Most life experiences take some time to digest and settle in. I was living ca. 6 months in the Kung Fu Retreat back in 2018/2019 and it was one of the most enriching experiences of my life so far. I tried the Kung Fu Retreat for a week and that visit had such an impact on me that I decided to immerse in it. When you visit the Kung Fu Retreat for a week or a month that will most likely be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. When you stay at the Kung Fu Retreat for over 3 or more months, that will most likely be one of the most transformative experiences of your life. However, it is possible that you only get to notice that sometime later. Like one of the Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat instructors said to me once “Kung Fu is a process, not an event. Trust the process.” The process doesn’t happen overnight. It happens day to day as you do your practice, day to day as you place awareness upon yourself by using your breath and your body to be fully in the now. The Kung Fu retreat will give you techniques and exercises that will accompany you throughout your life, that you can take back to your day-to-day life to help you handle the situations that come up in your life with serenity and balance, therefore contributing to your community by being truly grounded in yourself. It may also give you friends for life to whom you will be connected regardless of your geographic location (and I can tell you that it is quite an experience to be reunited with these people again “back in the real world”). Master Iain is a man who dedicated all his life to Kung Fu and who is committed to sharing this art with younger generations to empower balance and awareness. He has created a beautiful retreat that provides you with exactly what you need to get the best out of the experience. The location is quite magical, in the mountains in Pai, and the commodities are simple and modest, allowing you to fully concentrate on what truly matters. With all the excess and business of modern times, it can be quite peaceful to live in such a place for a while. The instructors are dedicated senior students who diligently show you the practices from scratch as Master Iain guides everyone into the art of living Kung Fu. Being at the Kung Fu Retreat is a transformative experience that one can take back to daily life, and that will ultimately transform the way we live. The teachings I received from living at the Kung Fu Retreat are beyond words, and writing this text is a mere way to express the energy of my gratitude for this experience that will be with me for as long as I live. Thank you!

Escape the incessant buzz of everyday life and embark on a transformative journey at the Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat in Pai, Thailand. This is not your typical spa getaway; it's an authentic Kung Fu camp where the simple, functional accommodations contribute to a deeper, more meaningful experience. The spartan setting strips away distractions, fostering a unique serenity that refreshes both mind and soul. During my ten-week stay at Nam Yang, I discovered a profound sense of peace. Picture this: sitting quietly outside my room, overlooking the lush Pai valley, completely immersed in the tranquility of nature—no phones, no laptops, no TV. This opportunity to unplug was not just rare; it was rejuvenating. The retreat begins each day with early morning sessions that are as peaceful as they are meditative, greeting the sunrise amidst the tranquil Thai countryside. The Kung Fu training includes extensive stretching and conditioning, paving the way to master the art's techniques. The instructors at Nam Yang are not only highly skilled but also genuinely supportive and engaging, always ready to assist and enrich your learning experience. Physically, I left Nam Yang much stronger, but the mental clarity and inner strength I gained were even more significant. Kung Fu here is taught as a defensive, calming art, promoting virtues like courage, confidence, and clarity—qualities that enhance life's zest without the aggressive competitive edge found in other martial arts. Just a short distance from the retreat, the town of Pai offers a gentle, welcoming atmosphere with its laid-back, hippie vibe and exceptionally friendly locals. Would I return to Nam Yang? Without a doubt. For anyone looking to transform physically and mentally, while finding peace away from the modern world’s chaos, Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat is an adventure waiting to happen.

My two weeks at Nam Yang Kung Fu Retreat were amazing. I learned a lot about Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and meditation, and it was a really good experience overall. However, I got dizzy towards the end of my second week and fainted during my morning routine. Everyone at the school was really helpful, and they made sure I got the medical help I needed. Even though I couldn't practice during my last week because of the doctor's advice, Master Ian was very kind and professional and offered me a free week if I wanted to come back later. Despite the accident, I have great memories from my time there. Learning Kung Fu and meditation was stunning, and I gained some wisdom along the way. One of the best moments was when Master Ian took us for an outdoor meditation session at the canyons in Pai. It was unique. It's been over two years, but I hope to return someday and learn more.

