Finding Myself on a Yoga Mat in Ubud

I will be honest: I came to Bali because it looked good on Instagram. The rice terraces, the infinity pools, the açai bowls—I wanted the aesthetic.

What I found instead was transformation.

The Yoga Barn

At 6 AM, mist still clinging to the rice paddies, I rolled out my mat at the Yoga Barn. The teacher spoke softly, her words mixing with birdsong and the distant sound of gamelan music.

The Monkey Forest

After class, I walked to the Monkey Forest. Not for the monkeys—for the ancient trees, the moss-covered temples, the sense of being somewhere very, very old.

What Changed

I cannot point to a single moment. It was cumulative: the daily practice, the plant-based meals, the conversations with strangers who became friends. By the end of two weeks, I felt... lighter.

You do not find yourself in Ubud. You let go of everything that is not you.