From Classroom to Kundalini: My Transformative Journey in Bali

“From Classroom to Kundalini: My Transformative Journey in Bali”

For me, it was the ideal way to cross the threshold to a new chapter of my life. I’d retired after 38 years teaching secondary age students in the state sector, and felt it would be good to have time to adjust to a new me. I felt a bit adrift without the timetable my career had imposed, and wanted time to discover who I was. I’d never spent so long or so far from my family in almost 40 years. How would I deal with that?

Spending a few days on my own in Ubud (I hired a driver to explore, did a cookery course) really helped me to acclimatise after the long flight.  While the pollution was a shock (there’s no infrastructure to deal with it, and the roads are gridlocked), the warmth and kindness of the people I encountered was a delight. I always felt safe. A gentle spirituality is in evidence everywhere in the lovely offerings of flowers that decorate statues, entrances, everywhere, and, once you’re away from those roads, the beauty of Bali is balm.

Luckily I’d decided to share a room and was told at reception that my friend had already arrived. As I had no idea who I’d be sharing with, I felt amused. And yet it was so! Sharing was the best choice I could have made, and I’d recommend you embrace the experience. It meant the process of getting to know people was speeded up and it seemed to me to embody the purpose of the course: being receptive to others in order to know yourself better.

The course is full on: long days with little time to yourself. One requirement is attending five sadhanas. Yet the hush of the morning as we made our way in a muffled silence, along the paths to the shala in the dark before dawn, was so beautiful. Sitting cross legged on the floor for hours upon hours was a challenge. There were a few cushions available but I noticed those who bought their own looked more comfortable. Your challenges won’t be the same as mine (I found the seemingly endless sharing circles tough – but they were the source of much learning for me, honing my listening skills, my patience, compassion) but I found it was in the challenges where the learning really happened. 

One concern I had was whether I’d manage the transition from teaching academically to giving instructions on a physical level. I needn’t have worried. The course is impressively designed to build your skills almost immediately. You start small, work in pairs to support one another, experience Kriyas before you teach them, have ample opportunity to develop. We worked in different groups, extending our knowledge of a wider range of people. One significant difference to other Level One  courses was having two practical sessions so there was a real opportunity to see progress. And we had great teachers: wonderful women whose individuality provided examples of different ways of being a Kundalini teacher. 

Situated in the rice fields, the Yoga Shala was a beautiful place. But water meant mosquitoes as well as the delightful antics of the ducks and the sounds of geckos and frogs. For me, long sleeves and rosemary essential oil on my feet proved effective. I return there regularly: whenever I’m doing Sat Kriya, I hear the murmur of all the others around me. When I play Hummee Hum, I’m back in the Shala, hands over my heart-space, connected with them. 

And it was a wonderful way to make that adjustment. I came back more certain, enriched by the wonderful friends I’d made, the conversations I’d had, the listening: Ready. The impact of the course continues in all kinds of unexpected ways…

If you feel ready for this leap, join us for Level One Bali Immersion 2024. Start your process by talking to a trainer today!

Author: Michelle Holloway – Level One Bali Immersion student 2023

 

Teacher