Five Elements Retreat

This is what you picture when you think of a wellness retreat. Their Signature Five Elements Retreat incorporates traditional, ancient, Balinese wisdom. They offer a large range of Balinese healing services, customised, healthy plant-based meals and sacred art activities. You can choose between a minimum 3-night stay or up to 14-night stay. The healing services include massages, energy cleansing, blessing rituals and yoga. You are guaranteed to arrive home a more relaxed and enlightened version of yourself after this retreat.

Arya Wellness Retreat

These are for the girlies who love to be uplifted by female energy. It is a more eco-friendly social retreat made by and for women. You can choose between single, private rooms and shared rooms. You can also participate in many activities such as meditation, yoga, pilates, healing circles, fitness classes, movie nights and cooking classes. This is perfect if you are a solo traveller and want to make life long friends.

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