Chiang Mai Ajna Sanctuary Retreat – Yoga Meditation & Loving Kindness

VENUE

Mala Dhara Yoga Retreat Ceenter Chiang Mai, Thailand

TIME

Start: 2:00 pm - August 31, 2017

End: 12:00 pm - September 3, 2017

Chiang Mai Ajna Sanctuary Retreat

Yoga Meditation and Loving Kindness

August 31 – September 3rd 2017

Mala Dhara Eco Resort & Yoga Retreat Center

with Johnson Chong

“Do not look for sanctuary in anyone but yourself.” ~Buddha

The land of the laughing Buddhas
Retreat to the beautiful mountains and fields of Chiang Mai.  Stay on a lush eco-resort with all the fixings of luxury intermingled with organic farm life.  Take a time-out to reflect and connect to the Trueness within.  Unveil the part of our Selves that we cover up with the distractions of urban drama.  During this wonderful weekend away in the land of the Laughing Buddhas we strip away the excess and honor only the essentials we need to be truly happy.  We will practice daily yoga, ajna light meditations, meet the creator of the Ajna Light, take a dip in a fresh salt water pool, go on a hike, eat delicious organic meals sourced from the resort grounds and other fun group activities among the company of like-minded soul seekers.

Embrace your inner stillness

Imagine experiencing each day on this journey fully honoring the authenticity of connecting to your soul purpose – which is nothing more than freeing yourself from the burdens that bog you down and to emanate pure joy and happiness.  Through traveling with like-minded spiritual seekers, you will be surrounded by a strong community with a collective vision of embodying these virtues daily.Join our intimate group for a spiritual adventure with Exodus Retreats Founder, Johnson Chong.  Together we will weave the practices of yoga, meditation, thai massage & healing into a seamless concoction for deep transformation as you absorb all Thailand has to offer as a conscious seeker.

retreat schedule

The schedule is flexible and planned to maximize your experience of holistic wellness and healing, while allowing free time to absorb the beauty of the people and the land.
* Daily program may vary slightly Thursday Aug 31, 2017 
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm- Airport Pickup from Chiang Mai International (If you arrive earlier, please let us know)
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm  Yoga Class
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm  Evening Hike to Mae On Caves
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm  Dinner
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Ajna Light MeditationFriday Sep 1, 2017
7:00 am – 8:30 am – Yoga Class
8:45 am – 9:15 am – Breakfast
9:30 am – 6:00 pm – Doi Inthanon Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch & Outdoor Yoga in the afternoon
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Dinner
8:00 pm – 930 pm – Ajna Light Meditation & Lunar Steam BathSaturday Sep 2, 2017 –
7:00 am – 8:30 am  Yoga Class
8:45 am – 9:15 am  Breakfast
9:30 am – 11:00 am – Free time for Massage, Reading, etc
11:30 am – 1:30 pm  Healthy Thai Cooking Workshop/Lunch
1:30 pm – 3 pm – Free time for Massage, Reading, etc
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm – Yin Yoga & Soft Release Class
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Group Bicycle Tour to Old City
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm  Saturday Night Street Market * (outside meal)
9:00 pm – Group Bus shuttle to return to ResortSunday Sep 3, 2017 – 
7:00 am – 8:30 am Yoga Class
8:45 am – 9:15 am Breakfast
9:30 am – 11:30 am  Ajna Light
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm Free time
4:00 pm  Group Airport Transfer (if departing earlier, please let us know)
6:00 pm – 10:05 pm  Silk Air Suggested flight from Chiang Mai to SingaporeTaxi departures outside of group shuttles to and from to Chiang Mai International Airport airport is possible for an additional cost.*Please Note: Meals outside of retreat resort are not included in retreat package price

Class descriptions

Yoga

The Yoga classes are designed to consciously release holding patterns in the body while stimulating vital energy.  The movements in class are a powerful combination of fitness and movement as medicine.  Johnson teaches from an intuitive place of guiding each student to their fullest potential.  He has been teaching since 2008 and has an extensive background in hatha, vinyasa, kundalini and ANYA yogic techniques, as well as having training in martial arts, Pilates and GYROTONIC®.  

Meditation

Meditation is practiced by millions as a means to help the mind release thoughts of painful memories of the past and anxious worries about the future, while helping to maintain focus on the present moment. Studies have proven that a regular meditation practice helps to activate feel-good chemicals in the brain like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, which increase happiness, improve memory, concentration, intuition, creativity and empathy, while neutralizing stress, anxiety, fear and anger. A Harvard MRI study showed that just 8 weeks of mindful meditation had measurable positive changes in the brain. Meditation also helps to build grey matter in the hippocampus, which is associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and self-control, and helps decrease grey matter in the amygdala, which plays a significant role in anxiety, stress and addictive behavior. On a spiritual level, meditation helps to build new neural pathways between your left and right brain hemispheres. When both sides of the brain work together harmoniously, one can gain access to their subconscious and conscious mind through deep meditative states. Meditation also has many physical benefits for the body as well such as regulating sleep cycle, anti-aging, and regulating hormones to help prevent weight gain. During the retreat, we will explore various types of meditation from classical yogic breathing techniques to more visual shamanic journeys that deepen our connection to our mind’s subconscious and conscious states, our emotions and our physical bodies


