Koh Mak Retreat: January 3-27 2024
Mornings include Mysore-style Ashtanga asana practice, guided beginner’s classes, and kid’s yoga (twice a week if there will be enough children). Afternoons are filled with thorough technical analysis, in-depth discussions and extra workshops. Pranayama, relaxation and meditation sessions are offered in the evenings.
The retreat is designed for yoga practitioners of all levels.
You will be guided safely by Petri Räisänen and well instructed assistants.
Visit our website for more details on the prices, schedule, accommodation types, and how to get there: http://www.petriandwambui.com/event/thailand-astanga-yoga-retreat/. Link in bio.
The program and prices 2024
Registration and Payments
Drop-In Yoga for minimum one week is required (6 practice days). More info about the Drop-In Yoga.
The class description
Complete Yoga includes Yoga each morning from Sunday to Friday (on the first week on Thursday and Friday), as well as all the classes in our Basic schedule (check the schedule page). On the first, second and fourth weeks Tamara Ashley will teach a Buddhist meditation and philosophy and on the third week Ricardo Martin and Joy Phrombut will teach Vipassana meditation which are part of the Basic Yoga program.
Buddhist meditation for healing and well being (first, second and fourth weeks)
Introductory practices from the tantric vajrayana Buddhist tradition will be explored. Calm abiding and insight meditations will be offered, as well as visualisation-based meditations with a specific focus on healing physical, mental and emotional layers of the body and mind. Loving kindness, compassion and action in the world will be considered as integral to meditation practice. Sessions will balance concentration, somatic body-based exploration and relaxation. Meditations will be supported by lecture sessions in which there will be an outline of Buddhist thought, the stages of practice in meditation and opportunities for discussion on Buddhist ethics and responses to worldly situations, such as family and community life, ecological care and self-care. Overall, we will explore the cultivation of a heart centred, body-based approach to meditation that supports your daily life, offers tools for relaxation and relief, healing and well-being. You are welcome to join all sessions or drop in.
Vipassana meditation (third week)
Ricardo and Joy went through a Vipassana Training that took over 7 years where they seat down with his teacher Khun Thanat Chindaporn, assisting him and learning how to conduct Vipassana basic courses and retreats. Both of them got certified to teach Vipassana in May 2018 at the “ Inside Meditation Center of Wat Phradatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara” in Chiang Mai Thailand.
Additional workshops
Petri Raisanen’s Energy Healing Workshop on the first and second weeks and Hands on Adjustments Workshop on the third and fourth weeks. 200€/full week. The First short week will be 50€ (for two days).
Miss Nhong’s Thai Massage/Healing workshop. Miss Nhong is a local Healer who has a great understanding about the body, energy and traditional Thai healing methods. There will be 5 minimum two hour classes (usually 2.5-3 hours) on the third week (Jan 15-20 Monday till Saturday). Most of the classes will be held at Miss Nhong’s Healing centre. Highly recommended if you are interested about healing, therapy and Thai tradition. 8000 Thai Bhat (to be paid to the teacher in cash). More info about the Additional workshops.
Beginners Yoga: We will offer two guided Ashtanga classes for beginners at the start of the week (on Sundays and Mondays) with Tara Narain. Note that the first week will start on Wednesday and the beginner’s class will be only on Thursday morning. Beginners can then join in to the Mysore style (self-practice) classes on the next weeks Sunday. Friday is guided primary series or half primary series for all who wish to practice a led class.
Saturdays – REST DAY! There is no yoga class on Saturday. You are invited to rest and integrate all the teachings from the previous week. Alternatively, you can volunteer your time with the Trash Hero program and help with island/beach clean up by picking up the trash.
Wednesdays – TRIP DAY! We arrange a trip day during weeks 2,3 and 4. After the practice in the morning, you can join in on a day trip. Previous destinations have been to Koh Chiang waterfall and White Sand Beach, Koh Kood holy tree and waterfall, Buddhist monasteries and Beach resort ; Trat temple and shopping tour. You can also arrange your own program and join us in the evening for a yoga/spiritual film. The Trips has an extra payment according the number of the students.
Moondays – We will inform when the full and/or new moon lands during the retreat. You have the option to practice in the Mysore room or attend a Restorative yoga class.
We are looking forward for seeing you in Koh Mak Retreat 2024.
Welcome to Koh Mak, Thailand!
