Something special seems to happen for human beings when close to the ocean. The magic of the seashore and beach visits have been an essential remedy to our modern, increasingly urbanized, way of living.
We need to eat to survive. Human beings however, have taken eating to a whole other level. Food is not just something we consume to stay alive, it has become part of who we are, our communities and cultures.
What IS time? How does it work? Can you create more of it? How much of it do you waste?
Samahita has taken over the luxury villa and garden property next to us. We have designed and built 20 new spectacular rooms - right at the beach.
Climate anxiety is on the rise, so we’ll also take a look at this phenomenon, what are its implications on our wellbeing and see what we can do to cope.
They say, “you are what you eat” and this is certainly true, for the most part. What is your relationship with food? Do you know where it comes from?
Good advice in an elevated, emotional situation indeed! “Just slow down, take a deep breath, slowly exhale…” Maybe you just had some upsetting news, or you were in a car accident, or your boss took off at you which sent you over the edge! Whatever it was, I’m sure you’ve been in some kind of situation where your adrenalin started going, your mind was racing, your heart started beating faster, you became anxious or fearful, out of control.
In last week’s blog, we looked at the building blocks of life on earth as a foundation to then build upon when looking into some of the topics that influence us as human beings in this day and age. So in this article, we will dive in to some further detail about the REAL elixir of life, water. For us to BE WELL, we need to consume between 2 and 3 litres of water per day. Dehydration, even if it is mild and goes un-noticed, can have negative effects on the body, and mind, including mood, digestive issues, cognitive and brain function, nutrient depletion and skin problems. Here’s some of the reasons WHY we need to stay properly hydrated…
No, I’m not kidding… When you break down life into its simplest form, using the elements, we are indeed just a combination of the 6 elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. So human beings ARE made of stardust! In today’s blog we will also look at the historical development and knowledge of the elements to get a clearer picture of ourselves, humanity and life on Earth through deeper understanding and different perspectives.
Samahita completes its 20th year this year, from 2003 to 2023. And just like a new born baby back then it has gone through its infancy, growth stages, fresh maturing, to now, what feels like, a clear and comfortable confidence in what Samahita is and why it was set up.
Before the physical Samahita took form we would lead retreats and trainings, initially in Costa Rica (1999-2001) and then in Thailand (2001-2003). Around March 2003 while leading a training I was asked would I not open my own center. I still recall my reply, “No,” but I did elaborate. “Why would I want to run a place and deal with all the hassles and burden when I can teach a program and then go home and do my own thing?”
I don’t know about you, but I’ve sure felt at times in my life that my mind is so busy and there’s so much “stuff” to worry about! We gather, collect, add, accumulate and hold on to so many things as the years go by, both physically (as in things, stuff) and mentally (within the mind). Whether we realize it or not, it influences our day-to-day lives in the way we respond, react, cope, think, believe and engage with ourselves, others and the world around us.
Alcohol is made from ethanol and flavoured water. A grain, fruit or vegetable is fermented (yeast or bacteria reacts with the sugars in the other ingredients) and ethanol and CO2 (bubbles) are produced. It’s then made into the finished alcoholic beverage, where upon consuming, it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream via the stomach and small intestine. It is metabolized in the liver by enzymes and affects every organ in the body. It is a central nervous system depressant and harmful use, causes a high burden of disease with significant social and economic consequences.
We like to believe that we're independent thinkers, making decisions and choices out of our own free will. We convince ourselves that our desires, dreams, aspirations, likes and dislikes come from our true authentic selves and "nobody tells ME what to do!" Well, unfortunately that's not quite the case.
Since the dawn of time and the creation of our solar system, the sun has been at the center of our galaxy and holds all the planets in a stable orbit around it while providing light and heat, thus allowing life on earth. The earth has evolved over millennia into what we are familiar with today.
This week’s Wellbeing Wednesday we take a look at probably the MOST important aspect to making any gains and improvements to our health, both short and long term. We all want to be able to deal with life’s circumstances and overcome setbacks and difficulties, no matter what comes our way! Most of us would like to achieve this in a positive way, “glass half full” as opposed to empty… So which are you? Can you change your frame of mind?
This week’s topic of focus for Wellbeing Wednesday is massage therapy. Having lived in Thailand for almost a year now, I have found that having a weekly Thai oil massage has been such an amazing addition to my overall health and wellbeing! So, let’s take a further look at the history, development, techniques and benefits of massage, for not only the physical body but the mind and nervous system too.
Welcome to “Wellbeing Wednesdays”…
A weekly post/short blog on topics of all things related to our Wellbeing as humans and of course, in relation to our beautiful planet Earth! So let’s begin with understanding what it is to “BE WELL”, and how do we get there…
On one level, a good grasp of any topic can be explained in a simple manner. True. Yet at the same time it is easy for the receiver to miss the nuances and take the simple as the full and accurate explanation.
