Bali Spirit - Yoga on the Isle of Gods
Bali has long been a dream destination for tourists from all over the world. In the meantime, more and more yogis + other seekers are traveling there. But is Hindu belief in spirituality in Bali perhaps only skilful tourism marketing that transfigures the Balinese tradition?
Dream beaches, wild jungles, volcanoes, lush rice terraces + temples make Bali, the "island of the gods", so appealing to tourists from all over the world. Once a year, however, a very special audience comes to the island. That's when BaliSpirit Festival, one of the world's largest yoga festivals, takes place. The participants hope not only physical fitness under the palm trees, but also answers to their questions about the meaningfulness of the Western lifestyle. A return to essential values beyond possession + power as well as the connection to oneself and to a higher divinity are also included.
The documentation accompanies different people around the festival. Guru and Healer Ketut Arsana not only leads a coveted yoga class, but also teaches locals. As a healer, his "office hours" are also in demand. Dek Gunarta is co-founder of the festival, a crafty businessman and a dedicated environmental activist. After the attacks in the early 2000s, he has given tourism in Bali a new focus. Rice farmer Wayan Kantun has nothing to do with yoga, but tourism is vital for him, because the island visitors want to see the UNESCO World Heritage listed rice terraces. Ex-model Diaz came to Yoga after an injury. Now, with the help of Instagram and Twitter, he is making an impressive career as a yoga teacher. All these people are responsible for the festival's visitors to feel it, the "Bali Spirit".