Renowned around the world as a spiritual heartland and all-round good-vibes kind of place, Bali is home to some of the world’s best yoga teachers, with yogis travelling near and far to soak up the sunshine and laid-back atmosphere of the Island of the Gods. If you’re seeking the best of the best, look no further: Compare Retreats expert and certified yogi Rebecca Walker has rounded up her ten tried-and-tested, go-to practitioners so that you can bend and stretch with the best yoga teachers in Bali.
1. Rachel Fearnley
Hailing from the UK and based in Canggu, Rachel Fearnley specialises in a variety of yoga styles including Yin, Restorative, Hatha and Vinyasa, along with meditation, mindfulness and breathwork instruction. Teaching ‘ancient wisdom for the modern woman’, Rachel helps align students with their best self by connecting mind, body, soul and breath in her dynamic classes. Rachel is also a thought-provoking life coach and mentor who shows clients how to “cultivate and commit to healthy, nourishing, smart habits and rituals to create a life of calm and ease.” She teaches private lessons, bespoke retreats and guest teacher training immersions at various locations around Bali.
The Peaceful Warriors Studio | rachelfearnley.com | rachel@rachelfearnley.com | Instagram
2. Octavio Salvado
“When practised correctly, with the right guidance and attitude, the potential for yoga to deeply transform all aspects of our lives is limitless.” So says Australian-born yogi, Octavio Salvado who is co-founder, co-owner and the main teacher of popular Canggu studio, The Practice. Viewing yoga as a ‘spiritual science’, Octavio teaches Kriya yoga (the yoga of practice) at his studio, through daily classes that include asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork), mantra (sacred chants) and yantra (mandala meditation). Honouring the lineage-based traditions of his Guruji, Yogarupa Rod Stryker, Octavio seeks to awaken students to their highest potential.
The Practice | thepracticebali.com | reception@thepracticebali.com | Instagram
3. Daphna Dor
With 25 years of teaching experience, Daphna Dor is a true yoga veteran and Bali’s most outstanding Kundalini yoga instructor. Fascinated by the mind-body connection, she is a certified Kundalini and Hatha yoga teacher, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist, chakra dance facilitator and Womb Awakening Practitioner. Carefully curated to elevate consciousness and cleanse the soul, Daphna’s inspiring Kundalini teachings are influenced by the late Kundalini master, Yogi Bhajan, who was her teacher. Describing Kundalini yoga as a ‘healing technology’, Daphna is passionate about the practice’s potent potential and her transcendental classes are equally soulful, uplifting and heart-opening. “The powerful, transformational and healing effects of Kundalini yoga never cease to amaze me. Among other things, the practice cultivates greater self-awareness and a deeper sense of inner-knowing, strength and balance,” she says. Daphna teaches regular group classes, workshops, immersions and retreats at various locations around Bali, and is also available for private lessons.
The Dome Studio | ikyta.org | daphnador@gmail.com | Instagram
4. Carlos Romero
Urging students to embrace their full potential, Carlos Romero’s joyful classes are full of philosophical insights and ancient wisdom. Immersed in the yoga world for over 15 years, Carlos has studied numerous forms of yoga including Sivananda, Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Dharma Mittra and Anusara, and teaches Conscious Vinyasa, Embodied Flow, Yin, Acro Yoga, Somatic Movement, pranayama, meditation and yoga nidra. He is also a bodywork (Thai yoga massage) specialist and weaves sound healing into his classes in the form of Tibetan singing bowls and sacred string instruments. Encouraging his pupils to heal and transform mind, body, soul and heart through conscious movement, Carlos’ uplifting energy has made him one of Ubud’s most popular teachers. He teaches regular classes, workshops, immersions and teacher trainings at the Yoga Barn.
