The Heart Of Yoga: A Thailand Meditation and Yoga Retreat
January 8 – 15, 2019
with Anne Douglas, Julie Seibt and Fuyuko Toyota
Restore, Reconnect, Renew
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 than in Thailand.
During this retreat you will 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, meditation in motion, self-inquiry and periods of silence will form the foundation of this beautiful retreat.
Periods of silence, from 8:30 pm to 8:30 am and some silent spaces during the 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 for this amazing retreat 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.
Food/Accom
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 on-suite 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.
This Jungle Yoga retreat is a ‘not to be missed’ experience!. The serene location is unbelievable, you will meet amazing people and Julie is a really special teacher – her quality shines through every thing she does. Julie’s commitment and deep respect for every student and the amazing environment meant everyone deepened (and enjoyed) their own practice. Add to that the amazing food – it’s heaven! (do a week – better still two if you can!)
Grant D, New Zealand
Getting There: Flight arrangements can be done through Valerie at Meritt Travel
The flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnaphumi Airport to Surat Thani is 1 hour. From the airport, there will be a group transfer vehicle waiting 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 08:10 a.m arrive 09:25a.m
WE252 Surat Thani Airport (URT) departs 10:00.m arrives BKK 11:20 a.m. Bookings can also be made through Val at Meritt Travel.
If you will not be on these flights please advise so retreat facilitators can meet you. On January 8th, if you are not flying in to the Surat Thani airport, retreat facilitators can arrange to pick you up at the CBD* hotel in Surat Thani before picking up the others at the airport. Or, they can meet you at the pier (Rachaprapa Dam) at 11am. On January 15th, the group departure boat will leave the retreat venue at 6:30am for the van ride to connect with the Thai Smile Airways fight 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 that time of year
Costs
Retreat Includes:
-7 nights accommodations
-3 meals per day
-unlimited tea, coffee and drinking water
-group transfer to/from Surat Thani airport
-boat transfer from pier to venue and venue to peer
-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 this retreat. Students 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.
Payment guidelines:
Registration fee and tuition costs to reserve your space:
$750 CAD pp Double occupancy in a shared bungalow with 2 large beds
$950 CAD pp Single occupancy in private bungalow
The remaining balance paid at venue in local currency of THB 23,000 THB (approx
$900 CAD
*Note: there is no ATM or currency exchange at the Surat Thani airport. Both are easily available at Bangkok airport. Check your limits before leaving or purchase currency at home.
Refunds: Fees are non-refundable within 60 days of retreat, unless we can fill your spot, in which case you will receive a refund for monies paid less exchange and payment processing fees and an administration fee of $250. We suggest you purchase travel cancelation insurance.
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 300THB (appx $9) to be paid in cash at the pier on the first day.
Embodied Awakening was one of the most powerful and enjoyable workshops I have ever attended!
JS, Australia
I feel truly grateful to have stumbled upon this glorious practice and Anne! Her teachings, I would rather call them fireside chats, brought to life what the practices is all about. Her heart felt, dynamic and incredibly rich delivery, brought life to my meditation practice at an entirely new level. My experience this week has been quite profound. My deep thanks for creating an experience where that was possible.
M.M. from Idaho
“Julie’s retreat actually changed my life. I was coming from a bit of a closed-minded place of what yoga means. I had so much to learn, but didn’t understand that until my mind expanded through daily guidance from Julie. Most of the teachings clicked once I was back home in my daily grind. I could hear Julie’s gentle wisdom guide me through difficult decisions and situations. If you are interested in developing yourself and expanding your mind, I recommend spending a week with the lovely Julie Seibt!” Kelly H, St. Louis, MO
Your Teachers
The Retreat’s Featured Teacher is
Anne Douglas:
Anne Douglas has been teaching yoga, meditation, yogic philosophy and holistic health for over 30 years. She travels internationally to teach trainings, retreats and workshops and is the creator of Anahata Yoga Therapy and the iRest Daily meditation program. She is a senior Trainer for the iRest Institute as well as a feature teacher on the Simple Habit meditation app, with over 1.4 million listens. Anne offers skillful facilitation through her compassionate heart, depth of wisdom and gentle humor. Her clarity, sensitivity and passion create an inspiring environment for learning.
http://www.anahatayogatherapy.ca
Julie Seibt: Supporting Teacher
As an IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist and IRI Certfied 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. 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.
Fuyuko Toyota
Fuyuko Toyota is a certified iRest Senior Trainer, Retreat Leader and Supervisor/Mentor. For the past 22 years, she has been deeply committed on the path of Yoga and ancient Non-dual wisdom. She is also a certified meditation teacher, a qualified Hatha Yoga teacher, and Yoga therapist. She incorporates iRest and Self-Inquiry in her teachings of Yoga, Somatic body awareness and meditation at her yoga studio “Prema Yoga” on the Gold Coast, Australia and internationally.
