Create and Connect
Women’s Retreat
25th - 31st August 2026
In June 2025 I went to Bali on a women’s retreat co facilitated by my dear girlfriend Cassandra. I went with a friend (the darling Sophie), and returned with twenty! It was such a rewarding, restorative and relaxing week. So much so that now I’m collaborating with Cassandra myself, on a retreat of our own, “Create and Connect” 25th-31st August 2026.
Create and Connect is an opportunity for you to nourish and replenish yourself, and explore the local Balinese culture and craft. The meditation, movement and yoga practices support the process of renewal, grounding and connection.
You will enjoy dynamic movement early in the mornings including yoga, running or walking. Your days will be time for cultural experiences, silent time, for reflection and opportunity to swim and create. Your evenings will offer time to rest and recharge through the practices of yoga nidra, meditation, restorative and yin yoga.
There is nothing to do, prepare or worry about. Once you're in Bali, everything else is sorted.
Seven days, six nights just for you! What’s not to love? We are so excited to work together and welcome you all to a week of connection, culture and creativity in beautiful Bali.
Please join us!
Love,
Ally and Cassandra
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Stretch and Connect
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Experience the Culture
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Immerse in Water
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Take Time for Creativity
Our Retreat Centre
Floating Leaf Eco-Luxury Retreat sits between Sukawati Village and Purnama Beach, on the eastern shore of Bali amongst lush rice fields. Sukawati is away from the tourist hustle and bustle of Ubud, Kuta or Canggu, but is conveniently located close to a fabulous art market, the stunning Tirta Empul water temple and Denpasar airport. We will have the whole retreat centre to ourselves!
The beauty, atmosphere and artwork of the property make it a perfect location for a women’s retreat. Its open air design keeps guests comfortable while the many nooks provide for private reflection and meditation.
Floating Leaf features -
The Sanctuary”- A 185 m² yoga studio/dance hall with dramatic ocean and mountain views
Holistic Wellbeing centre for massage and treatments
Deluxe Eco-Luxury accommodation
Gorgeous Relaxation Pool with waterfalls and meditation areas
Farm-to-Table Restaurant featuring organic locally grown gourmet spa cuisine
Organic permaculture garden
Award winning, deeply authentic cultural experiences
5-Star service and amazing bi lingual staff
Yes alcohol is available (billed separately to participants)
The Retreat has been carefully curated to support a limited number of students and is an opportunity for you to nourish, replenish and take time to rest back into the beauty of the natural surroundings and explore the local Balinese culture. The yoga, meditation and creative practices have been designed to support the process of connection and renewal.
Take time out for yourself - you deserve it!
What is included in
Your Retreat Experience
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Garden to Table Food
3 x fresh, organic, hearty, healthy, farm to plate buffet meals per day including a special Welcome and Farewell Dinner. Complimentary coffee and tea, purified drinking water and tropical fruits will be made available between meals.
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Comfortable Accomodation
Modern, eco-luxury accomodation for 6 nights/7 days. Incuded: daily housekeeping, AC, wifi, organic toiletries, top quality mattress/pillows/linen, balcony/patio
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Yoga and Meditation Classes
Cassandra will be offering a range of morning and evening classes including Dynamic Hatha Yoga and Yin/Restorative relaxation practices. Sunrise Meditation will also be offered every morning.
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Opportunities to Run/Walk
We have organised a number of opportunities to run/walk the beautiful Balinese landscape. We will follow paths though rice paddies and along the beachfront. No pressure, no pace requirements, simply bring your runners and an open heart.
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Time to Create
Immerse yourself in the creativity of Bali, making your own offering for the sacred water temple, plus an artisan maker/shopping tour and retreat workshops including batik and mala-making.
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Cultural Experiences
We have crafted a wonderful cultural itinerary including a rice temple walk and a purification ceremony and traditional ritual at a local sacred water temple.
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Full Service Spa
Included in your booking is one Balinese Massage at Floating Leaf Spa. If that is not enough the spa offers an array of services including deep wellness massage, Ayurvedic treatments, Balinese hair and scalp treatments and traditional massage.
What is NOT included
Flights to/from Bali
Entry Visas
Any extra tours or excursions you wish to do during the week
Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
Extra massages or treatments (one massage is included in your booking)
Extra nights accomodation and meals before or after the retreat
Any alcohol purchased whilst at Floating Leaf
The Rooms
Deluxe Pool View Rooms
Ascend to our upper levels where our three deluxe Pool View Rooms settle where wrap-around balconies offer breathtaking views of our Healing Pool, the surrounding rice fields, the majestic Indian Ocean, distant Balinese islands, and Bali’s revered Mount Agung.
Below, the ground floor offers indoor/outdoor garden bathrooms with soothing rain showers—select suites even feature a large soaking bathtub.
All of our 6 twin deluxe eco-luxury Pool View Rooms are perfectly round and each material is carefully selected and hand crafted for maximum sustainability. Discover delightful surprises and meticulous details, one of the many charms of your stay at Floating Leaf.
Rooms include:-
Comfortable beds with luxurious imported mattresses, pillows, sheets and towels
En-suite bathroom with biodegradable organic toiletries
Eco-efficient air-conditioning
Private terrace with sweeping views
Traditional batik robes and slippers
In-room safe
Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Garden Room
Step across the koi pond to four twin standard Garden Rooms. These rooms harmonize Balinese antiques with modern eco-conscious comfort. Every spacious room features a private terrace, complemented by air conditioning and fan for a more breezy time.
The second floor rooms offer sweeping landscapes of the surrounding paddy fields, the Indian Ocean’s horizon, and the majestic Mount Agung.
It also offers a more economical choice for those desiring the full Floating Leaf experience without compromise.
