Heart Yoga, Breathwork & Tantra Retreat in Koh Phangan, Thailand

The schedule is fixed but the content shifts daily. Classes run twice a day Monday to Saturday and once on Sunday, and the style rotates — Hatha one morning, vinyasa the next, yin in the evening slot. Yoga is taught by a rotating team of senior teachers rather than one person, so you get different voices across a week. Around that sit the signature practices developed at Samma Karuna itself: So Ham Breathwork (a rhythmic breathing technique aimed at the solar plexus), Tetra Breathwork (conscious connected breathing with specific hand movements), and Aqua Tetra Breathwork, which happens in the school's indoor warm-water therapeutic pool and is the one people tend to mention first when they talk about the place afterwards.

Tantra here is contemporary Trika Tantra, taught through an in-house framework called The Archegram, which looks at feminine and masculine energies. Lectures cover Tantric sexuality, relationships and self-worth, and combine short talks with exercises, reflection and meditation — it's discussion-based, not ceremonial. The school is explicitly non-dogmatic and describes itself as heart-centred. Biodevelopment, developed by founder Ishi, brings music and movement into the mix and is closer to a dance class than a lecture.

Practicalities: the campus has four multi-purpose halls, beachfront accommodation, a restaurant, massage shop, sauna, ice bath and a wide garden leading to the private beach. The evening 'Bom Fire & Sauna' is a regular fixture on the sample schedule. There's a two-day Reiki workshop included when you book 22 days or more (not for Type D+ bookings), plus a welcome bag and introductory booklet on arrival.

The typical guest is solo and travelling on a budget, though plenty of couples come too. Groups form quickly because everyone eats, swims and sits through the same classes; several of the reviews mention meeting people within a day. Koh Phangan itself is a short ride from Thong Sala pier, with night markets, waterfalls and beaches to fill the lunch break (10:30–14:00) if you don't want to stay on campus.

What separates this from a standard yoga holiday is the depth of the extra practices — breathwork in warm water, cathartic meditation, Tantra lectures — and the fact that they're available to absolute beginners without any prerequisite. The school has been running for over a decade and also offers advanced Tantra and breathwork retreats and teacher trainings if you want to go further after the initial programme.

What's included

- Accommodation on the beachfront campus (bungalow type depending on booking) - Up to 6 classes per day: yoga, breathwork, meditation, Tantra and Biodevelopment - Multi-style yoga classes twice daily Monday to Saturday, once on Sunday - So Ham Breathwork®, Tetra Breathwork® and Aqua Tetra Breathwork® sessions - OSHO Dynamic Meditation® and Vipassana still meditation - Tantra lectures and Awakening classes - Initial meeting and follow-up with a senior teacher to tailor the programme - Welcome bag and introductory booklet - Two-day Reiki workshop when booking 22 days or more (not available for Type D+ bookings) - Access to sauna, ice bath, garden and private beach area - Beachfront halls and use of the indoor therapeutic pool

What's not included

- Flights - Airport and ferry transfers - Meals and drinks - Travel insurance - Massage treatments - Optional advanced Tantra and breathwork retreats or teacher trainings