NOTE: 1pm Saturday classes are no longer available. Only private classes are offered.
Days/Times: students determine this depending on their availability Location :Nawa Saraan Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand Email: yoga@thelonerider.com LINE Contact:
The Class
Yoga classes are offered 1-on-1 for a tailor fitted program or developed for a group class. Classes can be traditional yoga offerings or classes focused on optimum digestion, healthy eyes, power/strength, weightloss, breathing, therapy and/or meditation. Classes come with explanations on what we are doing and why we are doing them. It's important for any student to know the underlying principles of yoga. One session usually lasts 90 minutes and will always consist of the following:
yoga talk - theories and concepts in yoga
asanas - can be a combination of yoga postures, HIIT, point-of-failure holds, calisthenics, dynamic tension
pranayama - regulated breathing
kumbhaka - breath-hold
bandha - energy locks
mudra - energy seals
meditation - can be anapana, vipassana, trataka, chakra focus, emptiness, etc.
Fee: Baht 1000/session Note: RSVP, bring your mat, come 5 minutes earlier to settle down, we start on time Teacher availability: GREEN area are the available time slots (as of this writing)
Biohacker Meetup The monthly meetup of the Biohackers Thailand was held 25 kms northeast of Old City in Doi Saket at this rustic farmland, 'Living with The Spirit'. Our gracious hosts, Sara, Simba and Mark prepared a lavish spread of delectable vegan dishes, icebath, and a dip in their dug-out pond. They gave us a tour of their farm and conducted a spiritual sword fight workshop followed by an exchange of ideas and protocols with fellow members at their alfresco gazebo hut.
The Lift I was prepared to go there on my small-geared boxy mountain bike - a daunting 50-km loop, but Abby and Paolo offered me a ride. I said, "Thank you" with a sigh of relief. Thanks guys 🙏
Living with The Spirit This place is tucked into the narrow sois of Doi Saket. Finding it resembled an Easter Egg hunt. Getting there also resembled the joy of finding an Easter Egg. There were self-contained concrete and wooden huts for multi-day guests, 2 permanent outdoor concrete icebaths, a workshop space, fitness area, pyramid meditation center, the dug-out pond (think of a dug-out soil space as big as a basketball court, 20 feet deep with rain water filling up to 10 feet).
sumptuous vegan lunch at the alfresco hut
It's a spread-out intentional farm space with amenities and facilities for wellness, fitness and transformation. They offer holistic healing modalities and personal coaching - a last-option to those who have unsuccessfully tried to deal with their trauma, life issues, and internal conflicts. It's a safe haven and a refuge for those seeking shelter from the storm. As Sara puts it, "All we do here is to learn, teach and heal".
Spiritual Swordfighting Mark and Simba took us to participate in their spiritual sword fighting workshop. Yes, technical info is there for the basics of the ancient Viking sword fighting, but moreover, it's about developing awareness how you oscillate between the 3 spaces of playing, fighting and defending and how they are applied in the day to day challenges of default reality.
Ending Thoughts It was a productive day at Living with the Spirit. I got to hang out with familiar faces (Jerry, Zar), fortify friendship with Paolo, Abby and Michael, see an unexpected face (Markus), and got to reconnect with Sara, Simba and Mark. I also met and interacted with guests at the center (Lisz and Liew [of 'By Design']), who were highlights all their own.
I came away feeling how this biohacker group not only consciously evolve themselves with cutting-edge neo-science and radical optimization protocols, but at the end of day, as exemplified at Living with the Spirit, offer release, repair, recovery and grounding to those in-search-of - a service to humanity(as one yogi friend would call it).
Sara, Simba and Mark, thank you so much for being such great hosts. You have a lovely oasis, and you guys have great collective energy. Leaving your farm to go back to Old City allowed me to reboot and renew. Namaste 🙏
p.s. - Michael and Som were kind enough to give me, Paolo and Abby a lift back to Old City - getting Grab taxi to go there is easy, but getting one there for the trip back is dicey. Big thanks ❤
Leave a comment?
