Beyond Digital: A Full Mind, Body & Soul Reset in Bali

Oso ondo, friends! Welcome to this week’s edition of Ondo Project, where tech innovation meets wellness.

Sometimes the most powerful insights come from stepping away from technology entirely.

As someone who spends her days thinking and talking about AI at AWS, I've learned that true innovation requires space for the mind to reset. That's exactly what I found on my recent journey to Bali — a complete mind, body, and soul detox that went far beyond just digital disconnection.

The Conscious Digital Disconnect

When my yoga teacher Anna (who I've practiced with since 2015) announced a retreat in Ubud, I signed up immediately! What I discovered upon arriving at Honai Resort was something I hadn't expected but desperately needed: a complete absence of screens throughout the property. No televisions. No monitors. No digital distractions.

This screen-free environment felt like a gift. In today's hyper-connected tech world, stumbling upon spaces naturally free from digital interference feels increasingly rare and precious.

During my entire week in Bali:

• I used my laptop for just 30 minutes (to complete an award application)

• Watched zero television or movies

• Limited phone use to brief FaceTime calls with family back home (navigating an 18-hour time difference) and to post Instagram stories (checkout my Bali highlight @madelynolavarria)

• Brought my digital camera to capture moments without needing my phone

• Left my work laptop — and all AWS responsibilities — completely behind

The result? A clarity of mind, improved ability to be present and peaceful.

Sacred Waters & Digital Boundaries

One of the most profound experiences came at the sacred water temple of Indra. Our guide introduced us to Balinese Hinduism — a beautiful belief system centered on one universal God manifested in everything around us.

As we prepared to enter the holy water pools, we learned about presenting flower offerings with incense and prayers. The moment we began our prayers at the altar to Indra (the rain god), something remarkable happened: it began to rain. And just as mysteriously, the rain stopped precisely when we completed our 30-minute water blessing ritual.

This experience reinforced something I've been contemplating in my work implementing AI systems: the profound interconnectedness of everything. In tech, we create systems designed to recognize patterns and make connections. Yet sometimes we miss the most fundamental connection — the one between our digital and physical selves.

The Rhythm of Presence

My days in Bali followed a beautiful rhythm:

• 6:30am: Wake naturally with the sun

• 7:00am: Outdoor meditation surrounded by jungle sounds

• 7:30am: Light breakfast of avocado toast and a latte

• 8:30am: 90-minute vigorous outdoor yoga practice

• 10:30am: Family-style breakfast with fresh, whole foods

• Afternoons: Pool time, excursions, or intentional rest

• Evenings: Bodywork, massages, or cultural experiences

This structure — organic yet intentional — has made me reconsider how I structure my workdays back home. What if our digital workspaces incorporated more natural rhythms? What if our AI implementations recognized and honored human needs for connection and disconnection?

The Body-Mind Connection

Bali's spa culture encouraged a frequency of bodywork above and beyond my routines at home. Nearly every day included some form of treatment:

• Balinese massages

• Hot stone therapy

• Body scrubs followed by rose petal baths

• Sound bath meditation at The Yoga Barn

Each treatment began with a foot bath and concluded with fresh tea steeped with chunks of ginger, lemongrass, and lime — a ritual of presence I've brought home with me.

Cultural Immersion Without Digital Mediation

Some highlights that fed my soul in ways no digital experience could:

• Hiking the UNESCO World Heritage Tegalalang Rice Terraces

• Witnessing traditional Balinese dancers perform the Ramayana story

• Swimming in the Indian Ocean for the first time

• Shopping for crystal jewelry blessed by a local healer

Each experience happened without the filter of a screen between me and the moment. No interruption from notifications.

Bringing It Home: My Tech-Life Balance Takeaways

What did this complete reset teach me about technology implementation?

1. Intentional boundaries create innovation. By completely stepping away from work technology, I returned with clearer vision for my work. A few exciting new projects on the way - more to come!

2. Digital minimalism enables presence. Limiting my phone usage to specific times allowed me to be fully present for experiences that will inform my life and work for years to come.

3. Physical wellness enhances digital performance. The mind-body connection directly impacts how effectively we interact with technology.

4. Cultural experiences inform technical innovation. Immersion in different ways of thinking creates new neural pathways that benefit problem-solving.

5. The most impactful connections happen offline. The relationships deepened during this retreat will continue to support my wellbeing in ways no digital network could.

What's Next

I'm excited to announce I'll be launching a companion vlog series on YouTube soon, featuring more visual storytelling from this transformative journey. Stay tuned for the link in an upcoming newsletter!

In the meantime, I'd love to hear: What's your relationship with digital detox? Have you ever completely disconnected? What barriers prevent you from creating tech-life balance?

Reply to this email with your thoughts — I read every response :)

Until next week, may you find your own moments of "ondo" in the midst of our digital world.

Be well, Maddy

P.S. A small tech tip inspired by Bali: Try the "sacred water" approach to your day — designate certain hours as completely screen-free, treated with the same reverence as a ritual. You might be surprised at the clarity that emerges. I’m currently reading The Robe by Loyd C. Douglas. I picked up the novel in the Honai Resort coffee shop on the free book library shelf and I LOVE it!