The Sober Bhakti Bali Retreat: Kirtan & Sacred Circle Facilitator Training

A 75-hour, 10-day immersion in devotion, recovery, and leadership in Bali.

This is Pillar 1 of our 300-hour YTT: Devotion. It counts toward 75 hours of a 300-hour Advanced YTT certification with Mindful Bali, with a bonus 20-hour Gita On Demand training course and 5 hours of on-demand practice to make it a 100-hour course.

There is a point on the yoga path where practice becomes lived experience.

This retreat and training is designed for that threshold.

Created for women who feel called to lead women’s circles, sober circles, or general sharing circles; hold space beyond an asana class; share music; and build alcohol-free, heart-centered communities.

This is more than a kirtan training. More than a facilitation course. It is a devotional leadership immersion.

Who this 10-day immersion is for

You may feel drawn to this training if you want to hold space for others but are still learning how, if you are sober or sober-curious, or if you want to create connection without alcohol. It is also for those who have walked their own healing journey and feel ready to support others, as well as yoga teachers and aspiring teachers who want to move beyond asana into deeper work.

You may be called here if you want to lead circles, find your voice, move through fear of being seen, explore kirtan or devotional practice, or create meaningful retreats, events, and communities rooted in authenticity and real connection.

This may not be the right fit if you are only looking to learn harmonium or chanting as a hobby, are not open to inner work and emotional depth, prefer a purely physical yoga training, or are not interested in sobriety, conscious connection, or community leadership.

What you will learn

• Kirtan leadership: practical guidance on how to lead a kirtan with Vasudev, harmonium basics with Diana, finding your authentic voice with Alexandra, mythology of the gods and goddesses, and optional opportunities for each participant to lead a kirtan.
• Circle facilitation skills: how to open and close a circle, trauma-informed space holding, navigating emotional sharing, and boundaries as a facilitator, with optional opportunities for each participant to lead a circle.
• Practice and integration: daily Bali Bhakti asana practices led by Alexandra, themed around the gods and goddesses and integrated with chanting; kirtans in the community with Vasudev, Diana, and the Mindful Bali Friday Night Kirtan; plus free access to a 20-hour on-demand Bhagavad Gita course.

A journey through the gods and goddesses

Each full day is devoted to a specific energy: Ganesha for new beginnings, Krishna for love and devotion, Shiva for transformation, Durga for boundaries, Saraswati for voice, Lakshmi for worthiness, Hanuman for service, and Kali for release.

This learning is not only intellectual. It is woven through the day so it can be felt in the body.

Real kirtan experience in Bali

You will practice beyond the classroom, with kirtan experiences at Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio, Sayuri’s Healing Foods, Svarga Loka with Vasudev, intimate home kirtans at Mindful Bali, and multiple student-led kirtans. By the end, you will not only understand kirtan — you will lead it.

Daily rhythm

A sample day includes Bali Bhakti asana practice and meditation, breakfast, mantra practice with Alexandra, special workshops with guest teachers, lunch, circle facilitation practice, rest or Gita study, and evening kirtan. The schedule includes 7 hours of class per day, plus time for rest and integration. Sunday is a day off. Schedule subject to change.

Accommodation

• Emana Akatara: a luxury four-star option, one minute from the shala.
• Sanga Suites: a basic, affordable guesthouse about five minutes away, with a shared kitchen and no on-site restaurant, around $20/night.

You are also welcome to book any accommodation you like.

By the end of the training, you will

• Confidently lead a kirtan from beginning to end.
• Facilitate sober circles with clarity, structure, and safety.
• Hold space for emotional sharing without becoming overwhelmed.
• Open, guide, and close a circle with intention.
• Build a kirtan setlist with a strong emotional arc.
• Play the harmonium with foundational confidence.
• Use your voice in a grounded, embodied, authentic way.
• Navigate group dynamics with ease.
• Begin creating your own offerings, events, or retreats.

Teachers and facilitators

Alexandra is the lead teacher at Mindful Bali. She has taught yoga since 2014 and has lived in Bali since 2021. Her move into yoga full time and to Bali became possible after she quit drinking in 2019, and she now hosts retreats, trainings, classes, and events from her own shala in Pejeng.

Vasudev has been gathering people in sacred circles to chant, dance, meditate, and sing since 1990. His work includes traditional bhajans, devotional songs, original melodies, and reggae, and you will attend his Tuesday Night Kirtan at Svarga Loka.

Diana brings a voice that is both tender and powerful, guiding circles rooted in stillness, devotion, and joy. She began leading kirtan in Bali in 2022 and has led at major studios across the island. She teaches harmonium basics and more.

Spots are limited to eight participants, keeping this a sweet little boutique shala experience.

Pricing: Deposit - $500; Early, Early-bird (pay in full - now until May 1st 2026): $1500; Earlybird (pay in full - May 1st - September 1st 2026): $1850; Regular Price (September 1st onwards): $2000.

Pricing includes all classes, all course materials, daily Balinese buffet lunches, welcome dinner, farewell dinner, and dinner on kirtan night. It does not include accommodation or airport transfers.