I spent a week at Island Yoga at the beginning of July and had a most wonderful time. I am slightly hesitant to even write about it just incase people start flocking to Koh Yao Noi and spoil the tranquility.
Their website is easy to use and I booked myself in for six nights. Once this was done communication came through email and instructions on how to pay the initial deposit with PayPal were simple and clear.
They are also very flexible {pun is intended} so there is no specific 'course' or set period of time that you have to fit into. You can arrange the dates to suit your own schedule and join the classes upon arrival because they are always different, challenging and interesting.
How to Get There
Koh Yoe Noi Island is situated to the east of Phuket Island. I took a taxi from the airport to Bang Rong Peir which took about half an hour and sat and waited peacefully, with a few Thai's and a monkey, for the small speed boat to take me on the 200 Baht trip to the Island. There were a few tuk tuks waiting at the pier and they knew exactly where Island Yoga was. Last boat each day is 5.30pm.
Koh Yoe Noi
This small island does have some lovely places to stay including Sixth Sense Koh Yoe and Koyao Island Resort , is unspoilt and very quiet. It has one circular road so it's impossible to get lost. The local population is mostly muslim. It was Ramadan when I was there and perhaps that made it even quieter, I'm not sure, but I liked it. If you are familiar with the heady markets and bar world of Thailand this is the complete opposite. It is an unspoilt place with no one pushing their wares at you. The locals were very friendly and would even stop and offer a lift just to be nice. There are a few basic shops, 7/11 and one or two ATMs. The roads are empty so hiring a scooter or even a bike is relatively safe.
Just as an example of how friendly it is, the chain on my bike popped off. Once my fingers were covered in black oil and I realized I had no idea how to put it back on, I pushed it to a sleepy massage place and asked them if they could get me a tuk tuk to take me back to Island Yoga. They quickly found a tool and fixed the chain for me and happily waved me on my way.
(Secretly, I wanted to ride in the tuk tuk)
Accommodation
Within Island Yoga there are a few options. Some basic bungalows, meaning just a fan. You can opt to share or you can stay in another location on the island and do pop-in classes to suit yourself. I went for my own bungalow with air con. I'm too used to air con to not have it! I loved my bungalow, it had a comfortable bed with mosquito net, plenty of cupboard space for hanging clothes, a very nice hammock on the little deck for relaxing after a hard morning in the sala.
Food
After the first yoga session of the morning, which finished at 9.30am, breakfast was waiting for us. A delicious spread of cereal, yoghurt, fruit as well as Thai vegetarian dishes. This is included in the package. If you want food at other times the wonderful Ning and her Thai family, who run the catering side, can russle up meals or snacks and this is added to your bill at check-out.
Yoga - Two Classes Each Day
There are two classes per day. The morning one is 90 minutes and starts at 7.30am. This was a really excellent energising start to the day and each day the class was different. One day we were out on the beach, one day we did laughing yoga, one morning we all were taught the secret of the netty pot and one session involved absoltuely no downward dogs at all. The second session at 4.30pm for an hour, was Yin Yoga which involved a much more 'cushioned' variety where poses were held for longer periods of time.
The instructors (I had Heather and Kierra) were highly knowledgable and committed to their practice. They were bursting with creativity and filled everyone with the confidence to be strong and really enjoy each pose. Afterall if you don't like something it'll soon be over and in the past anyway!
psssst - So just between you and me and the gate post, sssshhhhh this place is fantastic. I want to go back but don't tell anyone, ok!
I agree with this. Seeing more yoga places in Thailand this is what always remember and longing for after spending there 11 days in January this year.
Posted by: Oili Ruokamo | August 13, 2014 at 01:45 PM
Sounds fantastic! Lucky you!
Posted by: Elizabeth | August 12, 2014 at 07:49 PM