Holistic healing and Bali go hand in hand—but for wellness aficionados, that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The nature-clad Indonesian island is a pioneer for sustainability, stunning scenery and top-notch wellness retreats. Since 2010, Fivelements Bali has been among the top retreats in the region, bridging Balinese traditional healing and modern medicine in an eco-centric setting. We speak to Ibu Human Sumiati, the head of the healing and wellness sanctuary at Fivelements Retreat Bali, on family wellness, Balinese healing and what it takes to lead a healthier lifestyle.
What was your first healthy holiday experience? From my previous experience, holidays were not so much about health and wellness, it was always about spending time to have fun and eat too much. My first healthy holiday experience was the first time I came to Fivelements Retreat Bali 10 years ago. I was invited by the founders to have lunch and stay to experience the new retreat. It was my first time trying plant-based food and I was surprised at how good actually plant-based food was considering that, in my culture, meat is something that we must have on the menu. During the visit I attended the daily morning yoga class, which was led by an experienced instructor—I learnt so much from the teacher. I also recall having a wonderful deep sleep as the atmosphere of the Riverview Sleeping Suites was very tranquil and I felt so rejuvenated the next day.
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I really felt peaceful like I was in my hometown at that time. After my memorable experience at Fivelements Retreat Bali, I significantly started to change my lifestyle especially in terms of incorporating a plant-based diet into my family meal plan. We have felt much healthier since then.
How do you reboot after a hectic week? I have always been a family person, and the best way to reboot after a hectic week is to spend time with my family. We love to spend our time by exploring the beauty of Bali. Our favourite place to visit is Tirta Empul Holy Water Spring Temple. We often go there for melukat, melukat also means water blessing. We really believe that the water blessing is very good for purifying the mind, body and soul.
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Who would this healthy holiday destination suit? I believe that everyone desperately needs a healthy vacation. Especially at this time after the global pandemic, people really need to rebuild the balance of their mind, body, and soul. The lockdown that limits people to travel causes stress and people need to connect with their inner peace now more than ever.
What do you hope guests will take away from their stay? I really hope that after guests stay at Fivelements Retreat Bali, they can bring the wellness lifestyle that they experience in here to their own home. I even hope that they can also share with others the positive things they have learnt and understood here.
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Describe an ideal retreat experience here in five words. An ideal retreat incorporates the following elements: rejuvenate, recharge, discover, mindfulness and a journey of transformation.
How has the power of positive thinking helped to change your life? I have learnt that a positive way of thinking is highly influential in my life. A positive way of thinking helps to reduce anxiety and allow me to think more calmly. Hence, I can share my positive energy every day with my family, friends, and the team.
What’s the best piece of advice someone has given you or that you have read that has helped you overcome a specific obstacle? My parents used to say, “Think positive, do positive things, sure you will get positive results.”
I did not believe that at first, but as time flies, I began to understand the true meaning of my parents’ saying. Thinking positively has helped me to find my inner peace and has encouraged me to always act positively as well.
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You have set and achieved big goals. What process do you swear by? It has been a long and complicated personal journey to be where I am right now. There were times when I felt like giving up and wanted to let go of my goal. However, I have always remembered that positive thinking is the key and hardship is an obstacle that we all have to overcome to become a better version of ourselves.
When you feel unfocused or overwhelmed what do you do? I will take my time to walk and drink water so that I can relax and reflect. Then I sit down for 2 minutes, take a deep breath, think positively, keep smiling, and believe that the day will be successful. After that, I will presume my activities with more focus and commitment.
See also: Fivelements Bali: A Healing Retreat In The Heart Of Ubud
What is an interesting routine that you do daily that sets you up for success? There are a few things that set me up for success:
• Sports/exercises to make my body healthy
• Positive thinking that can make my mind clear
• Keep smiling to share the happiness
• Always learn new things to keep developing myself
• Planning to keep everything on track
• Regular training to further developing myself
• Review for evaluation
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