Kunga Journeys Yoga & Service Retreats Presents:
Service in the Land Of Smiles!
Benefiting Vieng Ping Children’s Home Chiang Mai, Thailand
With Katie Serino, ERYT500
December 29, 2011 to January 7, 2012
All are Welcome
CEU’s & 500 YA credit for Teachers
Download Retreat Details
This is a truly unique experience to Chiang Mai, Thailand and the Vieng Ping Children’s Home. Our retreat will be a combination of yoga and volunteering.
- Mornings are spent practicing yoga on our hotel verandah overlooking the mountain range, or taking the mornings as free time through lunch.
- Afternoons are spent volunteering at the orphanage and exploring the magical region of Chiang Mai, the home of Thai Yoga Massage in the northern region of Thailand.
About Yoga & Meditation on the Retreat
Daily classes for all levels with Katie include extended Gentle yoga, vigorous Kunga Vinyasa yoga, and breathing and meditation classes. All yoga classes are non-intimidating, fun and open to all levels and abilities as well as totally optional. Some participants come on retreat with us strictly to volunteer, with no interest in the group yoga classes, and this is OK with us! On all KJ retreats, we work to build a light-hearted community atmosphere as we experience these amazing adventures together.
Most classes will take place in the morning at our hotel, along with some group classes in the afternoons held at the orphanage. Families with children ages 5 and up are welcome to attend the group classes with the Vieng Ping Children. All classes, and volunteer and adventure events are always optional during our retreats.
About Volunteering & the Vieng Ping Children’s Home
We will help children of the Vieng Ping Children’s Home to bring their talents to life. All volunteers are encouraged to pick and choose daily whichever projects appeal to you, and all volunteering is optional. Projects for our group may include:
- Creating huge murals to decorate their dormitory building, cafeteria & classrooms
- Teaching, playing and helping with homework
- Painting, cleaning, repairing and basic carpentry work around the orphanage
- Teaching the children yoga, breathing, and meditation practices daily to help mold them into strong & confident people!
- Holding/Rocking the babies in the infant ward in need of human touch/nurturing
If you choose to bring your children on the retreat, they will have the opportunity to join the Vieng Ping children for Kids Yoga! We recommend ages 3 and up for participation in the retreat and classes.
The Vieng Ping facility is home to over 200 children, from infants to age 18. Vieng Ping was established in 1986 as a baby care unit to care for orphaned and abandoned babies. In 1997, it began taking in children up to age six, and girls up to age 18.
Many of these children have been abandoned on the street and have been physically, spiritually and sexually abused. They are now in a safe place at the orphanage, and they are very anxious to learn and be with any visitor that is willing to come and spend time with them.
You will meet loving, shy children ready to become your new friend!
If time allows with the schooling schedules, we will arrange a group field trip for the children to a local park, or museum.
Accommodations
A fitting complement to the exotic culture of Thailand, our accommodations are at the SK Houses, I & II. This will mark our third year staying with the folks at SK, as we love the beautiful new building, complete with the family-run atmosphere. Over the years we enjoy returning to SK House because of the warmth and care of Lucky, Nick and family, combined with the top-notch amenities and location. SK House is one of the most loved, popular accommodations among Western tourists in Chiang Mai. You will likely meet friends over morning coffee in the open-air restaurant from Australia, Europe, and the U.S. as it has become quite a hub for adventure travelers!
SK House is located in the heart of the old city, within walking distance to the night bazaar, incredible Thai restaurants, coffee houses, Thai Yoga Massage spas. SK is also located next to the beautiful Chiang Man temple, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai. It is serene and quiet, and each guest is treated like a member of the family.
On-site amenities include:
- Airport Transfers, SK House is located only 15 Miles from Chiang Mai airport
- 24 Hour Internet & Overseas Call Service
- Restaurant & Bar serving Thai, European & American Menus
- Rooftop Sun Deck & Verandah overlooking Temples, and Chiang Dao Mountains
- Swimming Pool
- Travel Agency On Site
- Centrally located for walking to all major city attractions
- Satellite TV
- Daily Laundry Services
Retreat Package Details
Your Package Includes Hotel, Transport, Tours, Meals, Cooking Courses, Yoga & more!