Hence, on the other level, especially from those who gave their words to yoga over 500 years ago, yoga cannot be understood if not experienced, explaining it, even defining it can only mislead. True.
So both are true. Well, we need a working meaning and explanation. And this is possible. It may start simple but must continue to be unpacked. More interesting, the process of unpacking is (part of) the process of yoga.
A prominent and experienced personal trainer in the NY fitness scene in the 1990s had gotten quite interested in yoga. She was making the connections between all she had learned in anatomy and physiology for sport and what she was experiencing in the physical postures, breath management, and mental focus in yoga class.
more intimate questions to another one of these wonderful people teaching at Samahita so we can all get to know them better. In this week’s letter we shine a light on Gill
Samahita has been fortunate over these 20 years to have some very dedicated students who became instructors who developed as teachers. The time, sincerity, dedication, integrity, willingness to explore and work on understanding the human condition, gain expertise in how the body works, devote time to the breath, and tend the various strands of mental life bring one over years to a teacher’s level.
First thing to note: you will laugh. So be careful. Spontaneous free-flowing laughter is great for your soul, your heart, your brain, your total biology, your relationship at home later, but may make non-swinging walking-by grown-ups feel uneasy (but really they’re just jealous coz you’re so free).
Over the years I’ve noticed how the style and level of assistance my teacher Paul has offered his students. The methods a teacher uses to do this can be explained in terms of gross, subtle and causal (or very subtle) in a similar way the different levels of awareness and personal practice evolve. Although all three levels are employed by experienced teachers from the outset I have noticed a marked shift over the years, of my teacher, towards a more subtle hands off approach.
Our conditioning runs deep. Both from the prior influences on a life and the processed experiences throughout a life. Whether you term that genetic and epigenetic factors with social inputs on various scales or you prefer to see past life karma present in the current life with the addition of how you respond to the various inputs.
What happens when you are presented with choices, questions of what to do now or next in life, dreams you’d like to convert to actualities? What do you do? How do you respond? What is the initial trigger?
Samahita is now open after 20 months of closure. Gill shares her experience traveling back into Thailand using the quarantine-free Thai Pass system.
Deep avoidance and fear of yoga is something I’ve experienced on occasion, so perhaps you have too. When I was in Mysore, India studying at Pattabhi Jois’ house, I got up very early in the morning, often at 3 or 3:30 am to prepare before practicing. It would usually take about an hour and a half of psyching myself up—doing meditation, prāṇāyāma, and prayer—in order to face his front door, which I equated with the portals of death.
Perhaps you’ve heard these phrases, arising in the next best self-help podcast or book, “believe in yourself”, “fake it till you make it”, and more like that. Rather than self-help it becomes self-deceit, delusion, and less than productive, not just for you but for all. And what do they even mean? or represent? Typically a desire to “be” someone, to “get” something, to “be recognized”.
Dangerous stuff.
Yoga at its core means the connection with that which does not change, with pure consciousness, with everything that is beyond what you perceive or cognize, with the ‘other’, with the ‘not this’, with what is truly internal, with what some call one’s true nature, with what others call the Divine.
That shala was a mental image 15 years ago, put to paper, planned out, and constructed. It was built for people to be in, to engage in practices that have been done for centuries. In line with what these ancient teachings recommend such a shala is a place of peace yet vitality, supportive and serene, to allow you to go within, to aid you in the transformation of consciousness. This space, this shala, has a purpose. Not built to double-up as some event space in a hotel with yoga on its menu. The opposite of that. To offer the experience to learn, practice, and delve deeper into yourself in a unique space dedicated to change, for you, for people, to be here, with the necessary hospitality infrastructure.
The mind left to its own devices is lazy, fickle and follows the path of least resistance. Buddhi, genuine and sincere effort, intelligent, and understanding, requires a degree of effort where there is no room for a lazy mind.
When you say you’ll do something then do it. When you express a sentiment then mean it. When you promise faithfulness and loyalty then be it.
There are many perspectives and opinions to answer such a question. But how many of them truly satisfy our deep yearn to understand? We can also ask it in a few different ways: what’s life about? why was I born? is this all it is? am I supposed to be doing something here?
The real value, the enduring effect, the actual benefit only comes from building a regularity, commitment, sincerity of “just doing it”. Or as I like to say just do it, but with awareness, with connection, like you mean it.
a greater understanding of how people behave, the nature of this world as out of balance, its place as a tricky learning ground of a variety of experiences can strengthen, not replace, your empathy.
Attention on the breath within a comprehensive yoga approach can be an effective way to address our psychological well-being.
Why so?
The respiratory system is now known to be plastic, characterized by ongoing changes in the neural control system. These changes are based on previous experience and long-lasting expressions.
