Akasha Love

REJUVENATE: Women's Soul Song Retreat
2026-03-08 - 2026-03-12 | BeingSattva, Banjar Kapitu, Jl. Raya Kendran, Kenderan, Kec. Tegallalang, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80561, Ubud, Bali, 80561, Indonesia
“Picture this, it’s March 2026, and you have given yourself the beautiful gift of a retreat in a secret lush tropical hideaway just nearby Ubud, Bali. You are so grateful to yourself for having made this decision. It feels like exactly the place you should be right now. With exactly the people you need around you.”

This retreat is equally suited to those who are new to Bali and those who know the island well. Each morning we will start with a meditation practice, to refresh the mind, followed by a gentle morning Hatha yoga practice, suitable to all levels of yogis (from new to more advanced.)

Beautiful Lotus Pond that you walk through to enter the BeingSattva Retreat nearby to Ubud, Bali
Following a delicious breakfast featuring fresh tropical fruits, you will have free time to relax or get a massage, or swim in the beautiful bean shaped pool. In the afternoon we will hold two soul song writing sessions, for those of you who’d like to birth your own soul song. This can also be a poem if you aren’t confident with adding music. One afternoon we will also go on an excursion to the waterfall nearby to immerse ourselves in Bali’s powerful healing waters.
You might be going through a big transition in your life and feeling a little lost as to which direction to take, moving forwards. You might have already stepped onto a new path but need some time out to rest and reflect and tune in to your spiritual guidance, with the support of other beautiful Goddesses on this journey with you
This is a retreat particularly for women who are looking to dive deeper into their soul’s essence and bring out more of their gifts into the world. Whether you are already a songwriter / musician or poet, or you haven’t yet explored that aspect of yourself, you are welcome on this retreat.
RETREAT VENUE: BEING SATTVA, UBUD, BALI

The architecture at BeingSattvaa blurs the lines between inside and outside in a seamless way- this is made possible because our temperatures remain between 20-30 degrees throughout the year. All living spaces are connected to nature; water, landscape and building come together in a harmonious way. Using a sparse palette of materials with a predominance of dark wood, our buildings radiate positive energy.
At BeingSattvaa, we begin each day with an appreciation for all that we’ve been given. You can relax and let yourself stroll through our sprawling gardens, feeling the blades of grass in between your toes and taking in the scent of the flowers around. You can take a moment to unplug – listen to the songs of the birds, the buzz of bees and butterflies, and the whisper of the wind; you can wander around our ample fruit and vegetable garden taking in the sights of the majestic coconut palms, the swaying banana plants, the lush jackfruit trees and many more…
At BeingSattvaa, we incorporate a routine that includes the four pillars of wellness: Exercise, Nutrition, Mindfulness Practice, and Rest and Relaxation.

At Being Sattva, there are two yoga / meditation shalas – one with a roof – overlooking the jungle, and one a terrace overlooking the ravine. Both are beautiful and tranquil spaces to practice sitting with yourself, being with whatever is arising in each and every moment.
*There is not a picture of me leading this group as it’s the first time I have offered this retreat at this venue.

Chelle, with a beautiful group of singers after a Kirtan Session at the Ibiza Yoga retreat, Spain
Writing Your Soul Song
It is my goal that each woman who attends this retreat comes away with a unique and beautiful ‘Soul Song’. Whether you are a musician or not, I believe that together, we can do this! You will write your lyrics during our first workshop, and in our second one, we’ll together work on the music. Then this is the song you can sing to yourself if you ever find yourself getting off track in your life. This song of your soul will remind you of who you are and why you are here!
RETREAT SCHEDULE
Day 1 : Welcome and Introduction to our REJUVENATE Yoga and Soul Song Retreat
Day 2: Opening to Bali’s Healing Energy and Setting Intentions for the Retreat
Day 3: Letting Go of Old Stories and Opening to our Soul’s Song
Day 4: Channeling our Soul’s Song (Or Poem)
Day 5: Blessings and Giving Thanks
Each morning we will begin with meditation at 6:30 am, followed by our yoga practice. At 8:15 we will have our breakfast and then the rest of the morning will be your free time to enjoy relaxing by the pool, having a massage or doing some journalling in your room, working on your Soul Song! On two afternoons of our retreat, we will enjoy a creativity workshop, where you will be guided to channeling your soul’s song in this moment of your life. This may be a poem, or you may want to make it into a song by adding music. You are not required to have any songwriting experience for this, but some musical knowledge will be a plus (though not mandatory!). There are a few different instruments available at the retreat that we will make use of in these workshops.
What does your soul want to communicate to you in this moment of your “one wild and precious life”?
(to quote the fantastic American poet Mary Oliver).

