Thailand; Essential Well-being

RESTORE, RECONNECT, RENEW

Awaken to your innate sense of well-being and open your heart to abundant joy, essential wholeness, and freedom.  Breath Sensing/Pranayama, iRest® Yoga Nidra, meditative yoga, self-inquiry and periods of quietude form the foundation of this beautiful retreat.

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Immerse yourself in nature for an exquisite week in the exotic country of Thailand.  Enjoy unique accommodations on floating bamboo jungalows/kutis located on a pristine lake hidden among towering limestone karst formations. This prehistoric jungle is part of a wildlife sanctuary and is home to gibbon apes, langur monkeys, giant hornbills, serpent eagles, and many other rare birds and animals. If bliss is not already at it's utmost, daily yoga and meditation practices with Julie and Wai Ying will surely nourish and overflow your very soul.

Indulge in exquisite Thai food, jungle excursions, calm-water kayaking, optional cave meditation and a comfortable floating bungalow as your home on the remote Khlong Long Lake in Southern Thailand. 

Whether you are new to meditation or have an established practice, embodied meditative presence reveals your natural state of peace-love-joy and an even deeper abidance as infinite peace and stillness. We can think of no better location to support this abidance for men and women of all ages. 

Quiet periods, from 8:30 pm to noon the next day, enhance your inner inquiry and deep rest. Individual requests for more silence will be supported by the teaching team and staff. 

Your home away from home is a comfortable floating bungalow at a unique and spectacular venue offered by Jungle Yoga (www.jungleyoga.com).

Register early as bungalow-availability is limited. The venue is exclusively reserved for this retreat.  Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary is a remote, pristine lake in the interior of Southern Thailand. There is easy access from Koh Samui, Kao Lak, Krabi, and  Phuket. Most participants will take a one-hour, inexpensive flight from Bangkok

I couldn’t have envisioned a more perfect way to start the year.  Deep within the serenity of an ancient rainforest, led by a brilliant, radiant threesome, I accessed parts of my heart that I’d long since forgotten.  I was inspired by it all…the wilderness, the meditation, the freshest flavors of inimitable Thai cuisine, the Sanskrit chanting and - of course - the iRest Yoga Nidra.  My gratitude for this experience will extend all year long. 

–Kathryn Sullivan

–FLOW–

Emerge each morning from your floating bungalow on a tranquil, jungle lake. Morning pranayama (breathing awareness) and meditation will open the body and senses to the exquisite untouched embrace of nature. Still, freshwater is your playground. Ease into gentle yoga practices and teachings to the background cacophony of jungle life awakening with you. Kayak, swim, float on a tire tube, view wildlife, hike and lingering over fresh, Thai food with herbs collected from the jungle.

An excursion further into the National park with a raft-boat lake tour and unforgettable cave meditation is included. A 2nd optional day excursion is available. A light evening dinner followed by a wisdom talk, body sensing or stargazing will leave you blissfully relaxed and nourished on all levels.

I was new to yoga and meditation. Julie and co-teachers welcomed me as a newcomer. I never felt out of place or struggling to keep up despite there being many yoga instructors participating in the retreat. -Jay S, USA

–TEACHINGS–

Once you have stepped through the doors of heightened and sensitized perception, the practices of Kashmiri Non-dualism acquaint you with the Truth and Fullness of whom you are as both embodied and Infinite Awareness.

Daily practices help to stabilize the recognition and to ABIDE as ONE integrated whole. One mind, One heart, One Love.

Julie and Wai Ying engage the teachings of nondual yoga through practices that include meditative yoga movement, Pranayama, iRest Yoga Nidra, and quiet periods for contemplation or meditation.  

This nourishing environment will be enhanced by quiet time from the closing of the evening program at 8:30 pm to the closing of the morning program at 8:30 am. Participants who wish to have more time in quietude will be supported with dedicated areas for silent practice.  

The retreat will be free from alcohol or other intoxicants. Internet and telephone communication is not available at the venue. Unplug, kick back and open to the rare opportunity to be held in nature, community and compassionate leadership.