Petri Räisänen
Teaching Method
We follow and respect the Ashtanga Vinyasa system as taught by T. Krishnamacharya and K. Pattabhi Jois, but are aware the harm their teaching method have caused.
We center each individual practitioner and their unique needs and capabilities. We do not follow a dogmatic, ‘one size fits all’ approach to the Ashtanga method. Our aim is for healing, both the physical and spiritual; acceptance and freedom. We’re open to discussing your individual Ashtanga practice and find ways how the method can be customized for your needs. Please feel open to sharing anything with us which might affect your practice at the moment (i.e. injuries, childbirth, etc).
Physical Adjustments & Consent
While the assumption in the Mysore room is that people come for physical adjustments, we practice asking for permission before physically adjusting you. Consent is crucial and non-negotiable. If you’re happier not to be physically adjusted during your asana practice, we respect this choice as well. We will check in on a regular basis regarding consent to being physically adjusted. Some days you may want to be adjusted and other days not, and we welcome this. Feel free to be yourself and find your own way to practice Ashtanga. We are here to help you in your yoga process.
Our Why Behind What We Do
We believe the practice of yoga can heal the world, both on and off the mat. We also understand yoga to contain wisdom for both individual self- transformation and collective, societal progress. In this spirit, we are survivor-centric and survivor-oriented, and abuse, sexual assault, and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. This is a caste protected space and we do not subscribe to casteist beliefs or practices. We recognize our aspiration for our yoga spaces to feel welcoming and warm for anyone who wishes to take practice. We continually contemplate how we can make our yoga spaces braver and more accessible to all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, caste, sexual identity, class, age, nationality, immigrant status, disability etc. Our workshop follows braver space guidelines.
RETREAT ACCOMMODATION AT KOH MAK RESORT AND SEAVANA RESORT
The retreat accommodation will be on two resorts next to each other. Koh Mak Resort (B-type and F-type) and Savanna Resort (T-type). Both resorts has swimming pool, sun bathing beds and restaurant. Yoga shala is located just on the Koh Mak resort’s side. These two resorts used to be one and the same resort (got split in 2013) and there is no difference in distances to the Yoga shala. Yoga students are allowed to use both resorts pools and restaurants.
KOH MAK RESORT ROOMS
Comfort Beachfront, Twin bed (B-type). B7, B8, B11 and B12
Wooden bungalows built in 2000 and re-modeled in 2015. Air conditioning, hot water, cable TV, minibar and refrigerator are included. Extra bed available for some rooms.
You can make a reservation for one bed (A or B) if you are traveling alone. We will find you a roommate if you don’t have someone in your mind who would attend for the retreat with you. In that case we will book the rooms for two female students or for two male students.
Located by the beach and about 50 meters from the swimming pool and Yoga shala – terrace with an excellent sea view!
Comfort Beach, Double Bed (B-type) B6
Built in 2006 and re-modeled in 2015. Air conditioning, hot water, cable TV, minibar and refrigerator are included. Suitable for couples or good friends. Extra bed available for some rooms.
Located by the beach and about 50-100 meters from the swimming pool and Yoga shala – terrace with an excellent sea view!
Family Deluxe Up and Down (double bed) (F-type) F2
Newish (2012), western-style two floor “family house” with hot water, cable TV, A/C, minibar and refrigerator are included. The same building has also a Downstairs unit which has its own entrance and privacy and it is booked separately.
Family Deluxe, Up has one king size bed and is suitable for couples or good friends. Big private terrace with sun- bathing chairs. Beautiful sea and front yard view with lots of light from the second floor windows and refreshing wind. It could nicely work as a honey moon suite : ) No extra bed available (if not a baby cot).
Family Deluxe houses are located about 20 meters from the swimming pool and 50 meters from the beach and Yoga shala. A great sea and front yard view and a new swimming pool just 20 meters away!
Retreat info, prices and how to pay
SEAVANA RESORT
Seavana Deluxe Beach, Twin bed (T-type) T1, T2, T3, T4 & T5
Newish twin bungalows built at the end of 2012. Air conditioning, hot water, cable TV, minibar and refrigerator are included. Two queen size beds on a spacious platform. Both indoor and outdoor showers. Lots of bathroom space and extra room for clothes. No extra bed available (if not a baby cot or extra mattress for the children). Good for the families with 1 or 2 children. Large terrace with great sea view! Yoga shala just 20-100 meters walk away.