Here are some feedback from our guests after attending a Yoga Retreat with us here in Langkawi island and Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.
Tamara Bain – Canada – 8 day intensive yoga retreat
It seems like a lifetime ago that chance / karma ( whatever you want to call it ) brought me to your yoga class. What a difference 8 days can make, eh? Looking back I realize how exhausted I was both physically and mentally.
I take from this retreat more than new muscles, flexibility and a straighter back! I no longer feel like I am wandering lost through life. The wisdom you both have shared with me has impacted me more than my 4 months of travelling combined. So that the highlight of my trip is not the partying on Khao San Road, the sunrise over Angkor Wat, or the elephant riding in Chiang Mai – it’s the last week spent here, sweating and gaining a transformed perspective on life.
Thank you for all your care, support, and kindness. From the chanting to the food to the philosophy – I loved every moment. Namaste!
Theresa Saldanha – Melbourne – 5 day relaxed yoga retreat
I knew as soon as I saw your website that yours was the right retreat for me.
It just felt right from the first day. Meng Foong thank you for all the discussions and helping me to work on myself. Marc, thank you for your support and all the meditation we’ve done. I know I am taking so many learnings from both of you. I hope to see you both sometime in Melbourne.
Jane – Denmark
Thank you for teaching me so much about yoga – the body, the mind, the philosophy – it all gives me so much. And thank you for your patience with me when I was learning to do headstand. I feel so happy. The best wishes to you.
Marco & Lydia – Hong Kong
Upon my return to HK, my friends asked me how was our yoga retreat in Langkawi ? It is so strange an expressive person like me found myself stuck with words. I always said it was beyond words and dumped some photo and video in our company server so our colleagues can have a look. Their response? Amazed and jealous.
I’m still overwhelmed with the trip, your passion and hospitality, scenery, morning smell at Sunset Valley, waterfalls: sounds from the waterfall, the walk, food, me & marco hiding in the water curtain, and Meng Foong’s moves…and the cable car ride? I’m so glad we went up – the air was so fresh!
I was expecting it is a yoga retreat so there will be yoga classes and meditation, get up early and eat healthy, getaway from our busy city life. It turned out to be all of the above and much much more, in a spiritual way. I forgot about “myself” hiding in the waterfalls, nothing matters anymore, sound of the universe is right there; of course the snacks did some tricks to recharge my body after I cleansed my soul. You two have taken good care of us, good planning of activities. Waking up every morning seeing the moon still in the sky, birds hoovering on the paddy fields… these are beyond words. Now I close my eyes, I can see them vividly, with colours. Waterfalls, it made a huge difference, make sure you include it everytime, I’m sure you won’t be bored by them.
You people are fun to play with and easy to learn with. I’m still amazed that Marco did kakasana and headstand like he’s been practising for a while, and I’m the one who goes to yoga class every Sunday!
Seriously I’m thankful to you guys for bringing such a memorable trip to me. And I’m happy Marco has made a lifetime change – decided to do yoga to correct his spinal posture, thanks Marc & Meng Foong!
I shall not forget I’m a learner everyday, wish you two enjoy every moment in life
Shinny Wong and Alice Ooi – Yoga Teachers
We are very happy to have met both of you. We really learned a lot about yoga during our four days three nights yoga retreat, not just about asana but also the reflective and philosophical side of yoga. Yoga is not just about being healthy and strong, but teaches people how to relax and find our paths in life and gives us more courage to face the challenges of life. Thank you both very much and hopefully we will meet again. We will always remember your teaching in our hearts.
Pete and Michelle Meyers – USA
My wife, Michelle and I were traveling in Malaysia and attended Marc and Meng Foongʼs Cameron Highlands Yoga Retreat. The experience was nothing short of outstanding. Meng Foong and Marc are both extremely well versed yoga teachers with a wonderful mix of compassion, flexibility, humor, passion and patience. The retreatʼs format allows for plentiful practice, relaxation and exploration of the beautiful countryside. We would both enthusiastically recommend this retreat to anyone, regardless of your yoga experience, looking to deepen their yoga practice in a focused and supportive environment.
