Often described as one of Thailand’s last unspoilt islands, Koh Yao Noi is located east of Phuket in the Phang Nga Bay and was the second stop in our trip. We were staying at the Paradise Koh Yao in the north of the island for a 4 day yoga break which included two yoga classes per day and two massages to ease away the tensions of the day.

http://paradise-kohyao.com/

The beach at Paradise Koh Yao, looking towards the yoga shala.

Days started at 7:30am with a morning yoga practice in the beautiful yoga shala overlooking the bay followed by breakfast at the beachside restaurant. The rest of the days were spent lazily lying on the beach or by the pool, followed by a 4:30pm yoga practice. After a post yoga beer on the veranda of the bungalow we shared we would head out to the beachside bar for sundowners and then dinner in one of the two restaurants.

…and relax! View from a hammock.

Post yoga breakfast at Paradise Koh Yao.

The evening yoga practice was in the Yin style of yoga which is slower paced and poses are held for up to five minutes. Yin applies moderate stress to the tendons and ligaments with the aim of improving flexibility and increasing circulation in the joints. It was the first time I’d practiced Yin and I was apprehensive, assuming that I would find it boring compared to the faster, more flowing style of yoga that I was used to. My concerns were washed…or should I say stretched away within the first few poses of the practice. The requirement for stillness of body and mind was challenging but through focusing on my breathing I was able to get far deeper into the poses and hold for longer than I had imagined.

The yoga shala at Paradise Koh Yao.

View from inside the yoga shala looking out towards the bay.

Yoginis in the beachfront yoga shala.

Tree pose!

After one of the classes I got chatting to Heather who had lead our practice. I discovered that she worked at a yoga retreat in the south of the island called Island Yoga. I quickly and easily made the decision to book into Island Yoga for a three day stay after Shereen and Amy had left for London.

The next day I waved Shereen and Amy goodbye from the pier of the resort, had a little cry, hauled my pack onto my back and headed off to Island Yoga and the next stage of my journey. #allbymyselfie