"Chanting isn’t about music at all. It’s about engaging in a practice designed to bring you more fully into yourself. What’s being chanted is what’s called in India the ‘divine names.’ We’re calling out to our own true selves, our own inner nature... calling out to that place inside of us that is full and complete, the divine in us: who we are underneath all our masks, all our roles. Most people are so outer-directed that they never experience that place."
(Krishna Das, contemporary Kirtan Singer)
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Whether completely new to yoga or not, for your next holiday, we cordially invite you to give yourself the gift of attuning to your heart through a one-of-a-kind yoga & chanting escape at one of the world's most talked-about healing resorts.
Combining traditional Hatha- and Kundalini-Yoga with practical applications of the power of sound, vibration, and the human voice, this unique AYH retreat centers around the opening of the heart. An empowering and safe space that unconditionally encourages participants to relax, let go, and connect with their essence is being created and maintained throughout the retreat. The mysteries of the age-old yogic tradition of Nada-Yoga and the sacred art form of Kirtan are explained in conjunction with relevant information from musicology, transpersonal psychology, and contemporary brain science. Retreat attendees will gain both experiential and theoretical insight into the evolutionary potential of a devotional yoga practice such as kirtan.
Kirtan, a Sanskrit word that translates to "praise" or "eulogy," is repetitive call-and-response chanting of sacred and ancient mantras to the accompaniment of traditional instruments such as harmonium and drums. Kirtan is mantra meditation as song. The Sanskrit root man means "to think," while the suffix -tra means "instrument." Therefore, mantra literally translates to "instrument of thought," suggesting the idea of a vehicle or method to calm and discipline the mind and its fluctuating patterns. The practice of devotional singing grants us an opening to greater peace and love, feelings of harmony and deep-felt compassion, and a sense of connection with a greater whole. The audience is included in the performance and a shared spiritual experience bringing joy and an open heart results.
In addition to expertly guided, twice-daily yoga, meditation & kirtan sessions, you will have ample time to indulge and enjoy treatments that cleanse, restore, and positively affect the body and nervous system at the award-winning in-house spa.
As is customary with Asian Yoga Holidays retreats, group size is limited to 12 people only. We like to keep our retreats personal and ensure that each participant gets sufficient individual attention both on and off the yoga mat.
This Yoga & Sacred Chant Retreat includes:
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Initial private consultation with Julien & Chelsey, the retreat leaders |
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One daily group Hatha Yoga class (1 x 90 mins., Tuesday 13 November - Saturday 17 November 2012) |
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One daily group Kirtan (chanting) class (1 x 90 mins., Tuesday 13 November - Saturday 17 November 2012) |
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Daily talks, satsang, Q&A sessions (45 mins.) |
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Daily meditation class (mantras, music & sounds) (30 mins.) |
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Optional daily spiritual cinema – inspirational movies on the big screen |
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Complimentary use of in-house facilities: Steam Cavern, Swimming Pool, Plunge Pools, Shakti Fitness Center, and Library |
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5 nights accommodation |
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Monday evening vegetarian gourmet welcome dinner (12 November 2012 - day of arrival) |
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Full board - 3 delicious, healthy, organic, home-made spa cuisine meals daily |
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Tropical welcome drink, drinking water, herbal teas (all beverges included, with the exception of imported drinks & alcohol) |
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Return airport transfers from Koh Samui International Airport (USM) |
Awards:
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Destination Spa of the Year Asia & Australasia – World Spa Awards (2012) |
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Gold Award for Thematic Idea & Culture – Thailand Boutique Awards (2012) |
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Silver Award for Green, Nature & Environment – Thailand Boutique Awards (2012) |
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Spa Retreat of the Year Award by Asia Spa magazine (2011) |
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Spa Cuisine of the Year Award by Asia Spa magazine (2011) |
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Best Conscious Cuisine Award by Crystal Awards Asia Pacific (2011) |
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Prime Minister’s Export Award: Best Service Provider Spa (2011) |
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Destination Spa of the Year Award by Asia Spa magazine (2010) |
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Favourite Spa in Thailand Award by SpaFinder (2010) |
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Award for Enduring Excellence – Tatler Spa Awards (2010) |
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Favourite Spa in Thailand Award by SpaFinder (2009) |
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Destination Spa of the Year Award by Asia Spa magazine (2008) |
Return on Investment:
Easeful, Peaceful, and Open-hearted.
