Originally from New York City, Meg took her first Hatha yoga class at the New York Open Center on Spring Street at the age of 13…. She recalls sitting in warm wooden room surrounded by women and men in one-piece leotards, many with grey hair.  It was in that room, that Meg began her yoga and health centric journey, becoming an avid information seeker of various spiritual traditions.

A few years later between high school and college, Meg spent a summer as an Ashramer at the Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy, where she continued her study of Yoga, adding Ayurveda and healthy Veganism to the mix. Meg LOVED living at the Ashram and loved her fellow students but walked away with a strong distaste for the GURU syndrome that afflicted the Institute. Her learning affects the way she approaches the Yoga Barn as a similar type of institution today.

Meg believes wholly that SMEs and Corporations should include community development as part of their missions and she abides by that as much as possible. Meg believes that generosity makes the world go round and that people who practice the art of giving will always be rewarded.

Pak Dek, has been a fundamental component of The Yoga Barn’s vision to connect with the Community. Dek is an accomplished architect and is the vision behind the aesthetic Balinese style of The Yoga Barn, which is all created with reclaimed wood and hand-crafted elements.

Dek comes from a long lineage of socially minded Balinese; his great-grandfather, the Head of The Sacred Monkey Forest restoration project in the early ‘70’s, and his mother, a school principal for over 30 years, are just two of his role models.

In 2010 Dek took revitalization of the Monkey Forest into his own hands and launched a reforestation project planting hundreds of trees and creating a safer and leafier home for the indigenous and sacred macaque monkeys. Along with his wife, Meg, Dek is also the co-founder of Yayasan Kryasta Guna, a not-for-profit environmental, arts and cultural organization with a mission to inspire local youths in Ubud to invest in their environment and community while learning about their Balinese traditions.

In 2016 Dek started an organic farming initiative 45mins north of Ubud and spends much of his time working on the land.

A native Californian, Charley escaped the corporate world after 16 years in 2004 by embarking on a year-long solo bicycle journey through Southeast Asia.  En route to Cambodia via Australia, he stopped in Bali for what was supposed to have been two weeks. After 12 years, Charley’s heart remains in Bali with his commitment to The Yoga Barn, as a co-founder.

Charley’s passion for yoga he attributes to three amazing teachers; Bob Smith, Ki McGraw & Mark Whitwell.

Bob and Ki are owners of The Hatha Yoga Center in Seattle, Washington. They have a small shala just outside of Ubud and run Bali-based teacher trainings annually in June.  Bob has been deeply immersed in yoga for over 45 years, and he and Ki have a wealth of information to share in the seamless way they instruct together. Charley studied with Bob & Ki in 2004, 2005 and completed their teacher training in 2007.

Mark has taught yoga for over twenty years throughout the US, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He was the editor and contributor to TKV Desikachar’s book The Heart of Yoga.  Mark is a frequent presenter at The Bali Spirit Festival.  Charley has studied with Mark in both the US and Bali.

Charley’s ethos as Co-Founder of The Yoga Barn is to change people’s lives for the better, and believes (like Joseph Campbell) that each of us have unique and special talents to offer the world. The Yoga Barn exists to help each of us, “discover our passion and follow our Bliss”.