How a Simple Yoga Festival in Bohol Turned into One of the Most Grounding, Healing, and Joyful Family Trips We’ve Ever Had

🇮🇹 Un racconto in inglese su un festival di yoga nelle foreste di Bohol (Filippine). Natura, silenzio, cibo ayurvedico, e momenti di vera connessione in famiglia.
(Story in English below.)

When my sister said, “Let’s go to a yoga festival in Bohol,” I imagined a chill time at the beach. You know, yoga with sand under your toes, waves crashing nearby, coconut in one hand. The tropical Pinterest dream…
But plot twist—we ended up in a mini forest.
No beach. No sand.
Just trees, birds, and earth.
And tbh? It turned out to be so much better than we expected.

📵 Phones Allowed, But Nature Said “Chill First”

Okay, so we could use our phones. And yes, we totally took pics (the aesthetic was too good not to). But honestly, the whole place had this super calming vibe that made you forget about checking your feed. There was no pressure to post, no racing to get the best angle.
It was giving: soft life, quiet joy, real peace.

🌿 Yoga in the Jungle Pavilion Just Hits Different

We practiced yoga in a bamboo pavilion wrapped in nature, no air-conditioning, no mirrors, no walls to keep the forest out. Just white curtains swaying gently, the rustle of leaves, and sunlight peeking through the trees like nature’s fairy lights...

Balancing in tree pose while surrounded by real trees? Still iconic.
Downward dog with birds chirping and jungle air filling your lungs? Absolutely yes.

Even the occasional gecko or insect dropped by (forest guests, y'know?). But none of it mattered. The whole vibe was grounded, calm, and real.
No filters, no edits, just breath, movement, and nature holding space for us.

🌊 Oh, and a River Just Casually Vibing Beside Us

Sooo, imagine doing yoga while a river flows nearby. Not rushing, not noisy—just that low, relaxing sound of water doing its thing. It was like nature ASMR, but in real life.

Some folks sat by it journaling or napping. Some dipped their toes in. I just stared at it like it was giving me life answers. (Spoiler: it kinda did.)
It made everything feel even more peaceful. Like the forest was whispering, “You’re good. Just be.”

👨‍🍳 Chef Pio’s Fried Ampalaya = A Revelation

Now let’s talk about Chef Pio—our forest food guide and all-around chill legend.
He hosted an Ayurvedic cooking session using local, seasonal ingredients...
One highlight? Fried ampalaya. Yep. That bitter veggie your grandma always said was healthy.
I was ready to do the polite “mmm” and mentally prepare to just tolerate it. But what happened? Chef Pio worked his magic crispy fried slices of ampalaya, perfectly seasoned with garlic, a pinch of salt, a hint of turmeric and flour. No gimmicks. Just real flavors.
And it was actually delicious. Like, how?!

Even my sister, a lifelong anti-ampalaya advocate, had seconds.
But what made it more than just a snack was how grounded the whole experience felt. Cooking outdoors, using our hands, it reminded me of how nourishing food can be, not just for the body but for the soul…

Pio didn’t talk like a chef from cooking. He spoke like a friend, casually dropping nuggets of wisdom like:
“You don’t always need sugar. You just need to taste things more.”
And somehow, that hit deep.

🍬 Sticky Hands, Sweet Treats, Big Smiles

Later that day, we tried our hands at Ayurvedic sweet-making. Think snack balls made from dates, ghee, cardamom, and crushed nuts.
We mixed everything with our hands—sticky, messy, happy.
Mine looked like little mudballs from a kindergarten art class

But they were so good.

Everyone was laughing, swapping shapes, tasting each other’s creations. It felt like being at a picnic in a fairy forest. 100/10 would do again.

🍫 Cacao Ceremony in the Afternoon Light

The cacao ceremony happened in the afternoon under a wide, shady tree with golden light streaming through the leaves. It was cinematic without trying to be…
We each received a warm cup of pure cacao—no milk, no sugar, just that deep, earthy goodness.

Sipping slowly.
Feeling.
I watch the steam rise from my cup while listening to the forest, and in that moment, everything just… clicked. No to-do list. No overthinking. Just me, the cacao, and the trees.
Some cried. Some journaled. Some simply breathed.
And all of us left with lighter hearts.

🛍️ Forest Finds and Feel-Good Treasures

There was also a mini forest market with small booths selling all kinds of goodies—organic honey, handmade balms, herbal teas, beaded bracelets, and even eco-stationery…
I bought a jar of turmeric-ginger honey (bless), and a bracelet that I now wear like a forest badge. My sister found some dried mango turmeric bars and an herbal spray she claims “smells like peace.”

Even though it was a small setup, it had the energy of a real community—kind vendors, lovingly crafted products, and the freedom to browse without pressure.

🍽️ That One Resto You’ll Crave After

Oh, and let me tell you about this hidden gem of a restaurant tucked into the trees near the main area. They served the most comforting, healing dishes—YUM.

Nothing too fancy, but so soul-satisfying….

Unexpected Family Feels

What made it even more special?? I got to experience all this with my sister and brother-in-law ended up having some real convos without even meaning to. Forest energy just has a way of opening hearts.
It wasn’t your typical family vacay. No malls, no tight itineraries. Just space. Connection. Presence.

✨ Just Say Yes

So if someone invites you to a yoga festival in a forest, and you’re like, “Uhh... do I even yoga?”—just say yes anyway.
You don’t have to be flexible. You don’t have to be vegan. You don’t have to get it.
Just show up with an open heart.

Because sometimes, the most healing moments come from places you didn’t plan… with people you already love… over sticky sweets, a quiet river, a cup of cacao—and yes, even a plate of fried ampalaya.

Note: Photos are edited in Canva.