Typical Day’s Schedule

Morning Meditation: 6:30 – 7am
Slow Hatha Yoga: 7am – 8:15am
Nourishing Breakfast: 8:15am – 9am
Walking Meditation: 10:30am – 11:30am
Healthy Vegetarian Lunch: 12pm – 1pm
First Soul Song Workshop: 3pm – 4pm
Spa / Massage: 4pm – 5pm
Sharing Circle: 5pm – 6:30
Healthy Vegetarian Dinner: 6:30 – 8pm

HEALTHY VEGETARIAN FOOD

The Beingsattvaa kitchen is unique and open, overlooking the rainforest. Guests can watch the kitchen staff at work. A Beingsattvaa kitchen and dining experience is an integral part of the overall Beingsattvaa experience as we believe that nutrition plays a crucial role in wellbeing. The BeingSattvaa kitchen is a fully-equipped modern kitchen that serves delectable, delicious, yet healthy cuisine, made from plant-based, predominantly organic and locally sourced materials; Cuisine is international with a mix of Indian, Indonesian, Western and Mediterranean vegetarian food, which is sustainable, simple, pure and real.
The Beingsattvaa kitchen believes in the axiom – ‘your food is your medicine’ and will endeavor to serve healing foods that are beneficial to the body. You will begin the day with a healthy breakfast with fresh fruit and cold-pressed vegetable and fruit juices, whole-grain bread, and other remarkable health-food options; lunch options of salads, main courses which will be plant-based with high quality dairy products including cheese and natural Yogurt; healthy dinner options, all of which will avoid excessive use of sugar or processed foods. We will allow moderate alcohol consumption, restricted to wines. The principle behind our food will be – wholesome fare for the body, mind and spirit that enhances wellbeing.
The beautiful dining room, overlooking the rainforest has seating arrangements that can be configured as tabes for 4, 6, 8 or more people. Furnished in colourful table linen from Jaipur, India, with colourful tableware and accessories, the dining experience will be personalised and unique. We can cater to individual guests as well as groups. Menus are tailored accordingly.
(Courtesy of the BeingSattva Retreat website).
HATHA YOGA

The yoga taught on this retreat will be Hatha Yoga which is appropriate for all different levels of yoga practice. There will be different adjustments to all of the poses according to your practice level. This yoga style is design to integrate mind body and soul, and leave you feeling refreshed and reconnected to yourself. This ia very far from the ‘aerobic’ style classes on offer at many gyms around the world today. Expect a whole new level of mind and body integration, understanding and connection, thanks to the yoga taught on this retreat.
(Above pic of Chelle teaching at the Akasha Yoga Retreat in Romania, Summer 2023.)
WATERFALL EXCURSION

Image: Jenny from one of our Radical Self Love Retreat waterfall excursions, North Bali, 2019
One morning after breakfast, you will have to opportunity to join an excursion to the nearby waterfall. Here you can swim if you’d like or just enjoy the lush tropical nature.

BEAUTIFUL LUXURIOUS ROOMS

BeingSattva has individually designed bedrooms with private terraces, spacious bathrooms with bathtubs, and full bathroom amenities. All rooms are furnished in Indonesian teak wood furniture with a colourful mix of furnishings from Bali and Jaipur India. All accessories are in teak wood. Rooms are equipped with safety boxes, and coffee and tea-making facilities. There are no televisions in the rooms in keeping with the ethos of the place which promotes peace and quiet. The rooms are free Wi-Fi enabled, though, with a strong fibre-optic connection across the length and breadth of the property to enable you to connect at will, if you choose to, in your own time, at your own pace. Each room can accommodate two people. All rooms and public areas are non-smoking.

EARLY BIRD RATES AVAILABLE UNTIL DEC 7th, 2026
Early bird twin share: US$1050*
Early bird Single Occupancy: US$1550*
Included in this price is: accomodation, dinner on the first evening, three meals a day for day 2 – 4 and breakfast on day 5 plus an excursion to the waterfall, all yoga and meditation classes and the soul songwriting sessions. One welcome massage is also included in the price, subject to availability (recommended to book early). Airport transfer is also included in the retreat price.

TESTIMONIALS

ANNETTE, Radical Self Love Retreat, Australia, 2018
I joined Michelle for her Radical Self Love yoga and meditation retreat, and I am so glad I did. The weekend consisted of meditation, workshops and yoga – all of which were challenging, and subsequently more rewarding. Michelle created a programme that fostered deep reflection and subsequently garnered profound personal insights. As a very private person I thought I would be uncomfortable given the personal nature of the workshops, but Michelle created a warm, non judgemental, accepting space in which I felt comfortable sharing, and getting deep into the heart of things. The time I spent with Michelle was really valuable, and many changes have come about in my life as a result.
Kim, Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali, 2019
Michelle’s Radical Self Love retreat in Bali (August 2019) was perfectly timed. Physically and mentally drained, it was time to put myself first, but how? We are so conditioned to go, go, go. Mother, wife, employee. We do what we need to do. But what about us? How do we take care of ourselves? The retreat gave me the opportunity to reset and begin the rest of my life. Commencing the day with meditation is amazing. So calming. Let everything go and start each day fresh. Follow up meditation with yoga to get your mind and body feeling strong and refreshed. Complete focus on yourself.
The self love classes caused me to really dig deep and be honest with myself. It is time to accept who I am, flaws and all. Be proud of who I am and where I am at in my life. Hold my head up high and live life to the fullest. Create the life for myself that I deserve. Deal with that ‘negative voice’ in my head rationally and importantly, don’t take life too seriously; roll with the punches. Be present each day, stop planning for 2, 5, 15 years time. Enjoy each day, relax, take time to just be. Give myself permission to enjoy life and do the things that I love to do. The venue is really comfortable and relaxing. Up at sunrise, bed at sunset, so natural. Spend free time relaxing in a hammock, going for a walk, snorkelling in search of fish, or having a massage. I came home very relaxed and determined to continue my new way of life. I can thoroughly recommend attending. I can’t wait for Michelle to schedule a retreat in India.
Jenny, Radical Self Love, Bali, 2019
Beautiful Bali Sandat was a Tranquil Hideaway from the maddening hustle and bustle of work life to hold a yoga self-love retreat. Located near a local village on a quiet beach and surrounded by tranquil spacious gardens, the location was ideal for massage, meditation and yoga.
The local Balinese staff were so happy and friendly and always willing to help whenever they could. Michelle is passionate and committed to her belief in yoga and self-love. She is extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic and supportive. It was a truly inclusive and intimate environment where we all felt comfortable to share and grow together.
Six days of early morning meditation and yoga, self-love exploration, massages by the beach, great food, in a tranquil environment for relaxation and contemplation to the sounds of local birdlife and the calming hush of the ocean was just what the doctor ordered. The beach house where I stayed was lovely and relaxing, and outside of class I enjoyed many sedate hours on the day bed and hammock contemplating what we had learned in class. I also indulged in many, many delicious massages down by the beach that I highly recommend. As a person with disability, Michelle went out of her way to ensure I was supported and totally included in activities in the retreat and at the beach house. The only problem I had with the retreat was that it was not long enough, and I had to come back to work. However, I was so much better for my Bali yoga self-love experience and had developed tools that prepared me to return. I can highly recommend going on a retreat with Michelle, and would happily go again.
Steven, Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali, 2019

WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Included in the Retreat Price:

Accomodation in a luxurious room (double or single occupancy)
Healthy and Nourishing Home Cooked Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (begins from dinner on Day 1 and ends with lunch on Day 5)
All Curated and Inclusive Yoga Classes (catered for all levels of practice)
All Guided Meditation Classes
2 Soul Songwriting Workshop
Airport pick-up and drop-off shuttle service to airport in Denpasar
1 Welcome Massage Treatment at the Retreat Spa
1 x Waterfall Excursion
Materials for the Songwriting Workshop

What’s not included in the Retreat:

Airfares
Travel Insurance
Any extra Spa Treatments (beyond the 1 Massage) or personal shopping

RETREAT PRICE
Super Early Bird Rates – valid until Dec 7th, 2025
Shared Room (double occupancy): USD $1050
Double Room (single occupancy): USD $1550

ABOUT YOUR GUIDE / TEACHER

Still from Music Video (made in Bali!) for the latest song from AKASHA LOVE: You Know I Told You What I Needed To
Michelle Taffe (aka AKASHA LOVE) was born in Australia but has been a ‘global yogi’ slash ‘global artist’ since her early twenties when she first left Australia in search of adventure! She lived in Spain from 2000 – 2011, where she indulged her passion for life and for all things Spanish in Barcelona (men, food, music, wine…!) in her late twenties, learning fluent Spanish before moving to the beautiful island of Mallorca to seek her fortune as a Hostess / Chef on Superyacht boats. It was there, while living with her Swedish boyfriend that she began the yoga journey (after taking her first Vipassana meditation retreat in Thailand just after the Asian Tusnami in 2005). Yoga and meditation have been her core self care practices since this time, and in 2017 she finally took the plunge to do her Yoga Teacher Training on the gorgeous island of Koh Phangan, in the Gulf of Thailand. Since this time, she’s been leading Yoga and Meditation Retreats and Experiences in Australia, Romania, Bali and Italy.
From 2011, she moved back to Australia to launch her Global Yogi project. This was a stunning website with luscious images of inspiring uplifting yoga and spirit destinations around the globe for spiritual seekers. For the Global Yogi, she was the CEO, writer, graphic designer, business manager, interviewer, and head salesperson! This was a fun experience where she was able to travel in South East Asia, Australia and Europe, visiting and ‘testing out’ many different yoga retreats and spiritual destinations, reporting on them for her 3000+ global yogi readers around the world. At the height of it’s success, Global Yogi had a newsletter subscriber base of more than 3000. In 2019, struggling with wearing all of these hats for the business, Chelle decided to close it down and switch into the next chapter as Singer Songwriter / Artist and Retreat Host.
In 2020, during the first year of COVID she decided to become more dedicated to her path as and Artist / Musician while living in her beautiful hermit hideaway on the North Bali coast. Here she divinely channelled her artist name AKASHA LOVE (Space for Love) and wrote the 6 six songs for her first album (The Youniverse) and created the first YOUNIVERSE calendar with her own artworks. In 2022 and 2023, she lived in between Bali and Europe (Sicily and Austria) with her Austrian partner and shared her music as a street musician. Now she’s (single again!) and in the phase of sharing her music at Kirtans and Open Mics around Ubud, Bali. She very much looks forward to connecting with you and helping draw out your inner singer songwriter!
Thanks to her curiosity and global travels, she now speaks Spanish, French and Italian as well as very basic Bahasa Indonesia and basic Thai. She can say many things about her life so far but one this is for sure: It hasn’t been boring! 🙂

