Begin

Yoga is a gateway to a new lifestyle. The Begin program is designed to support yoga beginners as they create a solid platform for a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle.

Personal Evolution

Invest In Your Personal Evolution

Time spent growing is always well invested.

Show up and trust the process

Personal programs don’t require you to make plans or decisions like you would on a holiday. We take care of everything.

Spend 7 Or More Days in Thailand

Spend a week or more immersed in your personal goals without distraction and vibe out to the rhythm of Thailand.

Balanced Transformation To-go

Leave feeling empowered to start a new path with new balance, confidence and lasting healthy habits to take home.

Learn At Vikasa Yoga Retreat

Our unique approach includes private introduction to the techniques and teachings of authentic yoga: asana, pranayama, and meditation.

Asanas are the physical postures that open energy channels and psychic centers. The practice of asana is a way to increase the pranic flow of energy while gaining strength and flexibility. We have a host of experts on all aspects of the Begin course to provide wisdom and encouragement at every step of your journey.

Prana is the energy of life. It is vitality that spreads throughout everything that exists. ‘Vikasa’ is Sanskrit for becoming visible, expanding and shining forth. The Begin program will teach you the essence of practising Pranayama during private one on one sessions. Your private instructor will teach you how to control the flow of life energy within the body through controlled breathing. This is the foundation for your personal evolution and spiritual growth.

Meditation is a precise technique of quieting the mind through effortless focus, to attain a state of conscious awareness. The Begin program will provide you with the knowledge and application of techniques you need to be able to meditate in your daily life. Learn how to incorporate it in your routine in a realistic and practical way. Gain more mental clarity, higher levels of focus and let go of intrusive thoughts not serving you on your path to evolution.

The Begin course will introduce you to the key philosophical concepts and mental science underlying sound yoga practice.

In addition to learning how to practice yoga, it is important that you have a firm grounding in why we practice it.

A good analogy for these concepts is reading glasses. Each pair has a specific prescription for the lenses that fit into the frame. The lens determines how the user sees objects, so if we change lenses, we can see the same object in a different way. The concepts are the lenses through which you perceive your environment and the people around you.

Our coaches will help you understand the need for integrating yoga philosophy into our daily modern lives as you become familiar with key concepts such as:
The Begin program at Vikasa Yoga Retreat is recommended for stays of 7 nights or more, and it’s available year-round. If you want to get a taste of the Vikasa Lifestyle before you arrive at Vikasa for your personal program, and begin your journey towards better health and wellness.
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Asana

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Pranayama

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Meditation

Are you intimidated by large group classes or maybe you just prefer personal coaching?

Every Yoga Journey Begins With A Single Step

Yoga is more than a hobby or an activity that you do at the local gym. Yoga is a gateway to a new lifestyle. It can provide a path which allows you to unlock your full potential in various aspects of your life.

The Begin program provides a one-on-one immersive introduction to the techniques and teachings of traditional Hatha Yoga, Vikasa Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation. These are tools to create awareness, gain clarity and become more open. You’ll work together with your lifestyle coach for 7 days in tropical paradise and achieve tranquility of the mind, body, and spirit.

‘Vikasa’ is Sanskrit for becoming visible, expanding and shining forth. Inspired by the notion of personal integration and evolution, Vikasa was created as a safe space to try yoga for the first time. Our open arms policy welcomes all levels and all people. Our heavenly yoga retreat in Koh Samui provides an idyllic setting in which to achieve this change in both private and group settings. More importantly, you will have Vikasa in your heart – a new philosophy and lifestyle to take home and incorporate into your daily life. If you are curious about yoga, mindfulness and overall searching for a better lifestyle, the Vikasa Begin program is for you.

The time to treat yourself better is now.

If you’re looking for a lifestyle shift that not only equips you with the skills and knowledge to improve your health, but also inspires confidence to follow your dreams, then the Begin program is the perfect place for you to get started.

One-on-one coaching is the perfect way to be sure you’re starting out right with the proper technique and the tools to thrive. Let yoga be the first step towards holistic health. Through the practice of yoga with your private instructor, you can discover a feeling of calm purpose, forming a foundation for wisdom and lasting happiness.

