Sunset Beach Yoga - Finding Balance on Gili Trawangan

For more than 11 years, Adipta Yoga Pantora has called Gili Trawangan home. Originally from West Lombok, Adipta discovered yoga as a way to bring balance, mindfulness and movement into everyday life, completing his teacher training in Ubud in 2018. Now, as a yoga instructor at Sunset Beach Yoga, he combines his passion for the practice with his love of meeting people from around the world. From mindful morning flows to playful aerial yoga as the sun sets over the island, Adipta believes yoga should be accessible, enjoyable and something that leaves you feeling happier than when you arrived. We caught up with him to find out more about his journey, his approach to teaching and why yoga might just be the perfect addition to a Gili Trawangan holiday.

How long have you been working on Gili Trawangan?

I came to Gili and started working back in August 2015, just over 11 years ago now.

You’re a yoga instructor, and your name is yoga? It’s meant to be!

Exactly! My surname is Yoga, Adipta Yoga Pantora. And I’m a yoga instructor for 8 years now.

Where are you from originally?

I born at Bungtiang, Sakra barat, East Lombok.

When did you start training in the art of yoga? Have you trained in another country or in Indonesia?

I completed my teacher training in Ubud Bali, 2018. I also got my yoga mentorship for teacher training in Bali too. I am happy to have connected with the amazing yoga communities in Bali and Gili.

What is a typical day like for you? Do you teach every day?

I love to find balance in life, working hard, but staying active. I love to be able to guide other people, especially tourists and guests when they are on their holiday. I get to meet people from all over the world in my classes, and being able to give something back to them. It is a pleasure to guide these practices and makes me feel useful.
Although I may also be teaching yoga 2 or 3 times every day, I still love having time to relax on the island.

What is your favourite yoga style to teach?

My preferred style in class is to focus on the control of your breath. Slow, mindful movements bring the quality of pose and help me to help my students improve AND adjust their poses and movement.

Why do you love yoga as a class activity?

I love to make yoga fun and easy for anyone who wants to try! Even as a beginner, you can enjoy deep poses and quality movements. My aim is that people can leave a class feeling better and happier about themselves, and hopefully return!

How long have you been teaching at sunset beach yoga?

I’ve been practising and teaching at Sunset Beach Yoga since 2018. We have a treetop studio, with a great breeze and even better sunset view, and a beach shala, if you want to feel grounded surrounded by the sand, right at the edge of your yoga mat.

What time are Sunset Beach Yoga classes?

At the moment, we have open, drop in classes twice a day, 8.30am Morning Flow which is ready to connect your body to your breath and hopefully influence your day in a positive way. At 5pm we host Fly High Yoga. A fun style of aerial yoga that helps to target precise body alignments whilst weightless upside down. It’s such a nice feeling to decompress your neck and spine after a long day scuba diving.

Is Sunset Beach Yoga sessions suitable for beginners?

Of course for all levels, beginners are welcome too! Nothing better than a drop in class trying Fly High yoga for the first time, just before sunset, listening to the waves. I think it should be on every Gili T bucket list.

What is good advice for someone who hasn’t tried yoga before?

You don’t need to be very fit, or super flexible, just willing to slow down to island pace, relax and listen to your breath and body. Yoga is our medicine, it should be a necessary therapy for a better and healthier life.

Do you prefer sunrise or sunset?

For a beginners practise, I prefer the morning yoga sessions, it really sets up your day to be relaxed and positive. And if you want enjoy having fun playing with gravity, or just want to try something different the sunset classes are great. There is never a bad sunset on Gili!

Lastly, other than yoga, what is your favourite activity to do on Gili Trawangan?

I like swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and other activities in gili, and I also like to connect with all types of people who come to gili and share the nicest things about life, languages, experience, and learning many things from them.