Things that can change your life

I've been searching for the opportunity to practice yoga as long as I can remember. According to many spiritual people this is because you where a yogi in previous lives.

I had to wait a very long time before the kind of yoga I searched for came to Helsingborg. Meditation courses, studies of buddhism and other kinds of spiritual literature had been an important part of my everyday life for many years.But when I started practice Astanga a new world opened up for me and this led to a major change in my life. I ended my old life totally. I quit a very good job, sold and gave away everything. I left my beloved friends and relatives and moved to Thailand with my family.
The Yoga made my spiritual search more and more important to me.
All this that my wonderful teachers has been sharing with me I knew I had to share with others. But under optimal circumstances. It could not be in the western world with all the stress that disturbs the mind. I also needed a lot of time for myself to improve my skills and to take the opportunity to live a fully spiritual life. I realized that the purpose of my existence in this life is my spiritual development and to share this with others. A more meaningful life than to hunt for career, larger house and fancier car.

Yoga and meditation

I've been devoting myself to yoga since 2000 and I teach beginners.
I have, as many other westerners, tried many different meditation techniques. Before I arrived here on Koh Lanta I knew I wanted to learn Vipassana. It's one of the oldest and purest meditation techniques. After 2 months on the island I met my future master who was a Vipassana master, I was very lucky. I didn't know this at that time.
I admit I didn't realize what I was getting myself in to. Vipassana goes so deep and purifies so effectively that during some periods it´s been very demanding. But with the right teacher you receive all help and support when needed and the teacher knows when, by the "knowing".
Lucky me, during my first yearI was most of the time the only student of Vipassana in the forest temple on the island. I started my Vipassana education in the beginning of 2006. My teacher, Tan Adjan Sayan is one of the few Vipassana masters in Krabi province. I can assure you that the reward you receive after a while of very focused and mindful practice is immense and overwhelming.
To become a Vipassana master takes a great number of years and we are very fortunate on Koh Lanta to have a wonderful teacher who speaks very good english. Thank's to Tan Adjan Sayan you will get an education of very high quality. The master follows everyone's meditation and helps out if necessary.
I will be a support person. Since I've experienced the process I can help you and support you in dealing with a lot of experiences and different feelings that arises during the retreat. There are many different phases during the retreat and it's very valuable to have someone to talk to. Feelings and thereby motivation changes from day to day.
I will also assist you to understand some of the teaching. Some things that are obvious to a thai person is not to us since we're not living in a Buddhist society.
If you search on internet you'll find a lot of information about both Vipassana and Buddhism. All knowledge you obtain in the subjects will help you a lot when you come here.

Courses

Koh Lanta is a wonderful island, perfect for yoga and meditation since the energy level is very high. To visit Koh Lanta and for instant try some kind of yoga for the first time in life is divine. I've had many wonderful, very talented students both seasons. It´s amazing how fast they make big progress. Here on island is tranquility and calmness. There is not a lot of activities and stress to disturb a calm, quiet mind. If you would like to communicate with a student from the two last seasons, you can e-mail Agneta, agneta@svenskaskolanlanta.se.

Astanga yoga

Astanga yoga is a very dynamic kind of yoga. You must enjoy using your body in order to like it. There are also other kinds of yoga here on Koh Lanta. The movements, asanas, are synchronized with the breath. We use body looks, bandas, and a special breathing technique. We start the practice slowly and we build up the coordination and strength. When your mind is quiet and not disturbed by thousands of stimuli you very rapidly learn new skills. The affect of yoga is a quiet mind, deep relaxation and your awareness of the presence increases. We become energized, calm and in harmony.
To combine yoga and meditation is fantastic, since the yoga balances and purifies your body and mind. It also keeps the monkey in the mind more quiet.

Handling stress and become more focused

Meditation for beginners

I have created a a meditation technique that is a mix between old and new knowledge and experiences.
We use meditation as a tool to reach deep relaxation, decrease stress and increase focus and concentration. This tool helps us to quiet the never ending river of thoughts so that we can experience true relaxation, calmness and quietness. Using this technique in every day life helps you to keep mental health, strength and balance despite all stress.

All practice is guided, no knowledge is needed.

This course is an excellent beginning if you have sincere interest and wants to deepen your knowledge by practicing Vipassana in the temple.

Vipassana

For you who is very interested you can participate in a 10 day course in Vipassana for beginners. The course is very demanding and you have to be enormously motivated and mentally strong in order to enjoy it. Mindfulness and pin point focus is very important.

A mentioned before, it´s very useful introduction to start with the meditation course. I´ll give a short introduction when you receive information about customs in temple It´s more pleasant when you don´t need to worry about what direction to keep your feet.

Temple retreats

If you like to, you are so welcome to join me and my "Vipassana friends" in a retreat in the temple. My intesion is to start and end the season with a retreat with our highly appreciated teacher in the temple. We don't leave Ko Lanta for big, beautiful temples, but stays here for high quality and a personal education.

The Vipassana center on the island is not ready yet, but our donation is for this building. So right now we sleep on the floor in the temple during our retreats.We follow the monks habits; wakes up before sunrise and no food after 12.00. It´s important to know that during most of the time we´re silent.

If you haven´t practiced Vipassana before I don´t recommend you to start with a retreat like this. All farang (foreigners) participants have started with the meditation coarse, then the 10 day Vipassana coarse in temple and then been practicing every day for months.
All this is of coarse not necessary, but it increases the possibility for you to have a successful retreat and to enjoy and understand more.

The next retreat is planned for May 2009

pictures from the retreat August 07