The practice of the ancient hathayoga humming breath “Bhramari” has been recommended for hundreds of years that when done repeatedly and correctly produces “an indescribable blissful experience that fills the mind”. Similar to the practice of repeating the sound of Om on an exhale, it is a wonderful practice that delivers many benefits.
It’s too easy to take breathing for granted, allowing the respiratory system to do its thing, keeping us alive and functioning, without any conscious effort, day and night. Is your breath pattern supporting your health in the best way it could though?
Boost your health dramatically by ensuring you are breathing through your nose – at all times – whether directly doing breathing exercises, a yoga-asana practice, household or work duties throughout the day, or while sleeping. The benefits of nasal breathing compared to mouth breathing have been well researched, and are worth understanding so you can optimize your breathing habits and ensure they are functioning well.
Within a comprehensive breath practice repeated and measured breaths are taken. The exhalation is typically elongated and drawn out when compared to the inhalation. The value of breath training and practices with a specific focus on the exhale, have been shown to have a number of physiological benefits, ranging from the prevention to the care of certain conditions.
Have you ever been told, or maybe you have advised someone else, to take a breath to help calm down? It is a common, if acute, piece of advice. It may give a momentary relief but this effect is typically short-lived as a few deep inhales aren’t going to transform your physiology. In fact, only focusing on big inhales can exacerbate your anxiety. Instead of focusing on how deep your inhale is tune into the length and completion of your exhale. Aim to do this when not upset and you will find it becomes part of your normal breath functioning. This takes the same time and energy investment as the above acute advice but turns it into “breath resilience”, something you can cultivate over time by regularly practicing controlled yet simple breathwork activities. Subsequently, your capacity to adapt in different stressful situations without succumbing to negative mood and affect, known as “emotional resilience”, can be a possible outcome.
Ask anyone would they like to take a relaxation break and the majority would respond emphatically with a “yes”. In fact, it’s so easy all you have to do is lay down on the floor wherever you are. Could be under your desk, in a dedicated room, on your bed, the garden, even the beach (if you’ve been lucky to get one of those this year). So why do so few take such breaks?
Did you know that your hands can assist you to tune in easily to the natural movement of your breath, bringing more awareness to this ‘simple’, automatic bodily function?
We know that by consciously working with the breath you can improve your health and reduce anxiety and stress ( Breathwork in times of Stress), but even before starting a breath practice there are some natural, simple ways to be with your breath, to create more awareness to your patterns, and start to override them in a beneficial way.
It all starts with the hands.
In many South and Southeast Asian countries, such as India and Thailand, a handshake is considered crude and instead the prayer hand pose acknowledgement to the other party, often associated with the Hindi greeting of Namaste and the Thai Sawasdeeka, is both an extremely polite and non-contact greeting.
Mitāhara – moderate eating – then becomes the clarion call of how to manage food with a yoga practice, whether your aim is a healthier physical body or a wish to progress in meditative practice.
There is no direct advice given in any older yoga teaching that demands being a vegetarian or vegan. Though you may interpret some other aspects, as in non-violence, to mean vegetarianism, but that is a full debate of its own.
Breathing exercises are the specific techniques of breathwork, done regularly in a routine, to train the respiratory apparatus and regulate the function of the respiratory center in the brainstem.
Prānāyāma has been referred to in modern literature as ‘yogic breathing’. This is an attempt to differentiate breathing exercises as noted in the yogic texts from general breathwork. Yet the term ‘yogic breathing’ is unsatisfactory as it neither defines or accurately explains the nature of prānāyāma and instead implies some alternate obscure way of breathing. Ironically, prānāyāma correctly defined means ‘no breath’.
The current coronavirus pandemic has led to a surge in research around the nature of the virus and what happens in the respiratory tract. The practice of yoga, particularly Hatha yoga, has been focused on respiratory tract health, from the nasal cavity and sinuses right down to the lungs, for at least 1,000 years. Now a major scientific study published in the journal Cell has characterized specific ways the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 infects the cells of the nasal cavity to the greatest degree as it then continues to infect down the respiratory tract to a lesser degree
“Breathwork” has become frequently used in the popular search for respiration developing and improving routines. In support of an official definition we offer:
The regulated activity of inhalation and exhalation consciously engaged in, to exercise and optimize the organs of respiration and brainstem nervous impulses that control breathing, with an outcome of improved respiration efficiency across a 24-hour period.
Life as we know it has been on what may feel like an endless pause. For many of us this has been cause to reflect on how, like it or not, we’ve landed in this exact point in time through every choice, habit, action and reaction we’ve taken so far in life. We may wonder what the greater meaning in all of this is. Does Mother Earth have a message for humanity? Have we been far too distracted from what really matters in life? Are we being given the chance to take a good look at ourselves?
Anatomical physical improvements to your respiratory, neuroendocrine, cardiovascular and digestive systems:
Improve the capacity and functioning of your diaphragm, your primary muscle of breathing which in turn leads to easier and deeper breaths.
