Yoga is about a healthy lifestyle. It unclutters the mind and helps you feel more focused while building muscle, gaining strength and uplifting the spirit. Yoga truly is an exercise for everyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how out of shape you might have become – yoga can help you bounce back.
Yoga is an ancient form of exercise
Yoga originated in India. It is a physical, mental and spiritual practice or discipline. Yoga has been around in some shape or form for centuries. There are a wide variety of schools and different practices of yoga, but one thing is for certain – yoga has a profound positive effect on both the body and the mind. Scientifically proven, yoga’s benefits are instant and long lasting. Yoga has the capability of changing your physical and mental capacity quite quickly, all the while preparing the mind and body for long term health.
Yoga is for everyone
There are few limitations to yoga. Yoga studios and gyms often see a wide demographic of teens, athletes, moms and even older gentlemen attending the classes on hand. Yoga does not focus on niche clients, but tends to welcome everyone interested with open arms. When starting out, try not to be hard on yourself. With continued practice, your yoga poses will get better and you will feel the positive high that yoga presents. In time, you will be able to take on more challenging poses and experience even more yoga health benefits.
Here are some of the positive health benefits of yoga. Why not make a commitment to getting started?
Better Sleep
When you start practicing yoga, you will begin to release pent up energy that could cause you to feel restless and keep you from sleeping, or provide you with an evening of tossing and turning. Doing yoga helps relax your nervous system, which is the part of the body that controls your sleeping patterns. Once your nervous system is relaxed, you will sleep sounder and deeper.
More Energy
As you begin your yoga journey, especially in the beginning, you may feel tired and the practice may seem like a very hard challenge due to the fact that you must exert a lot of effort just to hold basic poses. However, as you continue on, the yoga poses will become easier. You will notice that after classes instead of feeling exhausted, you will feel refreshed.
More Strength
Yoga requires your body to bend and stretch into positions that will naturally strengthen your muscles. During yoga, you only use your bodyweight for resistance. The more yoga you do, the more your body weight should naturally decrease which makes poses easier to complete. As you improve, your body feels stronger and lighter and it is best to remember that all yoga poses will provide you with more strength if you practice them regularly.
Lower Blood Pressure
Yoga is a great workout for your heart. It helps to improve cardiovascular functions, and the longer you stick with the practice the more benefits you will reap. Due to the fact that yoga has a calming nature, you will push yourself to breathe deep and relax. You will focus on feeling good. Reducing your blood pressure reduces the risk of heart related diseases and conditions, allowing people to live a longer life.
Better Metabolism
Yoga increases your metabolism, increases your lean muscle and makes you more flexible. The trickle down effects of this include nearly effortless weight loss. Improved metabolism also means more energy and the opportunity to burn calories at a faster rate.
Other benefits of yoga include better circulation, better respiration, less stress and anxiety, lower cholesterol, tones the body and boosts your immune system. You will never truly understand the benefits of yoga, and how effortless they are to achieve, unless you get started. Lucky for you, we offer two really fantastic yoga classes at Santosa Detox and Wellness Center.
Yoga in Phuket
Santosa Detox and Wellness Center offers a wide variety of classes on a daily basis, including yoga, and two of the most popular yoga classes include Aerial Yoga and Bliss Yoga. Both classes allow the perfect opportunity to begin your yoga journey. If you are interested in knowing more or joining any of our yoga or other fitness-based classes, simply fill out the enquiry form below and we will get back to you. All of the dedicated staff at Santosa Detox and Wellness Center are looking forward to welcoming you and aiding you in your detox and wellness journey.
In April Anne Haack, traveller, artist, DJ and experienced certified Yoga Teacher, Ayurveda Healing Massage Therapist and Reiki and Chakra Healer, who has been immersing herself into healing arts and yoga for the past 15 years, will be at Santosa. In these two days in April you will get the chance to learn about Chakra Healing and Meditation.
8 April 2016: 4pm – 5pm Chakra Dance Meditation (FREE)
9 April 2016: 1:30pm – 4pm Chakra Vinyasa Flow Workshop – 1,000THB/person
On these two days you can book Private Chakra Healing Treatments with Anna Haack for 1,500THB (1.5h).
If you are interested, want to know more or want to book, just call us or fill out the form at the bottom.
UPDATE: Only a few spots Left! Book the FREE Class at the bottom of the Page! (Enquiry)
The feeling of truly being clean is hard to come by.
I never expected to find myself doing a detox. Then in the middle of July I found myself right in the middle of it. I came to Santosa with an open spirit, ready for what they put in front of me. I sat down at the first morning meeting and I heard everyone talk about their detoxes and I found fear running up my legs to my chest and to my head. I was truly afraid that I wouldn’t be able to detox, that I was unable to control my cravings. Fear can work wonders into pushing you to do things, but it was truly pulling me back.
But then I met Sandra. As I have lived in the budding new generation I have come to understand that we humans look for knowledge in other humans. If you ask me, Sandra is highly intelligent in the world of detox. When I started asking her about the little things such as my fear of the colema, and not eating while on the juice fast; she responded with a resounding acuteness. She told me that the colema (colonic) was easier than a walk in the park, and that your energy level while on the juice diet may be far greater than your energy on your normal diet. She set some high expectations for me but I began to become excited to overcome temptation and cleanse my body.
