Koh Phangan
What to expect
18-days life changing retreat at La Casa Shambala community’s very first home on the beautiful island of Koh Phangan. More than a yoga centre but a little community built and modelled with love on the concept of permaculture, nestled in the jungle surrounded by the magic of a tropical island. An idyllic setting for a journey of yoga, self-discovery, growth, meditation, health while learning more about self-sustainable living.
Immerse yourself in the traditional teachings of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, detox your mind and body and reconnect with your true, inner and powerful self.
Become a part of our global La Casa Shambala family and share and receive the gifts of love, knowledge, energy and acceptance, all while becoming a fully certified yoga teacher.
Dates
200 yTTC
- February 9 – February 26, 2025 (High Season)
- March 9 – March 26, 2025 (Low Season)
- April 6 – April 23, 2025 (Low Season)
- May 4 – May 21, 2025 (Low Season)
- June 1 – June 18, 2025 (Low Season)
- June 29 – July 16, 2025 (Low Season)
- July 27 – August 13, 2025 (Low Season)
- August 24 – September 10, 2025 (Low Season)
- September 21 – October 8, 2025 (Low Season)
- October 15 – November 1, 2025 (Low Season)
- November 30 – December 17, 2025 (Low Season)
Program Details
If you are longing to take the first step into a deeper journey of inner discovery, this course is a leap into that journey. Our program is truly special, not only for its content and practice but also for the loving intention that we put into every part of it. Our curriculum and philosophy are focused on traditional Hatha yoga. As you will learn during the course, Hatha yoga is a way of approaching life, and the asana practice is only one of the eight limbs of the Hatha philosophy. You will learn how to integrate the empathetic and spiritual practice of Hatha into your life, learning how to exist in the spiritual world and the modern-day world we are all accustomed to. Vinyasa is a more modern form of yoga that comes from the Hatha Asana practice. Vinyasa focuses on using breath with movement, harmonizing each movement in the yoga flow with an inhale or an exhale. No two vinyasa classes are the same and we will teach you how to sequence beautiful Vinyasa flows that will embody your unique teaching style.
Besides teaching the Hatha philosophy: this course also puts a focus on teaching traditional Ayurveda; the ayurvedic diet, learning about your Ayurvedic profile (the doshas), using Ayurveda for preventative health and wellness. As a yoga teacher, it’s important to understand human anatomy and how yoga influences our bodies on an anatomical level. Our course teaches anatomy from its more traditional biological standpoint as well as the conjunction between yogic philosophy and biological principles. This is so that our students can understand on a biological level, why a yoga asana practice makes us feel better. Our yoga asana classes are traditional Hatha, yin/restorative yoga, and Vinyasa. Students will finish our TTC with knowledge in teaching all three varieties of yoga classes.
Venue Details
LA CASA SHAMBALA
La Casa Shambala Community has been open to the public since 2017, located in Koh Phangan, a magical island in the heart of the gulf of Thailand, surrounded by the wilderness, nature and blue ocean. On entering the property, you will find our lush and diverse gardens, ten Bamboo Huts with the choice of being private or shared, accompanied by two outside showers and compost toilets. In the heart of our community is La Casa, providing open and comfortable spaces to study, space to reflect on your journey and enjoy some peaceful moments to yourself or the company and warm smiles of our team and fellow students. Above this and overlooking the property, we have our open Shala to practise yoga while taking in the views of the surrounding jungle with all it has to offer, the sunrise and all the wonderful noises of nature. In la Casa we also have an inside toilet and shower. A place to share meals with the group and a kitchen to cook. All surrounded by our beloved garden and permaculture projects. La Casa Shambala Community is surrounded by jungle life, filling you with peace, tranquillity and serenity.
Accommodation Details
La Casa Shambala welcomes you with nature-hugged, tropical and comfortable 2-person Bamboo Huts (equipped with fans), tucked in the lush, beautiful gardens of the property, with ample space for reconnection and reflection.
For any additional requests, please contact our team directly at [email protected]
Food
An introduction to Ayurvedic diet:
Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine native to India. It is a complete holistic understanding of the nature of the body and its connection to nature. As well as studying Ayurveda as part of your course, you will be introduced to foods typically used in Ayurveda to nourish and fuel you in the context of your practice.
