Green School Bali
By Nicky Poole, Yoga Community Leader
I am a keen traveller, and I was so happy to open the Globe and Mail today and find a half page article on one of the most inspiring places I have ever visited – the Green School in Ubud, Bali. If you are interested in sustainable design and holistic education you must read this article. The Green School in Bali was the dream of Canadian John Hardy and his lovely wife Cynthia. To this day they remain two of the most inspiring people I have ever met. All of the school’s structures are built from bamboo, a renewable, sustainable local resource.
I am a regular visitor to the island of Bali, and in 2009 I returned again to study with my teacher. We had the great fortune to be invited by John and Cynthia to the opening of the Heart of the School. At dawn, we made our way through the lush countryside of Bali, and down a dirt road deep into the jungle. Upon arrival, the only thing that indicated we were at a school, was this sign, indicating where the ‘vortex’ (as opposed to the ‘principals office’) was.
We walked down a long steep path, through an organic garden, and came to an exquisite river with the most incredible bamboo bridge spanning the rushing water below. I have taken liberty of using Green School photos here, as my quick snaps just don’t capture the beauty like these ones do. Can you imagine how magical it would be as a five year old to and cross this bridge every day to get to school?!
On the other side of the sacred river, we scrambled up the hill again and came to a clearing, and were surrounded by more open bamboo pavillions which were the classrooms of the school. School was not in session when we arrived, and we were free to wander freely around the classrooms. They were all open air pavillions,the desks and chairs made from bamboo, sunlight streaming in, simple dirt floors, no separation at all between the learning environment and the natural environment. I simply could not imagine a more wonderful place to go to school.
There were chickens running around, lazy balinese dogs lounging in the sun, and frangipani and hibiscus flowers everywhere. The warmth of the morning was still rising from the river, shrouding the valley in mist. It was utterly beautiful. We were so priveleged to be invited to enjoy our morning yoga practice in the Heart of the School. Unlike the soul-less elementary school gymnasiums we spent our childhoods in, this one actually had a pulse. Our group of yogis were the first guests to use the space, so our practice took on a very special energy as we moved, breathed, meditated and chanted in this bamboo cathedral. I snapped a picture of the architectural plans of this incredible structure that were still taped to the wall of the building.
Making our way up a wide spiral staircase, we laid down our mats and began our yoga practice alongside John and Cynthia. After practice, I shot this Panoramic video from the Heart of the Green School, Bali, which gives you an idea of the scale and beauty of this incredible place.
In my meditation that morning, I set an intention: to send my children to this amazing school for at least a year when they are a little bit older. Reading this article in the Globe and Mail again today reminded me of the strength that I felt when I set this intention. And because sometimes things come to fruition when we have the courage to make them public and be held accountable I will state it again, here for all of you. Both my boys will spend at least a year at this school before 2020. Our family will move to Bali, I will teach yoga, learn to surf, and my husband can have a year off in a hammock. My kids can learn about traditional agriculture, how to climb up a palm tree and fetch a coconut, and become experts in building bamboo and rammed earth housing. This place is so inspiring, and I want my family to be part of it.