Appalling behaviour to clients by a centre for meditation and healing.. …
I wanted to share my experience with Samyama Self-Healing Center | Yoga & Meditation in Ubud, Bali as I do not anyone else to be scammed. I lost my husband of 40 years 3 months ago. My kind niece suggested I attend a yoga retreat to relax and refresh and suggested Samyama. My early correspondence with the staff of Samyama was polite, prompt and full of empathy and support. I shared my background and also the fact that I have mobility problems and I was commended for being transparent. I was to fly to Den Pasar on the 11th September and do a three days course from 12th to 15th.
I was charged USD845 for the three days and I had to pay immediately which I did. I also booked and paid for an extra massage on 14th . On the evening of 11th September I was informed by friends and family, of the disastrous floods in Bali. I messaged Samyama several times asking for information over two hours and there was no reply . I was also concerned of the situation for the staff of Samyama. I also connected with the driver appointed by Samyama to fetch me from the airport to Samyama. The driver was prompt and honest and mentioned that it was raining heavily and had been raining for 4 days. I contacted friends in Bali who informed that 6 persons had sadly lost their lives and in my current state I should consider postponing the trip. I cancelled my trip via Singapore airlines.
I was then contacted by Samyama and when I told them I had cancelled my trip, they promptly mentioned there was no refund or compensation and also mentioned that their office is not open to messages at some times 'due to a lot of work' or something like that
I was not asking for refund or compensation, I was asking to do the three days at another time convenience for Samyama and for me.
This stressful debacle went on for hours with many messages and the information that there is no refund and that I could not also do the three days I had paid for at another time.
I found out from other Samyama ex clients that they had been offered refunds for postponed. So why is Samyama treating me differently is it because I am elderly and have mobility problems?
I asked to speak to their manager and Kat the CEO responded, please see below my email to her. By this time the death toll had mounted to 20 and there were plentiful advisories and information about these deadly floods.
Kat, wrote a very condescending email to me, with no regards for the fact that people had died and also for the safety of the clients of Samyama. She did not respond to my question as to why others could cancel and redo their sessions on another day. She did not respond to the question as to why I was treated differently and discriminated
She reiterated that I could not have a replacement 3 day session; they will refund me the deposit of USD150 ( and keep the almost USD$700) and also offered an online course. So, the experience at Samyama can therefore be replicated in an online course, this is what CEO Kat’s offer tells me. Samyama should have mentioned this on the website.
I have sent CEO Kat the many travel advisories and information out there about the floods in Bali. Gianyar where Samyama is one of the affected places.
Incidentally several airlines are allowing travellers to cancel their trip to Bali and undertake it another time. But not Samyama. What does that tell you?
I am happy to share the many exchanges with Samyama and the CEO. This has been very distressful and exactly opposite of what Yoga and Meditation prescribes. I am disappointed and disgusted and my advice, we are in uncertain times and the weather can be wild. Please do not visit Samyama for if you have to cancel because of weather or indeed anything else, they will tell you , no you cannot do the programme unless you pay.. and we( Samyama) will keep what you have already earlier paid.








