Deepen
This private instruction yoga program is designed for experienced yoga practitioners who want to go deeper in their personal yoga journey. Suitable as the next step to becoming a well rounded yoga practitioner or even a yoga teacher.
Invest In Your Personal Evolution
Time spent deepening 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
The Deepen course is privately led by teachers who are all Vikasa graduates themselves, with a wealth of experience and expertise.
Our experienced staff provides personal, hands-on private instruction to ensure safe practice, proper alignment and foundation. This will be presented in personalized one-to-one sessions and group classes. The program has a lot of information to digest, so we provide a course handbook.
This provides a useful point of reference when you return home. As a student you will learn how to create your own personalized sequences, designed to address any particular ailments or injuries. Learn how to listen to your body and how to use asana to create a balance of strength and flexibility. In addition to asana in both private and group settings, you will go deeper in a one on one setting with meditation, pranayama and yoga philosophy.
Through pranayama, we can connect with our true essence. We can get in touch with the innermost self through the stillness and awareness that exists between each breath. Our breath is the main instrument that directs the flow of prana in the body. The life-giving force of prana is the energy that powers our body and its physical systems. It links the human mind with physical matter. Learn to incorporate bandhas into your asana practice.
A bit about Yoga philosophy.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, he described an eight-fold path known as ‘ashtanga’ or Raja yoga. We encourage the study of these teachings as one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of yoga philosophy.
The Deepen course will give an in-depth grounding in the eight components of Ashtanga: yama (self-restraint), niyama (observances), asana (sitting posture), pranayama (breath restraint), pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (absorption, union).
Starting with the ten components of yama and niyama, you will build knowledge of the wisdom and philosophy that gave birth to yoga and the Vikasa lifestyle. You will learn how to cultivate principles to guide daily life and how to better understand the asanas and pranayama techniques.
Before addressing the Yoga Sutras, the Deepen course will examine the top afflictions of the mind to better understand the need for integrating yoga philosophy into our daily modern lives.
This is done through the philosophy of ‘klesha’ , or poisons of the mind. Conditions affiliated to kleshas include anxiety, fear, anger, and guilt.
Asana
- What Is Asana?
- Why Is It important?
- Benefits and Inspiration
- How To Safely Practice
- Introduction to Tantra
- Science Behind Sequencing
- Basic Pranayama Breathing
- Intro To Intelligent Freestyle
- The Eight Limbs of Yoga
- Traditional Hatha Yoga
- Intro To Yin Yoga Sequencing
- What Are The Seven Chakras?
- Intro To The Vikasa Yoga Method
- Food, Nutrition, Digestion
Pranayama
- What Is Prana?
- Intro To Yogic Philosophy
- Breathing Variations
- Intro To Nadis
- Pranayama Techniques
- Relaxation Techniques
- Mindfulness Techniques
- Intro To Mantras
- What Is Purification
- Why It Is Important
- Pranayama and Lifestyle
- Self Inquiry and Relisation
- Letting Go of Stress
- Practice and Endurance
Meditation
- What Is Meditation?
- Why Is It Important?
- Focus and Stability
- Awareness In Space
- Awareness In Body and Mind
- Practical Meditation
- Lifestyle Impact
- Health Benefits
- Regular Practice
- Setting Environment
- Breath and Thought
- The History of Meditation
- Getting Into Flow
- Intro To Kundalini
Are you an intermediate or advanced yoga practioner looking to push past your plateau?
Go Deeper Into Presence
Private one on one yoga sessions will lead to greater physical and mental benefits and a more optimal flow of pranic energy.
Many intermediate practitioners come to us with extensive experience of asanas, particularly from attending group classes. However, they find that their yoga teachers pay little attention to the fundamentals of breathing, purification, and theory that are all important components of an authentic yoga practitioner.
Deepen dedicates private one on one sessions to exploring pranayama and the philosophy that form the basis for Hatha yoga practice. It appeals to those who seek a better-informed approach to a yoga lifestyle. This advanced program is suitable as the next step to becoming a well rounded yoga practitioner or even a yoga teacher. Maybe you’re looking to fill gaps in your existing knowledge, or simply for a boost to personal development. Experienced yoga teachers, you can benefit from this program with the opportunity to gain inspiration and learn the Vikasa style of yoga.
Push past self. Open to the deep.
The Deepen program explores the more difficult asanas, such as arm balances, along with mudras and bandas. Having a more refined technique will allow you to receive maximum benefit from your yoga practice. This also leads to a greater understanding of anatomy and how the physical form can help mental wellbeing.
A large part of the private program syllabus focuses on improving pranayama and meditation. Some of the advanced yoga techniques covered in the Deepen program include Nauli and Bhastrika pranayama. Enhanced awareness of these ancient techniques reduces stress and balances the body and mind.
The Deepen program will take you through the nuances of bandhas, the energetic locks that assist the correct movements of prana in our bodies, all in a private session environment with our experienced instructors.
Another key aspect of the Deepen course is purification, through the six cleansing actions of Shatkarma. Shatkarma is practiced in preparation for pranayama by practicing Kalphabahti and Nauli techniques.
Advanced Yoga Program with personal coaching in Koh Samui
The Deepen 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.
