Pranawayu Yoga with Ketut Bandiastra at Taman Hati Yoga Ashram

Taman Hati Yoga Ashram

Location: Jalan Nyuh Gading No.7, Ubud, Bali
Email: tamanhatiyoga.bali@gmail.com
Tel: +62 (0)361-974-058
GPS: 8°31'32.7"S 115°15'24.6"E

Yoga Quest
Ubud is not only the cultural capital of Bali, it is also the yoga Mecca. The place is rich in art, cultural events, spas and yes, a generous sprinkling of yoga offerings from home studios to lavish yoga resorts. In my quest to try out the yoga studios in Ubud and experience the different styles of yoga offered, I ventured into an off-the-grid ashram in Nyu Kunin area about 4kms from the Ubud town center, called Taman Hati Yoga Ashram.

at the Taman Hati Yoga Ashram

Taman Hati Yoga Ashram
A shortcut to Taman Hati from Ubud town center is to go on foot or bicycle around the Monkey Forest until you end up on the back side of it - you're now in Nyuh Kuning. The ashram was established in 2002 and located within a quiet residential neighborhood in the upcoming trendy area of Nyuh Kuning where chic restos and touristy warungs are mushrooming up. The yoga studio is unusually huge with a high ceiling and alfresco walling. Frequented by locals with a few foreigners, it's one of the least commercial of the gamut of yoga studios in Ubud. There is also a Myna bird who perfectly mimics the laughter and even voice of the teacher, I Ketut Bandiastra, S. Ag.

I Ketut Bandiastra, S. Ag
Ketut is a son of a Balinese priest and hails from Ubud. He has traveled the world in the course of his teachings. The class I attended was mostly locals with a handful of foreigners. Locals pay by donation while admission for foreigners is IDR 100k. Ketut conducted the class mostly in Balinese with a few sprinkling of English, Japanese and French lines. He has an infectious laughter and smile. He carries himself lightly and exudes an aura of Hakuna Matata, "don't worry, be happy" - a very good embodiment of the Balinese demeanor. So far, in my limited experience in Ubud, I can say that this is the only culture I've seen that makes a conscious effort to be happy and in fact, celebrates their happiness! In his cuing, he generously throws-in the words, 'happy', 'sexy (but in a good way)' and 'smile'. While light-heartedly said, in his cuing, he also underscores that divinity resides within us - something that resonates highly with me. He comes across as a teacher you want to have a fun time with after the class (instead of being worshiped).

Pranawayu Yoga
Pranawayu Yoga is a unique sequence with a Balinese Hindu flavor as developed by Ketut given his background in Kundalini, Ashtanga and Iyengar yoga. It has a specific set of asanas done in precise chronological order. The asanas are essentially the same as Hatha yoga but the sequencing is gracefully elegant, unique and challenging.

Akiko Abe
In all of this yoga quest, Aki has been the surpring curve ball. I met her while looking for Teacher Ketut. She is a yoga teacher from Japan and devoted to deepening her yoga here at Taman Hati, going through lengths of devouring even the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. According to her, she has tried many teachers and many styles but Pranawayu Yoga is a good match for her. She has a strong practice. Our friendship is an unexpected Easter Egg I found along the way.

Ending Thoughts
Pranawayu Yoga has one of the best sequencing I've ever experienced. With my strength coming back (from a month-long hiatus from yoga), I managed the asanas which were both challenging and artistic. The transitions were intelligent and intuitive as well. It felt like a well-orchestrated movement through space. Like Ashtanga and Sivananda that has a prescribed set of asanas in regimented chronology, so is Pranawayu. A sequence as gracefully articulated as this deserves its own name. Pranawayu Yoga!

Teacher Ketut, thank you so much for sharing the magic of Pranawayu Yoga with me. A year ago, I started developing an advance sequence combining the many elements of bandha, pranayama, kumbhaka into a series of asanas woven together into a seamless meditative vinyasa...but somehow left it unfinished. You give me inspiration to complete it.