FAQs
Do I have to have a yoga practice to attend?
~ No, you can attend even if you haven’t done yoga ever or in a long time
Do I have to attend all the sessions?
~ It is recommended that you attend all the sessions, as this is a group experience so it’s important that everyone that comes is intending to attend all the retreat’s sessions
Do I need to have experience as a songwriter / musician for the songwriting session?
~ No, you don’t need to have any musical experience, though you do need to have interest in this process. If you don’t feel up to writing a song, you can write a poem.
Do I need a meditation practice to attend the retreat?
~ No, you don’t need to have a meditation practice to attend the retreat.
What kind of meditation will be taught on the retreat?
~ The meditation practice shared is based on Mindfulness meditation from the Buddhist tradition, including watching the breath, loving kindness, compassion practice – all designed to bring you more into present moment awareness.
Do I have to share on this retreat?
~ I will encourage you to share as it does really help others to know that everyone goes through the same types of struggles and challenges in life, but nobody will be obliged to share if you don’t feel like it. Sharing on a retreat enhances and enriches the connections between the retreat-ents and helps to create a sense of emotional safety and bonding between the participants.
Can I bring my phone to the retreat?
~ You can bring your phone, but you will be encouraged to leave it in your room and to minimise your time on it.
Are there any spiritual or religious elements in this retreat?
~ I may reference teachings from Buddhism but the emphasis is always on the practicality of these teachings for supporting self compassion and inner peace.
Do I need to have a certain level of physical fitness to attend the retreat?
~ You do need to have basic mobility for the practice but you don’t need to have any particular fitness level.
Will I have one on one time with the teacher?
~ Yes, each evening you will have some time to check in with the teacher and also during the day you will have the opportunity to talk with the teacher if you need to.
What do I need to bring?
~ The tropical climate at Ubud, Bali is warm and sunny, with high humidity and expectations of frequent rain. It is best to dress in light, comfortable clothing. In addition, you are encouraged to consider bringing the following items:

Walking shoes for outdoor activities
Light jacket or shawl if you tend to get cold
Umbrella, sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, etc. for the outdoors
​Water bottle / flask for keeping hydrated

The retreat centre provides bed linens, blankets, pillows, meditation cushions, and yoga mats, but please feel free to bring your own if necessary.

CANCELLATION POLICY
To secure your place on the retreat, 10% deposit is required. The remaining balance for the retreat is due 60 days prior to the start date. If this balance is paid earlier than these 60 days, you are eligible to cancel and receive a full refund of this remaining balance, provided you do so at least 60 days before the retreat begins.

BOOKINGS

This retreat is limited to 15 people. To book, first make an enquiry via this form.

4 Day Healing Retreat, North Bali
2025-08-14 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Bali
A 3 Day Healing Retreat in Ubud Bali, where you will experience daily meditation and yoga practice, visit a beautiful water temple and receive a personalised Reiki or Tarot Session.

'Divino Amore' Retreat, Sicily
2023-07-22 - 2023-07-28 | Ortigia, Ortigia, Siracusa, Italy
Want to experience the vibrant and colourful island of Sicily in this European summer? Ready for a dose of ‘divino amore’?

Join me this July for a deep dive into yoga, meditation, pranayama and music (mantras), in the exquisitely beautiful ancient city of Siracusa, which is actually on a small island.
This island of Ortigia is about just a few kilometres squared, but this small space is one of the most vibrant cultural and archeological meccas in Sicily, and also a place with a strong healing energy. Each morning we will practice yoga outdoors in front of the sea, and the rest of the day will be devoted to exploring the nooks and crannies of this enchanting
FYI: This is the first time I am running this event, that’s why I don’t have any pics with groups! It’s not that I want to post only me, but if you join this inaugural retreat, I’ll be able to put your smiling face in here (with your permission of course!) for the next event!

The ‘Diana’ Fountain Sculpture in the Piazza Archimede, Ortigia, by Giulio Moschetti

Yoga Every Morning, in Front of the Sea
Every morning we will do our yoga, meditation and pranayama practice on the fort in front of the sea, next to the piattaforma. The sun heats up quickly in the morning so we will finish by about 9am.

History, Culture, Art, Sea, Yoga!

Ortigia, being a small island – is surrounded by sea!
There is a lovely small beach at one end of the island, and a ‘piattaforma’ swimming platform just nearby. Both are great for wiling away a few hours in the afternoon, chatting to locals and tourists in between swims.
If you are feeling more active, each day there will be afternoon activities including guided tours of the city, of the market, as well as a Sicilian cooking class! Siracusa and particularly Ortigia has a fascinating history, starting out as one of the most important cities of the Ancient Greek civilisation.
The Temple of Apollo right next to the market in Ortigia – just over the bridge on entering the town, dates back to the the 6th century BC. The Temple of Athena – which is now the Cathedral of Saint Lucia in the centre of the island, dates back to the 5th century BC. Under the city is a network of catacombs that criss crosses the whole island, and connects with the lower levels of the church of Saint Fillipo the Apostle, home to a Jewish ritual bath dating back to the 14th century.

Michelle at a special art exhibition at Castello Maniace, Ortigia, Sicily. 2022

Afternoon City Tours/Activities*
*optional and not included in the retreat cost
Piattaforma, Ortigia, Sicily
Each afternoon there will be a suggested tour itinerary to explore the island. This is optional and you are also free of course to just relax with the locals on either the Cala Rossa beach or the popular piattaforma (shown on left).
Most of these tours will be less that 20 euros and some are free or by donation, with either Michelle (no extra fee) or local tour operators.