I went to the retreat in Thailand, to learn about Chi Kung. Not being distracted from anything, just be there in the moment and think about myself. After a chat with master Iain i decided to take the warrior course where chi kung would be included. Hard work pays off they say, they are right! I am now back home for well over a month and i am still thinking about my time in the retreat. Incorporating the daily routine i had there in my daily live in the netherlands. Its not easy but a wise man once said, start and don't give up! Everybody in the retreat is super friendly, knowledgable and willing to help you.

This was the second time I visited this place. My first visit was last year at the same time for 2 weeks and this time again in Nov for 2 weeks. The experience has been just wonderful and I have no words to express my gratitude towards Nam Yang. Witnessing people from 18 - 70 years training together is a nice feeling. It was like a family. I felt more connected to people around and developed more confidence and peace of mind giving me the ability to not react immediately. I feel more relaxed and powerful at the same time. My mind feels controlled and calm. I d recommend everyone to at least visit this place for 2 weeks and see the difference in yourself. I hope I get another chance again to visit this place. I have given a detailed review of my experience last time. Check this out: https://www.tripadvisor.in/Profile/drdiptikhajanchi?fid=29597b73-6bab-4417-8e72-91761554ff7a

I have just completed the 200 hour Qigong Instructor training course at Nam Yang Kung Fu retreat and it has been one of the best courses I have ever attended. The instructors who delivered the course were very professional, friendly and knowledgeable and no question was left unanswered. Personal attention was given to each of us to assist in fine tuning our practices. I arrived a bit overweight and thanks to the physical classes, I am now fit and toned and feeling very strong. The meditation classes were fantastic and have taken me deeper than I have ever gone previously. The schedule is structured so you have plenty of time to practice the routines in between classes. Master Iain has created a beautiful safe space here to learn and grow. If you are thinking about taking this course, I highly recommend it. Your life will be positively changed forever.

Just completed the 4 week Qigong teacher training at Nam Yang and it was a truly life changing experience! The course itself was really in depth and covered so many topics and the teachers were so professional and passionate about their subjects. The teaching quality was excellent - the knowledge and experience of the teachers was evident from day 1 and I have learned soooo much over the 4 weeks. Overall I was really impressed by the course structure and content. It was hard work, but so enjoyable and I felt like I have learnt as much as I possibly could in 4 weeks! The place itself is stunning - you feel as though you're in the middle of nowhere, being surrounded by rolling hills and beautiful views, but actually it's only a 10 minute scooter ride away from Pai town, where there are loads of restaurants, shops and cafes, so the location is ideal. The accommodation at the retreat is simple, but to a good standard, and is well maintained. The food is great and it's lovely how everyone eats together, so there's a real community feel :) I already miss my Nam Yang family, but hopefully I'll return in the not so far future. Thank you so much Master Iain and all of the Nam Yang team for such an awesome 4 weeks, and now I'm a qualified Qigong teacher (!) and can't wait to put all my new knowledge and skills into practice :) 👌

We travelled from Australia to do our 200 hr QiGong ( Chi Kung) Teacher training course & have enjoyed every minute. The retreat is situated in a most beautiful part of Thailand & the course was extremely comprehensive being taught by some fabulously experienced teachers lead by Master Iain Armstrong. The teachers are passionate about their skills & teach with enthusiasm & expertise. We have just finished our 4week intensive course & are leaving very satisfied & much more confident & enthused to share & teach our QiGong experience back home in Australia. I was most impressed with Master Iain being so hands on with our course, very professional & encouraging which truly enhanced our time at Nam Yang Kung Fu/ QiGong retreat.