Not only will you feel empowered from the inside-out, but you leave this retreat feeling closer to the jewels of satisfaction, peace, serenity, and harmony.
About Kamalaya
Kamalaya rests on a lush tropical hillside, sloping down to a tranquil private white sand beach. The resort is a collection of individual structures that integrates the surrounding landscape of granite boulders and cascading streams into the simple elegance of its architecture. At the heart of Kamalaya is a cave, once used by Buddhist monks as a place of meditative retreat.
The resort offers a synergistic wellness experience to help people reconnect to life’s potential and achieve an optimal level of wellbeing. This Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa brings together potent healing therapies of East and West, a breathtakingly beautiful natural environment, inspired health-promoting cuisine, holistic fitness and customised wellness programs to offer a unique concept in holistic holidays, with an emphasis on life enrichment.
Kamalaya consists of 25 spacious Villas, 10 sea view Suites and 24 Hillside Rooms, all with stylish interiors, AC, ceiling fans, wireless internet and some with open air bathrooms. Asian textiles and carefully selected art pieces combine with modern amenities to create comfortable, elegant interiors.
Transfer Time: 45 minutes from Koh Samui International Airport (USM)
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Cuisine
Ancient Asian healing philosophies such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda have always looked to food as the medicine of choice. At Kamalaya, ancient knowledge is combined with current medical research to take a more informed and precise approach to healing with food.
Kamalaya offers artful and inspired cuisine that is healing in function and tantalising in form. Merging culinary traditions of East and West and using fresh, tropical and, where possible, organic produce, the menus include extensive vegetarian options as well as seafood, poultry and lamb dishes. The food changes with the seasons, as it should, and different months bring different delights. Fresh juices, signature tonics and herbal teas are bursting with nutrients, medicinal properties and taste-bud tempting goodness, and the delicious Detox Cuisine, which features only low inflammatory, low allergenic and low GI vegetarian dishes, dispels the myth that ridding your body of toxins means depriving yourself of sensory pleasure.
Dining Facilities
Soma Restaurant
Sanskrit for 'food of the gods', Soma is close to the main facilities and overlooks Kamalaya valley, offering spectacular views of the coast and outlying islands. Intimate tables are arranged throughout the spacious room, in addition to a 'community table' where guests may unite for dining. The seating capacity of Soma Restaurant is 90 persons.
Special daily menus in addition to à la carte items include tantalising salads and raw food preparations, delectable vegetarian dishes, with fresh fish, seafood, poultry and lamb options. Selected wines and desserts are available, as well as customised dishes for those undertaking a Kamalaya Detox program or with other dietary requirements.
Soma is open every day for breakfast and dinner.
To download the Soma menu, click here (PDF, 80 KB)
Amrita Café
Sanskrit for 'divine nectar', Amrita Café offers informal dining nestled amidst lotus ponds adjacent the swimming pools. The sound of running water with private dining salas and intimate alcoves overlooking the beach creates a serene venue for fresh juices, inspired salads, and vegetarian dishes. A barbeque for freshly grilled fish, poultry, meats and vegetables is an added feature, along with the special detox menu.
Amrita is open for lunch every day.
To download the Amrita menu, click here (PDF, 83 KB)
The Alchemy Tea Lounge
The Alchemy Bar is located above Soma Restaurant, overlooking Kamalaya and the coastline. A serene spot for savouring appetisers, desserts, juices, herbal infusions, a wide range of teas, wines, and elixirs based on Taoist and Thai herbal blends.
Testimonials:
"When we arrived we were physically depleted and emotionally drained. Kamalaya sent us home rested, feeling able to deal with our lives. A wonderful team in a wonderful magical place – thank you for a life changing experience."
(Vanessa, UK)
"Marco Polo once said a journey of a 1000 miles starts with single step; Kamalaya is one and the best step I’ve ever made in my life so far."
(Marcus, UK)
"A magical setting for a journey that goes far beyond physical wellbeing."
(Ines, Hong Kong)
"Thank you all for providing me with the tools, support & path towards an invigorating, rejuvenating, inspiring, and highly informative journey back to myself."
(Tanya, Dubai)
"Kamalaya has the WOW factor, a sensational spa resort with a delicious healing loving energy meandering through it. A spiritual paradise."