- Airport transfer to hotel upon your arrival
- Accommodations, 10 days / 9 nights
- Daily yoga & Meditation classes with Katie and Kristin On Verandah
- Breakfast & Lunch Every Day
- Opening ceremonial Thai group dinner
- Daily transport between the Orphanage and our hotel
- Private MaiPing River Boat Dinner Cruise
- Thai Cooking Course & Buffet
- Khantoke Cultural Center Dinner & Dance Performance
- Painting & beautifying the kids dormitory
- Teaching/reading/playing with kids
- Kids/family yoga at Orphanage
- Airport transfer from hotel upon departure
Total Package Price: $1550 per person**
*Rates are inclusive of all accommodations, meals, riverboat cruise, cooking course, Khantoke dinner performance, yoga, transports & all activities listed above. Package does not include flight. Package includes shared accommodations in triple and quad rooms.
Upgrade to a double room for only an additional $200/person**
Upgrade to a private single room (limited)for only an additional $450/person
Rates do not include flight
**You do not need to register /w companions for shared room choices, we will place you with someone when possible.
Kids Rates:
Kids ages 5- 16: $500
Kids age 5 and under: $200 covers meals and activities
In both cases, parents must book Single or Double Room.
Registration
Three ways to register:
- Contact Retreat Coordinator: [email protected]
- Call (910)350-0234
- or Click here to register online
Cancellation Policy
In the event of cancellation, the following policies apply:
- 60 days or more prior to the retreat: Your payment will be refunded, less a $250 administration fee.
- 59 – 46 days prior to the retreat: Payments are not refundable, but are transferable (less $250 administration fee) to a studio account credit.
- 45 days or less: Payments are not refundable or transferable, as your payment has already been processed.
The above policies apply regardless of the reason for cancellation (such sickness, death in family or emergency, etc). Unfortunately, group contracts and packages have been pre-arranged and pre-paid with hosts at the time of registration and we do not have control of refunds or credit beyond the above exceptions. Retreat does not include food costs for “free night” dinners, or extra travel costs associated with other tourist attractions.
All activities, yoga, and volunteering are optional. Some participants and significant others choose to rest, go sight – seeing, etc, and nothing is mandatory on our retreats.
Disclaimer: We reserve the right to cancel retreat should we have less than minimum of 10 participants registered. Registrants will be notified by Nov 25th in the rare case that trip is cancelled. Please contact retreat coordinator with questions.
Info for Yoga Teachers
Yoga Teachers participating on this trip may receive CEU’s and 500YA credit of up to 35 hours towards 500YA certification!
CEU certificate is $15 and may be arranged upon completion of your trip by emailing [email protected] Retreat Preparation We have prepared the following travel information to help answer the most frequently asked questions. In the near future we will host an informational travel meeting to answer more detailed questions. If you are out of town and unable to attend our pre-trip meeting, you may set up a phone meeting with us to go over any information, questions you may have.
Please contact our retreat coordinator: [email protected]
Travel Info
Kunga Journeys recommends AAA travel agent Lorna Tiller for bookings and flight information. Lorna can also arrange “On Your Own” tour packages to extend your trip in Thailand. She will attempt to put together a group trip for participants that fly in and out of Wilmington, NC. This will allow our group to meet one another and travel together and possibly receive a group discount if enough people can share the same flight. If you will be flying in from another city, state, or country, Lorna will arrange for you to connect with the group on an airport layover or upon arrival at the Chiang Mai airport. Lorna will also be working with Kunga Journeys & WYC in organizing retreats to Greece and beyond, and the attention that she puts into making our travel as simple, safe, and fun as possible is always appreciated.
Travel agent Lorna Tiller can be reached with questions regarding travel plans at email [email protected] and at phone number (910) 763- 8446, ext. 17512. When emailing, use the subject line: WYC Thailand Retreat.
Flights
Our hotel, SK House, is located only 15 Miles from Chiang Mai airport, and we will be greeted and retrieved at the airport by friendly hotel Staff. The airport is fairly small, so you will easily spot the SK House staff holding a sign with your name upon departure just outside of baggage claim.
Passport
You will need a passport to travel outside of the US and into Thailand. Information on obtaining a passport can me found at www.travel.state.gov. Please allow enough time to have a passport processed.
Tourist Visa
You will NOT need a Tourist Visa for entry into Thailand/Chiang Mai.
