As some of you know I recently spent 6 weeks in Bali doing a teacher training as well as a silent meditation retreat; I came back totally changed.

Bali has been portrayed in movies, books and conversations by those who’ve travelled there, to be a place of transformation. But what makes this place so special? This lovely island is known to be one of Earth’s vortices; an energy centre connected to all the other high vibration locations around the Earth’s energetic grid. These places around the world help regulate and balance Earth’s electromagnetic field as well as your microcosmic body and energetic field. People are drawn to each vortex based on the area in which they need the most growth. Some of these will directly correspond to the chakras. The vortices will amplify clarity in ones life (positive or negative), which is why you often see people being drawn to visit or even live there (like me!). This special place allows a person to see their life without the influences of their life bearing down on them. It’s a lot easier to see what’s working and what’s creating suffering or blockages when you’re not in the thick of it. Make sense?

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One of the most common questions I was asked on return from beautiful Bali was, “What was the most significant thing you learned?” In honesty, every time I was asked this I’d pause to contemplate, smile (like I had some big secret) and then say with a laugh “It’s hard to say”. There is so much, yet at the same time I feel like there’s nothing I really ‘learned’, as everything I ‘discovered’ already existed within. The smile I gave was a result of the answer being more of a feeling rather than an intellectual response. Nonetheless, I will try to define it for the purpose of translating my experience here. Let’s go back to the idea that everything already exists within.

Every question you’ve ever had about your life like purpose, career, love (partner), friends, should I do this or that…. can all be answered from within.

I know, big statement right? One of the reasons you may read this and question or fully resist it, is that your mind is so loud you’ve rarely, if ever, heard your inner voice. This inner voice is what the yogis call your ‘natural state’ or ‘true nature’. It’s the ‘you’ that is unfiltered and unaffected by ego or past conditioning, essentially you rest in equanimity. So how do we tap into this great place of answers and ease? The Asana practice is one way to start, but ultimately what you need is a regular Meditation practice. As Asana (physical postures) practice will take care of the body, we need total stillness in order to be quiet enough to clear out the mind.

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Think of your mind as a pit. An empty pit is your natural state, totally clear and the light from above has the ability to shine through to the bottom. If we don’t take the time to clear out all the junk, we become clouded and we act against our true nature. The result being we make decisions based on thought patterns or external conditioning which can lead to developing stress disorders, anxiety or even depression. Consider that everyday, every action (even asana) taken or not taken and every thought you’ve ever had will endlessly fill the pit. True clarity requires stillness of body with constant attention, discipline and equanimity within the mind. Re-gaining access to your deep well of knowledge and guidance is essentially a meditation away. This isn’t an instantaneous practice it will require discipline over a long period of time.

The result is a transition from being on autopilot to an active listener in your life thus producing quality decisions and being able to hear the guru within.

As I return from Bali, this place of high vibration and ability to clear out all that ‘junk’ more effectively, I can attest to the effects of a regular meditation practice. I’ve never felt more calm, connected or clear in my entire life. Sometimes we need to learn to listen better to receive everything we’ve ever wanted in our lives. For me, Bali was the missing piece of the puzzle. Who knew all my answers were just a meditation away?

If you enjoyed this article and it’s sparked your interest in eastern traditions or the yogic path, check out Workshops for West to East: The Light On Yoga workshop coming up Sept 10th and 17th, 2017. Limited Spaces Left!

Mandy guides students to see the beauty within and deepen awareness in the subtle body. She integrates bio-mechanics, intentions and breath awareness to each class. Her intention is to teach with kindness and compassion; for students to discover their own inherent joy and find moments of reflection on and off the mat. Mandy has taught for 4 yrs, has 2000+hrs of practice and has 1500+hrs of certifications. In her spare time she loves to cook, eat lots of chocolate, spend time with the love of her life and give lots of snuggles to her cat Gambit.

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