Although the Ayurvedic diet has specific guidelines for each dosha, the diet as a whole encourages eating whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. This can benefit your health greatly, as these foods are rich in many essential nutrients.
If you have any food allergies, intolerance or special diet, let us know and we will make adjustments for you
Inclusions 200h YTTC
Daily Schedule 200h:
- 07:00 - 07:50 Chanting/Meditation/Pranayama
- 08:00 - 09:30 Asana practice Hatha/Vinyasa
- 09:30 - 10:30 Breakfast
- 10:30 - 12:00 Philosophy/Anatomy/Teaching practice
- 12:00 - 13:30 Lunch and Rest
- 13:30 - 15:30 Philosophy/Anatomy/Teaching practice
- 15:30 - 17:00 Philosophy/Anatomy/Teaching practice
- 17:00 - 18:30 Yin/Restorative Yoga
- 18:30 - 19:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 22:00 Self study/Free time
Please note that this schedule is an example only and is subject to change.
What's Not Included:
- Visa, flights, excursions, Meals on days off (Sundays), Transportation on departure, Covid test
Location info
general info about the area
Where do we start? The small island of Koh Phangan is magic for the senses. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 70 kms off the main coast and close to its “big sister” Koh Samui, Koh Phangan is easily one of the most beautiful and wild islands of Thailand.
Although a small area south of the island may be famous worldwide for its Full Moon party, the atmosphere on the rest of the island could not be more different and you will find far more than just picture-perfect beaches. Koh Phangan is a unique place in Thailand, as it does not only welcome its guests with crystal clear waters but also an incredibly beautiful and strong energy. For decades now, it has been one of the country’s top wellness destination and has become one of the world’s leading yoga locations. The Sri Thanu area in particular is a renowned yoga, meditation and wellness hub. The energy is almost palpable. It is in the air.
A health-conscious community goes hand in hand with great food. And Koh Phangan is a healthy food heaven. The Yogic culture being so strong here, it´s no surprise that you will find a vast selection of vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Although what may be a pleasant surprise is the standard of food you will find here along with some of the best traditional Thai food.
Nature is all around you on this wonderful island. Koh Phangan is not an overly developed island, as large proportion of it is a protected National Park. This comes with the opportunity to visit breath-taking landscapes, magical waterfalls, and go on hikes that will never be forgotten. The island is also a great spot to practise water sports in some of the most turquoise and warm waters on our planet. The most magical part of the day comes in the evening, with the Koh Phangan sunset which words or photos cannot do justice to.
La Casa Shambala is strategically placed between the main centres of Thongsala and Srithanu, making them both easily accessible and giving our students the best of both worlds. Although we’re not too far from a variety of shops and positioned on the edge of Sri Thanu where you can find an array of health-conscious restaurants, cafes, as well as holistic treatment opportunities, we are hidden away in a peaceful area of silence and tranquillity.
HOW TO GET THERE (INCL PICKUP INFO)
- Part of the mystic of Koh Phangan is that it is only accessible by water. Below are the closest airports followed by different ferry options to then reach the island.
CLOSEST AIRPORTS:
- Surat Thani (URT)
It is a 4-5 hour journey (bus and ferry) to Koh Phangan. This is the cheapest option for flying. - Koh Samui (USM)
The easiest and quickest is to fly to Koh Samui. This option is more expensive, especially flying from within Thailand. When flying from outside Asia, you will find that adding an extra flight to Koh Samui to your itinerary often does not result in a big change to the overall price of the ticket, so it is definitely worth checking out. Koh Samui is just a short one-hour flight from Bangkok.
FERRIES
- Surat Thani
The best option from Surat Thani is the Raja Ferry. They do transfers directly from the airport to the pier and then a ferry to Phangan for just 470 THB per person. - Koh Samui
We recommend Lomprayah. They have locations in both Nathon and Pralarn Pier. The ferry takes just 20 – 30 minutes and the price is 350 – 400 THB including airport transfer. Pralarn pier is closer to the airport (roughly 20 min) and Nathon is farther (about 45 min).
