Ep #200: Sekala and Niskala: The Balinese Philosophy of Seen and Unseen
Sekala and Niskala — the Balinese philosophy of the seen and the unseen — asks what if the most important thing in your life is the one you can't see?
This milestone episode introduces two ancient Balinese concepts that are now the beating heart of the studio itself — Sekala (the seen) and Niskala (the unseen). Through an unscripted, thoughtful conversation, the episode explores what runs our lives beneath the surface: thoughts, intuition, gut feelings, spiritual energy, and the invisible forces shaping every decision we make. From ignoring your gut to the discomfort of saying yes when you mean no, from the breath inside a yoga pose to the love inside a home-cooked meal — the seen and the unseen are always working together. The Balinese don't treat one as more real than the other. Most of the modern world does. This episode is an invitation to tend to both — and to ask yourself honestly which one you've been neglecting.
Episode Chapters:
00:00:29 Introduction
00:01:31 What's Invisible in Your Life Right Now?
00:02:41 Thoughts, Feelings, and the Ethereal Plane
00:04:31 How Much Energy Do You Spend on How You Look vs. How You Feel?
00:07:00 When Did You Ignore Your Gut — and What Did It Cost?
00:13:45 Saying Yes When You Mean No — Intuition and Boundaries
00:18:43 Revealing the Topic: Sekala and Niskala Explained
00:20:00 Balinese Culture and Why It Draws People to Bali
00:22:11 The Two Studio Shalas — Niskala Upstairs, Sekala Downstairs
00:23:44 How Much Do You Tend the Seen vs. the Unseen?
00:25:08 The Unseen in Yoga Poses, Mastery, and Creativity
00:31:34 The Unseen in Other People — Compassion and Empathy
00:33:03 When Someone Called Self-Reflection a Waste of Time
00:34:36 What Western Society Gets Wrong — and What Bali Gets Right
Balinese concepts explored:
Sekala — the seen, physical, tangible world
Niskala — the unseen, spiritual, energetic realm
Yoga concepts referenced:
Prana Vayus (winds of energy within the body)
Yamas and Niyamas (ethical guidelines, not rules)
Frameworks mentioned:
Human Design — sacral authority and splenic authority
Manifestation (101 level overview)
Cultural references:
Andrew Tate — referenced briefly as an example of extreme seen-world thinking
The Beatles — referenced as an example of unseen creative mastery
Studio context:
Niskala Shala — upstairs daily practice room
Sekala Shala — downstairs training/learning space
Studio naming informed by Kimberly (half-Balinese teacher)
Byron de Marsé’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byronyoga/
Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/
Going Pro Yoga Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goingproyoga/
The IN Movement Website: https://theinmovement.com/
Trainings and Events: https://theinmovement.com/events
The IN Movement Instagram: @the_in_movement
The IN Movement Podcast was formerly the Going Pro Yoga Podcast — and before that, the Yoga Teacher Evolution Podcast and the Rat Race Rebellion Podcast. Same mission, evolved name.
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