In recent years, yoga has been universally recognized for its health benefits especially when integrated as part of a holistic healthy lifestyle. In many cases, modern medicine alleviates symptoms but does little to address the underlying causes of physical or mental illness. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and integrating yoga will help to keep you free of disease, stress and common imbalances.
The best way to start this journey is by learning one-on-one with a health professional, and what better place to do so than on a paradise tropical island? The private instructors who will support you on the Begin program are all Vikasa Academy graduates, who provide personal coaching to ensure a safe practice, proper alignment and foundation. Learn poses and techniques that bring your mind and body into balance. You’ll learn to create sequences which are customized for your body in a handy work book to easily continue the journey back home.

Beginner Yoga Program With Personal Coaching in Koh Samui

The Begin program is recommended for stays of 7 nights or more. This program is available year-round and the rates are all inclusive of your room, meals, program, learning materials and selected spa treatments.

Begin Program

STARTS FROM :

$1,689/ Week

Rates vary based on room selection.

BOOK NOW

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What’s included:

Program Work Book

Yoga Classes

Spa Treatments

Private Coaching Sessions

Meditation Sessions

Excursions

Need more information? Get in touch for personal assistance. Contact us
Booking Info: Upon booking, program rates will be displayed in Thai Baht and per person.

Covered Topics

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Asana

Safely practice beginner poses.

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Pranayama

Breath, practice and techniques.

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Meditation

Practice awareness and find focus.

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Bandha

Learn the basics of energy control.

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Sequencing

Intro to freestyle to start your flow.

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Alignment

Help you safely align.

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Philosophy

Introduction to the world of yoga.

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Anatomy

Basics of the science of the body.

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Stress Relief

Learn techniques for a relaxed life.

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Lifestyle

Learn by living in 7 immersive days.

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Nutrition

The fuel a yoga body needs.

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Self Love

Cultivate and reconnect to self.

A Koh Samui Wellness Retreat Designed For You

Curious about our wellness retreat? Get a taste of the Vikasa Lifestyle before you arrive for your personal coaching program.

Start familiarizing yourself with our approach to living your healthiest and most authentic life. Get tips on healthy eating, stress management, gratitude practice and more. You’ll be well on your way to wellness with a head start in the right direction. No preparation is needed before the Begin program, however, it’s never a bad time to start eating right and implementing small changes. We believe that shocking the system with a huge lifestyle change may be less beneficial than implementing small daily adjustments.

Our programs are designed to give you a lasting shift in behavior with a solid game plan for when you return home. Your success is our success and we want to see you follow through with the promises you make to yourself. We are here to support your journey but the person who has to take the first step, is you. Download the Vikasa Lifestyle Guide and begin your journey to better health and wellness.

DOWNLOAD FREE LIFESTYLE GUIDE
Download the free Lifestyle Guide

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Enjoy The Experience

The overall experience on the Begin program will provide new sources of energy and happiness that come from the inner and centered self – rather than external sources.

It can be a little daunting when starting something new. It can be your first day in a new job, a first date, or moving into an apartment. Sometimes the first step is the most difficult. During the Begin program, your coach will be there to hold space and help you process such feelings. The whole Vikasa team are some of the warmest and most welcoming folks you’ll ever meet. We provide a safe space and an open-minded, judgement-free zone designed for transformation.

Slowly as you open to the doors of change, you’ll feel a sense of rejuvenation as you regain contact with your innermost self. Our heavenly Vikasa Yoga Retreat provides an idyllic setting in which to achieve such a transformation. You will find yourself shedding bad habits, processing emotions, and embracing positive change. This can be disorientating for some people at first, but during the week you will find yourself becoming more confident and happy with the new you.

Feel a sense of achievement as you embrace a healthier lifestyle, and a sense of community with like-minded people on the Vikasa campus.
Arrive to Vikasa with a decision to try something new, meet new people, eat new things, learn something new and embrace the new. This is the mindset for transformation.

The Long-Term Benefits

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Strength

Improve your physical condition strength and health.

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Flexibility

Prevent injury and feel lighter by becoming more flexible.

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Calm

Learn how to manage your mind and the stress of daily life with calm clarity.

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Vitality

Your overall energy, endurance and enthusiasm will increase.

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Metabolism

Enjoy the daily rhythm of an optimized digestive track.

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Awarness

Become sharper, wiser and more aware of your body, mind and decisions.