--- TheLoneRider
Yoga & Fitness Website: YOGA by Gigit

ps - If you want me to participate and write about your yoga studio or your yoga practice, email me. For my complete yoga profile, you can visit this page: YOGA by Gigit

Reader Comments:

Next stop: Visiting the Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah)

Bali, Indonesia

tourist attractions

• Pasar Seni Ubud (market) - main market in Ubud with everything touristy you can ask for
• Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) - 9th century Buddhist temple
• Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary - there really is a monkey forest right in the heart of Ubud!
• Jalan Kajeng - animated street similar to Hollywood's Walk of Fame
• Nyuh Kuning - wood carving village with a burgeoning chic cafe and resto scene along Jalan Nyuh Gading
• Ubud Royal Palace - home of the royal family
• Campuhan Ridge Walk - spectacular ridge view and hike ending 1km to the artists' village, Bangkiang Sidem | 8°30'13.0"S 115°15'16.9"E

- hotel

• Ubud Backpackers Room - newly constructed, all new and clean, lockers, good water pressure, compli tea and coffee, spacious and alfresco chillout center
  Jalan Nyuh Kuning, Pengosekan, Ubud, MAS, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali - 8°31'36.5"S 115°15'41.3"E
• Nando House - free WiFi, restaurant, terrace, free private parking, pet-friendly accommodation, private bathroom, room service
  Jalan Subak Sok Wayah, 80571 Ubud, Indonesia - 8°30'14.4"S 115°15'28.6"E

yoga

• The Yoga Barn - full service yoga studio, holistic healing retreat center
  PT. Yoga Barn, Jalan Raya Pengosekan, Ubud - Bali, Indonesia - 80571
  8°31'08.4"S 115°15'52.4"E
• Ubud Yoga House - yoga for Every Body...all shapes, sizes, ages & levels
  Jl. Raya Ubud No.23, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali
  8°30'07.0"S 115°15'30.5"E | 0821-4418-1058
• Taman Hati Yoga - Pranawayu yoga and Kundalini yoga
  Jalan Nyuh Gading No.7, Ubud, MAS, Kec. Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali
  8°31'32.7"S 115°15'24.6"E | +62 (0)361-974-058 | tamanhatiyoga.bali@gmail.com
• Ubud Yoga Centre - Ashtanga Yoga
  Jalan Nyuh Kuning Raya / Singakerta Raya, Ubud, MAS, Gianyar, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia
  8°31'43.0"S 115°15'15.5"E | +62 812-1020-389 | hello@ubudyogacentre.com
• Intuitive Flow Yoga Studio - Healing, Yoga, Meditation with a breathtaking view
  Jl. Raya Tjampuhan, Penestanan Kaja, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
  8°30'10.8"S 115°15'07.8"E | +62-361-977-824 | contact@intuitiveflow.com
• Ambar Ashram Laughter Yoga - Healing, Laughter Yoga, Meditation
  Jl. Nyuh Bojog No.5, MAS, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia
  8°31'21.2"S 115°15'22.0"E
• Radiantly Alive Yoga - Vinyasa Yoga, Tibetan Heart Yoga, Iyengar Inspired, Pilates, Fly High, Roll and Release, Ashtanga Mysore, Yoga Dance, Salsa, Arm Balance Foundations, Beginners Yoga
  Jl Jembawan no.3, Padang Tegal Kaja Ubud, Bali, 80571
  +62 (0)361 978 055 | 8°30'33.7"S 115°16'01.2"E
• White Lotus Meditation Centre - Meditation classes | Meditation retreats
  JL. Kajeng 23, Ubud, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia
  +62 899-0134-962 | 8°30'12.9"S 115°15'43.1"E
• ONEWORLD retreats - yoga, meditation, spa and discoveries
  Jl. Suweta, Banjar Sambahan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
  +62 361 289752 | info@oneworldretreats.com

- restaurant

• warung eateries - a cluster of roadside eateries, essential for those on a budget or those who want authentic Balinese everyday food at local prices
  across the Pertamina Gas Station - 8°31'28.2"S 115°15'49.0"E
• Nando's Warung - delicious Balinese food at local warung price in a garden setting
  Jalan Subak Sok Wayah, 80571 Ubud, Indonesia - 8°30'14.4"S 115°15'28.6"E

