I’m now one and a half week more than a month in Chiang Mai, Thailand being the happy yogi. And I love it, don’t want to go away. It’s small but so much to discover. The people are always smiling and friendly. I got hooked when I found out that every day, especially from around 4pm, the Nuong/Suan Buak Haad Park in the southwest corner of the old city is filled with people doing yoga, partner- and acroyoga, slacklining and juggling. In some periods of the year there may be less people (rain season, smog/smoke etc – see below) but now (December/January) there are plenty! These people there are very chill and open. If you want to “play”, just ask somebody. A total difference with the beerpong backpackers on the Khao San road in Bangkok 🙂

Attention: from February until march (included) there is a lot of smog because waste is burnt. So avoid Chiang Mai in these months (link / Google)

Here are some useful links for the yogi’s and yogini’s

  • Yogaschools


  • Drop-in classes are around 250 bath (ca. 7 €/$).

    • Yoga tree – A lot of different classes per day. Also classes specific for beginners. Has a cafe in a garden.
    • Namo Yoga. Class was okay, but the mats are very, very old. So take your own! Various classes per day (Gentle, hatha and ashtanga), 220-250 bath
    • Wild Rose yoga – mostly ashtanga/vinyasa flow based. A lot of people love it there, but I’ve heard also the term ‘too much ego’ once.  Also workshops etc.
    • Freedom Yoga – two or three classes per day, various styles. Has also a cafe. Outside the Old Town, East of the Tha Phae gate
    • Yoga Kuukan – Mostly two classes a day, mostly gently or alignment based. Also interesting workshops
    • Blue garden – two daily classes
    • Bodhi tree cafe 2 – Guesthouse/restaurant who offers daily yoga classes at 9am and 18h with guest teachers (so different styles and quality)
    • Mahasiddha Yoga / Tantra Yoga Thailand The most esoteric based of the schools (tantra yoga). Offers also workshops and retreats.
    • Yoga Ananda – two a three classes per day, in Nimmanhaemin area
    • Satva Yoga – two a three classes per day (of which Iyengar yoga with -as somebody told me- a good teacher and aerial yoga), in Nimmanhaemin area
    • On Ganesha Yoga – two to four classes a day by two Thai sisters Cee and Yin, in Nimmanhaemin area
    • Hidden House Yoga – new yoga studio (2017) with local teachers
    • Asa Studio – another new studio (2018), connected to a vegan restaurant
    • Kundalini workshops of five hours, once a week
    • Bliss yoga – three classes a day, of which aerial yoga. Behind the Chiang Mai university
    • Body & Mind Wellness – in the North East corner. Four classes a day
    • Innerlife Yoga Studio – daily classes, full day and weekend workshops with access to a big open pool. 5 km south of the Old town
    • Casa de Asthanga Vinyasa – best place for Asthanga Yoga
    • Yoga Cottage – 30 minutes out of town
    • Yoga Rang Nok – Hatha yoga in Thai language
  • Facebook groups
  • Meditation
    • Green Papaya Sangha – Every Thursday evening 7.30pm at the Yoga Tree
    • MCU Buddhist university  – retreats” from one or two days – see my review
    • Doi Suthep Vipassana – programs from 3 to 21 days
    • Wat Srisuphan – every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 5,30pm to 9pm
    • Wat Ram Poeng – Vipassana
    • Pa Pae – three day (extendable) retreat between Chiang Mai and Pai
      • Monkchat – talk with the monks and ask them everything! You information, they free English lessons
        • Wat Suan Dok / MCU Buddhist University – Monday until Friday (incl.)  From 05.00 p.m. – 07.00 p.m.
        • Wat Chedi Luang – all days except sunday 12.00-18.30
        • Doi Suthep – Daily 1-3pm.
        • Wat Umong: Available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30pm-7:30pm.
  • Retreats / resorts
  • Other
    • Chiang Mai Holistic – a center in Nimman area with a lot of various events like yoga classes, ,kirtans, qi-qong, sound healing, reiki, meditation, buddhist talks, movie night and many more.
  • Yogamats and -props
    • Unfortunately there is not yet a yoga shop in Chiang Mai. A big miss. Also on the market I didn’t see any mats. But after a tip on Reddit of Sobri909, I found some good mats in the big Super Sports shop in Central Festival. This is their selection, from cheap to the equivalent of the Manduka Pro. Finally I’ve advised the hotel where I stayed to buy one of the ‘X Pro‘ of Jason brand, unknown but seems to be good (don’t know about the durability though since we’ve bought the mat only two days ago).
    • Yogamattook Lek is based in Bangkok, but delivers in Chiang Mai. Especially the 6mm Eco mat with circles on the bottom is a good price-quality mat. They have also Liform mats.
      • Decathlon, near the airport- quality is not very high
      • Sports World at the ‘Kad Suan Kaew’-mall next to  the North East of Old Town or in the Promenada mall (where you can find the immigration office)  – low to moderate quality
      • Watson pharmacy sells a pretty standard mat for 265 bath
      • Robinson in the shopping mall near the airport sells also yoga mats. (?)
      • YogaAum, distributor of Manduka (and other brands) in Thailand. With a webshop
      • Tesco lotus (280 bath) (?)
      • Daiso at Maya mall (?)
  • Yoga Teacher Trainings
  • Vegetarian restaurants It is not difficult to eat vegetarian in Thailand.  Here is a page with essential vocabulary. My favorite restaurants, in rough order of preference
    Pad Thai of Reform Kafe
    • Reform Kafe / (FB) – very good food and friendly service, part of the wonderful Green Tiger House, my home in Chiang Mai.
    • Goodsouls kitchen – sister of Reform Kafe. Everything is vegan and delicious!
    • Peppermaint (with ‘ai‘!) – a place where I’ve almost always met someone I know or get to know.
    • Morning Glory near the South Gate
    • Tien Sing – near the south gate, plate of rice and side dishes for only 30-35 bath!
    • Blue diamond – good restaurant, not only vega(n), but has a bakery with a lot of (sweet) vegan products
    • By Hand cafe – Pizza’s, almost like in Italy. Good choice of vega(n) pizza’s
    • Taste from Heaven – nice restaurant. Has also a sister, Vegan in heaven
    • Punpun– at the Wat Suan Dok
    • AUM – has good reviews, I have been two times, at the first time I was not that impressed, the second time was nice.
    • Amrita Garden. Very good, very popular but expensive and small portions (probably because the food is organic)
    • May Kaidee. Part of a chain. Very delicious, but very small portions.

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7 Comments

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  5. I tried Yoga ananda in chiang mai in Nimman Haemin Road and found the teachers their to be very good , authentic traditional teaching. They have also have a second branch in Jing jai market ,Atsadathorn road.

    Anthony green
    Reply

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