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Community

Feel the welcoming embrace and make new friends.

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Sleep

Improve the quality of your sleep cycles for optimized energy.

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Happiness

Live in alignment with your intentions and actions.

Are you curious about yoga, meditation and wellness but you don’t know where to begin?​

Guest Experiences

Check out these testimonials from our past guests to get a sense of the transformation they experienced.

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For a more detailed review, you might consider reaching out to our alumni network to ask them first-hand about their experience at Vikasa.

About Vikasa Yoga Retreat

Vikasa is truly a paradise location which adds an extra dimension to your yoga practice as a whole.

The environment is conducive to relaxing where you can disconnect from the hustle and bustle and focus inwards on your practice and spiritual growth. Here at Vikasa our core values are the three ways in which consciousness expands. This expansion starts with the self, it grows through our minds, bodies and energy until we are powerful motivators of connection and manifestors of change through our communities and throughout our world.

Vikasa is the ideal healthy lifestyle venue for a yoga training, due to its balance of secluded island paradise, freshly-prepared food and a yoga sala constructed in a beautiful setting and designed to get the best out of students – making it the perfect environment for study.

We are a relaxed establishment where you can unplug and reconnect to something deeper in a meaningful way.

Vikasa Yoga Retreat in Koh Samui offers several types of accommodation ranging from simple eco-friendly bamboo bungalows to full-sized rooms. We are not a one-size-fits-all kind of place. Our rooms are democratically priced because we believe this range of accommodation allows for a wider range of students to experience Vikasa.

Tips for choosing your perfect room: If you like to stay close to the beach, check out our red-roofed Prana Cabanas. If you prefer a garden location with a village feeling, try the Zen Bungalows. If you don’t want to walk down too many stairs, the Yoga Caves could be a good option. If you need a bit of extra space and a central location, Lotus Pads are a good place to start.

Yoga Retreat With Accommodation In Koh Samui

Our rooms celebrate simplicity. We have minimal decorations to create a feeling of zen. You will notice some of our room options have a “+” which means they are a little bit bigger than the standard category.

View details for more information or Contact us to discuss

Are you ready to make a big lifestyle shift that incorporates more health and happiness?

Frequently Asked Questions

Browse the FAQ or get in touch with one of our instructors for personal assistance.

Private yoga coaching will introduce you to a new dimension. Beginning yoga with a personal program will transform a seemingly standard yoga mat from a random rectangle of rubber into a magic portal that keeps you grounded, connected and open. It’s a safe place that doesn’t take up much space, rolls up in the corner, and can teach you more about yourself than you imagined.

Thousands of years ago sages of ancient India developed techniques we now call yoga to create a connection with their innermost essence. This is now practiced worldwide as a way to control stress, and to maintain balance and focus. Even among experienced practitioners, there are a range of opinions on what yoga actually is, but all views agree that at yoga’s core is spirituality. There are multiple physiological, physiological and spiritual benefits of keeping pranic energy moving freely within the body.

After completing the program, you’ll have a new philosophy and routine to take home and incorporate into your daily life. The practice of asanas will increase flexibility and improve muscle tone; you will feel physically fitter. Other well-documented benefits include improved respiration, a balanced metabolism, and an enhanced immune function. Weight loss and improved cardiovascular health are also common benefits to yoga practice. Pranayama will help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. You may find that you achieve a deeper, more refreshing state of sleep. This will still the mind and enable you to find a state of tranquillity, which allows us to glimpse our true essence. Meditation has been proven to slow the aging process, freeing the mind from stressors, leading to a state of deep peace. meditating is associated with greater relationship satisfaction, as well as better communication during conflict. But perhaps most importantly, you’ll get excited about this new chapter in your life. A chapter where YOU come first in your most connected, centered and prepared version of your SELF. This will empower you to take on new challenges head first and have a greater impact on your tribe and your world. 

Potential physical health benefits include:

  • Increased flexibility, muscle strength and tone
  • Reduced muscle tension and inflammation
  • Greater energy and vitality
  • A balanced metabolism  
  • Weight reduction, a higher metabolic rate
  • Cardio and circulatory health
  • Injury prevention
  • Increases body awareness
  • Increases immune function 

 

Physiological Benefits

  • Greater focus
  • Calmed central nervous system
  • Sense of community
  • Prevents depression, anxiety and sleep disorders
  • Improves mood and behavior
  • Stress control
  • Improves memory
  • Decelerates the aging process

 

Prana powers our hearts and activates bodily functions, with breathing being the most obvious manifestation of prana flow. 