(Dawn, UK)
| TRAILER: Introduction to Kamalaya |
TRAILER: Philosophy of Kamalaya |
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Choose your preferred media player: Quicktime / Flash |
Choose your preferred media player: Quicktime / Flash |
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• Address: Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa, 102/9 Moo 3, Laem Set Rd, Na-Muang, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84140, Thailand
• GPS: N 09° 25' 22", E 100° 00' 26"
• Contact: discover@asianyogaholidays.com, +66 (0)83 393 90 21
• Hospitality Partner Websites: www.kamalaya.com
This retreat will be co-taught by Chelsey Lee Fasano and Julien Balmer.
Chelsey Lee Fasano
Chelsey Lee Fasano has been a singer and songwriter from a young age, and her deepest love is devotional singing. Her voice conveys a passion and love for music, and for the Divine, which has guided her life. Her desire to share this comes from her deepest inner heart.
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At 17 she attended her first Vipassana retreat, and she began sitting for retreats and meditating regularly. At 19 she met Sri Mata Amritanandamayi for the first time, which began to build a sense of longing for a life dedicated to spirituality.
After a youth of classical musical training, Chelsey recorded her first original album at 17 and by 22 she had also composed and recorded two more original albums, one folk and one rock.
Soon after her second album was finished, her life took a sudden turn due to the overwhelming feeling that the two sides of her being could not continue as before. The tension between the life of a musician and a life devoted to spirituality reached a crucial level, and the longing to dedicate her music only to the Divine took over. She flew from New York to Koh Phangan, Thailand, with a backpack full of her only possessions and her guitar. She began doing monthly Hridaya retreats and studied the first 8 levels of Agama Yoga. She led weekly kirtan alongside other devotional musicians at Pyramid Yoga and at Agama Yoga.
She then went to India to study Indian classical music. Her life changed when she met her teacher, Sangita Ratanakaar, a disciple of the great Nada Yogi Nada Brahmananda. Finally her spiritual longing and deep yearning for musical excellence were united in a single tradition. She spent two and a half months studying in Rishikesh, learning the sacred ancient art of music, and began to express ever more beautifully the life-long passion in her heart.
She returned to Koh Phangan and assisted in teaching kirtan and mantra yoga classes in a Yoga Teacher Training Course, as well as private voice lessons and mantra workshops. She recorded an original kirtan album of traditional chants in a friend's living room.
Most recently, she went to Varanasi for a month to continue her study of Hindustani classical music. From there she continued to Mazunte, Mexico for a three month Hridaya Meditation and Yoga Teacher Training Course with Sahajananda.
Chelsey wishes to dedicate her continued studies and offerings of music to the Divine.
Listen to Chelsey
| Title |
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| Shivaya Parameshvaraya |
08:47 mins. |
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| Baba Nam Kevalam |
05:04 mins. |
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Julien Balmer
Julien Balmer joined Agama Yoga in 2002 and has been teaching at the Thailand headquarters and in Europe for the better part of the last decade. Julien has informed his own background in Hatha-Yoga, Tantra-Yoga, and Kundalini-Yoga with intense study of numerous experts and rare sources, as well as his own deep and committed practice. He is a dedicated and sincere teacher, adept at bringing subjects into grasp without sacrificing their mystical qualities.
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An accomplished cross-country skier in his youth, Swiss Virgo Julien came upon the spiritual path in early 2002 after lots of adventure in his early 20s. He traveled extensively throughout Central and South America while enrolled in university, and spent a good amount of his time exploring our amazing planet, immersing himself in unknown cultures and meeting its peoples and ways of lives.
In February, 2001, a life-changing and near-fatal accident on a small paradise island in Brazil kindled his interest in the mysteries and spiritual traditions of the East. He soon embarked on his first trip to Asia, where he did his first meditation retreat at a Thai forest monastery. A few months later Julien found himself in Swami Vivekananda Saraswati's First Level Intensive Course at Agama Yoga in Rishikesh, which radically revolutionized his outlook on life. The Truths set forth by this passionate teacher deeply touched him, and a feeling that "this was it" began to unfold.
However, he did not drop out all at once. He returned to Switzerland for another year to earn his Masters degree in Finance & Economics from the University of St. Gallen (HSG). He wrote his master's thesis on the dollarization of developing countries with special reference to latin-american experience, and was awarded a prize for the best thesis of the year.
In early 2004, Julien moved to tropical Koh Phangan, Thailand, and committed himself fully to his yoga practice and a continuous striving for yogic realization. He also became a filmmaker, producing and co-directing Through the Eastern Gate, a poetic documentary about three young Westerners searching for meaning in modern times; the film has so far screened in 11 film festivals on 4 continents, and was picked up by Alive Mind Media/Lorber HT Digital for DVD distribution in late 2008.
