A daily ritual that fuses movement, meditation, and emotional release—Flow60 is a practice designed to strengthen your body, uplift your spirit, and soothe your mind. The brainchild of wellness innovator Mike Chang, Nick Rice reports on his experience at the annual Flow60 Retreat in Bal
As the famous Balinese surf rose up to my chest, I gripped my mum’s arm tightly. The next wave loomed over us and Bam! We were both swept under the churning wash. Surfacing, I scanned urgently around me. Mum, 74, popped up a few metres away, mascara running, eyes popping wide. We linked arms again and re-joined the line of around 30 people, all facing the raw power of nature as one. After a few more waves crashed into our steadfast line of courage, everyone ran hooting and hollering back to shore, invigorated by the salty sting of the swell and the tangible power of unity. We were half way into Mike Chang’s week-long Flow60 Bali retreat and this exercise was deeply symbolic. Our group—people of all ages, nationalities, and walks of life—had become a single, resilient entity. The exercise demanded both physical endurance and emotional steadiness, helping us to remain calm and composed even while buffeted by the ocean. Much of the emotional work we’d already done in the classroom sessions, and indeed the Flow60 practice itself, required the same. The bravery, compassion, and support everyone felt after only a few days, was quite remarkable—a testament to Mike Chang’s gift for cultivating cohesion among complete strangers.
Profoundly United
Mike Chang is more than a global fitness expert. As co-founder of Flow60 with his wife Natalia, and father to their two young children, he’s also a seasoned entrepreneur and spiritual teacher. “When we met, Mike had me go through his practice as one of the first things we did together,” Natalia recalls. “It was four hours long and he was like, ‘look, this is a practice I do. I want you to learn it—what do you think?’”
Their connection was instant and profound. “It was intense from the first moment,” she says, smiling. “I quit my job and things just evolved… we launched Flow60 as a company in April 2020.” After travelling the world and refining the practice, they settled in Bali, making the ‘Island of the Gods’ their home.
Flow60: The Transformative Practice
Prior to arriving at the retreat, I signed up for Mike’s online 60-Day Challenge. Engaging with the Flow60 practice it soon became clear that it’s not merely a workout routine. Flow60 is a daily ritual that fuses movement, meditation, and emotional release.
Each 60-minute session blends five powerful modalities: tap massage, strength training, stretching, breathwork, and meditation. At its core, Flow60 is a moving meditation. Practitioners are guided to stay present, tuning into each sensation and breath as they flow through mindful movement. The session is carefully structured to boost energy, enhance flexibility, and build strength, while also delving into the mental and emotional patterns that can hold us back from personal growth.
This holistic training system is rapidly gaining traction among those seeking an integrated approach to well-being. What sets Flow60 apart is its deep respect for the interconnectedness of body, mind, and emotions. This isn’t just exercise—it’s a comprehensive journey toward self-realisation. By addressing physical, mental, and emotional health in harmony, Flow60 empowers practitioners to unlock new levels of vitality, resilience, and inner peace.
” I always had the same drive to go and succeed. The whateverit- takes attitude has always been with me. And during that time in my life, it was this strong need to prove that I’m worthy of being respected. Worthy of being this great person that I wanted to be. But deep inside, I didn’t really feel that I was. “
From Fitness to Holistic Wellbeing
Mike’s health and wellness journey began as a young Chinese-American boy who wanted to avoid being bullied, and to be strong and succeed. “I grew up in Houston, Texas,” he says, “And I had these neighbours, three brothers. One of them was really in shape, really jacked, and we all worked out together. I was also inspired by Arnold Schwarzenegger movies. Plus, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, Van Damme, Jet Li, Donnie Yen. All of these 90s action heroes. I wanted to look like them. I used to play the scenes where they’re training, and then rewind the video tape and train with them. That was my inspiration.”
Years later, Mike’s business career began as a young man in rather inauspicious circumstances. He was broke, sleeping on a blow-up mattress in his friend’s apartment, but still training hard. And partying equally hard as well. Four nights a week, he and his buddies, who were also his business partners, hosted vodkafuelled karaoke parties. Each morning Mike would deflate the mattress, tidy up, and get to work on their “Six Pack Shortcuts” YouTube channel.
The success he’d been striving for ever since he was a kid, now came on fast. Launched in 2010, “Six Pack Shortcuts” soon became the most popular YouTube channel in fitness at the time, with over 4 million subscribers. The company reportedly generated over $500 million in total sales across workout programmes and supplements over a few years, and Mike was personally earning over a $1 million per month. Reflecting on the success and how he felt, Mike tells me, “I always had the same drive to go and succeed. The whatever-it-takes attitude has always been with me. And during that time in my life, it was this strong need to prove that I’m worthy of being respected. Worthy of being this great person that I wanted to be. But deep inside, I didn’t really feel that I was.”
