An Inside Look Into Our Thailand Yoga Retreat; Luke’s Discoveries.
Hi! My name is Luke, and last year I found myself on an inspiring journey through the South East of Asia, hiking jungle terrain, wading flooded city streets during thunder storms, drinking Margarita’s on white sandy beaches, and eventually in the arms of a new family… my Thailand Yoga family. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to discover on my travels, but I knew I needed to look inward, for some peace of mind and boost of soul. And I certainly found it.
The Island
Upon arrival on the Island of Koh Yao Noi, words simply stop working. Lose all meaning. Disappear from existence. Eyes wide and heart open, you step foot into what can only be described as paradise. Water seemingly made from turquoise crystal. Clean, open beaches stretching toward the sun. Beautiful, simple homes, expertly crafted from wood right on the waters edge. People with smile’s beaming through their eyes, and into your soul. A truly magical place. All this becomes your home for the next five nights. You can already feel your worries slipping away.
The Home
The Yoga Shala (Meaning ‘Home’ in Sanskrit) is a large space made almost entirely from wood and windows, creating a warm, cosy and natural atmosphere as soon as you step inside. But the most powerful sense of home I felt was with the introduction to my new special family. Of course, anyone who decides to take part in a Yoga retreat will have common ground, but it quickly became more than that. You’re all growing together. Laughing together. Learning together. Healing together. The sense of community and equality is unlike many others I’ve felt. Even in spite of my rather reserved and quiet character, I received such warmth and tenderness immediately. And as a family, we’re all guided by a wonderful teacher.
The Teacher
We all need a little bit of guidance sometimes, and that takes the right kind of person, altruistic and open, to help us with the things we may have missed along the way. Jackie is a wise soul, with a kind heart and the knowledge and prowess to gently open the locked doors in life. With such a passion for Yoga, I can think of no one better suited than her. The Yoga she teaches is not just for movement and exercise sake, but also for the heart and soul. It’s so beautifully clarified into sessions that feel achievable while still exploring your ability. With some sessions focused on mindfulness and sense of self, others with connection and communion, and further discovering your inner power, strength and stability, Jackie’s way of teaching offers everything we seem to be lacking these days.
The Self Discovery
We all know that daily life can feel very unnatural sometimes. For a long time I’ve felt disconnected from reality and normality, uninspired with it all. I wanted desperately to tap into something more fundamental, something lost in the bustle of office jobs, petrol cars and processed food. It’s not always easy to find ways back into our true selves. Joining Jackie and my new family on this retreat was literally a breath of fresh air. A wake up call to the habits my mind had latched onto, and the key to unlocking a little bit more of the pure self I knew was inside. I learned so much from this experience, not only about myself, but about what makes us all so similar deep down. What connects us all in this strange world, and how to more easily open my heart to it when it arises.