Soul vacation – Bangkok wellness retreats

[snoop1130]

Soul vacation – Bangkok wellness retreats

by Lori Blackburn

 

 

Meet two women who are creating a holistic community within Bangkok’s bustling metropolis

 

When I stepped through the gates of Ariyasom Villas, the traffic, noise, and outside world disappeared. I had entered the lush gardens of a grand heritage home. Was this still Bangkok? The staff greeted me with smiles. I walked to the library in awe of the environment that Jennifer and Carolina had carefully created within the villa’s antique ambiance. Sure, I had seen pictures of their previous retreats, but I was floored by this setting. Colourful cushions, delicious tea service, flowers, and cosy-chic sitting areas awaited. Was that incense I smelled? Everyone was so nice. I relaxed into the tranquility where old world charm met retreat day wellness. It was time to drop in. During the retreat, Carolina’s coaching workshops helped us reconnect with our inner spark. She also shared strategies for personal growth. This was complimented by Jennifer’s holistic offerings of outdoor yoga, gong bath meditation, and yin yoga stretches. A tasty vegetarian lunch was served at the award-winning Na Aroon restaurant. At the day’s end, we left feeling lighter, more vibrant, inspired, and empowered. Thank goodness I had joined! I had not realised how much I needed this retreat. I gained a clearer idea on how to lead a more meaningful life which aligned with my goals. I also met a new circle of wonderful women.

 

Expat life creates unique situations. Thankfully, Bangkok has resources to help us balance wellness with daily life. In addition to Fill your cup retreats, Carolina and Jennifer have each created holistic spaces for people to recharge within Bangkok’s fast-paced world. For those seeking community and wellness, these gals have something to share.

Jennifer Chapman – Yoga teacher and sound therapist.

Founder of The Green Room Bangkok. https://www.facebook.com/thegreenroombangkok/

Carolina Herrera – Women’s coach and mentor.
Creator of the Take time to be you practice. https://www.facebook.com/taketimetobeyou/

 

Jennifer Chapman shares how a career as a top dancer in the entertainment industry led to her holistic work in yoga, meditation, and mindfulness coaching.

 

Hi, I’m Jen. I began The Green Room Studio in Bangkok (www.facebook.com/thegreenroombangkok)  to grow a community of like-minded people. We share my home space for yoga and relaxing sound baths. I offer classes to anyone interested in exploring yoga and wellbeing, regardless of prior experience. In today’s frenetic world, I encourage visitors to explore the art of slowing down so that they can connect to their mind, body, and heart.

 

Carolina and I began retreats to create a nurturing place for women to initiate positive changes.  I recently worked with Carolina on my own life coaching. After experiencing a beneficial shift thanks to her Rapid Transformational Therapy and Take time to be you programme, I wanted other women to experience this alongside my holistic offerings. So, how did I turn a glamorous dance career into a grounded holistic practice? Let me explain my journey. I was born in the United Kingdom. I lived in London for fifteen years during my career as a professional dancer and choreographer. Three years ago, I moved to Asia where I lived in Kuala Lumpur and now in Bangkok. Bangkok has so much to offer. You can live on a shoestring budget or splurge on the high life.

 

I love Bangkok’s plant-based restaurants, cafes, co-working spaces, massages, parks, and people. To connect us all, Facebook provides a great platform to learn about events. There’s literally something happening every day that I want to join! In school, I prioritised academics, but my passion was a dance career rather than any high-flying corporate job. I followed my heart and was fortunate to experience over ten rich, diverse years performing with world renowned artists such as Take That, Coldplay, Rhianna, JayZ, and Elton John. I performed on international tours, live TV shows, award ceremonies, commercials, and feature films. A highlight was working as a core dance captain for the London Olympic closing ceremonies in 2012. My dance career took me around the world. I had my dream job, but along with the exciting highs came the inevitable lows – physical injuries, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and low self-esteem from the pressure. The entertainment industry was exciting, but intense. During these demanding years, stress and life got the better of me. I had no emotional resilience. I would often react rather than respond to situations.

 

Eventually, I realised that I could change my life. I already had the tools to make positive changes – we all do! The problem is that we look outside of ourselves to create our reality and happiness. Once we reframe our perspective to speak kinder to ourselves and appreciate what we have, happiness can prevail. We can walk an empowering path rather than fall victim to life’s challenges. Thankfully, I found yoga. This was a turning point. Yoga began a journey away from my performance career and towards an interest in holistic wellbeing. Initially, I was drawn to yoga’s physical aspects. Soon, my desire for stronger emotional health developed into a meditation and gratitude practice. This fostered my deep respect for yoga philosophy. I completed several yoga teacher training courses, the first being in Goa, India. My education has since expanded to becoming a mindfulness educator as well as reiki and sound therapy practitioner.

 

My holistic work takes several forms. As a yoga teacher, I focus on calming the nervous system and promoting a healthy and mobile body. As a mindfulness teacher I offer children strategies to help them understand themselves and their place in this world. Mindful Sparks is a company I co-created with a lovely lady called Lilly. Our curriculum operates in Bangkok’s in International Schools. As a sound therapist, I offer people an opportunity to rest and rejuvenate through the ancient practice of sound vibrations that heal on a cellular level. Finally, to satisfy my creativity and love of fabrics, I make meditation cushions and eye pillows. Outside of my business ventures, I create plant-based foods, go swing dancing at The Hop, or meet like-minded souls at Bangkok’s many great events. Although I don’t have my own children, I am lucky to have many little ones in my life. I teach dance and yoga at St. Andrews International School and at The Little Pea at The Commons.

 

Fill your cup retreat

 

Ariyasom Villas is a sanctuary that is homey yet exotic. When considering how to plan a retreat, I think about what I would want from this type of day. The restaurant, Na Aroon, serves superb vegetarian food. We are grateful to use the multiple private spaces – the library, yoga sala, and Buddhist meditation hall. Depending upon what inspires our guests, they can lounge outside on my handmade cushions. They can also sit within the vintage library surrounded by books and traditional Thai décor.

 

Full Story: https://expatlifeinthailand.com/health-and-beauty/soul-vacation-bangkok-wellness-retreats/

 

-- © Copyright Expat Life in Thailand

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info