In 2008, Julien conceived and initiated the Phangan Film Festival (PFF) – an annual open-air event bringing high-quality independent films from around the world to the beautiful island of Phangan. Following PFF's success, Julien co-created the annual Dharamsala Film Festival (DFF) in 2011. Since 2009, Julien has also been involved in an earthen house building adventure in the hills above Sri Thanu village where Agama is headquartered.
Julien has experienced the transformational power of the Yoga system first-hand and wishes to share this treasure with others. He has been teaching in Europe and Southeast Asia for the better part of the last decade, most notably at the Agama Yoga Thailand headquarters where he serves as a senior resident teacher. Julien is grateful for the inspiration, guidance, and support that he continues to receive from members of the Agama family. When off the island, he facilitates transformational workshops and yoga retreats around the globe, creating a sacred space for his practical knowledge and experiential wisdom to overflow onto others.
Press >>click to expand/collapse
| Publication |
Year |
Title |
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| Gesunde Medizin |
2012 |
Von Null auf Yoga (Retreat Review) |
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| Spa Confidential |
2011 |
Interview with Julien L. Balmer |
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| Oriental-Escapes |
2011 |
Retreat on Spring (Retreat Review) |
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| Condé Nast Traveller |
2010 |
Yoga Holidays – The What, Why, and Who |
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| Spiegel Online |
2010 |
Filmfest auf Ko Samui – Kleine Inseln, großes Kino |
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Testimonials >>click to expand/collapse
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| 4 March 2012 |
"Very informative and well structured. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and energy with us - I anticipate attending more of your courses." (Lalah, Manila)
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| 9 Sept. 2011 |
"I came with high expectations - not only were they met in every respect, but exceeded. It was inspiring and gave me an amazing insight. You have prepared me well for changing things in my life and hopefully the lives of others, too. Thank you!" (Marius, Berlin)
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| 1 August 2011 |
"It was a pleasure to be taught by Julien who is a sympathetic, thorough, and knowledgeable teacher. The retreat was excellent and very inspiring. I feel it has put me on a good path and I look forward to our next meeting." (Nigel, Chamonix)
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| 1 August 2011 |
"Thank you for a great week. I truly appreciated that Julien took the time to sit down and carefully explain the fundamental principles of yoga, such as the chakra teachings. Julien is well informed, skilled, thorough, humble, and compassionate." (Pernilla, Stockholm)
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| 18 July 2011 |
"Julien is very skilled. I had many yoga teachers but I must say he really stands out. His approach to yoga is different than what I was used to. Very, very interesting in terms of feeling the positive effects of the exercises immediately. I found it very impressive! I would recommend him to anybody and hope to do other retreats with him." (Kathleen, Antwerp)
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| 18 July 2011 |
"Julien is a very devoted , skilled, and gentle yoga teacher. I am honored and grateful to have participated in his retreat. I could only wish to find more retreats such as this one in the future." (Monika, Warsaw)
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| 30 May 2011 |
"Thank you Julien for your commitment to us all, for sharing your knowledge and wisdom, for your patience and humility, for being open and accessible, for inviting opinion and debate, for encouraging us to move beyond our thresholds and deepen our practice and understanding." (Tanya, Dubai)
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| 30 May 2011 |
"Serene, warm and very knowledgeable." (Maja, Zagreb)
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| 18 Feb. 2011 |
"Julien is very articulate and concise. Clear messages and instructions. Attention to detail." (Ahmed, Brisbane)
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| 18 Feb. 2011 |
"Julien is the first person I meet to create a deep interest in yoga inside of me." (Lana, St. Petersburg)
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| 23 Jan. 2011 |
"Julien is able to explain in a manner that is easily understandable. He is open, friendly, and willing to share his knowledge. Thank you!" (Sue, Bangkok)
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| 23 Jan. 2011 |
"Great speaker, very knowledgeable, looking forward to more…" (Arline, Bangkok)
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| 13 Sept. 2010 |
"Thank you very much for having guided me back to the true meaning of Yoga. I feel privileged to have crossed your path. I do hope to come and do some more yoga at your centre in Koh Phangan." (Angelina, London)
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Thank you! We have received your booking and will be sending you a confirmation shortly.
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