Calendar of Events

Koh Mak Retreat: January 4-24 2025

The schedule and prices 2025

Retreat info, prices and how to pay

Registration and Payments

Resident Yoga Students

In 2025 retreat we will have only Koh Mak Resort’s bungalows available for the resident students. The Yoga classes and accommodation will be paid separately. The accommodation will be paid to Koh Mak Resort’s account (Petri will give the details) and Yoga and Additional workshop (except Thai massage course which will be paid in cash to the teacher Miss Nhong) will be paid to Petri’s company Maailmanparantaja Oy. Yoga can be pay also by cash before your first yoga class. Registrations for Petri (praisanen@yahoo.com). Petri will give the bank details for all the participants.

Retreat Schedules

1 week schedule https://www.petriandwambui.com/the-schedule/

2 week schedule https://www.petriandwambui.com/the-schedule-seccond-week/

3 week schedule https://www.petriandwambui.com/3-week-schedule/

Complete Yoga Program or Separate classes

Complete Yoga Program includes all the classes except the Additional workshops. You can also book the classes separately and pay according your attendance.

The class description

Mysore style morning Yoga is the self guided Ashtanga Yoga practice, where the students are following their own pace and needs. The teachers are adjusting gently the poses and giving their verbal advices if needed.

Beginners Yoga: We will offer two guided Ashtanga classes for beginners at the start of the week (on Sundays and Mondays) with Tara Narain. Beginners can then join in to the Mysore style (self-practice) classes on Tuesday. Friday is a guided primary series class for all who wish to practice a led class.

Technical classes in the afternoons will be guided by Petri. We are talking and practicing the ashtanga vinyasa system according Pattabhi Jois’ teachings and Petri’s own views through his experience. The students are can ask the questions about the Yoga practice.

Pranayama class in the afternoons will be guided by Petri. We are practicing a light and beneficial breathing exercises which are suited for every practitioner.

Yoga discussions in the afternoons will be guided by Petri. This is mostly a Q/A class with technical subjects.

Buddhist meditation for healing and well being (first and third weeks) by Tamara Ashley

Introductory practices from the tantric vajrayana Buddhist tradition will be explored. Calm abiding and insight meditations will be offered, as well as visualisation-based meditations with a specific focus on healing physical, mental and emotional layers of the body and mind. Loving kindness, compassion and action in the world will be considered as integral to meditation practice. Sessions will balance concentration, somatic body-based exploration and relaxation. Meditations will be supported by lecture sessions in which there will be an outline of Buddhist thought, the stages of practice in meditation and opportunities for discussion on Buddhist ethics and responses to worldly situations, such as family and community life, ecological care and self-care.  Overall, we will explore the cultivation of a heart centred, body-based approach to meditation that supports your daily life, offers tools for relaxation and relief, healing and well-being. You are welcome to join all sessions or drop in.

Vipassana meditation (second week) by Ricardo Martin and Joy Phrombut

Ricardo and Joy went through a Vipassana Training that took over 7 years where they seat down with his teacher Khun Thanat Chindaporn,  assisting him and learning how to conduct Vipassana basic courses and retreats. Both of them got certified to teach Vipassana in May 2018 at the “ Inside Meditation Center of Wat Phradatu Sri Chomtong Voravihara” in Chiang Mai Thailand.

Saturdays – REST DAY! There is no yoga class on Saturday. You are invited to rest and integrate all the teachings from the previous week. Alternatively, you can volunteer your time with the Trash Hero program and help with island/beach clean up by picking up the trash.

Wednesdays  – TRIP DAY! We arrange a trip day during weeks 2,3 and 4. After the practice in the morning, you can join in on a day trip. Previous destinations have been to Koh Chiang waterfall and White Sand Beach, Koh Kood holy tree and waterfall, Buddhist monasteries and Beach resort ; Trat temple and shopping tour. You can also arrange your own program and join us in the evening for a yoga/spiritual film. The Trips has an extra payment according the number of the students.

Moondays – We will inform when the full and/or new moon lands during the retreat. You have the option to practice in the Mysore room or attend a Restorative yoga class.

Additional workshops

Petri Raisanen’s Energy Healing Workshop on the first week and Hands on Adjustments Workshop on the second and third weeks. 150€/each full week.