This article teaches advanced level breathing exercises using the 1:1:2:1 ratio for inhale, pause, exhale, pause
This article teaches intermediate level breathing exercises using the 1:1:2 ratio for inhale, pause and exhale.
This article teaches beginner level breathing exercises using the 1:1 or 1:2 ratio for inhale and exhale.
This practice is good for all but inspired by the question recently of what to practice due to having contracted the virus. The hope is it helps if dealing with the virus or similar but also aids the energetic force in preventing it. See it as an energetic immune support, beyond mere physiological explanation of what the breath can do
This is a practice to counter the rising chronic effects of anxiety leading to stress burden. Further work can develop the breath as a personally empowering routine which requires a sequence beyond that recommended in this 10-minute practice. Refined practice with the breath tends to fall under the classical Pranayama techniques which we teach at Samahita Retreat. There is a distinction between breathwork and Pranayama yet both involve the breath.
A panic or anxiety attack is an acute response and can benefit from immediate breathwork.
This is a practice to counter the rising chronic effects of anxiety leading to stress burden. Further work can develop the breath as a personally empowering routine which requires a sequence beyond that recommended in this 10-minute practice. Refined practice with the breath tends to fall under the classical Pranayama techniques which we teach at Samahita Retreat. There is a distinction between breathwork and Pranayama yet both involve the breath.
A panic or anxiety attack is an acute response and can benefit from immediate breathwork.
You can address both an anxiety attack and the ongoing burden of anxiety through breathwork. You can do this as its own technique or in combination with other therapies or medication you are being supervised in. It is not meant to replace other treatment. If you are on medication or in other support therapy treatment it is wiser to continue with that and build up the breathwork practice gradually. It is not recommended to drop prescribed medication or other treatments in the hope that breathwork will fix it. Any benefit from these practices come from a regular practice over the long term.
You can address both an anxiety attack and the ongoing burden of anxiety through breathwork. You can do this as its own technique or in combination with other therapies or medication you are being supervised in. It is not meant to replace other treatment. If you are on medication or in other support therapy treatment it is wiser to continue with that and build up the breathwork practice gradually. It is not recommended to drop prescribed medication or other treatments in the hope that breathwork will fix it. Any benefit from these practices come from a regular practice over the long term.
April 22 is Earth Day, with this year marking its 50th anniversary. The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable. Join Earth Day Live for 24 hours of hope and optimism with live streamed discussions and actions you can take from wherever you are on www.earthday.org. And enjoy Anthea’s poem in honour of this important day….
The recent corona pandemic has impacted every life. In the space of two days I had to make new plans and jump on a plane from the US to Thailand to manage the closure of Samahita and make sure our staff are supported in this process. Even though I may be Alone at Samahita (a new series coming your way soon) it is still special to be here. The biggest disappointment for me though is having to leave my own kids for an indefinite period of time.
Have you noticed ……. people are suddenly taking their time? How interconnected we are. And how interdependent. It cannot be avoided ……
It may come as no surprise for me to say that the current situation is giving us all the opportunity to just slow down, take time, find space. Is that happening for you? Or do you undermine this opportunity by worrying about different outcomes, outcomes that no one could figure out now and are beyond any individual’s to even government’s control?
Many people with sleeping disorders resort to medications as it it seems to be the only choice left. But what if all you needed to do to prevent stress and get better sleep was to add more prebiotic foods to your diet? New research is pointing the way to lifestyle changes and eating habits as a remedy.
How do you ground yourself as nervousness and uncertainty rises around you, both tangibly and digitally, in response the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19)? Survival mode, in nature, means taking extra measures to move slowly and carefully against your natural tendency of “fight or flight”, to instead head the warnings from this systematic response and flip into a calmer parasympathetic mode. It’s often more advantageous to conserve your energy
Elimination diets are often recommended to determine the cause of gastrointestinal issues and food intolerances. An intolerance being where you have trouble digesting a particular food and experience some manageable symptoms, as opposed to an allergy which is a lot more serious. The point of the diet is to temporarily remove all potential causes of the symptoms and to reintroduce them slowly to test how you react. While the approach sounds simple in theory, it can in reality be rather challenging to do as we are so used to the foods we eat every day. Radically changing our eating habits, even temporarily takes some planning, preparation, and determination. There is however a simple version that can prove to be helpful for many.
Completing a Yoga Teacher Training is an experience of a lifetime but what happens next? Many students are happy just to carry on with their newly deepened understanding of yoga and the lifelong friendships made during the training. Others continue training to maintain the momentum of the learning process. Others teach their friends, get jobs in established studios or take the leap to establish their own business. Whatever happens we take our own unique path and the journey unfolds sometimes in unexpected ways.