–ENVIRONMENT–

Khlong Saeng Wildlife Sanctuary is a remote, beautiful lake in the interior of Southern Thailand. Located on the edge of Khao Sok National Park, the lake is hidden among towering limestone karst formations. The prehistoric jungle is part of a wildlife sanctuary that is home to gibbon apes, langur monkeys, giant hornbills, serpent eagles, nd many other rare birds and animals. There are , owever, almost no mosquitoes and no black flies.

Jungle yoga, location, people and food are absolutely outstanding! I will never forget this experience here in Thailand! This restorative yoga week transformed my meditation practice. 

– Kathy B, Canmore, AB, Canada 10/10

–FOOD & ACCOMODATION–

Accommodation is in simple floating bamboo jungalows/kutis, with one or two double to king size beds. Fresh Thai meals include wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables from the jungle and local markets, and fish from the lake. Meals will be mainly vegetarian with fish and occasionally, chicken. Drinking water is readily available. Refillable water bottles are provided. Lighting in the evening is provided by the moon and the stars. There is a small generator, usually on from 6:30pm - 10pm for lighting and outlets are available for charging a few necessary electrical items.

Some bungalows have a ensuite with toilet and shower, others share nearby bathrooms and shower areas. If you have a preference, please let us know. Many returning participants prefer the units without the bathroom because of the layout of the bungalow.

See what our venu looks like – view our retreat gallery here!

–COSTS–

$1950CAD (approx. 1470USD) Double occupancy in a shared bungalow with 2 large beds.  

$2150 CAD (approx. 1625 USD) Single occupancy in private bungalow

Includes:

• 7 nights accommodations
• 3 meals per day
• unlimited tea, coffee and drinking water
• Registration fee
• Group transfer to/from Surat Thani airport
• Boat transfer from pier to venue
• Excursion; small hike, bamboo raft to a cave for a beautiful cave meditation (optional)
• Tuition
• Use of kayaks
• Linens, towels, and mosquito nets (there are very few, if any mosquitos but some prefer a net for added comfort)

The resort is reserved exclusively for our retreat. You will have access to all common areas and an amazing team of staff members who will support your retreat experience.

Please ensure you also bring enough cash to also cover personal expenses such as massage, park entrance fee and gift/clothing purchases. There are no currency exchange services at Surat Thani airport. You must exchange currency or withdraw from an ATM at the BKK airport if you haven’t done so earlier. It is recommended you check or adjust your daily withdrawal limit prior to leaving your home country.

The yoga at this retreat cultivates loving-kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. The jungle and fellow students complete the embrace. I was able to slow down and be present. 

Dan King, Chiang Mai,Thailand 10/10

–PAYMENT GUIDELINES–

Registration fee and tuition costs are as follows and are required to reserve your space:

$950 CAD pp for double shared room (2 beds) $1150 CAD pp for single room.

Balance of $1000 CAD due by October 8, 2020. 

Refunds: Registration fees are non-refundable. Retreat balances are non-refundable after 08 Oct 2020. We suggest you purchase travel cancellation insurance.*

Forms of Payment: You may pay online with mastercard, visa and for Canadian residents, e-transfers are accepted. Cheques from US bank accounts are also accepted at current rate of exchange. 

Not included: Flights, travel insurance, gratuity, extra drinks (tea, coffee and water included at no cost) , purchases from resort store (clothing, sunscreen, etc), massage, National Park fee of 320THB (appx $13CAD or $10USD) to be paid in cash at the pier on the first day.

There are many options for travel insurance:

1. Check if your credit card includes trip cancellation insurance as a benefit.
2. Contact our preferred travel agent, Jenni Evans. She will be happy to provide insurance and other travel services that you may need. Jenni is located in Canada but works with clients internationally. Her emails address is: jenni.evans@visiontravel.ca or search online for travel insurance packages.

–GETTING THERE–

The flight from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport to Surat Thani is 1 hour. From the airport, there will be a group transfer vehicle waiting for you to take you to the Pier at Ratchaprapa Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary Headquarters.

*There are also flights from Bangkok to Krabi and Phuket. Special arrangements would have to be made for pick up from these airports.

Surat Thani is a 1-hour drive from the Headquarters. Krabi is a 2-hour drive from Headquarters and Phuket is a 2-1/2 hour drive from Headquarters.

From Headquarters, there is a 30-minute boat ride across a phenomenal lake to reach Praiwan Raft House (Jungle Yoga).