Ajna Light Meditation

The Ajna Light machine was developed by ex-Apple chip designer, Guy Harriman, in Chiang Mai Thailand and functions as a neural-stimulating computer lamp. This innovative and highly effective device easily and rapidly brings the user into a deeply relaxed, meditative state. It works through a combination of ancient and modern scientific techniques. Using very powerful photic light stimulation to induce the same brainwaves states seen in advanced meditation practitioners. The light sequences will take you through a series of deep meditative states with ease. The light passes through the retina stimulating the pineal gland, and allowing the hypnogogic (between sleep and wakefulness, a deep meditation) trance state to be induced. The Ajna Light is a spiritual tool to access greater intuition, learning, and exploring your inner consciousnessJohnson has developed a guided meditation journey to induce an even more profound state of healing. He will guide you through a series of powerful visualizations that will empower your ability to exist in a higher realm of consciousness as you explore your relationship with your Lower Self, Higher Self and Life Purpose. This meditative journey has been a catalyst of deep change, bringing new meaning into our daily life while repairing the relationship with our true selves

Lunar Steam Bath
Imagine soaking up the sunset across the rice fields – with the mountains of Mae On in the distance – as you emerge from a traditional Thai herbal steam.  The herbal steams come with many ingredients, but are most usually mixed with:  Kefir Lime Leaf, Lemongrass, Pandanas, Turmeric. Galangal and more. 

As the sun sets and the fire starts, enjoy multiple rounds of steaming and herbal tea.  After washing off your edible body scrub and camp out along the fire and maybe take one more swim in the saltwater pool before retiring for the end of a perfect evening.


Healthy Thai Cooking Workshop

The brilliant chefs and staff at the Eco-Resort source produce right from their own backyard and are passionate about teaching people how to cook healthy meals using fresh organic ingredients.
With the amazing fresh ingredients and practical hands-on experience, you will be able to cook like the Thai!  It’s an experience that is more than just cooking.  You will learn to distinguish among different kinds of organic herbs, vegetables and fruits that they proudly grow on the premises.  It’s a truly unique experience forged in the spirit of love and passion for delicious and nutritious food.

Charity – We will be donating 5% of our profits to the Child’s Dream Organization in Chiang Mai.

For more information:  Contact Exodous Retreats

 

Johnson Chong

Exodus is a yoga teacher, pilates teacher, bodyworker, healer and light worker.  He has had a blessed journey in meeting teachers and guides along his path who have illuminated his fullest potential in the ways of self-realization and self-mastery through the various traditions of movement and the healing arts.

He first discovered yoga and the art of movement exploration in Acting Conservatory. Since then, he has studied with yoga masters like Sri Dharma Mittra, David Life, Sharon Gannon and Duncan Wong. He received his initial 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga Training from Joschi Yoga Institute in New York, a 500 hour training in Akhanda Yoga, Classical Kundalini and Hatha Raja with Yogirishi Vishvaketu in India. And has completed over a 1000 hours of continuing education with his lifelong teacher and mentor Courtney Bauer of the ANYA method (Applied Neo Yogic Awareness)  in New York.

It was also through the ANYA method that he discovered the Pilates work, for which he is grateful as it deepened his kinesthetic knowledge of human form and function.  In a constant pursuit of learning and immersing in life as a lifelong student, he has also completed the Core Align 1 Training, Gyrotonic Level 1, Advanced Thai Massage Certification (Lotus Palm Thai Massage School), ANYA Bodyworker Certification, Ayurvedic Massage Certification with Dr. Usha Vaisnava, Master Usui Reiki Healer Certification with Shantih Mai and Master Abhed Reiki Healer Certification and Osho Meditations with Swami Amitanand. Currently, he is undergoing shamanic studies in the Munay-ki lineage under the guidance of Leantara Shah.

With a professional background and training in the theatre, growing with martial arts, theatre & dance in high school,  he has always had a strong affinity towards movement.  And It was not until during his professional acting training that he began to experience mind body somatics from yoga teachers, osteopaths, and other movement specialists that he started to delve deeper into the connection between the body, the mind and its interdependent relationship.

Soon enough, as if the mind and body was not enough to grasp, Johnson intuitively gravitated towards the spiritual, the mystical and the esoteric realm of healing. He intuitively tuned into the infinite vast world of energy and light and encountered more than he ever expected through divine right timing.  For the past decade, he has received healings from Native America Shamans of Mayan and Andean lineages, crystal healers, sound healers, divine healers, angelic healers, cosmic healers, witches, baliyans, priests and priestesses, and has met all types of astrologers, numerologists, acupuncturists, morphologists, psychics, mediums, and the list goes on.

He received third eye and kundalini initiations from two saints who played a massive role in the upgrade of his energetic capacities, Sri Amritanandamayi Ma and Mother Meera, through multiple darshans and blessings over the years.  And through the many divine blessings in his life, he has had the gift of manifesting into reality exactly what he needs from the universe at any given moment.

His experiences have brought him all around the world sharing his love of movement, meditation and healing, all in the name of helping others realize their own path towards Self Mastery and to realize that there are many paths, but only one that will work uniquely for each individual.  And that path must be forged with the intention to embody the most essential principle: Love thyself to heal thyself.  And it is with this message he wishes to empower his students on their journey of becoming the best versions of themselves.