- motorcycle rental

• D&D Rental - motorcycle and bicycle rental, tours, tourist information center
  Pengosikan Street, Ubud

Ubud FYI / Tips

• the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is concentrated within the rectangular area covered by Jalan Raya Ubud, Jalan Hanuman and Jalan Monkey Forest. Best to book your hotel within this area

How to Get to Ubud from Denpasar Airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport)

1. best, cheapest, fastest and most comfortable (this is what I did for Ubud and in Singapore) - at the airport, talk to other white travelers waiting on the same gate if they are going to Ubud. Arrange for a taxi pool. With 3 guys, you split the taxi fare (usually IDR 200k + IDR 5k for airport entrance) three-ways. You end up paying just slightly more (IDR 68k) than roughing it through a series of bemos and vans.
2. take a bemo (public bus) to Kuta (IDR 6k) then take a shuttle bus by Perama to Ubud (IDR 50k)

Ubud Cost Index

• IDR 30-35k one small bottle beer with live band
• IDR 4.5k 1.5 liter drinking water
• IDR 70k one hour massage
• IDR 15k warung food in hawker style food cart
• IDR 15 coffee in trendy cafes
• IDR 35k bicycle rental
• IDR 20k per kilo or IDR 2k/piece laundry (although I've seen one at IDR 8k per kilo)
• IDR 60k shuttle to airport
• IDR 130k bunk bed in a dorm room, shared toilet
• IDR 8k internet cafe
• IDR 50k haircut
• IDR 80k cultural performances
• IDR 130k standard drop-in yoga class

Indonesia Blogs by TheLoneRider

Jakarta, Java

1. A First-timer in Jakarta June 23-25, 2016

Bandung, Java

2. Visiting the White Crater (Kawa Putih) of Bandung Jun 28, 2016

Bogor, Java

3. Exploring Bogor, Indonesia Jun 25-27, 2016

UBUD, BALI

4. 21 Days of Abundance, Yoga and Friendship in Ubud June 30-July 21, 2016
5. Hatha Yoga with Andrea Paige at The Yoga Barn July 21, 2016
6. Roll and Release by Rusty Davis at Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio July 20, 2016
7. Kundalini Yoga with Ketut Bandiastra at Taman Hati Yoga Ashram July 20, 2016
8. Kundalini Meditative Movement with Sandeh at White Lotus Meditation Center July 19, 2016
9. Andrea Paige - Health Crusader and Yogini July 18, 2016
10. Power Yoga with Ni Made Murni at The Yoga Barn July 18, 2016
11. Vinyasa Yoga with Daniel Aaron at Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio July 17, 2016
12. Mass Cremation (Ngaben) in Ubud with Louisa July 16, 2016
13. Mysore Ashtanga with Laruga at Ubud Yoga Center July 15, 2016
14. Kalimasada at Yayasan Segara Giri July 14, 2016
15. Hiking Campuhan Ridge July 14, 2016
16. Vinyasa Flow with Nina at Intuitive Flow Yoga Studio July 14, 2016
17. Laughter Yoga with Kadek Suambara at Ambar Ashram July 12, 2016
18. Dance til you Drop at Bollywood Night with Punnu Wasu July 11, 2016
19. Mayan Calendar Readings by Vasumi July 10, 2016
20. Yoga Pranala with Chiara at Intuitive Flow Yoga Studio July 10, 2016
21. Visiting the Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah) July 9, 2016
22. Pranawayu Yoga with I Ketut Bandiastra, S. Ag at Taman Hati Yoga Ashram July 7, 2016
23. Astrology Talk at The Yoga Barn July 6, 2016
24. Yoga with Sasha Lang at the Ubud Yoga House July 6, 2016
25. Ananda Mandala Meditation by Punnu Wasu at The Yoga Barn Jul 4/5, 2016
26. The Wild Monkeys of the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary July 7, 2016

»» next story: Visiting the Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah)
»» next Yoga story: Yoga Pranala with Chiara at Intuitive Flow Yoga Studio
»» back to Yoga
»» back to Homepage

ARCHIVE: 2024 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV

1970 | 1973 | 1975 | 1976 | 1979 | 1981 | 1996 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ALL BLOGS