I spent 4 weeks in Nam Yang, participating in QiGong classes and KungFu training. It is a beautiful place, a sanctuary in the middle of the Thai mountains. I was there at the beginning of the rainy season and everything was lush and green. The location is great, you are in the middle of nature, only seeing hills and trees around you. However, the vibrant village of Pai is only 10min on a scooter (or a nice 40-min walk) and you can experience shopping, parties, and all types of food and events. I appreciated that Mater Iain was very involved in classes and teaching students personally. He gave master classes, met us every morning for tea, and took time to get to know the students, where do they come from, what they wish to achieve, etc. It was a life-changing experience to learn from Master Iain, who has so much wisdom to share. Other teachers are also great, each of them has their own approach, but they are all very experienced and knowledgeable, teaching and practicing for years. I felt very lucky to learn from each of them. Our group was also a mixture of people from different backgrounds and parts of the world which brought different perspectives and interesting stories. The food is simple but good and healthy, the accommodation is also simple, but just as in the pictures and was sufficient enough for my needs. The website has all the information and example schedule so looking there, I was expecting that my QiGong training will also include meditation and voluntary Kung fu and I was glad to be able to try all of it. I enjoyed my time in Namy Yang because I have learned not only about Qigong and Kung Fu but also some important life lessons. I think it's great that you can take any approach that fits you, train hard and get grading, you can take it slow and focus on inner work, you can enjoy social life and culture in Pai, but you can also make it a spiritual trip and stay in the school with quiet and nature surrounding you. I hope I will get to come back for visit soon because after the month the place somehow became my home.:)

We spent two weeks at the Nam Yang Kung Fu retreat, where we signed up for path of the warrior to learn about qigong and kung fu. It was an amazing experience! Two weeks was a good amount of time to learn the basics and find out how interested you are in kung fu and continuing it in your daily life. I think one week would have been too short as there are 2 days off each week. We started each day at 6am with qigong which was a great start to the day, I am normally not at all a morning person, but it was worth it to get up and do qigong in such a wonderful setting with fresh air and good energy. There is a schedule each training day that includes things like qigong, kung fu training, meals and tea time. The training is really great, you learn a lot of different elements of kung fu and also includes normal workouts and stretching. There is a lot to remember with the kung fu but even over just 2 weeks it all started to come together. On some days you can opt to go to meditation too. The instructors are great, they are patient and try to help you to improve your technique. You do a combination of individual and partner exercises. The stretching was really beneficial, a good amount of time is taken with it and I feel more flexible now than when I started. We are both vegans so just wanted to share that the food at the retreat is tasty and can be made vegan, you just have to let them know. The food is usually a soup, a vegetable dish, rice and fruit, so quite simple and with asian flavors. There are also a lot of places in the town of Pai that offer all sorts of vegan dishes and cakes and even a couple of places can deliver vegan food directly to the retreat via the FoodPanda app. For days where there is no training, you can go to town. Pai is a really nice town and there is a night market with a lot of food stalls. The shopping is great as well, we ended up buying some nice clothes for a fraction of what it would cost at home. So you can pack light as you can just buy any clothes or things you need in town and you can easily do laundry at the retreat. We also did a half day tour of Pai with one of the tour groups. I highly recommend this as you get to see everything at a pretty good pace. We went in August which is the rainy season, but don't let that deter you if that's when you can go. It didn't rain all the time and there were quite a lot of sunny days too. And I think the rain was nice to keep things a little cooled off, as the training can get quite intense and sweaty! However, with the rainy season come things like more mosquitos so that's something to consider. I am allergic to the bites and the non Deet mosquito sprays that I brought with me didn't really work that well. However, there at least 2 really good pharmacies in Pai who speak English and can help you. Also antibiotics are available over the counter in Thailand should you find you need some! I am not used to so much nature and the various sounds. There is often a light saw buzzing sound from I think cicadas or something similar and my new favorite gecko, the Tokay gecko, where the male makes a really loud sound that sounds like he's saying To-Kay - that guy woke me up a lot so maybe earplugs could help if you are a light sleeper. There are also a lot of ants so be careful with crumbs and such, we opted to only eat outside food in the dining area after one night where we found some ants in the room - just under the amount where we might have freaked out :) But the cleaning staff came to the rescue the next day with some spray and then it was all good. On a side note, most toilets in Thailand cannot handle toilet paper so it's not prefer and remember to throw it in the bin instead. All in all it was a fantastic trip and I highly recommend that you visit the retreat if you have an interest having this kind of kung fu experience. We hope to return some day or else continue with qigong and kung fu at home.