Sometimes we have only a few minutes to get into and use the body, where we can get out for a run, walk, hike, cycle. We may feel as though we are too busy, or focused on a task, but those few minutes can help brain functioning in the long run. New research shows that regular exercise improves cognitive function. Another recent study shows that how intensely we dive into that activity actually effects different parts of our brain. If you are going to run, do you pace yourself consistently? Or work rest in between bursts of sprints? Curious? Read more….
Who doesn't like chocolate? Despite been utterly delicious it's also a popular health food. However, not all chocolates are created equally. Some are full of sugar, unhealthy fats, additives and artificial flavorings. To ensure you’re getting the health benefits from your chocolate, make your own with this simple recipe.
What does it take to motivate and inspire ourselves to exercise regularly? The desire to be fit and strong, to lose weight, to be fitter and healthier? Is it the buzz of a long intense workout or simply to have a happier and fulfilling life?
It’s that time of year again and we often feel pressured into making some new goals, new habits, new years resolutions. We can feel motivated and inspired, but how long does it last and why? I gave up making NYR years ago, because I never stuck to them. I had good intentions but as I got to know myself better and what drives me. Read more
Are you getting the most from your workout sessions? Follow these three tips to reap the benefits of even the most simple workout and find out how avoiding premature death, according to these studies, could be as simple as moving and sweating more often.
The new Samahita Cookbook has arrived and to celebrate we are giving you the first recipe free. Now you can make creamy & delicious raw carrot cake at home for your friends and family.
Creamy, naturally sweetened topped with a thick vegan cream cheese frosting plus its gluten and sugar free. A healthy, wholesome and delicious dessert for everyone.
Many people knowingly or unknowingly consume too much alcohol, and the effects of too much may silently or loudly echo through our lives and maybe even the lives of others around us. As we know, too much alcohol can have traumatic effects in people’s lives and bring about minor and major health concerns. Rebecca Newell gives us five important tips to remember before taking that drink.
We believe in, and are excited about, offering you value and quality in space, place and activity – a truly healthy and clean choice of food, an environment where you can personally transform, and a set of tools and practices you can learn, bring home, and keep up that help your life and well-being.
Do you struggle with sugar cravings? Here are some potential reasons and tips to help you break the cycle.
Sugar seems to be a big culprit of getting in the way for many people trying to live a healthy life. We know it’s not good for us, it messes with our hormones, our moods, energy levels and creates an environment for disease. But we keep going back for more. Why?
Most people really suffer from jet lag after travelling long distances. The good news is that suffering IS avoidable -- you just have to be willing to change some flying habits i.e. not do what most people are doing on long flights. It’s worth it!
Samahita Retreat embodies the quality of a home more so than a commercial resort, emphasizing not just a personal healthy approach but one that cares for the planet with their sustainable practices and commitments:
Cruciferous vegetables belong to the Brassicaceae family of plants. These vegetables are low in calories and high in nutrients, typically vitamin A, C and K as well as dietary fiber. They are unique because they possess sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates, which have been shown to have cancer-fighting properties. So why do we need to eat them? Learn More
Chef Nui and our nutritional consultant team are always looking for ways to maximize your health and nutrition during your stay at Samahita Retreat. We keep our food options healthy and nutrient rich. Our unique buffet highlights the following features for you to try during your next stay. Eat well. Feel your best.
Fear shows up for me a lot, as I believe it does for many of us. It can show up in yoga practice (scared of being upside down, anyone?!), when you have to make big decisions, take action, speak up for yourself, or ask for help. The difference for me now is that I’ve simply got better at acting despite fear. Because at some point I recognized that fear was the biggest blocker between where I was and who I wanted to be, living the life I wanted.
Ladies, it’s time to look at empowering ways we can take charge of this important aspect of our health. Our breasts. With so many women in society being affected with breast cancer it’s vital to spread the facts and education so we can make the best of this one life we have.
An all time favourite on the Samahita Buffett now available for you to make at home. With its unique texture and flavor and healthy vegan credentials these delicious Quinoa Pancakes will soon become your breakfast of choice. Along with the easy to follow recipe is a video with Chef Nui talking you through. Enjoy!
At Samahita we are proud to introduce a new sauna technology for your health and well-being. In addition to our SunLighten Sauna with offers full-spectrum infrared sauna, you can now utilize the power of focused, pure Near Infrared (NIR) sauna experience, with technology by SaunaSpace. We are the only place in Asia offering NIR true to the original design.
For many people taking a detox is challenging but a highly rewarding experience. Feeling lighter, healthier and happier are common outcomes and makes all the effort worthwhile. But what happens after? Its easy to slip back into unhealthy habits or get stuck in a detox-retox cycle. This blog explains how to maintain that healthy rhythm in your life, make sensible food choices and realise that its not just about what you're eating.
Men are overcoming their reluctance to step into the "feminine" world of a yoga class. In the US 28% of yoga practitioners are guys and this is increasing year on year. Many gyms and studios are introducing special classes and some guys are realising how a body-mind practice opens them up to a new experience of life. We have asked three guys to discuss taking the plunge into yoga and enjoying the all-embracing environment of Samahita.