Reader Comments:
Simba Living with The Spirit (May 28, 2022) Thank you for this beautiful and detailed description of the Biohacking meeting event day here at the Farm. You have a set of really beautiful storytelling skills indeed. We really enjoyed having you here for sure 🙂
Sara Living with The Spirit (May 27, 2022) Thank you Gigit ❤ Mark Living with The Spirit (May 27, 2022) Thank you Gigit 🙏
Abby (May 26, 2022) Nice one Gigit!
(May 23, 2022) One of Qortal's enticing features is free data storage that is user-friendlier than IPFS (decentralized peer-to-peer data sharing). The network is called Qortal Data Network (QDN), and is now live with 350MB of space...more »»
Chiang Mai INFORMATION
Chiang Mai Map
Chiang Mai, Thailand
IMPORTANT PLACES
Bus Station Train Station Chiang Mai International Airport Nong Buak Hard Park - free yoga classes daily
HOTEL
Arun Dara Villa - 7 exclusive rooms, 1 swimming pool for every room, grand opening
Nawa Sheeva Hotel - big rooms, high ceiling, salt-water pool, restaurant, cafe
Nawa Saraan Hotel - low density (4 spacious rooms), stone garden setting, Koi fish pond, Old City location
Arun Suite - 3 bedrooms in a 3-storie guesthouse within Old City, ideal for families
MOTORBIKE RENTAL
Tawan Bike - motorcycle rental | +66 91 635 2863 | Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200
Chiang Mai FYI / Tips
crop-burning season in Chiang Mai is between late Feb to early April. But laws change everytime. This year, 2019, there is a 61-day ban on burning so the farmers started burning early. When my plane was approaching Chiang Mai on Jan 24, 2019, there was already a thick blanket of smog covering the entire city (and beyond). But within the city itself, you won't feel it (but that doesn't mean the air is healthy). To monitor air conditions in real time, refer to site: Chiang Mai Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI)
hot season begins March and lasts until June
wet season begins July and lasts until September
best time to visit Chiang Mai is mid-September to mid-February - after the monsoon and before the burning
you have to try Khao Soi, this is north Thailand's culinary staple
the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located in the Old City
to exchange your dollars to Thai Baht, the Super Rich Money Exchange give the best rates. There are many branches scattered around Chiang Mai
get a red cab (songthao) outside the train station for Baht 50 (instead of paying B100 if inside the train station) to Old City - if you haggle nicely enough...I did!
shared red taxi (songthao) - B30 standard fare plying all over Old City
for only B50/day, best to rent a bike to go around the Old City - it's a 2.5km2 with lots to discover
FREE daily yoga classes from 9:00am to 10:15am at Nong Buak Hard Park (southwest corner of Old City). Resident and passing-through teachers take turns conducting yoga classes.
Blues/Jazz Bars in Chiang Mai
North Gate Jazz Coop - at Chang Phueg Gate, great Tuesday jam session, Blues on Sundays at 11pm by the Chiang Mai Blues band
Boy Blues Bar - at the Night Bazaar. Mondays at 9:30pm is open mic
My Secret Cafe - near Wat Phra Singh. Tuesdays at 7:30pm for the changing front-act and 9:00pm for the Panic Band
Taphae East - 88 Thapae Rd. (just north of Night Bazaar). Fridays at 9:30pm by Chiang Mai Blues Band
Chiang Mai Cost Index
B60 Chiang beer
B250 1 hour drop-in yoga session
B200 one hour Thai body massage at WAYA Massage(highly recommended)
B50 noodle soup with meat
B50 coffee
B40 pad thai
B30/kilo wash-only laundry
B50/kilo wash+iron laundry
B100-150 dorm bed/night
B250 fan room/night
B30 internet cafe/hour
B170-190 Movies Sat-Sun and public holidays
B130-150 Movies weekdays
B100 Movies Wednesdays (movie discount day)
B750 1/2 day Thai cooking lessons
B900-1000 1 full day Thai cooking lessons
B400 Muay Thai boxing ticket
B2500 starting room rate at the luxury hotel, Nawa Sheeva(highly recommended)
Transportation
B450 bus, Chiang Mai to Bangkok
B160-180 bus, Chiang Mai to Pai
B1250 bus, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
B1650 slow boat, Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
B210 bus, Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, 3-4 hours
B360 Green VIP bus, Chiang Mai to Mae Sai (Thai border town for visa run to Tachileik, Myanmar)
B50 bicycle rental, 24 hours
B200 motorbike rental, 24 hours
B273 #51 sleeping train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
10:22pm - #51 Train, arrive Chiang Mai 12:10pm, sleeper, 3rd class B270 (non sleeper), 2nd class B438, B728 upper deck, B798 lower deck
Loei to Chiang Mai by Bus
From Loei town center, take a tuk-tuk ride to the bus station, B30. There is only one bus station.