The Yoga Barn | livininspired.com | info@livininspired.com | Instagram
5. Tina Nance
Trained in both Classical Indian and Chinese Taoist Yoga, Tina Nance is a spiritual alchemist of sorts. Fusing principles of Hatha with the 5-element meridian system of Traditional Chinese Medicine, her classes rebalance mind, body and spirit by combining mindful movement with conscious breathwork. Teaching an array of styles, her specialities include Yoga Therapy, Yin, Restorative and Embodied Mindfulness training. She also has an interest in women’s wellness and runs hormone rebalancing courses and ‘Embodied Feminine Awakening’ immersions. Tina is a resident teacher at Ubud’s famous Yoga Barn, where she teaches regular classes, workshops, retreats and yoga teacher trainings.
The Yoga Barn| tinanance.com | iam@tinanance.com | Instagram
See also: 10 Best Wellness Retreats In Bali For A Luxury Island Retreat
6. Damien De Bastier
Trained by famed Ashtanga Yoga Master, Sri K. Patthabi Jois, Damien De Bastier is the real deal. Practising yoga and meditation for nearly 30 years, the French practitioner is passionate about the mind-body connection and as well as his impressive yoga teaching credentials, holds certifications in psychology and bodywork. As co-owner of Samadi Bali, Damien offers daily Mysore classes and regular teacher training retreats, along with an ongoing apprenticeship programme for dedicated yogis. His joy? “To inspire people to live healthily and embark on the transforming journey toward themselves.”
Samadi Bali Studio | samadibali.com | info@samadibali.com | Instagram
7. Angela Perez
Dedicated to the yogic path for over 15 years, Angela Perez believes yoga is “an amazing journey towards the deepest mysteries of our being.” Passionate about sharing the power and joy of yoga, the Spanish yogi is the co-director and senior teacher at Samasti Yoga, where she teaches Ashtanga, Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Fly High (aerial) and Tantra classes and workshops. Angela also leads ‘Awakening Retreats’ and teacher training courses.
Samasti Yoga Studio | angelayogini.com | samasti-yoga.com | Instagram
8. Lily Goncalves
Passing on the sacred teachings of the ‘Shri Vidya’ (Supreme Knowledge) yogic tradition through inspirational, wisdom-soaked classes, Lily Goncalves is the Founder and head teacher of Blooming Lotus Yoga. Armed with a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology, Lily guides students along the path of self-realisation by sharing yogic purifying practices, meditation techniques, philosophy insights and ancient Vedic teachings during intensive teacher training courses and transformative retreats.
Blooming Lotus Yoga Studio | blooming-lotus-yoga.com | admin@blooming-lotus-yoga.com | Instagram
See also: Best 15 Luxury Yoga Retreats Around The World To Improve Your Practice
9. Carlotta Castangia
With a love for mindful movement, Carlotta Castangia is a passionate yogi with a big following on and offline. Specialising in Hatha, Vinyasa Flow and Yin yoga, the former ballerina has a great understanding of anatomy and weaves alignment cues into her playful classes, along with meditation and pranayama (breathwork) instruction. As a qualified Shiatsu massage therapist, fitness trainer and Pilates instructor, the Italian teacher describes herself as “an eternal student”. Carlotta teaches daily at Desa Seni and also hosts regular workshops and teacher training programmes.
desaseni.com | info@desaseni.com | Instagram
10. James Mattingley
Describing himself as an “agent of change”, James Mattingley is a yoga teacher, myofascial expert, mobility specialist, martial artist and public speaking pro. He is the founder of prop-based yoga technique ‘Roll & Release’ – a deep-tissue, self-massage method which focuses on ‘releasing’ fascia (connective tissue). As one of Radiantly Alive’s principal teachers, James leads teacher training programmes, along with regular classes and workshops. His classes have a strong anatomic focus and encourage students to connect the body with the mind, breath and emotions.
Radiantly Alive Studio | jamesmattingley.com | info@radiantlyalive.com | Instagram
Looking for Yoga Retreats or Wellness Retreats in Bali? Check out the luxury selection on Compare Retreats, or contact one of our travel concierge team today at bookings@compareretreats.com.