Rooms include:-
Comfortable beds with luxurious imported mattresses, pillows, sheets and towels
En-suite bathroom with biodegradable organic toiletries
Eco-efficient air-conditioning
Private terrace with sweeping views
Traditional batik robes and slippers
In-room safe
Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Create and Connect Draft Retreat Schedule
*all activities & adventures are optional for this retreat.
*please note that this is a sample agenda to give you an idea of what a typical day may look like, therefore it is subject to change.
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Tuesday 25th August Welcome
Check in from 2pm
Welcome drink, refreshing face towel and welcome foot massage upon arrival.
Settle into your beautiful home for the next 7 days
Opening Circle and Introductions
Gentle Yoga Practice
Welcome Dinner
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Wednesday 26th August Open & Connect
Sunrise Meditation and Yoga Practice
Breakfast and Intro to Bali Culture Talk
Free time for pool and massage
Lunch
Sukawati Rice Temple walk/run
Dinner
Yoga Nidra Relaxation
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Thursday 27th August Immerse and Create
Sunrise Meditation and Yoga Practice
Breakfast
Offering making class for purification ceremony at the local water temple
Lunch
Guided Shopping tour to local artisan village
Dinner
Clarity Circle
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Friday 28th August Cleanse and Clarify
Breakfast
Early adventure to Tirta Empul Sacred Water Temple
Lunch
Silent/free time
Sanur rice paddy walk/run
Dinner
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Saturday 29th August Explore and Move
Early Morning Sanur Beachfront run or walk
Breakfast
Free Time
Lunch
Batik making class
Dinner
Mindfulness meditation and Yin Yoga
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Sunday 30th August Reimagine
Sunrise Meditation and Yoga
Breakfast
Serangan Island walk/run
Lunch
Mala making workshop
Farewell Dinner
Closing Circle
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Monday 31st August Celebrate
Sunrise Meditation
Breakfast
Final Farewells and Depart by 11am
Your Investment
EARLY BIRD ENDS 30th November 2025
Pay your deposit to receive the early bird saving of $400
Garden Room
Twin Share
Pay in Full
$3300 all inclusive
Pay deposit of $500 (non refundable) NOW to secure your place
Deluxe Pool View Room
Twin Share
Pay in Full
$3800 all inclusive
Pay deposit of $500(non refundable) NOW to secure your place.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes! All levels of experience are welcome to this retreat. Each yoga class will be tailored to support your needs. The running sessions can be walked, or run-walked. And don't forget, everything is optional. Don't feel like getting up early for yoga or a run? Then feel free to sleep in or read your book by the pool!
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Yes airport transfers are included in your package. We will just need your arrival time to arrange airport transfers to Floating Leaf. At the end of the retreat transfers are included back to the airport
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We will happily match you up with a lovely woman to share your room with. If you would prefer your own room please contact Cassandra on 0413 303 484. An extra charge of $1000 will be charged for single occupancy.
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Yoga equipment is provided but if you prefer your own yoga mat or special props then please bring them.
Pack a pair of comfortable running or walking shoes, and at least one set of your usual movement clothes (tights or shorts, top, running bra).
We will provide you with a suggested packing list prior to the retreat.
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Yes Floating Leaf have offered our guests a generous discounted rate of per night if you wish to arrive a night early or stay a night longer. You will need to contact floating leaf directly to arrange the extra nights stay.
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We have a strict NO REFUND policy however if you are unable to make the retreat then you can transfer it to a friend.
We strongly encourage you to take out travel insurance to protect you from any last minute cancellations that you need to make once you have booked and paid.
YOUR FACILITATORS
Ally MacDonald
Ally is an accredited life, running, netball and AFL coach. She started coaching in the 80s, completed a psychology degree in the 90s and has worked with women and children in multiple capacities ever since.
Ally dabbled in yoga at uni in the early 90s, moved to Bondi in 1994 and fell in love with running in the late 90s. She ran her first City to Surf in 2000 and her first half marathon in 2001. Ally's coaching is calm and supportive, focused on movement and clarity, not pace (although she can absolutely help you to run faster, if that's one of your goals).
Ally also runs a small studio and a variety of market stalls. Her creative experience includes studying millinery at TAFE in the early 90s, silver jewellery-making, ceramics, felt-making, textiles, and more. Art and creativity are part of everyday life and culture in Bali. She loves this abundance and energy, and cannot wait to share it with you.
That’s what you do for women runners, it doesn’t matter who you are … everyone in the group felt like they belonged and were welcome and could achieve something great for themselves. You and Cassandra will be a magic fit!!!
Amy C
Cassandra Missio
Cassandra has been offering retreats locally and internationally for over 15 years. All those that attend her retreats are made to feel welcome and she creates a beautiful non judgmental space in which to rest and enjoy.
Cassandra first came to yoga in her early twenties whilst travelling. She knew after her first class that she had stumbled upon a very powerful and potent discipline that left her feeling grounded and clear. On her return to Sydney in 1997, she began to study regularly and in 2003 began a 4.5 year teacher training apprenticeship at the Art of Yoga, Summer Hill. In 2009 after many years of training Cassandra was certified as an Anusara® yoga teacher.
She has further refined her practice and teaching skills studying on numerous occasions with the founder of Anusara, John Friend, and many of his senior teachers. She has studied regularly with meditation and philosophy teacher Carlos Pomeda and Yoga Therapist Doug Kellar and is grateful to all the generous teachers who have guided her over the past 20 years.
Cassandra's classes weave precise biomechanical alignment with heart-centred philosophy. She brings to all her classes the intention to offer an experience of freedom and lightness to the body and heart.
Got Questions
Please reach out to us if you want more information and have further questions. Fill in the form below and we will respond ASAP
Women connected are constellations - together they create new skies
Come and share connection in beautiful Bali with us x