A shared transfer is provided from Surat Thani airport to the retreat venue and return. If you require transfers different than the group transfers, you will be responsible for the costs and arrangements.

The shared transfers will coordinate with the following flights on Thai Smile Airways: To book: http://www.thaismileair.com/

WE251 Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Surat Thani (URT)  depart 07:40 a.m arrive 09:05a.m

WE252 Surat Thani Airport (URT) departs 09:35 a.m arrives BKK 10:55 a.m

If you will not be on these flights please let us know so we can meet you. On January 8th,  if you are not flying in to the Surat Thani airport, we can arrange to pick you up at the CBD* hotel in Surat Thani before picking up the others at the airport. Alternatively we can meet you at 10am in Baan Takhu  (nearest town to the lake) PTT gas station. Here are the GPS coordinates

On January 15th, the group departure boat will leave the retreat venue at 6:30 am for the van ride to connect with the Thai Smile Airways flight to Bangkok. 

For those traveling onward to the South of Thailand or Koh Samui area, take the group transfer to Surat Thani and then you can continue on from there to the ferries, or to town to the local bus terminal. Please ensure that you have your onward travel arrangements sorted before you arrive - it is busy and stressful at the airport at that time of year.

Sample schedule (subject to change on excursion days)

Morning Program:

6:00-7:00* Pranayama & Meditation

7:00-8:00 Gentle yoga, personal practice or swimming, paddling

*7:00-9:00 Breakfast served 

10:00-11:45  Morning Practice: Meditation, gentle yoga, iRest Yoga Nidra

Noon-1:30 Lunch

Afternoon Program:

4:00-5:15 Inquiry Practice

6:00-7:30 Dinner

Evening Program:

7:30-8:30 Discussion/Satsanga

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!  I came into the retreat not knowing what I wanted and leave with a sense of clarity and understanding deeper than anticipated.  I have acquired tools to help me live a fuller, more grounded life, and am so grateful. 

–Lauren

–YOUR TEAM–

Julie Seibt As an IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist and IRI Certified iRest Teacher ®, Julie’s passion is to inspire others to listen to their inner wisdom as they journey down the path to optimal wellness in each stage of life. Julie teaches and facilities retreats in Canada, Hawaii, and Thailand each year. She lived in Thailand for five years and is eager to share her favourite “cushy” and off-the-grid location with you. Julie is a featured teacher on Simple Habit and Breethe meditation apps. As a yoga therapist, Asian Bio-Energetic Therapist and Master Reiki Teacher, Julie brings a holistic, compassionate and mindful approach to well being. Julie is grateful to her primary teachers, Anne Douglas, Richard Miller, Steven Smith and Michele McDonald. See complete bio

Wai Ying Tham's accreditations  include an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching (1000+hours), Advanced level Relax & Renew© restorative teacher, certified iRest Yoga Nidra teacher and Clinical Somatic Educator. Originally training as an industrial scientist and well on the path to completing a PhD, Wai Ying took a side step and instead began working in ethical investment. A diagnosis of breast cancer derailed some of her plans, but not her body mind practices.

This one constant helped Wai Ying to navigate rounds of treatment, heal more kindly, be more in tune with her body, and make a conscious choice to follow her passion for science, anatomy and wellbeing, once given a clean bill of health.

Wai Ying is keen to share the healing powers of the meditative aspect of yoga after studying with US founders and health leaders, Richard Miller and Judith Hanson-Lasater. See complete bio

In a phenomenal location with great teachers, the entire experience was so supportive and loving; a perfect combination of elements.  Being off the grid really made a difference….loved it! 

–Camille 

Recommended Reading before this retreat: ​ 

"Embodied Awakening" by Anne Douglas

For millennia, humans have searched for the meaning of life and for a connection to the natural order of things and to a higher or all pervading consciousness that is central to all of existence. It could be said that every philosophy or religion has its roots in attempting to answer this enduring question, and Self-Realization, Enlightenment or Awakening as the remembrance or resolution of it. Read more here.

When I arrived at the retrat I was dealing with an autoimmune illness. I had no energy. My attitude was negative. I felt depressed. Under the wonderful instructors' care I am going home now feeling renewed, energized and positive. I highly recommend this retreat. -Lenore Hodgeson, Canmore AB