Miss Nhong’s Thai Massage/Healing workshop. Miss Nhong is a local Healer who has a great understanding about the body, energy and traditional Thai healing methods. There will be 5 minimum two hour classes (usually 2.5-3 hours) on the second week (Jan 13-17 Monday till Friday). Most of the classes will be held at Miss Nhong’s Healing centre. Highly recommended if you are interested about healing, therapy and Thai tradition. 8000 Thai Bhat (to be paid to the teacher in cash). More info about the Additional workshops.

Teaching Method

We follow and respect the Ashtanga Vinyasa system as taught by T. Krishnamacharya and K. Pattabhi Jois, but are aware the harm their teaching method have caused.

We center each individual practitioner and their unique needs and capabilities. We do not follow a dogmatic, ‘one size fits all’ approach to the Ashtanga method. Our aim is for healing, both the physical and spiritual; acceptance and freedom. We’re open to discussing your individual Ashtanga practice and find ways how the method can be customized for your needs. Please feel open to sharing anything with us which might affect your practice at the moment (i.e. injuries, childbirth, etc).

Physical Adjustments & Consent

While the assumption in the Mysore room is that people come for physical adjustments, we practice asking for permission before physically adjusting you. Consent is crucial and non-negotiable. If you’re happier not to be physically adjusted during your asana practice, we respect this choice as well. We will check in on a regular basis regarding consent to being physically adjusted. Some days you may want to be adjusted and other days not, and we welcome this. Feel free to be yourself and find your own way to practice Ashtanga. We are here to help you in your yoga process.

Our Why Behind What We Do

We believe the practice of yoga can heal the world, both on and off the mat. We also understand yoga to contain wisdom for both individual self- transformation and collective, societal progress. In this spirit, we are survivor-centric and survivor-oriented, and abuse, sexual assault, and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. This is a caste protected space and we do not subscribe to casteist beliefs or practices. We recognize our aspiration for our yoga spaces to feel welcoming and warm for anyone who wishes to take practice. We continually contemplate how we can make our yoga spaces braver and more accessible to all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, caste, sexual identity, class, age, nationality, immigrant status, disability etc. Our workshop follows braver space guidelines.

RETREAT ACCOMMODATION AT KOH MAK RESORT

The retreat accommodation will be at Koh Mak Resort (B-type and F-type), not at Seavana Resort as in the previous years. Koh Mak Resort has a swimming pool, sun bathing beds and restaurant. Yoga shala is located just on the Koh Mak resort’s side.

KOH MAK RESORT ROOMS

Comfort Beachfront, Twin bed (B-type). B8, B11 & B12

Wooden bungalows built in 2000 and re-modeled in 2015. Air conditioning, hot water, cable TV, minibar and refrigerator are included. Extra bed available for some rooms.

You can make a reservation for one bed (A or B) if you are traveling alone. We will find you a roommate if you don’t have someone in your mind who would attend for the retreat with you. In that case we will book the rooms for two female students or for two male students.

Located by the beach and about 50 meters from the swimming pool and Yoga shala – terrace with an excellent sea view!

Comfort Beach, Double Bed (B-type) B4, B5 & B6

Built in 2006 and re-modeled in 2015. Air conditioning, hot water, cable TV, minibar and refrigerator are included. Suitable for couples or good friends. Extra bed available for some rooms.

Located by the beach and about 50-100 meters from the swimming pool and Yoga shala – terrace with an excellent sea view!

Family Deluxe Up (double bed) (F-type) F2

Newish (2012), western-style two floor “family house” with hot water, cable TV, A/C, minibar and refrigerator are included. The same building has also a Downstairs unit which has its own entrance and privacy and it is booked separately.

Family Deluxe, Up has one king size bed and is suitable for couples or good friends. Big private terrace with sun- bathing chairs. Beautiful sea and front yard view with lots of light from the second floor windows and refreshing wind. It could nicely work as a honey moon suite : ) No extra bed available (if not a baby cot).

Family Deluxe houses are located about 20 meters from the swimming pool and 50 meters from the beach and Yoga shala. A great sea and front yard view and a new swimming pool just 20 meters away!

We are looking forward for seeing you in Koh Mak Retreat 2025.

Welcome to Koh Mak, Thailand!

Petri Räisänen, co-teachers and assistants