In some cultures, shedding layers is liberation; in others, it may be experienced as disregard. Bali belongs to the latter: a land where every gesture, garment, and footstep carries meaning. Entering softly and consciously is an invitation - not just to respect a place, but to deepen your own spiritual receptivity.
Why Soft Entry Matters
Bali is not simply a postcard - it pulses as a living temple. Its ritual offerings, daily devotions, and devotional architecture are not decoration, but expressions of ongoing spiritual life. Arriving with humility opens you to receive - not just to photograph or observe, but to participate.
Sacred Dress: More Than Modesty
When visiting temples:
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Wear a sarong with a sash (selendang) - provided at most temple entrances - to symbolically honor sacred space.
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Cover shoulders and knees; attire that’s fine at the beach are inappropriate off-waters.
When Clothes Speak: Reverence Over Reveal
In Western studios, yoga attire - leggings, crop tops, tight tanks - is normalized. In Bali’s villages and streets, such attire may feel disrespectful.
Yoga's origins trace back several thousand years in India, appearing in sacred texts like the Rig Veda and Upanishads, not as physical performance but as spiritual union (~5000 years ago). In Bali, where Hindu traditions are still lived daily, clothing is not only fabric but a language of reverence.
At retreat centers and resorts, staff are generally more accustomed to Western styles, and you may see yoga wear worn freely. Still, mindfulness matters. A simple adjustment - pairing leggings with a loose, flowy top, keeping shoulders covered when walking outside the practice space, or avoiding excessive cleavage - shows humility and care.
This isn’t about restriction. It’s about attunement. Just as we bow before entering a yoga space, we can let our attire bow before the sacred land we are entering.
Yoga’s Sacred Legacy in Bali
Yoga is not new to Bali - it has woven into spiritual life there since at least the 9th century CE, carried via Hindu and Buddhist intermediaries from Java and India. This yoga was traditionally meditative and contemplative, not postural or performance-based. Today’s studio yoga may not reflect those roots - but in Bali, the legacy lives quietly beneath daily ritual.
Western Projections: Yoga & Food
At the same time, it’s important to be mindful of how Western visitors sometimes bring a kind of “preachiness” around yoga or veganism. Yoga is not a recent Western discovery - it has ancient roots here, lived through devotion rather than performance. And vegetarian eating, rooted in offerings and Balinese Hindu traditions, has long been part of daily life.
To arrive as though introducing these practices can be disrespectful. Instead, we are invited to soften our assumptions, to learn, and to receive. Bali does not need our projections; it asks for our reverence.
Small Gestures, Deep Resonance
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Canang sari: These small flower offerings line sidewalks and doorways. If you accidentally step on one, pause, breathe, and offer a silent apology - it’s sacred ground.
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Use your right hand for giving, receiving, and pointing. Pointing with your thumb or open palm is more respectful than using your index finger.
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Never touch the head - it’s considered sacred. And avoid pointing your feet toward altars or sacred objects: feet are considered the lowest part of the body.
Ceremony, Silence & Shared Space
If you encounter a procession or ritual, stop. Do not walk through it, stand before it, or photograph closely - observe reverently and pause at the edges.
Balinese tradition values patience, harmony, and non-confrontation.
The Expression of Anger
Expressing emotions - especially anger - can be healing. But in Bali, public anger is seen as disruptive and disrespectful. Public outbursts disrupt communal harmony. Instead, let emotion move privately through journaling, ritual, or your own sacred practice - public spaces here are not the place for release.
Being a Mindful Guest
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Dress with intention: Swimwear belongs at the beach or pool - elsewhere, opt for modest comfort.
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Greet with humility: Selamat pagi (“good morning”) or Om Swastiastu, paired with a slight bow, are small gestures with great heart.
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Honor local exchange: While friendly bargaining is common in Bali’s markets, consider the privilege you bring. Many vendors work long hours for modest earnings. Often, it is a blessing to pay the asking price - a way of honoring their craft, their time, and the spirit of abundance.
Aim for Reverence, Not Perfection
These reflections are offered as nuance for your conduct in Bali, not as a strict set of rules. Balinese people understand that you are coming from a different culture, and kindness is extended when mistakes are made. Tourism has changed many spaces here, and sadly, the influx of ill-behaved visitors has made reverence even more precious.
It’s common to stumble, even with preparation. I myself have a habit of pointing with my foot when my hands are full of baby - a gesture my Indonesian husband always reminds me is considered very rude. I am not perfect, but I am committed to becoming a more respectful guest and expat in this land.
So do not aim for perfection. Aim instead for gentle reverence, humility, and gracefulness. Let your mistakes become teachers, and your presence an offering.
References
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Arts & Culture. (n.d.) Explore the Ancient Roots of Yoga. Google Arts & Culture. Available at: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/explore-the-ancient-roots-of-yoga/ywWBRDl92CPuJg?hl=en (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
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Yoga Journal. (n.d.) History of Yoga. Yoga Journal. Available at: https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/history-of-yoga/?scope=anon (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
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Balinese Yoga. (n.d.) Balinese Yoga – Yoga in Bali. Available at: https://balineseyoga.org/balinese-yoga-yoga-in-bali/?utm_source.com (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
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Merusaka Bali. (2024) Bali Etiquette Tips. Available at: https://merusaka.com/bali-cultural-experience/bali-etiquette-tips/?utm_source.com (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
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CoCo Development Group. (2024) The Ultimate Guide to Bali’s Cultural Etiquette for Tourists. Available at: https://cocodevelopmentgroup.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-balis-cultural-etiquette-for-tourists/?utm_source.com (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
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Tengah. (2024) Respect Bali: Don’t Be That Tourist. Available at: https://tengah.com/for-the-love-of-travel-respect-bali-dont-be-that-tourist/?utm_source.com (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
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News.com.au. (2023) Bali’s Tourist Crackdown. Available at: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/warnings/balis-tourist-crackdown-as-island-tightens-its-rules-for-international-visitors/news-story/a162c92c5ba631be9864ba94f0e0d8f0?utm_source.com (Accessed: 26 August 2025).
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