We can eat all the healthy, nourishing food but if we are in a job that we don’t like, no amount of organic kale will bring wholeness to our wellbeing. If we are in a job we love, and then go home to a toxic relationship, our wellbeing is compromised and affects all areas of our life.
I invite you to take a look at these 5 pillars and see what may need some attention, change or perhaps reinventing.
The moments before dawn are my golden time. In that space before the sun rises, in the stillness, I can feel the earth taking a deep sigh as the day magically begins to unfold. Sitting in nature, feeling the nourishing sensation of my breath brings me immediately back to my source.
Samahita is introducing a new white rice dish to the menu. White rice!? Samahita has not been serving white rice for years so why the change? Well, research has shown that cooking white rice with coconut oil, then allowing it to cool and be reheated, decreases the glycemic index and increases the levels of resistant starch - a prebiotic.
Tom Yam soup is a traditional Thai favourite and full of medicinal goodness thanks to the Lemongrass, galangal root, fresh line and kaffir lime leaves. Refreshing and full of flavour. Often prepared as Tom Yum Gung with prawns we present here the vegetarian version.
Thanks to Conde Nast for featuring Samahita in the 2019 edition of the Conde Nast Spa Guide.
"Expert-level yoga and stress-annihilating breathwork in a serene beach setting."
How fascinating it is that the human heart, the muscular mega-pump that delivers oxygenated blood around our bodies and the center of our circulatory systems, is also the center of our emotions. Its emotional capacity is vast, from the ability to feel love, compassion and to care very deeply, to sadness, pain, anger and even hate.
Go device-free during your stay at Samahita Retreat – the perfect opportunity for a “digital detox”.
I recently shared with friends the spiritual and life practices that enhance my and their lives. This conversation sparked from the term, Biohacking, a techie term used to describe the practices of Biohackers, such as Dave Asprey
A healthy brain is a sharp mental function and graceful aging with an ever-clear mind. You do so much to take care of your body, which does help your brain, but now target the brain itself. We have developed a program that focuses directly on the energy performance, electrical waves and feedback of your brain to help target it. A better brain means a nicer, happier and healthier life. Join us on your next visit and book in our Brain Health Upgrade program.
Paul was recently posed some questions on how and why I got into yoga and eventually started Samahita. It has become an interview online and so we reproduce the questions here.
Seeing in the new year Samahita style with fabulous performances by Bibi McGill, John De Kadt and Nabs Hadi. A night of glorious celebration and starting the new year with positive vibes while casting our negative experiences into the fire.
Not all fats are created equally, as we hopefully know. But are you really eating the right fats to support your brain and overall health?
Learn how to make Ghee with this simple recipe. Ghee provides healthy fats good for your body and brain. Ghee is a staple food in India and the traditional food of the Yogis. Its really easy to make and great for cooking.
Ahimsa Jewellery by Dewi Loho has been available in the Samahita Ecolife Boutique for many years. Dewi is a longtime visitor and supporter of Samahita and we're pleased to display this wonderful jewellery and share the message of Ahimsa - non violence.
Looking for inspiration and motivation? Sarah will give you 5 positive steps to follow before embarking on a new project or looking for that spark to get yourself going
According to Ayurveda, sattva is the quality of nature that contains balance, peace, harmony, purity and clarity. It is one of the three subtle qualities or ‘gunas’ that exist in all of nature. Anthea's blog gives 5 tips on how to cultivate a satvic state for a healthier, happier and balanced life.
Paintings by Lete Artists from Bangkok. You may have seen these delightful, colourful paintings in your room and around Samahita. They are painted on reclaimed wood by Lete Artists from Bangkok. Take a look here for more.
Elephants are used widely throughout Thailand in the tourist industry for providing rides and performing shows. These unfortunate elephants work continuously throughout the day carrying tourists back and forth. It may seem like an exciting novelty but these beautiful animals are worked to exhaustion for decades, given their long life span.
Nowadays it is increasingly common to hear about people being vegan or vegetarian. What is the fuss about? It can be a way of life, especially in the yogic tradition, but its popularity is increasing, especially in Europe and the USA. Is it a passing trend or does it really have an impact on your health?
You’re committed, ambitious and competitive. Dedicated to your practice, getting up every morning without fail or taking those 3 classes in a row at the studio. All is well and your friends comment on how much improvement you’ve made until one day you’ve hurt your knee, wrist, lower back and shoulder! Maybe its time to calm things down and reflect on the true motive behind your effort.
Prior to coming to Samahita, I had read the Yoga Sutras in two attempts. At first, I was intrigued by the Sutras but found them really difficult to understand and a bit dry. This changed when I started to read Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi, a fascinating book that brings alive yogic saints and the concepts of spiritual practices and miracles.