Currency
Thailand’s currency is the Thai baht, abbreviated as THB. You may convert your dollars easily at most any airport, at the exchange rate of 1 Thai baht = .0335 American dollars.
Banks
Banking hours are generally from 08:30am-15:30pm (3:30pm), Monday through Friday, except on public holidays. Check with specific branches for possible weekend hours. ATMs are widely available.
Credit Cards
Major credit cards are accepted across Thailand in most major hotels and large restaurants. Smaller businesses will expect to be paid in cash, as will taxi drivers.
Time Difference
Thailand is exactly 12 time zones from the eastern U.S. so it’s either 12 hours ahead or behind, depending on how you look at it!
What to Pack
Cotton clothing for fluctuating, temperate weather is advised, so both long pants and shorts, long and short sleeved shirts, sweater or sweatshirt for cool mornings and evenings, closed and open-toed shoes, hats, sunglasses, light-medium weight jacket, sunscreen, cameras, etc. Also clothes in which you may not mind getting dirty by painting, riding elephants, zip-lining through trees, etc.
Food
All standard restaurants offer a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines including curries, stir-fried dishes, Thai-style fried noodles, sticky rices and fruit-filled deserts.
Water
Tap water in Thailand is NOT safe to drink, with a few exceptions in Bangkok, but purified bottled water is widely available.
Climate
The cool season in Thailand lasts from November to February, chilling the mornings and evenings, creating an environment for light outerwear, and allowing the days to be comfortable without excessive heat.
Retreat Presenter
Katie Serino, ERYT500
Katie Serino, 500ERYT is an experienced 500hr Yoga Alliance teacher. She holds certifications in Kunga Yoga, Pliates, ACSM personal training, and Silver Age Yoga and a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. She began teaching yoga in 2000 and received her 200hr certification through the Wilmington Yoga Center in 2004. While traveling internationally and living in Southern California, she completed her 500hr certification with trainings in Advanced Forrest Yoga, Anusara, Iyengar, Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Anatomy and Physiology and Therapeutic Yoga. She has studied nutrition, detox and health for over 10 years and has helped her body and mind heal through various conditions. “I truly believe through yoga and our food choices, we can calm our mind and heal our body.”
For more on our retreats, teacher trainings, workshops and Kunga Yoga please visit:
www.kristinyoga.com
www.wilmingtonyogacenter.com/blog
www.wilmingtonyogacenter.com
Links From Previous Kunga Journeys Retreats, Blog, Photos & Resources:
S.K. House Accomidations
Vieng Ping Children’s Home
Please join us for this unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience! It’s a trip full of joy, love, and SMILES!
Some Quotes from Some of our Past Retreat Participants
“Being with fellow yogis for a week in a beautiful place created such a supportive environment for enjoying the practice and each other; a great bonding experience, and a comfortable way to enjoy international travel.”
- Donna Gardner
“I went to Costa Rica in 2006 with a beautiful group of yogis and yoginis whom I now consider dear friends. We had a sweet, almost family like group dynamic. It was exciting getting to know new people in a new place. It was such an amazing experience to have the opportunity to really understand what retreat means. It gave me a chance to step outside of my daily routine, reflect and relax. Kristin and Donna are both such inspiring and encouraging teachers that this year I am going with them to Santorini, Greece for another fabulous retreat! Maybe next year, India?”
- Audra Smith
“I went to the Nosara retreat in 2006…it was the most amazing, life changing experience of my life. The people I went with from the yoga center, the ticos and ticas, and of course our teachers…were beautiful and wonderful! There was so much to do, but mainly I just wanted to relax and soak in the sun and the food, fresh fruit and smoothies, beans and rice, and fresh fish! I learned a lot about myself while I was there and about the person I want to be. I don’t believe something like that would have been very possible to find had I not been in such a peaceful place. I will never forget that week; the retreat itself, as well as the people who shared it with me. I even went back to Nosara to receive my yoga teaching certificate. I feel absolutely blessed and I know that hands down, that was one of the most positive decisions I have ever made for myself!”
- Tara Blackburn
“The Yoga Center’s Santorini trip was good for the body and the soul! What a fun and diverse group. Thanks to everyone for making our trip so awesome!”
- Kay Wheatley