As of June 28, 2020 (still on Covid schedule), there are only 3 night trips: 8:30pm, 9:30pm and 12 midnight. 9 hours, B470.
The bus makes the following stops at the following times from a 9pm Loei departure: Phu Ruea (9:50pm), Phitsanulok (12:40am), Uttradit (2:20am), Lampang (4:35am)
Final bus stop is at the Red Bus Arcade, Chiang Mai, 9 hour-trip, arriving 6am (from 9pm Loei departure).
Take a red songthaew to Old City, B50. They'll try to charge you B100, but they'll take B50 (just assure the driver you won't tell the other passengers).
How to Get a 60-Day Thai Tourist Visa and then Extend by another 30 Days
This process is BEFORE Covid 19. Not sure what it is now.
60-Day Thai Tourist Visa
NOTE: There is no need to go back to your country to get the Thai tourist visa. Any major city with a Thai Embassy will do. Apparently there is also no need to have an invitation from a Thai establishment to justify the visa.
Bring the following to the Thai embassy:
a) proof of money (bank statement will suffice)
b) flight booking to Thailand
c) onward flight back to your country from Thailand
d) filled-in tourist visa form
e) 2 passport pictures
f) hotel booking in Thailand (they didn't ask me for this but better be safe)
g) passport with at least 6 months validity
After handing over all the documents, they will ask you to come pick your passport with the visa the following day from 4 to 5pm. That's it!
NOTE: after 2 successful attempts, I was already questioned the 3rd time.
30-Day Extension
NOTE: When your 60-day visa is close to expiry and you want to extend your stay. No need to leave Thailand.
bring the following to the Immigration Office:
a) passport (make sure your Tourist Visa hasn't expired yet)
b) Baht 1900
c) photocopy of your passport + visa duration date stamp + TM6 card (white immigration card) and sign all the copies
d) completed TM7 visa extension form (available at the Immigration Office)
e) one 4cmx6cm passport picture
submit the above to the Front Desk. They will give you a stub with your number on it. Take a seat and wait for your number to be called
when your number is called, your picture will be taken. Then go back to your seat. They will call you again.
when they call you again, they'll give you your passport with your extended visa. That's it!
when there are no lines, the whole process can take only 10 minutes
arrive early - in case there is a snag (visa snag, documentation snag, transport ticket snag, etc.), you will have ample time to troubleshoot the problem if you arrive early (to the airport, to the bus terminal, etc.)
put detailed itinerary on the Calendar apps of your smart-phone according to timelines - this is where you do all your thinking and planning. Once written down, you don't have to think anymore while you are on the journey...you just follow the steps. This frees your mind for something else that might happen while you are already en route
avoiding scams - as a general rule, I ignore the touts or anyone I don't know who call out to me. The calling comes in many forms - "Hi! Where are you from?", "Excuse me! Excuse me!", "Where are you going?". I don't look them in the eye and I remain non-verbal with them. If you reply to them, you just gave them an 'in' to hound you. In order not to look rude, I smile and wave the 'not interested' hand to them, without looking at them.
power bank - hand-carry your power bank. Do not check it in. You can be called in when you are already inside the plane to go all the way to the loading dock so you can personally remove the power bank...and chances are, you'll have to surrender it to them. And you might delay the plane departure!