The Castello Maniace (Fortress at the far point of the island built in the 13th Century) (Entry price 15 euros)
The Temple of Apollo (free)
The Temple of Athena / Cathedral of Santa Lucia (donation)
The Jewish Ritual Baths under the Church of St Filippo the Apostle (donation)
A circumnavigation of the Island on the Love Boat (about 25 euros)
The Fountain of Aretusa (either free or with a guided tour)
The ancient Greek Amphitheatre (just 5 kms outside of Siracusa town)
A Sicilian Cooking Class with a local chef

Street at night. Ortigia, Sicily

Sample Daily Program

Morning
7am: Wake up
7:30-9: Yoga and Meditation in front of the sea
9:15: Delicious breakfast of fresh fruits, muesli and Italian pastries
10-12pm: Self Love Workshop
1pm: Lunch
Afternoon
3-5pm: Optional city tour / relax at the swimming piattaforma or the Cala Rossa beach
Dinner: You are free to go for dinner to any of the nearby amazing restaurants on offer (that cater to a wide range of budgets!) except the last night where we will go to dinner together!
Evening Activities Include:

Ortigia Film Festival – a fantastic documentary film festival offered every summer in a few different piazzas in Ortigia. Films are free and are shown every night in 3 different outdoor venues in the city.
Watching concerts / street performers in the Piazza Del Duomo
Mantra Singing / Drumming Workshop (Last night of our retreat)

Morning Workshops

Cathedral, Ortigia – once the Temple of Athena
Monday 24th: 10am – 12pm | Channeling your Inner Goddess
n the ancient days of this city of Siracusa, before Italy existed, and before the Roman Empire, it was a Greek city state, settled by the Corinthians in 734BC.
In this workshop we will look at the purpose of Gods and Goddesses in ancient Greek culture, and how it can be helpful to us, as women, to work on embodying the qualities of Goddess like Athena.

Thursday 27th 10am – 12pm: Free Your Voice, Open Your Heart with Mantra Chanting
Your hostess + her guitar
This will be a guided workshop in Mantra Singing // Kirtan.
There will be percussion instruments for you to play along with if you like and the words to all the songs will be provided.
Wednesday 26th 10am – 12pm: Pranayama Breathwork Meditation
How does the depth of our breathing impact our emotions and our emotional processing?
In this workshop we will look at – and practice a variety of different Pranayama (pranic breathing practices), before going on a guided breath journey (lying down) with music, for emotional release and healing.

La Cucina! Il Cibo ~ Our Food

Images by The Guardian and iloveitaly.com
Breakfast and Lunch will be lacto vegetarian (also with vegan options) provided by a local Sicilian chef, using the incredible range of fruit and veggies, olives, tapanades (and yes, some Italian formaggios (for those who like cheeses) available fresh each day, (almost all of them grown and sourced in Sicily) from the local market in Ortigia.

Kind Words from Past Retreatants

Inner Freedom Meditation Retreat, Happy Buddha, NSW, Feb 2020
Answers to the Question: What did you enjoy most about the retreat?
“Everything! Nothing was less significant than the other part. Although it was exactly as Michelle described – good for mental development, so it was also challenging – very! Michelle is an amazing teacher, her sense of peace, strength and inner joy is all that I aspire to have.”
“Any of the guided meditations. I also really liked the meditation on self and non-self, something really interesting to think about, and allowed me to reflect more deeply.”
And from the Bali Radical Self Love Retreats
“The self love classes caused me to really dig deep and be honest with myself. It is time to accept who I am, flaws and all. Be proud of who I am and where I am at in my life. Hold my head up high and live life to the fullest. Create the life for myself that I deserve. Deal with that ‘negative voice’ in my head rationally and importantly, don’t take life too seriously; roll with the punches. Be present each day, stop planning for 2, 5, 15 years time. Enjoy each day, relax, take time to just be. Give myself permission to enjoy life and do the things that I love to do….
I came home very relaxed and determined to continue my new way of life. I can thoroughly recommend attending. I can’t wait for Michelle to schedule a retreat in India.”
Jenny, RSL, Bali, August 2019
Michelle is also a great yoga and meditation teacher; she is patient, communicates very well, and demonstrates yoga practice and meditation on both spiritual and physical platforms, in a connected, calming, supportive and inspiring way. I would really encourage individuals who wish to explore and develop self love, as well as to enhance their yoga and meditation techniques, to attend one of Michelle’s RSL retreats. Apart from the fact that she chooses great locations in which to open up an ambient space for RSL exploration!”
Kim, RSL, Bali, April 2019

Investment
For Single Occupancy, investment is 900 Euros (Early bird rate: 780 paid in full before Feb 28th).
For Double Occupancy (shared with one other), investment is 700 Euros (Early bird rate: 630 paid in full by Feb 28th).
Price includes:

3 Star Hotel Accomodation in Ortigia
Breakfast and Lunch x 6 days
All yoga and meditation classes
All morning workshops
Mantra Singing / Drumming Event on the last night of our retreat

Price doesn’t include:

Dinners
Afternoon Tours / Sicilian Cooking Class
Snacks etc. throughout the day
Any public (in the city) Evening events
Transportation to or from Catania airport (this can be arranged for an extra fee)

Getting There
Siracusa is easily accessible from Catania Airport. You can either take a bus to Siracusa direct from the airport, or you can get a bus to the train station, and get a train from Catania central to Siracusa. Price for a bus from the airport to Siracusa is about 15 euros.
Alternatively, we can easily arrange for a private taxi to pick you up (fee is 80 euros).

Accomodation
Residenci Dei Baroni, Ortigia, Siracusa
Our 3 star hotel (above, the Residence Dei Baroni) is located in a beautiful 18th century Palazzo one street back from the sea on the sunrise side of the island on the street Via Veneto.
Rooms are spacious and beautiful and have a double bed, and many a small balcony. Many of them also have a small kitchen with kitchen table and a fridge included (for midnight snacks!). If you want to share a room with a friend, just let me know their name when you are booking.

