A Return to Self, Through Movement and Community. It’s been six wonderful weeks of daily practice at Alchemy Yoga & Meditation Centre in Ubud. Six weeks of breath, sweat, stillness, and subtle transformation.
We chose this space instinctively, drawn back by the magic of the Alchemy café, which we first fell in love with eight years ago. The yoga studio felt like a natural extension of that same energy: nourishing, grounded, and open-hearted.
(If the dates had aligned, I would’ve done my YTT here. Maybe next time.)
The Philosophy
What makes Alchemy so special isn’t just the beautiful space or the stacked schedule—it’s the intention beneath it all.
The teachings are rooted in Kashmir Shaivism, an elegant and inclusive philosophy that invites us to bring yoga off the mat and into the fullness of our lives. It doesn’t ask us to disappear into a cave to find peace—it asks us to meet life as it is, with grace.
Each class carries that thread: how to reconnect with ourselves amidst daily life. How to soften. How to show up—imperfectly, honestly, and fully.
The Teachers
Ashton (Alchemy’s founder) is warm, charismatic, and grounded in the practice. He welcomes everyone with a bear hug of presence, introducing himself before class, chatting with students, and guiding even the most complex sequences with humour and ease. His classes are the kind that make you smile through the challenge and leave you feeling like part of the family.
Persia is deeply intuitive, with a softness that reaches straight to the heart. Her classes feel like poetry in motion, woven with life wisdom and ancient philosophy, but delivered in a way that lands right here, right now. She somehow teaches a room of 40 people as if she’s speaking directly to you. "Her transition into a new chapter of life happened to mirror my own, and being in her classes felt like being swept up in something beautifully sacred.
Krista is a walking paradox in the best way. Equal parts deep thinker and playful firecracker, her classes are dynamic, at times challenging, always heart-opening. She blends philosophical insights with physical spice, flowing sequences layered with laughter and thoughtful pauses. She’ll make you work, but she’ll also make you feel.
Will is the fire guy. Mobility, strength, structure, all delivered with British wit and a big grin. His 7:30am classes are not for the faint-hearted (expect long holds, low boats, and lots of chaturanga), but his humour and warmth make them not just bearable, but empowering. He’s there to help you find your edge, and somehow you leave laughing every time.
Marc offers a more meditative intensity. His classes are strong, but subtle. He guides you gently into inquiry, into breath, into embodiment. With his calm voice and steady rhythm, you’re invited to explore without pressure. After one of his sessions, you leave feeling both expanded and grounded, more in rhythm with your breath, more at home in your own body.
Emma brings versatility and depth. Her Air (Yin) classes are soft and ethereal, you float out of the shala. Her Fire classes? They’ll have you meeting yourself at your edge. Her sequences are long, immersive, and beautifully constructed. And her adjustments? Tiny, precise, powerful. Each class with Emma feels like a conversation with your own body.
Anna Sohana offers something entirely different, but no less transformative. We experienced several of her Mystic Gong and Angelic Crystal Sound Healing sessions, and they were beyond profound. I’ve been to many sound baths—and even trained in the field—but what Anna creates transcends it all. Her work feels cosmic. Cleansing. Deeply personal. She doesn’t just lead sound healing, she channels something far beyond it.
Together, these teachers created more than just a schedule; they made a sanctuary. A container of wisdom, challenge, and care that helped me soften into myself day after day. Each brought something entirely their own, yet somehow it all wove together into a practice that felt whole, alive, and deeply human. I didn’t just learn poses here, I remembered how to be.
The Team Behind the Scenes
What made this experience even more meaningful were the people who aren’t always acknowledged, the behind-the-scenes crew who made the studio feel like home.
The front desk team greeted us with bright smiles and remembered our names almost immediately. The ones who set out mats before sunrise. Those who keep the garden blooming and the mosquito repellent stocked. Those who laughed together behind the counter created a soundtrack of joy.
These quiet gestures stitched the whole experience together. It wasn’t just a studio. It was a living, breathing community.
With Deep Gratitude
There are many yoga studios in Ubud. Some have the buzz and hype, but Alchemy had something more important: heart.
A rhythm for the day. A sense of belonging. A soft, steady place to return to again and again.
Thank you, Alchemy Yoga. For your warmth, your wisdom, your welcome.
You helped me come home to myself. See you soon.