Brenda – Ireland
Kirrallee – Australia
The retreat has been one of the most calming and soothing experiences of my life. For the first time, after many attempts, I feel “able” to do yoga – able to accept myself as I am. Thanks.
I am a person who has never been comfortable or confident with my body, which seems to stubbornly refuse to stretch, balance and be strong. In other words I am not a likely candidate for yoga. However, from time to time I have tried yoga to improve my body and mind. Usually this has ended in me feeling overwhelmed by a sense of failure, of being the worst in the class, of not being able to “do yoga” at all. A few weeks ago I decided to try again at Yoga Now’s retreat at Langkawi. I found the retreat to be a completely different experience to what I’d had before. There was lots of focus on mediation and the mind, I was able to go at my own pace and importantly, the principles of yoga were discussed at length. The key thing for me was the way Meng Foong and Marc taught me to accept my body, with its strengths and weaknesses, and affirmed for me that I was “doing yoga” after all. While at the end of the retreat I wasn’t yet able to balance on one foot perfectly or touch my toes (that would have required a miracle!) in those few days I made significant psychological – much needed inner quiet and self acceptance – as well as physical gains. I highly recommend yoga now, whether you are extremely skilled at yoga or are the opposite like me.
Janice – Malaysia
Thanks for the class last week. It was a great lesson for my yoga practice, as well as my daily life. Will always remember your teaching.
All the best in yoga and in life :)
This article below is taken from Janice’s review on her blog.
Yoga Now is 15 mins walk from the Cenang main beach road (quite far, should have drove in), behind the Rasa Restaurant. There’re signboards at the junctions so it can’t be missed.
At the end of the road, we saw a small traditional malay house, with a big blue banner.
The temperature outside was killing, but practicing inside the house was peaceful. It was a traditional Hatha class. The class started and ended with 3 OMs and chanting, I couldn’t understand the sanskrit chanting but it sounded different from the Invocation chants I heard in other classes. We rested in Shavasana for a few minutes in between each pose/series. During the class, we listened to the sound of the wind chimes hanging outside the house, and felt the breeze through the windows.
I love the Sun Salutations the most – the flow was graceful like a dance. I forgotten how many we had done, but it wasn’t as tiring as I thought it would be.
A combination of abdominal exercise, inversions, arms & standing balancing, forward & back bends, seated twisting and a full 10-minutes Shavasana refreshed my body and mind. It was a great lesson for my asana practice, as well as my daily life.
View the original article at MangOnet.blogspot.com.
David & Marieke – England
Without knowing what to expect and with little experience before, it is fair to say that we found the “Intensive Yoga Retreat” had an impact on us on many levels. It was a delight to have spent the days with Marc and Meng Foong and during our stay both our bodies have been stretched, pulled and pushed into many different places.
But our minds have been stretched as well! We will be carrying this new knowledge and new experiences with us where we go and will carry a smile inside our hearts. (and also on our faces, when the soreness has receded!)
Good luck and best wishes.
Gavin McClurg – US
I arrived in Langkawi in December expecting a rather hellish week. I was not visiting the touristy island to enjoy the beaches and sunny weather. I was there to complete a long list of major projects on our sailing vessel ‘Discovery’ which was on the hard at a local facility. I would consider myself a life-long sport enthusiast and in very good physical condition and have enjoyed yoga intensely though sporadically for years. My sister is a yoga instructor in Seattle, Washington. When I saw the Yoga Now sign in Cenang I knew I should force myself to go to the class. Spending a bit of time each day working on breathing and quieting my mind would really help me get through the busy week.