PLACES AVAILABLE: 1 space
***Update JULY 2023*****
There is one place available on this retreat – a double room of your own in a shared apartment for the special last minute price of 650 Euro!!! Email: hello@akashalove.life to grab it!

Entry to one of the homes in the Maestranza Street, Ortigia.

About your Host and Teacher
Chelle, in Ortigia, July 2022. Pic: Martin Krammer.

‘Akasha’ Chelle is a global yogi, healer, artist, musician and an experienced yoga and meditation teacher who’s been running her own retreats (and teaching at other people’s retreats) for five years now. She has a daily Ashtanga yoga practice, and is a dedicated and passionate yogi, very excited to share this practice that has transformed her life. She’s had a personal yoga and meditation practice since she took her first class with her teacher Rene while living in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 2005. In November 2018, after she’d already been teaching for some years, she completed her RTA 200 Hours Yoga Teaching Certification at Samma Karuna in Koh Phangan, Thailand. She’s also an experienced and qualified meditation and mindfulness teacher and has facilitated at many Vipassana retreats in Thailand.
A passionate traveller, who fell in love with the island of Ortigia on her first visit to Siracusa, Sicily, in 2014, she’s been returning to the island, and particularly to Ortigia, ever since. She speaks basic conversational Italian, and knows many of the interesting personalities in Ortigia, as well as the iconic and the less well known sites of cultural and historical significance on the island. She will be delighted to introduce them to you (the historic sites, and the personalities, should we bump into them in our afternoon walks around the island).
She also loves talking about herself in third person (not!). Find out more about her here.

Terms and Conditions: Refunds are available with an administration fee of 100 euros, up until June 22nd. The fee will be waived if you find someone to fill your spot on the retreat. After June 22nd (a month prior to the event), no refund will be made.

WOMEN'S CIRCLE
2022-12-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Join this very special Women’s Circle Creative Alchemy end of year event.
This will be an online Zoom circle, carefully curated by Michelle. There will be time for everyone to share the highs and lows of this year, followed by some Creative Alchemy sessions where I invite you to join me for some alchemical practices for seeding what you’d like to create for 2023.
There are only 10 spaces available for 10 amazing women at this event, so jump in quickly if you feel called to come to this event.

When you purchase your ticket, you will receive an email with the details to join the event.
See you on December 16th!

RADIANCE - Women's Yoga + Creativity Retreat, Bali
2022-11-21 - 2022-11-26 | Bali Sandat Guesthouse, Bondalem, Bali, Indonesia
Join us for this Radiance retreat on the beautiful black sand beach coast of North Bali. Guided by ‘Akasha Love’ (Michelle), connect with your inner and outer radiance through 6 days of Yoga, Meditation, Creative practices, Waterfall adventure and Balinese Culture. Let’s dance together with our shadows, integrate and process them so that they amplify our light. We are all beings of light, love and energy!
This is a women only retreat, with the intention being to hold a sacred space for women who want to focus on radiating their soul’s essence through yoga, meditation and creative practice.
This retreat is designed to bring your radiance out from the inside – out.
Through our daily practices of Meditation, Yoga and different Creative activities each day, we will together connect with our inner radiance, supported by the magical island of Bali. This retreat is held in North Bali, which is a quiet oasis, far from the busy party scene of Kuta and Legian, or the boho surfer / digital nomad mecca of Canggu.
The schedule for this retreat is designed so that there is plenty of time each day for connecting with yourself, for reading, swimming at the stunning black sand beach, going on a dolphin spotting boat trip or exploring the village.
The food for this program is designed to support your inner radiance on every level, and is all carefully prepared vegetarian food, featuring the luscious tropical fruits of Bali. Breakfast and lunch are included in the price, and if you would like dinner as well, you can order it from the menu at Bali Sandat, or you can get some tasty nasi goreng (fried rice) in the village.

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali, 2019

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali, 2019

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali, 2019

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali 2019

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali 2019

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali 2019

Yoga class, Bondalem, Bali

Relaxing in the garden of Bali Sandat Guesthouse

Local Balinese Staff at Bali Sandat Guesthouse

Flowers for you to enjoy while having a massage at Bali Sandat

Hammock on the balcony, Bali Sandat Guesthouse

Delicious Indonesia treats at Bali Sandat Guesthouse

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali 2019

Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali 2019

Michelle, Sekumpul Waterfall, Bali, 2018

RETREAT PROGRAM
Monday 21st Day 2

10am – 1pm: Arrive at Bali Sandat and check in
2pm: Late health vegetarian lunch
4pm – 5pm: Intro of the program and introducing ourselves
5pm – 6.30pm: Relaxing Yin Yoga Session
7pm: Light vegetarian dinner
9pm: Tea and bedtime.

