Gili Yoga

Gili Yoga is a small garden yoga studio with nine bungalows on Gili Trawangan, off the coast of Lombok, offering drop-in classes for all levels two to three times a day. It suits island-hoppers who want daily yoga without signing up for a fixed retreat, and pairs easily with freediving next door.

What it's like

Gili Yoga is a relaxed, low-key studio on Gili Trawangan, a small island off Lombok. The studio sits in a garden at the back of the Freedive Gili property on the island's main beach road, right next to the Banyan Tree Cafe. It's run by The Yoga Garden, and the setup is simple: open-air shalas, a 25-meter pool, a restaurant and nine bungalows with grass roofs tucked into the greenery.

What makes it different from a lot of retreat centers is that there's no fixed program to commit to. You can stay in a bungalow and roll into class each morning, or you can be staying elsewhere on the island and just walk in. That flexibility makes it popular with people who are traveling through Indonesia and want to keep a practice going for a few days or a couple of weeks.

The programs

Classes run two to three times a day and are open to all levels, beginners included. The signature class is a Sunrise Flow, and the regular timetable also includes Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin/Restorative sessions. The current schedule is posted on the website and on Instagram.

You don't need to book regular classes. Just sign in at the front office about ten minutes before the start. Private classes are available too, but they need at least a day's notice.

The site doesn't currently advertise teacher trainings or set-date retreats, so think of Gili Yoga as a daily-class studio with rooms rather than a structured retreat program. If you want a full retreat package, ask them directly what's on when you're planning to visit.

Freediving next door

The front of the property is Freedive Gili, a separate freediving school founded in 2009. The two share the pool, and the freediving students usually use it in the late morning, roughly 9 to 11 a.m. If you've ever wanted to try freediving, it's an easy pairing: yoga for breath and flexibility, then a course in the water. Courses are booked with Freedive Gili, not with the yoga studio.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

It's a good match for solo travelers, couples and friends who want daily yoga in a laid-back island setting, and for anyone combining yoga with diving or snorkeling. Beginners will feel comfortable, since every class is pitched for mixed levels.

It's less suited to people who want a fully planned retreat with meals, workshops and a set group from start to finish.

Getting there

Gili Trawangan is an island, so the last leg is always by boat. From Lombok, the public boat from Bangsal Harbour takes about 30 minutes, and a private speedboat from Teluk Nara Harbour takes about 15. From Bali, fast boats run from Padang Bai and Serangan. Once you're on the island, look for Freedive Gili on Jalan Pantai; Gili Yoga is through the garden at the back. Check-in for the bungalows is from 2 p.m. and checkout is by 10 a.m.