You can also take the Marine Passion (Petcharat Pier in Bophut, 20 min or so from the airport, 650 THB per person) or Raja Ferry (Lipa Noi pier, about one hour from the airport, 150 THB for the ferry but need to take a transfer to the pier on your own which is 600 – 1000 THB. It is also the longest journey from Koh Samui – 1h 30min).
Once you arrive on the island of Koh Phangan, we are just a short journey from the ferry port and will be happy to organise pick up with you ahead of your arrival. To arrange we will need your ferry information, which you can add to the logistics form or let us know in the WhatsApp group.
Meet our team
Mika
Mika found her passion in yoga in 2005. Today, her practice is the base from which she draws her energy and strength for all of life’s adventures. She completed her trainings in India and Bali, and loves to teach Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Fascia Yoga, Fly High Yoga as well as hormone Yoga therapy. Mika shines in teaching confidence to new Yoga teachers. She is also experienced in Thai yoga massage, which techniques are great for adjustments in yoga classes.
Sara
Sara began her healing path in 2008 after being introduced to Reiki & Yoga in Portugal. She continued studying on her many visits to India, Nepal & Thailand, developing her trainings in Hatha, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Sivananda Yoga and also became a Reiki Master, Masseuse & Crystal Healer. She has also experience in other styles as Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, Restorative, Yoga Nidra. Pranayama, Chanting, Meditation and in a theoretical part has experience in Yoga Philosophy, Methodology and Ayurveda. She in E-RYT500 qualified and has now taught yoga for 9 years and she is leading teacher training courses around the world since 6 years.
Warren
Warren became a teacher and healer on a deeply personal scale throughout his long humanitarian career. His philosophies & practices stem from the complementary influences of Pathanjali’s Sutra, Kundalini Yoga, the Daoist practice of Chi Nei Tsang, Tantric Bodywork and Reiki, along with his practice of Traditional Hatha style. Offering his students extensive experience and knowledge, his yogic leadership style supports and challenges learners with a sense of fun and deep feeling for the combined effects of breathwork, bodywork and somatic healing.
Useful Information
Course Only options: meal can be added at an additional fee (on course days only).
Arrival day schedule: This first day listed on your course dates is the arrival day. On this day we have a tour and our opening ceremony that typically start about 14:30. We strongly recommend everyone arrives before this time. Please also note the only included meal on this day is dinner. Course classes start early the following morning (before any ferries arrive) so you do need to arrive on this first day.
Departure day schedule: The final day listed on your course dates is the departure day. Check out time is 12:00, but you can leave earlier if needed. Please note that the graduation ceremony and official certification is on this day in the morning. However, there are no required classes. Please note the only meal on this day is breakfast.
You can book ferry transfers to the island online at:
Lomprayah: https://www.lomprayah.com
Raja: https://www.rajaferryport.com
MarinePassion: https://www.facebook.com/Marinepassion1
There are numerous local, fresh and vegan restaurants and café within close proximity of La Casa Shambala.
We can facilitate scooter and bicycle rental for you and provide taxi numbers if you prefer to use taxis. The average price per day for scooter rental is 250thb and daily bicycle rental costs 150thb. Taxi prices on the island vary depending on number of passengers and distance. The average price from La Casa Shambala to the pier is around 250thb (distance of 4kms).
There are several laundry places right across the main road (and many in general all over the island). The cost of having your laundry washed, ironed, folded and smelling lovely on return is approximately 1 USD per kg!
La Casa Shambala community is built on the concept of permaculture. In an effort to conserve plastic and keep our plants healthy, we ask that students use natural shower products and be conscious of the amount of plastic they use on our grounds. We purchase natural, organic soap and shampoo from a local farm that are refilled daily. This is available to use for the duration of the course for a donation of 300THB. Our land thanks you greatly.
Weather: Thailand’s climate is subtropical, resulting in hot and humid conditions all year-round. April and May are the hottest months of the year (average of 32⁰c). We recommend that you pack loose and light close as it is also quite humid. October to December are the wettest months, with an average temperature of 27⁰c, it is recommended to take a light rain-proof jacket or a poncho.
POPULAR RESTAURANTS AND CAFES CLOSE TO LA CASA SHAMBALA
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Embark on a journey of self-discovery and ancient wisdom through the powerful path of yoga. Find your power and guide others to ignite their fires so we can brighten up our world in unity.