Deepen Program
START FROM:
$1,689 / Week
Rates vary based on room selection.
- Daily personal 1 : 1 coaching sessions.
- 2 healthy abundant meals every day.
- Spa treatments and select therapies.
- Take home work book and materials.
- Welcome kit and swag bag.
What’s included:
Program Work Book
- Work Book Included
- On-site Assignments
- Take Home Assignments
Yoga Classes
- 1 x 90 mins - Intro to Hatha
- Unlimited group sessions
Spa Treatments
- 1 x 60 min choice
- 1 x 90 min choice
- Optional add-ons
Private Coaching Sessions
- 1 x 90 mins - Intake Session
- 2 x 60 mins - Private Coaching
- 1 x 90 mins - Review Session
Meditation Sessions
- 1 x 90 private meditation
- Unlimited group sessions
Excursions
- Optional add-ons
Covered Topics
Asana
Safely practice beginner poses.
Pranayama
Breath, practice and techniques.
Meditation
Practice awareness and find focus.
Bandha
Learn the basics of energy control.
Sequencing
Intro to freestyle to start your flow.
Alignment
Help you safely align.
Philosophy
Introduction to the world of yoga.
Anatomy
Basics of the science of the body.
Stress Relief
Learn techniques for a relaxed life.
Lifestyle
Learn by living in 7 immersive days.
Nutrition
The fuel a yoga body needs.
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 the free Lifestyle Guide
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Enjoy The Experience
The Deepen program will leave you feeling tranquil and energized after a week in our beautiful sea view paradise on Ko Samui.
The experience of learning is rewarding, and it starts with the feeling of being challenged by new, unfamiliar concepts. Embracing the Vikasa community, not only the Vikasa experts, will help you flow with more ease into your transformation. The feeling of a common goal and shared values fosters the perfect environment for learning and connecting with your innermost self.
As you develop your asana, meditation and pranayama, as well as enjoying the delicious food at the Vikasa Life Café, you will feel a rush of wellbeing. Your nervous system will be calmer; you will be able to live and focus in the present. Most importantly, by the end of the week you will have a sense of accomplishment, having learned a new set of tools to support you in your daily routine.
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.
- Push past your plateaus and take it to the next level.
- Deepen your understanding of authentic techniques.
- Interact with like-minded people in a safe community.
- Redefine the boundaries of your true comfort zones.
- Accelerate your path of transformation and evolution.
- Discover your new home away from home at Vikasa.
- Focus solely on your growth in an idyllic environment.
The Long-Term Benefits
Advancement
Take your technique and expertise to a deeper level.
Flexibility
Prevent injury and feel lighter by becoming more flexible.
Mastery
Learn how to manage the corners of your mind on a new level.
Vitality
Your overall energy, endurance and enthusiasm will increase.
Level Up
Bring your new skill set back to your own yoga students.
Awarness
Become sharper, wiser and more aware of your body, mind and decisions.
Community
Feel the welcoming embrace and make new friends.
Sleep
Happiness
Live in alignment with your intentions and actions.
Are you ready to take your yoga practice to the next level with expert private instruction?
Guest Experiences
Check out these testimonials from our past guests to get a sense of the transformation they experienced.
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.
Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of techniques and journey deeper into self?
Frequently Asked Questions
Browse the FAQ or get in touch with one of our instructors for personal assistance.
The benefits of improved asana technique will lead to greater flexibility, strength and improved muscle tone. Yoga reduces muscle tension or inflammation and helps to alleviate and prevent injury. Other physical benefits from advanced asana include cardiovascular health, a balanced metabolism, improved respiration, and greater energy levels. The hectic nature of the modern world can make it difficult to have a calm and clear mind. Among a range of mental and emotional benefits to achieving true tranquility, regular practice of pranayama will help to fight depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. As well as enhanced focus and concentration, meditation also helps us to look for the answers that are only available when we access the higher mind (intuition and unlimited source of creativity). Shatkarma, yogic forms of purification, improves our emotional state and mood by balancing the parasynthetic and sympathetic nervous systems. Shatkarma can also be used to relieve digestive system disorders, hormonal imbalances, sexual and urinary disorders.
Pranayama techniques covered in the Deepen program include:
- Kapalabhati, a pranayama technique used as a preparatory exercise to cleanse the body before asana practice.
- Ujjayi pranayama, sometimes referred to as Ocean Breath. It involves breathing in and out deeply through both nostrils while producing a vibration in the throat. This strengthens the diaphragm, calms the breath, and encourages the healthy flow of prana.
Ujjayi serves as a focal point when working through asana practice, steadying the mind and slowing down the nervous system.
- Nadi Shodhana, a breathing exercise that balances the masculine and feminine energies of the body. Creating this balance is calming and helps with concentration.
- Bhastrika, an advanced pranayama exercise that brings oxygen to the blood and promotes a deeper sense of vitality.
- Nauli, an advanced pranayama and cleansing technique that engages the transverse abdominals and acts as an internal massage across your visceral organs.
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
This program is designed for intermediate to advanced yoga practitioners.
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.
Are you ready to reach your personal goals?
Go deeper on your personal yoga journey.
