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Writer's pictureAlex McRobs

How I Healed from Divorce (Heart Chakra)

When people ask me how I ended up in Bali, I always reply that it's kind of a long story. Literally.


I was supposed to come here for my Honeymoon in 2017. We had a two week trip that I'd planned, and then after the trip, he was going to fly back to Kuwait for work and I was going to stay in Bali and complete my 300 Hour, Advanced Yoga Teacher Training. My husband and I broke up the night before the flight. I tried to get everything cancelled. I managed to get everything refunded except the 4 week, 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Bali. Which was a really expensive investment.


I managed to get the program postponed for two months, when I did Western Medical treatment. Then, I flew to Bali for my 300 Hour YTT in September of 2017. I was on a mystery sick leave from my work.


As soon as the plane landed in Bali, I knew that I would live here one day. The word "Ubud" means "Medicine" - and it's almost as if my soul drew me to here for a reason at that time. Through my time spent here, I had the most profound, life changing, healing experience.


I describe it to people as like when Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz started seeing things in colour. When I had major depression, I saw the world in black and white. But I remember when I landed in Bali, starting to see colour again. I smelled the incence. I tasted the fresh fruit. I stepped in mud and rain and grass and felt the textures on my feet. I felt it all.


I knew I would live here one day - and really, the next few years was about finding my way home.


Here's some of my memories from that first trip to Bali.



This is one of the first photos taken by my friend, Tabitha, when I arrived in Bali. Tabitha and I worked together at the yoga studio in Canada and she happened to be in Bali when I was there. She held me in such a safe space during that time.
This is one of the first photos taken by my friend, Tabitha, when I arrived in Bali. Tabitha and I worked together at the yoga studio in Canada and she happened to be in Bali when I was there. She held me in such a safe space during that time.


This is my very first motorbike ride in Ubud! Since then, I've learned how to drive my own bike and ride around the island with ease.
This is my very first motorbike ride in Ubud! Since then, I've learned how to drive my own bike and ride around the island with ease.

I took this photo on the first morning in Bali at the retreat center, waking up to my first coffee! I went on to work for this exact same retreat center several years later, on their YTT faculty. It was an honor to work for them.
I took this photo on the first morning in Bali at the retreat center, waking up to my first coffee! I went on to work for this exact same retreat center several years later, on their YTT faculty. It was an honor to work for them.


I didn't spend a lot of time out of Ubud during that first trip, but I did spend a few days at the beginning down in Kuta with my friend Tabitha. She snapped this sweet photo of me. I love looking back at these photos and seeing the light come back into my eyes as I gradually recovered.
I didn't spend a lot of time out of Ubud during that first trip, but I did spend a few days at the beginning down in Kuta with my friend Tabitha. She snapped this sweet photo of me. I love looking back at these photos and seeing the light come back into my eyes as I gradually recovered.


Tabitha came to pick me up at the retreat center one night, and snapped this photo of me. I realize Tabitha didn't really even make it into the book as a character, but she is an amazing person.
Tabitha came to pick me up at the retreat center one night, and snapped this photo of me. I realize Tabitha didn't really even make it into the book as a character, but she is an amazing person.


My roomates in Bali were two of the most incredible women. I am so grateful for them, for holding space for this newly divorced shell of a girl that they ended up stuck with!
My roomates in Bali were two of the most incredible women. I am so grateful for them, for holding space for this newly divorced shell of a girl that they ended up stuck with!


This was the incredible view from the yoga shala where I took my YTT. It was such an honor to become faculty at that retreat center on the YTT team many years later.
This was the incredible view from the yoga shala where I took my YTT. It was such an honor to become faculty at that retreat center on the YTT team many years later.


I was still drinking - although not super heavily - I drank at times. In this case we snuck off the property on a school night! It felt super rebellious. I can't believe I got up at 5am the next day for my practice.
I was still drinking - although not super heavily - I drank at times. In this case we snuck off the property on a school night! It felt super rebellious. I can't believe I got up at 5am the next day for my practice.


This mandala is the flower mandala at the end of the 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, to celebrate the ending.
This mandala is the flower mandala at the end of the 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, to celebrate the ending.

Heart Chakra Merchandise:

Our most popular chakra collection by FAR is the heart chakra merchandise! Here I've included a selection of the heart chakra products.











Heart Chakra Yoga Series:


We are all carrying trauma with us - childhood wounds, suffering, pain and sadness. How lucky are we to have access to yoga as a practice as a tool for us to heal.

Heal is an eight class series working on back bends - lotus, camel pose, full wheel, and eventually king pigeon. We’ll explore the themes of forgiveness, compassion, gratitude, and having an open heart. Leave this practice feeling spacious, open - and ready to heal. 




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