Tuesday 22nd Day 2

7:00 am: Get up
7:15– 7:45 am: Morning Meditation
8 am – 9.30 am: Slow Flow Radiance Hatha Yoga
9:30 am: Fabulicious Fruity Breakfast
11 am: Creative Circle: What does Radiance look like? Painting / Drawing your Aura
1 pm: Luscious Vegetarian Lunch followed by relaxation time
Optional afternoon activities: Dolphin boat trip, Balinese massage, Reiki session
7pm: Optional Dinner from Bali Sandat menu or from local restaurants
8pm – 8:30 pm: Meditation with crystal bowls
9pm: Tea and Bedtime

Wednesday 23rd Day 3

7:00 am: Get up
7:15 – 7:45 am: Morning Meditation
8 am – 9.30 am: Slow Flow Radiance Hatha Yoga
9:30 am: Fabulicious Fruity Breakfast
11 am: Creative Circle : Poetry writing / Song writing session
1 pm: Luscious Vegetarian Lunch followed by relaxation time
Optional afternoon activities: Dolphin boat trip, Balinese massage, Reiki session
7pm: Optional Dinner from Bali Sandat menu or local restaurants
8pm – 9 pm: Relaxing Yin Yoga Practice
9pm: Tea and Bedtime

Thursday 24th Day 4

7:00 am: Get up
7:15 – 7:45 am: Morning Meditation
8 am – 9.30 am: Slow Flow Radiance Hatha Yoga
9:30 am: Fabulicious Fruity Breakfast
11 am: Creative Circle / Inner Dance (5 Rhythms Style Dance Meditation)
1 pm: Luscious Vegetarian Lunch followed by relaxation time
Optional afternoon activities: Dolphin boat trip, Balinese massage, Reiki session
7 pm: Optional dinner from Bali Sandat menu or street restaurants
8pm – 9 pm: Kirtan Singing Circle (Mantra Chanting with guitar)
9pm: Tea and Bedtime

Friday 25th Day 5

7:00 am: Get up
7:15 – 7:45 am: Morning Meditation
8 am – 9.30 am: Slow Flow Radiance Hatha Yoga
9:30 am: Fabulicious Fruity Breakfast
11 am: Balinese Culture Workshop: Making Balinese Offerings from Bamboo, fruits and flowers with some of the staff from Bali Sandat
1 pm: Luscious Vegetarian Lunch followed by relaxation time
2 – 6pm: Excursion to the Sekumpul Waterfall in North Bali
7 pm: Optional dinner from the Bali Sandat menu or street restaurants
8pm – 8:30 pm: Crystal Bowls Sound Healing Session: just enjoy and relax.
9pm: Tea and Bedtime

Saturday 26th Day 6

7:00 am: Get up
7:15 – 7:45 am: Morning Meditation
8 am – 9.30 am: Slow Flow Radiance Hatha Yoga
9:30 am: Fabulicious Fruity Breakfast
11 am: Sharing Circle: Share our Songs / Poems / Art / Experience at this Retreat 🙂
1pm: Luscious vegetarian Lunch
2pm: Leaving (or optional stay on at Bali Sandat a few days for an extra daily rate)

YOGA AND MEDITATION PRACTICES
Every morning we will practice meditation before our yoga session. The meditation taught on this retreat is based on the Vipassana (Insight) meditation teachings from Buddhism. Each day there will be slightly different (progressive) instruction on becoming the observer of our mind / body / spirit experience and finding equanimity and peace while sitting with ourselves. This is of course, not always easy, depending on what is going on in our lives, bodies, minds and emotions. But with the ancient wisdom of Buddhism, delivered through our meditation practices, we can slowly learn to be at peace with everything that is going on both within and without. Michelle is an experienced meditation facilitator (and qualified Mindfulness Teacher), having been a yoga teacher and facilitator multiple times at the traditional 10 Day Vipassana silent retreats at both the Wat Kow Tham and the Suan Mokkh Theravada Buddhist monasteries in southern Thailand.
Yoga taught on this retreat will be tailored to the specific energy of the group. It will be Hatha yoga based, with some Vinyasa Flows slowly developing during the week. The idea is that you can come away from the retreat with a basic yoga practice you can do at home on a daily basis. For all the different postures, various options and adjustments will be given depending on where you are at currently with your fitness levels and how stretchy and bendy and open you are feeling. Of course you will gradually open up throughout the week too. 🙂 Yoga = Union – it’s a yoking practice which helps connect all the different parts of ourselves together, so that while we may come into a practice feeling a bit fragmented, we come out of it, after a deep Shavansana (relaxation) feeling whole and integrated in ourselves / at home in our being.

CREATIVE CIRCLES
Each day of the retreat there will be a different Creative Circle on offer. Creativity is so central to our Radiance, and if our creative impulse is repressed in our life, it’s very hard to be fully expressed and fully radiant. So these Creative Circles are a space for you to connect with your soul’s essence and create whatever wants to be created on that day. Whether you are a professional artist, or you hardly create at all, there will be something for you in each of our Creative sessions. These are often a highlight of this retreat, and it’s something not offered at many other yoga retreats. All materials will be provided so you don’t need to bring anything to these sessions except a willingness to be open and explore your inner territory, in the company of others.

WATERFALL EXCURSION
On Friday of the retreat we will go for an excursion to the Sekumpul (Gilgit) waterfall in North Bali. This is a stunning waterfall and there is a beautiful one hour or so walk to get to it. We will be guided by a local Balinese guide on our walk through the rice paddies to the waterfall. Please bring at least a pair of runners with grip for this walk (or a pair of walking shoes). The path is steep in parts, but OK for anyone with a normal fitness level. This is one of the most beautiful and spectacular waterfalls in Bali and a not-to-be missed experience, so make sure you have some decent shoes. Thongs / flip flops won’t do the job here.