In 2007, Richard Miller, her spiritual teacher, brought to Fuyuko a deeper understanding of who we are. From a life of ever deepening joy, astonishment, and stillness, a heartfelt wish and vow to share these precious teachings have arisen authentically. She teaches iRest training and retreats in Australia, New Zealand, and Asia countries. She has been assisting and co-teaching iRest training in North America for Richard Miller and other senior trainers.
Testimonials
Anne Douglas is an expert at delivering the ancient wisdom teachings of yoga in a manner that makes them easily accessible to all. Her innate curiosity, enthusiasm for life and inherent loving and compassionate nature provide a supportive, safe and nurturing environment that enables her students to deeply rest and relax while learning to intimately explore the nature of their own experience. I take special delight in being with Anne as a teacher as her classes call us to experience yoga as both a sensually delightful and effervescently joyful and playful experience, while at the same time revealing the deepest understandings that yoga conveys, calling us to move beyond our limited misperceptions of separation and dissatisfaction and awaken to our inherent freedom and interconnectedness with all of life.
-Richard Miller, President: Integrative Restoration Institute
Julie’s retreat was exquisite. Held in the most peaceful of places, surrounded by jungle, and led by a most talented teacher who guided us in an exploration of tranquility. Incomparable.
-Mark H, Hawaii
“Fuyuko Toyota is a gift to this world!”
She is an exemplar of living an ethical, caring life, showering love, compassion and kindness on those she teaches and guides. Through her many years of immersion in the spiritual life, including a decade of sincere study of iRest from Dr. Richard Miller, Fuyuko displays an authenticity of both humanness and quiet, modest awakening, that touches her students, colleagues and friends.
“If you have an opportunity to attend a retreat or training with Fuyuko – take it!”
-Leigh Blashki – Founder AIYT, past-president Yoga Australia, Certified iRest Teacher
I have now attended the level one teacher training and my first iRest retreat with Fuyuko and have learnt so much from her on both occasions. Fuyuko is an amazing presenter who keeps everyone engaged the whole time. You can tell she lives and breathes the iRest teachings. Just being in her presence makes me feel calm. I look forward to attending further retreats and the level 2 training.
– Amy, SA, Australia
I find retreats with Julie to be nourishing on so many levels. I’m embarrassed to say that she actually taught me how to breath! Our practice and experience this past year has given me a greater appreciation and awareness of the body. I’ve learned that paying close attention to the body and areas of tension can help deepen my meditation practice. The combination of community, excellent teaching, local food and spectacular surroundings is something I could get used to! I look forward to the next retreat, wherever that may be and I want to express gratitude to Julie and all involved.
-Sean S, Boston, MA
Anne Douglas is an expert at delivering the ancient wisdom teachings of yoga in a manner that makes them easily accessible to all. Her innate curiosity, enthusiasm for life and inherent loving and compassionate nature provide a supportive, safe and nurturing environment that enables her students to deeply rest and relax while learning to intimately explore the nature of their own experience. I take special delight in being with Anne as a teacher as her classes call us to experience yoga as both a sensually delightful and effervescently joyful and playful experience, while at the same time revealing the deepest understandings that yoga conveys, calling us to move beyond our limited misperceptions of separation and dissatisfaction and awaken to our inherent freedom and interconnectedness with all of life. testimonials: Anne Douglas is an amazing teacher. Her ability to convey complex ideas are beyond compare. she does so with a heart of kindness and joyfulness that permeates her teaching. she has the innate ability to keep on transfixed to her every word. I would attend any event she offers in the future.
“Anne is an amazing teacher. She has both the knowledge and a delivery style that makes it come to life!”
Anne Douglas is an amazing teacher. Her ability to convey complex ideas are beyond compare. she does so with a heart of kindness and joyfulness that permeates her teaching. she has the innate ability to keep on transfixed to her every word. I would attend any event she offers in the future.
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 and many other rare birds and animals. There are however, almost no mosquitoes and no black flies.
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 practicing and teachings, kayaking, swimming, wildlife viewing, hiking 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.
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 who 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.
Anne and Julie engage the teachings of nondual yoga through practices that include Breath Sensing/Pranayama, iRest Yoga Nidra, BodySensing & Tandava as meditation in motion, and periods of silence.
*Tandava is known as the Dance of Bliss or Enlightenment and is experienced as spontaneous movement.
This protective, nourishing environment will be enhanced by silence from 8:30 pm to 8:30 am and a dedicated area for silence, others for mindful speech. This 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.
This event fulfills the long retreat requirement for iRest-Yoga Nidra Certificaton: www.irest.us
Sample schedule (subject to change on excursion days)
Morning Program:
7:00-8:00 Pranayama & Meditation
8:00-9:00 Breakfast
9:30-Noon Morning Practice: Meditation, BodySensing & Tandava, iRest Yoga Nidra
Noon-1:00 Lunch
Afternoon Program:
3:30-5:30 Inquiry Practice
6:00-7:00 Dinner
Evening Program:
7:30-9:00 Discussion/Satsanga
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