The research on sleep and understanding coming from it is increasing every year. Poor quality sleep first and foremost, and then duration of sleep, are considered main culprits behind several disease states. This blog does not plan to write a synopsis of all this wonderful information. Rather, it is a help to address a question recently asked in class, and common everywhere, “I can’t fall asleep … is there a way to breathe and sleep and calm down?”
"The understanding of this has really helped me put things into perspective.
Having been anxious and holding onto previous experiences and jobs that haven't gone as planned,
and having also struggled with finding self-worth as a full-time mum."
Time to go nuts when you’re here next …….
As part of our mission to support your brain, body and lifestyle, snack in a healthy homemade way. Now nuts and more are packaged specially for you and your wellbeing. Enjoy!
It’s one thing to be alone in the woods, to travel by oneself according to your needs and desires, somewhat easier in many regards, and quite another to learn how to take of others through an expedition.
Remember those delicious spreads you were eating for breakfast at Samahita? Organic with no added sugars made by our expert Chef Nui. Well now they're available in our shop with these lovely labels designed by our new team member Alaitz.
My experience on a 30 day noble silence / Vipassana meditation course in Herefordshire, England
Akasha moon fire nights on the beach
A unique time to share, sing and enjoy nature under the cool of night with the touch of sand on the feet and the sea in the background
Over the month of August a wonderful group of people came to study on our Centered Yoga: Education in Yoga 200 hour teacher training program. It is a month immersed in practice, study and deep discussions, unravelling yoga and life. But it is also a personal and transforming journey that goes beyond practice and into inner experience, the space yoga aims to touch.
During philosophy class this July Tiwariji emphasized the importance of making space each day to practice and talked about how to practice ‘nicely’ according to the yoga texts, specifically the Hatha Pradipika, which in the first chapter delves into 6 obstacles and 6 ways to have success in yoga.
These tips can still apply today for those of us trying to successfully integrate yogic practices into our modern-day lives.
Suffering from Tech Neck? Spending too long sitting at work or with your phone? Get a friend to help now with these easy to follow techniques. The spine, shoulders, neck and sub-occipital muscles will all get the attention they deserve. Techniques include pinching, thumb pressing, forearm rolling, stretching and more.
Chef's Incredible Fermented Veggies.
Our 15th Anniversary was celebrated with a fantastic party including live performance from Jack Harrison, Nabs and Gill. An awesome show from our delightful Thai staff not to mention a live fire show on the beach.
"Congratulations Samahita - 15 years of excellence is a superb record.
Paul Dallaghan's cutting edge teaching is delivered with compassion and humor, ably supported by a team of fine teachers who enable the student to overcome hurdles with skill and gentle care. No doubt Sri Tiwari will also be a great experience. Here like minded students from around the globe share experiences around the dinner table and create a bonding atmosphere so each retreat is memorable.
Importantly whether 30 yrs. or 80 yrs. of age or somewhere in between the student leaves inspired to continue along their yoga path. There is no greater compliment."
“Samahita is a home for my soul. Coming here, whether before as a student or now as a teacher, I always feel like my soul is resting but that I’m also growing and developing. It’s a life changing experience for myself and especially my soul.”
~ Ara, Assistant General Manager & Yoga Teacher
Back in 2006 when I was 26 years old traveling in India and thinking about where life would take me next I had a conversation with a yoga teacher (of whom there were plenty). He recommended traveling to Thailand to take Paul Dallaghan’s one month Training course. Paul who? At that point I had no plans to become a yoga teacher but the thought of spending a couple of months in Thailand learning even more about yoga was appealing. So I applied for the course whilst still in India and received an acceptance email shortly thereafter.
No boring plates, bowls and cups at Samahita. Paul (our co-founder) went out personally and hand picked hundreds of pieces of different types of earthenware with a major feel good factor that makes eating a whole other experience.
Why we serve miso soup every evening at Samahita.
Simply put, miso soup is good for you! It’s probiotics in a bowl. Probiotics (good bacteria) are essential for a healthy gut, helping to balance your gut microbiome (bacteria in your intestines, gut flora). The gut flora influences the function of various internal organs, such as your skin, lungs, breasts and liver. Good gut health is known to be linked to our overall mental and physical wellbeing, SO, we want to take care of our gut.
Life is constantly changing. This was something as a child I found really difficult to accept or understand. Fortunately years of teaching in primary schools taught me the value of this constant change, spending a year or two guiding, inspiring and instructing young children and then setting them free and watching them fly. I am constantly blown away by stories of where life has led them and feel so privileged to have been a part of their journey.
Energy is something which exist within us all. From humble insects to the greatest tree, to the tallest mountain on one side of the world to a vast lake on the other. It emanates from our rainforests, our oceans and every last inch of our world. That same energy exists within ourselves, we share the same energy, therefore we are ALL ONE.