Awakening
Everything changed in 2015. During an entrepreneur’s summit, Mike had a life-altering awakening that led him to walk away from the business and dedicate the following seven years to mastering his mind and exploring Qi Gong, Meditation, Breathwork, Yoga, Taoism, flow states and more.
“It was the last day and I sat through two different talks that really impacted me,” he explains. “One talk was by a guy named Jesse Elder, who talked about being authentic. The other was by the hypnotherapist Marisa Peer. Her talk was all about how people feel like they are not enough. And I had this realisation that I never thought I was enough. And that I was always trying to get people to see me in a certain way.”
“This really bothered me deep in the core because I thought that I was a very honest, authentic, real stand-up type of person. And to realise that I was not, and I’m actually—I called it in my mind— a fake person. Well that didn’t sit well at all. So, with that same drive to succeed, I channelled it towards not being fake anymore
Later that evening at the closing event of the summit, Mike was given some psilocybin mushrooms and he had a profound experience of self-awareness.
He describes a transformative realisation about his identity, recognising that the stories he had been telling himself throughout his life were not his true self. He discovered that his previous motivations were constructed narratives. Through six hours of introspective talking, breathing, and tapping, he experienced a radical shift in consciousness, feeling like he became a “super computer” with expanded mental capabilities.
Now understanding that he was not defined by his past stories, that he was a soul beyond mental narratives, he experienced a state of complete liberation and happiness. This awakening led him to make two promises: to understand how he reached this state and to teach others how to achieve similar spiritual awakenings.
The annual Flow60 Bali Retreat is a crucial part of Mike’s ongoing mission to help people discover a deeper sense of self-awareness and inner peace.
The Retreat Experience
The retreat unfolds on sacred Balinese ground—a place where spirit breathes through every ritual, and reverence for the land is a living tradition. Here, we are not tourists, but invited guests. We are encouraged to move slowly, listen deeply, and honour the people, culture, and energy.
The Bali Beach Glamping site is stunning. The vast sweep of ocean is always in view. Whether it’s during the Flow60 morning practice, or in the ice baths and hot tubs, at meal times or in one of the many sessions such as breathwork or kirtan, the evening bonfires or the fire and water ceremonies—the waves are always there. The rooms, the staff, the food… it’s all wonderful and it’s not hard to let gratitude shape your every step. This is not a holiday camp though and people come for growth—which generally happens when we lean into discomfort. Each day is crafted with intention, every theme building on the last.
A Week of Inner Work: My Flow60 Journal
DAY 1
Connection
Start with the breath. True connection begins within—by feeling every sensation, not just the pleasant ones. Allow yourself to experience discomfort as well as ease. When you connect deeply with your own body and emotions, you open the door to genuine connection with others and the world around you.
DAY 2
Awareness
Awareness is your inner compass. No forcing or rushing. Notice where you’re on autopilot and how you relate to yourself and others. With clarity comes deeper breath, better choices, and lasting change. Just observe what is present.
DAY 3
Resistance
Discomfort is a signpost, not an obstacle. Resistance surfaces when transformation is near. Don’t fight it—notice where it lives in your body, your thoughts, your reactions. Stay present and breathe through it. Resistance isn’t the end—it’s the threshold to growth.
DAY 4
Letting Go
Change isn’t about adding more; it’s about making space. Release old stories and habits that no longer serve you. Let go of who you think you are so you can become who you’re meant to be. Small acts of letting go, done consistently, create profound shifts.
DAY 5
Integration
Bring practice into life. Integration is where learning becomes living—where insights translate into action. How can the teachings be woven into your daily rhythm? If you’re unsure, seek clarity and keep exploring.
DAY 6
Embodiment
Become the practice. Embodiment means moving with confidence and presence, letting your learning live in your body. Express fully, without hesitation or self-doubt. Who do you need to become to live the life you envision? Step into that version—now.
DAY 7
Celebration
This week wasn’t about changing who you are, but remembering and honouring your true self. Let gratitude flow. What part of me felt most alive? How can I nurture this going forward?
You don’t need to cling to the experience— just stay rooted in what’s awakened. When life gets loud, return to the practices and intentions. Presence and authenticity are always within reach.
Commitment Reaps Rewards
The lessons I took away from this experience stay with me and I continue to practice daily. Love and acceptance start with yourself. Change is a by-product, not the aim. Let go of comparison and the myth of “not enough.” Redirect your attention from fear to what you truly desire—peace, belonging, and joy. You are already whole. And I recall what Mike said after our first hours-long conversation: “Every moment that’s ever happened to us, has led us to right here, right now.”
Nick Rice is a seasoned editor and writer, currently based in Catalonia. His assignments cover a wide range of topics, from humanitarian reports to high-profile interviews. Passionate about Yoga, meditation and personal growth, he often explores these practices in his work.
The next 60 Day Body-Mind Transformation programme starts on September 27th, 2025. The next Flow60 Bali Retreat runs from May 17-24, 2026. Find details at: www.flow60.com
