Samahita Koh Samui

Yoga is interpreted in many different ways, and all practitioners apply it as it fits into their own lives. It is both an ancient ascetic discipline and a modern means to physical, spiritual, and psychological peace. While we normally live in a state of constant dissatisfaction, always striving for something external that seems just out of reach, yoga teaches us to look inward, redirecting our energy toward establishing inner peace. With a grounded sense of self and trust in our ability to take life as it comes, we can then focus on building more authentic connections with the world around us. Yoga incorporates many different methods, from poses to breath control, all of which work together to center us and create a place of safety and security from which we can interact with others.

Restorative yoga has an aim to put minimal stress on the body while still respecting the needs for support and opening in the body. The goal is to align the mind and body by practicing intentional stillness and slow, gentle, purposeful movement. It can be a time for deep, meditative relaxation. It can also take mindfulness to the next level, and prepares the body for deep, high-quality sleep. At Samahita we have four different sequences of Restorative yoga that cover a range of classical poses, slow movements, relaxed comforting positons, and supine restorative relief. A center support of the body remains especially if one stays in the pose longer. Without it students can cause injury to the body while, ironically, doing a completely relaxing position.

Pranayama, in one sense, is the art of controlling the breath, which is the key to the universal life energy that flows through everyone. In another sense it is applying control of the breath as part of the meditative experience. Pranayama can free the breath, unlocking the constriction that occurs during times of stress. There are various techniques to learn and then repeat on a regular basis. You, when doing, control the breath with an internal focus. In so doing there is a physiological response that, when done well and repeatedly, can amplify how your autonomic nervous system responds to situations and how clear your thinking can function, and improve endocrine function, so your inner state is more stable and aware of what is going on around you. As a result an outcome that arises over time is a more robust emotional response to situations and a greater understanding of life and the daily drama that unfolds. For you that means inner peace, greater clarity and, quite simply, joy.

A yoga retreat is, at its heart, a purposeful deepening of collective yoga practice. You and your fellow attendees will follow a schedule of activities, classes, and healthy meals, under the guidance of an experienced teacher. In this scenario you follow the same teacher for a fixed period of time and have a chance to progress under such guidance over the duration of the retreat.

Ultimately, one of yoga’s primary goals is to connect authentically with yourself and the world around you. Yet it can be tough to do this when you are surrounded by the pressures of daily life. On a retreat you are removed from your typical daily life and its patterns and pressures and so more mental and physical energy is available to get absorbed in a new learning and, if already doing, refining a practice. This setting, coupled with experienced guidance, is a time-honored and proven approach to help you go deeper and learn better. The time you spend on retreat to learn something new is valuable investment in oneself so when you return home you have learnt what to do and can do within your routine without the pressure of trying to figure it out at home in a limited time in the morning or evening when you practice.