Beachfront Yoga, Breathwork & Meditation Retreat in Koh Phangan, Thailand

Days on this retreat have a rhythm. 07:00 is Osho Dynamic Meditation, or 07:15 for the quieter Vipassana-style sitting practice. 08:30 to 10:30 is the active multi-style asana class. Then everyone breaks until 14:00 for lunch and rest — most people head to the private beach, the garden or the restaurant. Afternoon sessions start at 14:00 with Tetra Breathwork, then a second, more relaxed asana class from 16:00 to 17:30. 18:30 to 20:30 is tantra practice, and at 20:00 there's often a Bom Fire and sauna evening. Classes run Monday to Saturday, with one class on Sundays.

What separates this from a standard yoga holiday is the breathwork. Samma Karuna runs its own techniques — So Ham Breathwork, which uses set rhythms of breath to loosen tension around the solar plexus, and Tetra Breathwork, a connected-breathing method developed at the school using hand movements to move energy through the body. There is also Aqua Tetra Breathwork, done in Shakti Hall, a warm indoor therapeutic pool, which is the only one of its kind on the island as far as the school is concerned.

The tantra side is contemporary and non-dogmatic. Trika Tantra here is taught through an educational framework called The Archegram®, which looks at how feminine and masculine energies interact; the lectures cover Tantric sexuality, relationships, self-worth and emotional management. Biodevelopment® is the music-and-movement piece, a mix of Biodanza and Tantra built around rhythmic play, inner-child work and dancing, developed by the school's founder, Ishi. If any of that isn't your thing, you can simply take the yoga and breathwork and skip the rest — the teacher builds your schedule with you at the start.

The campus sits directly on the water on Koh Phangan. There are four multi-purpose halls, a welcome centre, a restaurant, a massage shop, a sauna, an ice bath, a large garden and a private beach area. Accommodation is on site in bungalows. Reiki workshops run when you book 22 days or more — that extra is not available for people booking the cheapest backpacker option. Longer stays get discounted rates; the per-day price drops when you book 22 or 28 days.

People book this for all sorts of reasons: as a straightforward yoga holiday, as a healing break after a breakup or a difficult year, or as a deeper study of breathwork and tantra. Guests range from complete beginners to experienced practitioners, and solo travellers and couples both fit in — the shared bungalow option and the communal meals and evening activities make it easy to meet people if you arrive alone.

What's included

- Accommodation on the beachfront residential campus (bungalow type depends on your booking) - Extraordinary 6 to 28-day holistic Awakening & Healing programme - All daily classes (up to six a day): multi-style yoga, breathwork, tantra, meditation - Initial meeting with a senior teacher to tailor the programme to your goals - Follow-up sessions with your senior teacher throughout the stay - Access to premium beachfront campus with private beach area and four halls - Two-day Reiki workshop (22-day bookings or longer only, excluding Type D+) - Welcome bag and introductory booklet - Use of sauna, ice bath, garden and campus facilities - Discounted daily rates for 22 and 28-day retreats - Course deposit fully refundable in the event of travel restrictions

What's not included

- Flights and travel to Koh Phangan - Airport or pier transfers - Meals and drinks (on-site restaurant available, payable separately) - Massage and spa treatments at the on-site massage shop - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional extra courses, teacher trainings and advanced retreats - Two-day Reiki workshop for Type D+ backpacker bookings