Inside the Retreat Born from a Woman’s Journey of Healing
Steps from Thomas Beach in Uluwatu where world-class surf breaks meet Balinese jungle, Asa Maia is a wellness retreat founded by cancer survivor Martha Booke and breathwork instructor son Syddarta through 10 century-old Javanese gladak homes hand-sourced from East Java, celebrating the practices that freed them from pharmaceutical dependency and hospital beds.
Martha Booke's vision for Asa Maia arrived during a deep breathwork session. Her commitment solidified in a hospital bed after life-saving emergency surgery. Cancer had pushed her toward pharmaceutical dependency she didn't want. Breathwork pulled her out. So did contrast therapy. Cold plunges. Conscious movement. Simple practices anyone could do, she realized, if they just had consistency. Her son Syddarta had found similar transformation through breath training as an athletics coach, teaching surfers how to stay calm underwater for minutes at a time. Together they decided to create a space where these tools weren't alternative medicine but primary medicine. They spent over a year traveling East Java, hand-selecting ten century-old gladak structures, traditional hand-hewn Javanese homes with sloped bamboo roofs and teak frameworks that had lived two or three lives already. Each gladak was painstakingly disassembled by local craftspeople who understood the wood's history, transported piece by piece to Uluwatu, then reassembled on a clifftop site steps from Thomas Beach. Earth Lines Architects worked with Martha to modernize the interiors while respecting each structure's century of existence. Copper bathtubs. Belgian bluestone from the Dutch colonial era, now sourced from one of only four remaining suppliers in Bali. Indoor-outdoor bathrooms with rain showers. Hand-made batik cement tiles from Java. The property opened in April 2021 as an adults-only retreat with a 25-meter saltwater pool, subterranean hot and cold plunge pools, infrared Himalayan salt sauna, yoga shala, and restaurant serving vegan and pescatarian cuisine at one long communal table. Just 30 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport, it's a place where surf culture meets wellness science, where pharmaceutical dependency gives way to breathwork practiced in saunas at dawn.
"The Asa Maia started as a vision in a deep breathwork session, but my commitment to the project solidified in a hospital bed just after a lifesaving emergency surgery. The basic concepts are based on the tools that have changed my life and freed me of pharmaceutical medications."
The restoration honored what a century had created in East Java. Each gladak carried visible marks of its previous life: weathered teak showing decades of tropical rain, hand-hewn joints carved by craftspeople whose techniques are becoming rare. Earth Lines Architects, working with Martha's vision and architectural consultant Triloka Bali, chose materials that complemented rather than competed. The Belgian bluestone became Martha's favorite element, a rare colonial-era stone brought to Indonesia by Dutch ships, now nearly impossible to source. Its cool gray texture grounds the warm woods throughout. Copper bathtubs anchor bathroom spaces. Petrified wood, lava stone from Bali's volcanic region, natural river stones, reclaimed ironwood, every material tells a geological or cultural story. The custom batik cement tiles were hand-made in Java as modern interpretations of traditional patterns. Sumba textiles add color without overwhelming. The bamboo roofs remained intact, their slopes creating airy proportions inside each suite. At night, the property feels like a village connected by wooden walkways snaking through palm-edged jungle. The ceremonial fire pit, carved into rock with limestone seating slabs, sits beneath stars that professional surfers gaze at between sessions. Kelly Slater has practiced breathwork here. So have Olympic medalists preparing their bodies for the stress of competition. The air smells like frangipani and salt. Thomas Beach breaks constantly just beyond the trees.
Sourcing ten century-old gladak structures from East Java required over a year of searching. Martha traveled personally, evaluating each timber frame for structural integrity and aesthetic character. Local wood specialists who understood the traditional Javanese construction methods handled disassembly, with each beam numbered, each joint documented, every piece catalogued before transport. The reassembly in Uluwatu required the same specialists, ensuring that century-old joinery techniques remained intact. Earth Lines Architects designed modern insertions that respected the original proportions. Floor-to-ceiling windows replaced walls where views demanded opening. Indoor-outdoor bathrooms emerged from careful spatial planning. The batik cement tiles designed specifically for Asa Maia reference traditional Indonesian patterns without copying them directly. No single-use plastic entered the property from day one. Sensatia Botanicals biodegradable amenities. Bamboo toothbrushes. Organic handmade Turkish towels. Even the rice straws are edible. Sustainability wasn't an addition, it was foundational.
Thirty minutes from the airport, five minutes from world-class surf breaks. Ten suites ranging from Queen Studios to King Suites, each with king beds, generous storage, indoor-outdoor bathrooms, copper or bluestone bathtubs. Some feature private plunge pools. The 25-meter saltwater infinity pool dominates the central courtyard where the communal dining table overlooks palm trees and jungle. Breakfast arrives with fresh honey lattes. The subterranean contrast therapy pools, hot and cold, host daily guided sessions led by Syddarta, who combines breathwork with temperature extremes to build resilience. The infrared Himalayan salt sauna uses 90% less energy than traditional saunas while charging the atmosphere with negative ions. Upstairs, the yoga shala built from reclaimed teak offers Hatha, Yin, and Vinyasa classes adapted to every level. The gym operates 24 hours with full Pilates equipment. At sunset, guests gather around the rock-hewn fire pit or walk five minutes to Thomas Beach where waves break against limestone cliffs.
"The ability to respond constructively to stress permeates all facets of life. One of the powers of breathwork is the ability to achieve profound self-transformation physically and mentally by simply practicing our most basic instinct to survive."
Asa Maia, Sanskrit for "hope beyond illusion," opened in April 2021 and quickly earned recognition from Forbes, Destination Deluxe, and LUXE City Guides as one of Bali's most compelling wellness retreats. What started as a vision during breathwork and solidified in a hospital bed became a refuge where pharmaceutical dependency isn't the only answer. Where century-old Javanese homes live their third lives. Where professional surfers practice breath-holding in saunas before paddling out. Where contrast therapy happens at dawn in subterranean pools carved into clifftop jungle. Just steps from Thomas Beach in Uluwatu, thirty minutes from the airport, it's a place built on the simple idea that consistency beats medication. SIANA Travel designs Bali itineraries integrating Asa Maia with cultural sites, surf breaks, and complementary wellness experiences across the island.