As I started my first day of the Juice detox I did not know what to expect, but I showed up to all the events thinking they were mandatory for keeping such a detox, but I was wrong.
I was relieved to find out that I did not have to show up to every activity, because my limbs weren’t made for yoga.
In Santosa they don’t even pressure you to try all the activities they have planned, they just write it on the board and give you the opportunity to try new things.
I had my first colonic coffee break; this was probably a more horrifying thought than anything. I was wrong. The colonic, just as Sandra said, was a breeze. I walked out of the room a kilo lighter, and surprisingly energized. I skipped my way to the juice bar enjoyed the fresh coconut juice and then experienced another revelation at Santosa. The juices they made for me tasted like rainbows and vegan unicorns. The juice was magnificent. I drank the juice very quickly as if I hadn’t drunk in years and urged for more.
I looked at my schedule and saw that my next juice was to be consumed in an hour. Oh was I excited. I walked from the juice bar to the gym on the second floor. I was afraid that because I wasn’t eating carbs that I would not have enough energy. I was wrong, yet again. I sprang onto the treadmill and ran an easy mile in six minutes without gasping for one last breath of fresh air.
I also have to give it up to the Thai Boxing instructor, Chalarm Kao. As I punched into his pads as hard as I could he would yell at me “no balance, no good.” He was right, and he showed me that if I punch as hard as I can without a conscious balance that I am easy to knock down. That kickboxing class has been a highlight of my time here and I am hoping I can find someone nearly as good as he is in Miami to keep me going!
As I am now finished with my Juice Fast one of the most remarkable things I will always remember about my detox is the unreal amount of energy I had. I was able to function all day, and only became tired when I wanted to go to sleep. I was an energizer bunny soaring through the day with nothing stopping my charge. I have to throw in another perspective for you to look from.
I am from Miami Beach, Florida. That’s a city where life never stops and the only great views are the beaches. I was dying to go to Thailand, relax and see true beauty in nature. I then got afraid that because I was detoxing in a wellness center that I would not be able to travel Thailand a little. I’m not a bad student, but I was wrong again. Freedom is served daily here. I was able to leave the resort and make my way to the beach and swim with the fish.
If I wasn’t in the mood to leave the resort I was able to just look around me because Santosa is in the middle of a mountain with an astonishing view of the sunset, and Big Buddha to cap that off.
Another untold secret about Santosa is their staff. I don’t know how they hire these people and what their interviewing system is like, but I was dumbfounded to realize that every single staff member here is perfect for their job, and even more so; their politeness is top of the key. I walked around feeling like a real “sir,” and I have not once been disappointed with the service here in Santosa.
Although I make detoxing sound super easy, it still is quite tough because you’re challenging yourself to try something new and it is a mind game, but everyone can win.
One of the biggest factors in Santosa that helps you truly enjoy your detox is the environment. There is not one point in time where I questioned the campus. I always basked in the sublime that Santosa provides, and when you start to cleanse your body you expect the place where you detox to be clean as well. Santosa is sparkling pure. There has never been a time here when I felt dirty, and it’s like you’re walking in a world created by Dr. Seuss. Santosa truly understands that while someone cleanses their body, they are expected to cleanse their environment and they have done just that. Even the people here are very clean, and that’s surprisingly also a relief.
So now to the massages – I hate when people touch me. Oh I am around seventy percent extroverted but I cannot stand when people just touch me. This is where I praise the masseuses. I decided that I would take advantage of my detox massage and let them press their hands against my back for an hour. I condemn myself for being so cynical about it. Have you ever closed your eyes and seen the light. I have. In my first Thai massage, and every single one after it in the perfect world of Santosa. I lay on the massage bed and felt the knots in my back release. I felt the warm oil swarm my legs and create a sensation on my body. I praise Santosa for changing my perspective on massages. I always thought that massages were a waste of time but I would be ecstatic to spend twenty four hours on one of those massage beds letting those godly hands relieve the stress from my body.
I never realized how crucial massages are in the detox process until I truly experienced it myself.
My detox was amazing. I would do it all over again if I had the time. Santosa has played a major role in my life as it changed my perspective on a myriad of personal objections. The team at Santosa knows how to give every one of their guests the best times, and the amount of personal attention you get at Santosa proves that. I would never ever have expected myself to detox and cleanse my body, but thanks to Santosa; I did. Now I will always maintain a yearning for personal cleanliness. In the great words of the warlord Justin Bieber: “Never Say Never.”
I let my legs glide through the sand to the rhythm of the crashing waves. I sink my toes into the sand, letting it engulf my feet. I look up to see the waves beating to the rhythm of their own drums. It’s as if there is a heartbeat within each wave. I breathe in the pristine air of Thailand during our early morning beach walk before we make our way back to the beautiful resort that is Santosa. I take my sandals off and I make my way to the morning meeting.
As I sit there within our group of detoxers I get ready to drink my vibrant green wheat grass shot and my ginger tea. As it races through my body I prepare to make my cleanse drink all while revealing my very own oracle card and conversing on topics such as super foods or finding out more about chemicals in our daily lives.