FABULICIOUS FOOD
The food at this retreat will be health vegetarian Indonesian style food prepared by the Bali Sandat resident chef, Kadek.
Breakfasts are a feast for the senses with fresh tropical fruits (picked straight from the garden at Bali Sandat – or got from the morning market in the village), muesli, coconut yogurt, as well as fresh juices, toast and jams made at Bali Sandat. Lunches are a combination of vegetarian healthy fresh salads, Indonesian style (Gado Gado) and international, tofu, egg and rice dishes (Nasi Lemak with tofu), vegetable lasagna and more. Special diets (gluten free, vegan) can be accommodated for with prior notice.
Michelle has set up the retreat in the way to encourage a mindful relationship with food. Often in our everyday life, we can end up eating too much, and in eating too much, we lose a deep connection with our bodies. We can dull our senses because we are too full of food. Then we can lose our natural radiance. We will have some discussions on mindful eating, according to Buddhist practices and what it means to feel ‘full’ or satisfied after a meal. In making dinner optional, everyone on the retreat can feel into their body’s intuition in the evening and see if they are really needing to eat, and if so, then make a choice from the Bali Sandat menu or go for a dinner at one of the local warnings (local restaurants) in Bondalem or nearby villages.

Retreat Price Includes*

Accomodation in Double Occupancy Rooms (for Single Occupancy: an extra $100)
Healthy vegetarian breakfast and lunch each day (if you want dinner also you can buy separately at Bali Sandat or nearby restaurants)
Daily Yoga and Meditation classes
All Workshops and Creativity Classes
1 x Excursion to a local waterfall
Materials provided for Creativity Classes

Retreat Price doesn’t include

Airport transfers (these can be arranged for an extra fee – takes 3 hours)
Dinners (if you want a light dinner you can order from the Bali Sandat menu or from the street vendors in the village)
Extras like Balinese Massages (available every day) and Reiki Sessions with Michelle
Extra drinks between meals (can be ordered and paid separately)
Travel insurance for time in Bali

* Retreat Price is for Double Occupancy (shared with one other). If you would like your own room, you can select the Single Occupancy Option (for and extra AUD $100).

TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST RETREATANTS
“Attending Michelle’s Radical Self Love Retreat in Bali was an amazing experience, perfectly timed, and delivered all I was seeking and more. The location was perfect and I felt warmly welcomed and deeply nurtured from the moment I arrived until the moment I left.
Michelle created a beautiful, open, loving, safe space for me to connect with myself in ways I hadn’t realised that I could or even needed. I very much enjoyed the daily yoga and meditation practices which served to help connect with my mind and body in ways I hadn’t before and by the end of the 6 days had me feeling very pleased with my achievements and confident to continue my practice once back home.
I absolutely loved the daily self-love workshops and gained so much from them. Michelle covered so many meaningful topics, which guided me to some powerful realisations and an overall deepening love and appreciation for myself.
Michelle is a lovely being and an amazing facilitator who is so clearly living and growing in self-love and who is also deeply drawn to helping others to dive deeper into themselves and deeper into their own self-loving journeys.
I would absolutely join another of Michelle’s retreats, and for anyone seeking a safe, loving space to connect with oneself on a deeper level, I’d highly recommend attending.”
Marianne, Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali April 2019
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“I joined Michelle for her Radical Self Love yoga and meditation retreat, and I am so glad I did.
The weekend consisted of meditation, workshops and yoga – all of which were challenging, and subsequently more rewarding. Michelle created a programme that fostered deep reflection and subsequently garnered profound personal insights.
As a very private person I thought I would be uncomfortable given the personal nature of the workshops, but Michelle created a warm, non judgemental, accepting space in which I felt comfortable sharing, and getting deep into the heart of things.
The time I spent with Michelle was really valuable, and many changes have come about in my life as a result.”
Thanks Michelle! X”
Annette, Radical Self Love Retreat, Victoria, June 2018
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“I found the overall RSL retreat to be so inspiring and it has assisted me to become more grounded and connected with myself. My teacher, Michelle Taffe, was excellent at bringing people together in a workshop environment, in terms of connecting both with themselves and with each other as a group.
I felt a strong bond develop as the retreat progressed, within the group, that enabled us all to relax more, to open up as a group on emotional and personal, even in a sense spiritual, levels.
Michelle is also a great yoga and meditation teacher; she is patient, communicates very well, and demonstrates yoga practice and meditation on both spiritual and physical platforms, in a connected, calming, supportive and inspiring way. I would really encourage individuals who wish to explore and develop self love , as well as to enhance their yoga and meditation techniques, to attend one of Michelle’s RSL retreats. Apart from the fact that she chooses great locations in which to open up an ambient space for RSL exploration!”
Kim, Radical Self Love Retreat, Bali, April 2019
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ABOUT THE VENUE: Bali Sandat Guesthouse

Bali Sandat Guesthouse, set on the black sand beach of the beautiful village of Bondalem in North Bali, is the perfect spot for some ‘me time’. The guesthouse is set in a luscious garden that stretches right down to the beach, and all of the rooms have either a beach or a garden view. Fully staffed by beautiful group of local Balinese people (many who have been at Bali Sandat since its beginnings), there is a lovely family feeling at this place. Here you will have direct contact with the rich and amazing Balinese culture – from the beautiful daily offerings to the Gods placed at temples around the property, to possibilities to join in with local Balinese ceremonies at temples nearby, this is the perfect place to connect with the authentic and ancient culture of Bali.
Find out more about Bali Sandat at www.bali-sandat.com
Spaces are limited to 10 people on this intimate women’s retreat, so book in early to guarantee your spot!
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE (Shared Room)
Or CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE (Own Room)