Our food at Samahita is 100% home cooked. Chef and her team prepare everything with care. We source local and organic when possible. The food is natural and unprocessed for your health.
Death, disease, old age, friends leaving, jobs lost. People change, situations change. ALL the time. Everything is temporary. Everything, including life itself. Which can be really hard to accept. Some struggle to handle even the smallest changes in life. Why is that?
Because the mind is a bit tricky and has a way of controlling us, if we let it. If allowed, the mind will happily spin out on thoughts of fear and worry about life and all that could happen. Poor me, life is so hard, what if, why me etc. etc.
Having kids doesn’t necessarily mean losing your yoga practice especially if you’re prepared to make a few adjustments to your routine (you’ll have no choice anyway). Each stage of your Childs development has its own challenges and opportunities for example newborn babies wake up at night but they also nap during the day so that gives you extra time to relax and connect with yourself. Whatever the situation it’s important to find balance of your commitments and your own personal needs.
Here are 5 tips to help you cope.
Though Samahita may be physically closed (for now) we are virtually with you. We are still committed to deliver good information and turn into action in your life. Part of that is to share the profound benefit of great practices I have experienced and been taught over the years. As you can see from the image below, we believe in and encourage you to tap into key ways that increase your energy level, quite literally. Hence the cold shower challenge.
I believe a lot of the time our cravings are from a lack of balance in our lifestyle. Given how busy everyone is these days, trying to fit everything in, we often lose sight of the important things and plough into mundane, energy draining tasks, and forget about our relationships, our health (exercise), our careers (staying in a job we dread going to every day) and no connection to our spirituality.
Start standing behind the Bosu placing the feet parallel about shoulder width apart then inhale squat down and exhale jump onto the Bosu landing softly in a squat with an inhale...
What can the street animal population in Thailand teach us about compassion and action? A lot. Each female soi (Thai for “street”) dog can reproduce up to 20 pups every year. The economic situation in Thailand made it impossible for locals to a) prevent a population explosion and b) give basic care to these animals, no matter how much they wished to.
An auspicious event. It happens only once every 144 years. Of the four sites Allahabad is the largest. It is held here every 12 years. On the occasion of the twelfth of these it becomes the Maha. But this is determined more by astrological alignments than a multiple of years. January 2001 saw the largest gathering of humans in one location for one particular event, ever.
As I was about to write this introduction I found my mind drift to many of the great wonders and benefits my life has received in these many years in yoga. I happened to just go to Daphne Tse’s pledge site and play her new song, which she sang with us back in July and will again this Christmas. It always stirs my heart. Similar for me is the great music of Jack Harrison, a good Irishman who I have been happy to be part of his music journey out there.
The answer to this is something that evolves over time, with one’s development, as the experiences and insight grows and changes. In the beginning I can’t say why I practiced other than I liked it. I remember saying to myself “this is the most intelligent form of exercise I have ever done”.
Follow and DO as you read.
Sit at the edge of your chair.
Try to straighten your spine.
Put one hand on your navel.
Put the other hand on your heart center.
Inhale through your nose.
You may say, “but I’m breathing all the time.” True. It’s such a vital function that without it you wouldn’t be reading this. The quality of breathing varies greatly, however, leaving most people seriously undernourished and overstressed.
Consider yoga as just a word, or term, for the process of being internally connected, a light to look at oneself, separate to outside study. One might ask, “what supports such a process?” Hence the many approaches within yoga and spiritual paths in general. My point is that yoga is a term for that, “internal focus and connection”, just as gravity is a term for a certain exerted external force.
Personally I think life is beautiful and great. An underlying understanding from many philosophies is that life is full of suffering. Which it is, especially if you really look at all we go through. However, how do you approach this? I realize the temporariness of life. I am personally going through the difficulties and challenges of life. Yet somehow, everyday, I feel great and very upbeat, from deep within.
What I would like to say though may seem contrary to the usual advice but please take it on, as I have to myself: if you’re feeling challenged, down or overwhelmed, though the practice is of benefit, and do take time to clear the mind, but even more immediate is to get the things done in your life that need to be done. It is said our suffering (“dukkha”) comes from not taking care of things in our life that need to be done. If you are thinking, ‘I am out of balance and off-center’, then do what has to be done.
This is the beauty of the yoga method and why it is still available today to those interested in looking within. On the surface it goes through popular shifts but at its core it answers the perennial question still haunting mankind: to know thyself. So let practice evolve and change but aim to understand the teachings. Don’t be attached to the techniques nor the teacher, but connect with the teachings.
Paul Dallaghan’s Interview for Inner Peace Conference in Amsterdam:
"I was sent away at 16 on my own to work and live on a farm in rural France. Much time was spent in nature, either working or quietly alone. Without me realizing it was a key meditative time. That was the first key transformation for me with a few later key shifts occurring so it is now lived on a daily level."