I then find myself shuttered with excitement as I make my way for my coffee break, more formally known as a colonic! Not knowing what to expect on my first day doing a juice detox I was surprised to find how energized I felt. After my colonic I strutted my way to the juice bar and picked up my coconut juice and as I downed my nutrition pills I already begin to sense my excitement for the next exotic juice that Santosa provides.
I then get ready to release the strains in my body with Bliss Yoga. I struggled controlling my breathing all whilst stretching my limbs to the max. As I sit with my head resting on the mat and my legs far above my head I struggle keeping my body up, but with more aimed effort I am able to control my body and mind and put my body into a raised stasis. I let the sweat of pure effort drip down my face while I allow my muscles to cool down with my much awaited Juice.
As the juice rolls its way down my tongue I taste the pomelo as it has a rendezvous with my tastebuds, I taste the apple and mint medley as it weaves in between my taste buds, and this happens all while I get ready to relax for my warm oil massage. I lay in the room while I feel the fingers run up my back, like a massage from a divine spirit. I lay there unable to move, not because I can’t, but because the divinity of the massage is too pure.
Moments later in the Sauna, I find myself surrounded in herbal infused steam as it detoxes my body and releases unneeded toxins. As the heat rises, I run to the ice bath and I plunge my body into the arctic pool. Goosebumps manifest, my body’s circulatory system is jumpstarted just before I run back into the sauna for another round of a sweating detox. After I leave the sauna I find myself strolling into Santosa’s gorgeous restaurant to pick up my warm broth. As I sit in the restaurant savoring the taste of the warm broth at the end of the day, I look out from the restaurant to see the eccentric view and feel the sublime of living here. Tomorrow I embark on a new journey in the wonderful world of Santosa, and I suspect every moment of tomorrow will be just as resounding as today.
Becoming a mother is one of the most magical transformations in a woman. At Santosa, we provide yoga and meditation private classes to future “Moms”. What can we do more to be ready? We are delighted to share more tips here.
Educate Yourself
There’s a lot of fear of the unknown as to what happens to our bodies during pregnancy and labor. The more fear we have, the more anxious we become and the more stress hormones are released, thus making labor, in itself, more painful. As you ease your mind–empowering it with information about what to expect throughout pregnancy and labor–the intensity of pain lessens.
Don’t panic
Pregnancy takes time for a reason. The gradual process gives you time to plan! So you have time to get things ready before you go to your birth place. Have fun with it, don’t panic, enjoy this moment with your partner and your other kids.
Tap into the Power of Prenatal Yoga
In a prenatal yoga practice, there’s a lot of emphasis on breathing, especially through the difficult poses. Through working with our breath, we are able to relax more in uncomfortable moments. Our breath will allow us to remain present and ground us during these times, as well as give us a break in tough times.
By practicing the poses common to most pregnancy yoga classes, you will learn how to release lower back tension, and open up your chest, shoulders and hips. All of these muscles can hold tension during pregnancy and labor, so learning how to release this specific tension is very helpful.
Santosa can offer private Prenatal Yoga classes upon request…
Just breathe
The most important thing to do is just to breathe deeply and naturally like you would if you were exercising. Focus on breathing OUT any tension that you may have. It sounds crazy but it works. A good birth can be as simple as mastering the breath.
Make Time for Meditation
A meditation practice puts your body and mind into training enabling you to sit be with discomfort at times. The deeper we are able to go into a practice, the more objectively we are able to observe everything around and within ourselves, rather than reacting to it. It will allow us to remain present with everything.
Eat Nutritious Food
Almost all pregnant women need to get more protein, increased amounts of certain vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, iron and calcium, and they require a higher calorie intake to keep up their energy. If your diet is poor to begin with, making the transition to eating nutritious meals is one of the best things you can do for your baby’s health. A healthy diet includes proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and plenty of water. But eating better doesn’t mean eating more – or rather, not much more.
We can’t control everything
Some women give birth exactly as they had planned, but many don’t. You can have a great empowering birth, even if things did not go exactly as you had planned. Both natural and surgical birth can teach us an important lesson for being mothers: that we don’t always get to pick how things go, and sometimes just need to surrender.
Becoming a mother is one of the most magical transformations in a woman. Enjoy the journey and remember to treat yourself well.
At Santosa, guests can use their free time to relax and disconnect from the stresses of the outside world by joining our free classes, taking a swim or a relaxing ice bath after a sauna.
Santosa Spa is truly an extension of our ethics; to take you on a sensual and luxurious journey. Our treatments nurture and support the connection between body, mind and spirit.
Shirodara & Ayurvedic - Thai Herbal Compress - Hot Stone - Cupping Therapy - Infrared Dome Sauna - Ion Cleanse Foot Bath - Epsom Salt Foot SPA and Foot Scrub
Yoga is about a healthy lifestyle. It unclutters the mind and helps you feel more focused while building muscle, gaining strength and uplifting the spirit. Yoga truly is an exercise for everyone. It doesn’t matter how old you are, or how out of shape you might have become – yoga can help you bounce back.
