Intensive Ashtanga Yoga Retreat in Phuket, Thailand

TAYSP is a great place for practice.
I liked its atmosphere and that it's always hot there.
Sonya and Rich are very attentive and confident teachers.
Be prepared for intensive practice and new achievements 🙂

I booked for an Ashtanga intensive, with the purpose of restarting my practice. I did not expect that in the seven days that i have spent with Rich and Sofya, i experienced a shift in my practice. they are both passionate, stern but coming from a place of love, they're true blue ashtangis who are very knowledgeable and follows the yogi way of life in terms of discipline, diet, lifestyle in general... read moreI booked for an Ashtanga intensive, with the purpose of restarting my practice. I did not expect that in the seven days that i have spent with Rich and Sofya, i experienced a shift in my practice. they are both passionate, stern but coming from a place of love, they're true blue ashtangis who are very knowledgeable and follows the yogi way of life in terms of discipline, diet, lifestyle in general, I learned the importance of kriyas and pranayama which i try to incorporate in my practice now. I can't wait to go back In February for a longer intensive. Visited August 2016 read less

This is a long review but the main point is TAYSP provides experienced caring programs that produce results and I would highly recommend them. Their programs are not for someone looking for a fun spa experience but for those serious about changing their lives and getting results. That being said I did meet some amazing people and have an amazing time that changed my life forever. I visited TAYSP f... read moreThis is a long review but the main point is TAYSP provides experienced caring programs that produce results and I would highly recommend them. Their programs are not for someone looking for a fun spa experience but for those serious about changing their lives and getting results. That being said I did meet some amazing people and have an amazing time that changed my life forever. I visited TAYSP for a two month customized program from July 29th- September 27th and it is a program that has changed my life. During the program I lost a total of 16kg, built muscle, improved flexibility and balance. I also lost cravings for meat and processed food in addition to being taken off many medications for asthma and pain. Sophia and Rich are a credit to my success. They were dedicated, passionate and strict helping to push me past my limits. Every level of the program was well thought out and tailored to my individual needs. Traditional Ashtanga Yoga is for people who are serious about changing their lives. I wont sugar coat it, the programs are difficult and sometimes I didnt understand why they asked me to do certain things. In the end I saw that there was a purpose for everything they asked me to do, my health and safety were their greatest concern. They never asked me to do anything beyond my capabilities although they did push me outside of my comfort zone. Some of the procedures were foreign to me like the cleansing routines but I grew to trust that they knew exactly what they were doing to help me reach my goals. I have never met two more caring dedicated individuals, and the they well exceeded my expectations. As yoga instructors they are both knowledgeable and experienced. They knew exactly how to adjust my body to the right positions and provide modifications for postures I couldn't do. They know their students on a personal level and I found that it helped them provide the best instruction. I highly recommend them for anyone interested in yoga at any level. Visited July 2016 read less

Отличная школа Когда мы планировали поездку на Пхукет, я искала, где преподают аштангу. Нашла эту школу в интернете, на сайте было актуальное расписание. Мне очень понравились классы, внимательный преподаватель, интенсивные правки, не даёт филонить и ныть. Говорят на русском и английском, так что языкового барьера не было. Суперполезный опыт, когда попадаешь к новому преподавателю, всегда узнаешь что-то новое дл... read moreКогда мы планировали поездку на Пхукет, я искала, где преподают аштангу. Нашла эту школу в интернете, на сайте было актуальное расписание. Мне очень понравились классы, внимательный преподаватель, интенсивные правки, не даёт филонить и ныть. Говорят на русском и английском, так что языкового барьера не было. Суперполезный опыт, когда попадаешь к новому преподавателю, всегда узнаешь что-то новое для себя и вдохновляешься. read less

My life has been in a major transition and I wasn’t coping well. I decided to go to a yoga retreat with the hopes it would center me, help me move forward and find some peace. I did some research and picked TAYSP. The reviews were very promising, the cost was reasonable and it was located in the tropics. Couldn’t ask for more ……. and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact the experience went way beyond my... read moreMy life has been in a major transition and I wasn’t coping well. I decided to go to a yoga retreat with the hopes it would center me, help me move forward and find some peace. I did some research and picked TAYSP. The reviews were very promising, the cost was reasonable and it was located in the tropics. Couldn’t ask for more ……. and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact the experience went way beyond my expectation (which is saying a lot since I was thinking I was expecting too much and I knew nothing about Ashtanga yoga).

Rich and Sofya are two wonderful human beings. I feel they are very caring and generous with their time and attention. They want the best from and for their students, including learning more than you can imagine. I took the intensive program for 3 weeks, which included challenging the body, mind and spirit. It was a life changing experience. I feel I came out stronger in every possible way. My daily intention was to find peace and I feel my times of peace grew each day. There was so much to learn with little time to listen to the negative chatter in my mind.

I had personal challenges that slowed my progression, but what I gained even with those challenges, wow! My thanks go to everyone in the Shala with special thanks to Rich and Sofya. Since leaving the retreat I’ve been practicing Ashtanga asana on my own and I can hear both of them in my mind (e.g., “open up your chest”, “back straight” “chin down”, “foot flexed”), imagine feeling the adjustments, or imagine seeing their gestures to get me to do the postures correctly. Always brings a smile as I make the appropriate corrections. I am also practicing the other forms of Ashtanga; including, pranayama (my favorite), meditation, and some Kriya. What wonderful gifts they’ve given. They are wonderful teachers. I feel they taught me well! May I continue practicing these gifts through my lifetime. read less