So, here’s the truth. I’m losing patience with the direction the yoga and wellness scene in Bali has taken in recent years. It’s become increasingly hard to tell the difference between a solid wellness practice and trendy fluff.

Moving to Ubud more than a decade ago, my first year was filled with chanting, stretching, breathwork and soul-baring. That phase of my life yielded something meaningful. But now, closer to 40, a mother, and well and truly over the fluffery that saturates the wellness space in this little town, my needs have changed.

That is why I was both wary and curious when Yoga Barn invited me to try their range of feminine-focused offerings – from women’s circles and womb yoga to hormonal health. After all, this is Ubud’s mecca of wellness. Was there something useful for a Bali old-timer like me?

Let’s start with what landed and landed hard, starting with sexologist Jo Brown’s Hormonal Health retreat. Jo has a rich background in reproductive and sexual health. She speaks with fierce clarity, and still somehow manages to keep things light and humorous, while diving deep into what it means to live inside a hormonally complex, often misunderstood female body.

She blends science with a dose of spirit. She understands that our hormones shape how we relate to ourselves, to others, to pleasure, to power. And she brings that understanding to life in a way that’s accessible and, dare I say, joyful.

“Nothing is off limits,” she told me. And she meant it.

There were moments we talked about sex and intimacy, others about cycle tracking and mood. But it was never clinical. It was never vague. It was honest and deeply so. The kind of honesty that makes you laugh with your whole belly, then suddenly blink back tears, because oh. That lands.

What Jo offers is something most women never receive: a space to reconnect with their bodies as whole, integrated landscapes. It was the kind of sex ed I wish I’d had at 13, the kind of woman I wish I’d met at 25, and the kind of wisdom I feel lucky to have encountered now. If you’re curious, go. You’ll walk away feeling more in your body than you have in a long time.

Then there was Emily Kuser’s Women’s Self-care class, which was something else entirely. For the first 10 minutes, I felt like a dry leaf, crisp and curled at the edges. My body was stiff. My inner dialogue loud and judgmental. The invitation was simple but unfamiliar: move your body in any way you wish. No choreography, no demonstrations.

At first, I shifted cautiously. A shoulder circle here, a half-hearted stretch there. But then came the sounds. Deep breaths that turned into low moans and hums, erupting into full-blown roars around me. Women were starting to roar.

And honestly? At first my reaction was ‘oh my lord be quiet!’ I tensed, looking around the room, checking in to see if anyone else thought it was a bit much. But no one was flinching, no one stared, no one filmed. The women just kept moving and shaking and roaring. And slowly, I did too.

That’s the thing. For women, especially those raised in the West, we are taught not to be ‘too much’. Don’t talk too loudly. Don’t laugh too hard. Don’t move your body too wildly. Don’t show your emotions in public. Keep it together, for your kids, for your partner, for your family, for your friends. We’re conditioned to keep ourselves compact, digestible, agreeable.

Even in yoga classes, there is an invisible performance taking place. Don’t grunt, hold the pose, make it look effortless. But here? That all dropped away. There was permission to be messy, and it felt good.

And perhaps the most profound thing of all? It happened in front of a room of strangers. Not alone in the car, not in the bedroom after having a breakdown. It was on full display, in a shared room full of women, no one trying to fix you or spiritualize your experience.

Next up was Melanie Koch’s Feminine Mysteries circle, complete with oracle cards, which worked with the theme of ‘receiving love’, explored through partner exercises and group connection. For some, this format will feel powerful – a space to soften, share, and be seen. If you’re someone who thrives in highly emotive, open-hearted spaces, it might feel deeply affirming.

Chatting withBex Tyrer, one of The Yoga Barn’s longest-standing teachers, known for her grounded and thoughtful approach to women’s health and yoga. I asked how she helped students navigate the overwhelming flood of wellness offerings.

“The practice is what teaches you. If it’s not working, it’s not for you. But if you don’t give it a go, you’ll never know.”

After two weeks of women-focused practices at Yoga Barn, I see the power in these spaces when they’re well held. There’s something vital about women moving freely, making noise, claiming space without shame. For some, this will feel like coming home. For others, it may push edges and sometimes uncomfortably so.

But that may be part of the point. Not everyone will connect with every class or every format, and that’s okay. Perhaps that’s the deal. You won’t connect with everything you shouldn’t be expected to. Like Bex said, you have to practice. You have to try. Not every class will resonate, but when one does, it can shift something deep and necessary.

You don’t need to believe every oracle card or roar like a goddess to gain something real. Just show up, pay attention, and when it doesn’t feel right, just walk away. When it feels true, do it again.