This will help you to balance hormone functions which help to control all of our emotional responses. You will find it easier to release stress and experience serenity of the mind. Crucially, you will get a glimpse into our true essence—the being that exists regardless of breathing —in the stillness and awareness that remains between each breath.

We will also provide instruction on Shatkarma, the six cleansing actions in hatha yoga used for purification. The build-up of mucus, bile, and gas can cause a range of ailments, from colds and digestive complaints to hormone imbalance and emotional tension. Learning shatkarma practices under the supervision of a guru as part of the Begin will help your overall approach to mental and physical health.

Aside from the obvious benefit of enhanced focus, meditation also enables us to look for the answers that are only available with access to the higher mind (intuition and unlimited source of creativity). 

There are also social benefits, as you will become part of an enlightened community, and you will be able to remain calm when communicating.

It may be difficult initially to adhere to a smooth rhythm of breath at the beginning. With practice, it will become easier. Through pranayama, we gradually control the mind and its balance with the physical world.

The course syllabus includes instruction on different types of meditation such as mindfulness meditation, chakra meditation, yoga nidra, kundalini meditation and vipassana meditation.

It also covers meditation postures such as Sukhasana (easy), Vajrasana (thunderbolt/diamond), Swastikasana (auspicious), and Padmasana (lotus).

Vikasa is located on Koh Samui, which is an island in the Gulf of Thailand. Vikasa is in the south east corner of the island, in between Chaweng Noi and Lamai. Vikasa is a 20 minute drive from Koh Samui International Airport (USM) and a 35 minute drive from the Nathon and Lipa Noi ferry terminals.

The best way to get to Vikasa is to fly into Koh Samui International Airport (USM).  There are daily flights into Koh Samui from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and others.  We will arrange your pick up from the airport.

This will depend on where you are from. For details of Thailand’s visa arrangements with specific countries see here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Thailand

Although tourist visas are generally required, there is an exemption for travellers from 30 countries (Australia, UK, USA, France, Germany, Sweden and others) who wish to travel to Thailand for 30 days or less. If you are a citizen of one of these countries you do not need to obtain a visa. Note that if you plan to stay for longer than 30 days, it is possible to obtain a short extension from the immigration office on Koh Samui at some point during your stay.

If you are not a citizen of one of the countries with which Thailand has specific visa exemption or waiver arrangements, you will need to obtain a 30, 60 or 90 day tourist visa before arriving in Thailand

Yes, the Begin program is suitable for participants of all levels including complete beginners.

Yoga clothes, tropical climate clothes and swimwear.  Yoga mats and props and towels are all provided. You may want to add an excursion to your program such as a waterfall hike, in which case a pair of sneakers would also be handy. If you want to use the Sky Gym during your stay you’ll need gym clothes too. 

The programs are facilitated by specially trained Vikasa staff with significant expertise in their field. You will receive input from a number of practitioners during your stay.

Koh Samui is a beautiful tropical island located in the Gulf of Thailand.  It is approximately 90 minutes from the mainland via ferry, but is easily accessible via airplane.  It has a population of around 70,000 people and has key infrastructure such as a small international airport, good medical facilities (including hospitals), banking facilities (including ATMs), good wifi coverage and good roads.  It is possible to drive around the entire island in around 90 minutes, and visitors generally either travel via scooter or taxi as walking is difficult.  Vikasa is located between Chaweng Noi and Lamai in a quiet area of the island.  It is possible to walk from Vikasa to nearby beaches, but guests generally stay on the Vikasa premises or rent scooters or taxis for trips to nearby markets and shopping malls.  The weather is generally hot year round, with temperatures often around 30 degrees celsius.

We recommend that participants download the free lifestyle guide and read up on the Vikasa Lifestyle before arrival. If you don’t have time to read it that’s ok too, we will review some content during your program. 

Do you have other questions or need more information? Contact us Today

Are you ready to reach your personal goals?

Achieve tranquility of the mind, body, and spirit.

Focus on personal development and transformation via personalized one-on-one coaching.