But what I found at Yoga Now was a lot more than breathing, a lot more than quieting the mind. My instructor, Meng Foong met me smiling at she and her husband’s (Marc, who is also a Yoga instructor) simple yet elegant and comfortable house. I would be the only student. The signboard announcing the daily classes from 9-11 am and from 4-6 pm I learned that first day were guidelines only. Our class lasted nearly 3 and a half hours. And every minute of it was pure bliss. By the end of the class I was both exhausted and exhilarated. My mind rejuvenated and as calm as a Japanese garden. My yoga practice has always leaned towards the ‘power yoga’ end. Meng Foong’s was a more complete mix of spirituality, meditation, and incredibly physical yoga that was tied together in perfect harmony. Her voice seemed like a bird’s singsong, her confidence extended far beyond her physical body and encompassed not just me but what felt like the entire community. Simply put, Meng Foong’s presence is powerful, like a practiced and skilled yoga position that only the strongest Yogi’s can master.
At the end of the class I immediately signed up for her discounted 5 session package and considered it incredible value. I had Meng Foong to myself for every one of the classes, all of which lasted over 3 hours, which she granted graciously. For some this may sound like an investment in time that you cannot afford. I promise you not only can, but you should. Meng Foong’s confidence, kindness, ability, and love of yoga will grab you like the wind on a hot summer’s day. Comforting and inescapable. Your body and mind will thank you and you will find yourself growing as a person more and more after each class. After each session I found myself starving for clean water and only the best vegetarian food. My mind would be at peace for the remainder of the day, no matter the endless hassles of work would present. At night I slept like a baby, something I haven’t experienced in years. In just those 5 classes I was able to get into positions I didn’t even knew existed. I’d leave in a ball of sweat with a smile no one could erase.
If you are passing through Langkawi, or if you will even be passing through Malaysia, do not miss the best offering on the island. There is nothing you can take away from your travels that bests even one session at Yoga Now.
Samantha Newell – Australia
Marc and Meng Foong, thank you for taking me into your yoga studio and opening my mind and body to yoga! I have done a little yoga over the years but never have I experienced such an amazing feeling. Your inspirational words took me away each morning to an amazing place, I could listen to them everyday and never tired. Hopefully I can take a part of that within me.
The yoga practice has stretched every part of my body into pure relaxation. I only hope everyone gets to experience yoga and meditation with you both once in their lives.
I look forward to returning to your little place of paradise in Langkawi.
Take care and please keep in touch.
Jane Lu Zhen Hui – Guangzhou – 10 days intensive yoga retreat
Now sitting in front of my laptop I feel I still can hear you say “stretch, stretch….and relax….” :) I really had a great time in Langkawi – probably the best time in my life.
It was a dream come true – my ideal lifestyle – daily yoga practice, simple nutritious vegetarian food… the warm sunny weather, clear sky, fresh air, wooden house, green plants, refresh natural environment (the beach, mountain, waterfall….)….. I just want this dream to last for the rest of my life. Wonderful teachers! Great retreat! What I learned on this 10 day retreat will benefit me for the rest of my life.
Kee Boi Jing – Yoga Teacher
It was a great retreat. Nothing to expect but yet that is where the surprises come from. It opens up my little big eyes and my heart as well.
My intension of going to Langkawi was merely to visit my teacher. Just a simple visit to see with my own little big eyes how are they doing there and to see whether is it true that their house is facinating as what I saw in the picture? It is true enough. It makes me feel so ‘HOMELY’.
It seemed that this 10 days retreat was planned less than a week, which was after i have booked my flight. It seemed that I have not much choice back there except by joining the retreat and I am glad that I did. Even though it was a short 3 days intensive retreat for me, but it was a fruitful one.
It brought back the memory of being a student again and it helped me to understand more about yoga as a student, as a teacher as well as a person. This is the important element in yoga that I might have forgotten and it is also the reason why I teach yoga.
The love and passion towards yoga that I have absorbed throughout the 3 days intensive yoga retreat have touched my heart the most. I can’t stop doing what I am doing and never will. I am grateful that I am also part of this and what else I can ask for.
We should be grateful that we are part of this pathway. Sometimes we may doubt, sometimes we may lost, but when we think about what we have and that we are part of this, I will always start my day with a smile. What else I can ask for. I have everything and more than what I could ask for.
Ohm Shanti.