I spend 10 weeks in Nam Yang. I met kind and helpfull people, beautiful place and a very good team of teachers. The schedule is well balanced and the food very healthy. I really felt that I learned pure Kung Fu, with its applications, its soft and hard part and It's artistic side. We evolve slow enough to learn completely.

Spent an amazing 3 months here. Came to learn Qigong and Kung Fu wasn't disappointed. I came to retreat at a point in my life where I needed some direction, and some time to work on myself. Master Iain created a wonderful place to do this. Met a lot of awesome people, and loved Pai. The teachers were incredible and know how to push you to reach your potential. I left knowing myself better, and ready to move forward once I left.

The Kung fu retraite was exactly what I was looking for! I joined the retraite for 2 weeks to get in good shape, kind of reset myself. I was in between 2 contracts and wanted to be physical and mental fit before starting the new assignment. The daily training programme, good food, peaceful environment, friendly, professional instructors and simple life contributed to this all. I learned a lot about Chi Kong as well. Besides reaching my personal objectives it was a nice experience to train and stay in the retraite with other people from all over the world. We had some nice excursion togerher as well.

This is the "Real Deal". My objective was to tweak my ongoing Qi Gong practice, rejuvenate my body and soul, and to be around like-minded people. I met all of my objectives and so much more. The typical day starts early as there were a lot of activities to fit in; practical classes in Qi Gong, Tai Chi, stretching, calisthenics, and meditation, Theory classes on how to teach Qi Gong and a highlight in the morning Tea time with Master Iain. BTW Master Iain himself taught many of the classes assisted by the other instructors. All the instructors were skilled, competent, and patient. Classes ran 5 days a week with Wednesday and Saturday off from formal training although all facilities were available 7 days a week Breakfast and dinner was provided. on formal training days with only breakfast provided on off days. There was always a vegan option available, which I found extremely satisfying/tasty. You ate as a group including with Master Iain and the instructors. The retreat is located right outside of Pai (4 KM from the center of Pai). Many students rented scooters for the duration of training (around 100-150 baht (3-5 USD) a day ) and could drive into town within minutes. I chose to walk which took about 30 minutes. All in all, loved the place and plan to return for Level 2.

The accommodation is poor - my bed consisted of a very thin ‘mattress’ and my room had no air conditioning or proper toilet. For other students there were hot water problems, sewage smells and rats making noise around the buildings at night. Some students were unhappy about the specific training programs (monk/ warrior) and they felt there wasn’t much difference between the two. Others were promised that their limited physical mobility needs would be adhered to, and then on arrival, felt let down. Some teacher training classes felt a bit unprepared - worksheets or diagrams would have been nice. The retreat isn’t within walking distance of a shop and there was no greeting package of a toilet roll or a bottle of water on arrival. This wasn’t very welcoming as the nearest shop is a 10 minute cab ride, most students hire mopeds to get around. In the promo video there is a real emphasis on air quality but it can be very poor some days, due to farmers burning their fields. But the major issue for me they overcharge hugely, around £70, when they arrange transport from chiang mai to pai. Which I feel is really wrong, considering we are ‘one big Kung fu family’ as Iain said. The criteria for passing the course felt a bit unclear too and they said students would have three attempts and then only given two. I hope that they make some changes and proceed to treat people fairly. I think they really overcharge for the courses. I think it’s important also to mention serious moped accidents are very common in pai so please be careful if you hire one.