Our Founders

Paul Dallaghan

Yogi – Educator – Entrepreneur

Paul is one of the pioneering entrepreneurs in the wellness and well-being retreat world, having established Centered Yoga in 1999 in NYC and Samahita Retreat in 2003 in Thailand, leading the field in how yoga, fitness, body and mind hacks, detox, and meditation are all incorporated into the hospitality industry. Paul completed his initial academic studies in economics and business but due to an early personal experience of the inner nature of meditation, he was driven on a personal search for meaning and what made sense in his life. For the past 25 years he has immersed himself in the path of yoga and meditation, studying and practicing at an advanced level, much of it in India, to become one of the world’s senior teachers of yoga (asana and pranayama breath) and meditative practices.

He has had the good fortune to spend many rich years with his main teacher in pranayama and the meditative process, Sri O.P. Tiwari, and is now placed to carry forth these teachings and the tradition of Kuvalayananda. He was one of the dedicated few to spend many years living in Mysore in the old days of ashtanga vinyasa, certified, with an expertise in asana. He was selected by Emory University’s anthropology department, (Atlanta, GA, USA) for PhD work with a focus on the cultural and scientific aspects of yoga practice and knowledge. As an entrepreneur, scientist, and teacher, Paul values learning and sharing, helping others to enhance their lives. He is the happy father of two boys, believes everything you do in life should be based in joy and carried out with fun. He divides time between the US for studies, India for research, Thailand for teaching and business, and is frequently asked to speak and teach in many places around the world.

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Jutima Chombhubutr

Jutima Chombhubutr

Jutima was born and raised in Bangkok with a strong Buddhist family heritage. At a young age, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia with her family. She received degrees in Bachelor in Business Administration and International Marketing from the University of Georgia. She began her corporate career with The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta and NYC in Brands and Marketing. She discovered yoga while living in NYC which led her to take a new path in life. At the peak of her career which she loved, she decided to take a year off on a spiritual journey. Her desire to travel back to her birth country lead her on travels around the world studying yoga and meditation. Jutima never went back to her previous corporate life as planned and the evolution of Samahita Retreat was born.

Her current role as Co-founder & VP includes marketing and brand development and working closely with Samahita’s International and Thailand based teams. She supports on charity projects throughout Thailand and around the world with the support of Samahita. Although Paul and Jutima live separately, they continue to work closely together on their first baby and co-parent their two boys as a modern family. Her biggest role now is a soccer mom to Sean and Dylan while living in Atlanta with and her entire family.