retreats
New Year, New Mǎi
For the past two years, Thailand has opened its arms to me as I've stepped into each new year, helping me slow down, reflect, explore, laugh, and flow with a gentler rhythm of life. Months spent immersed in Thai culture have given me the space to pause, reset, and realign with what truly matters, and more importantly, what truly lives within me. Over time, I've begun sharing this transformative experience with a few close friends and family.
As 2026 approaches, I feel called to open this circle a little wider and invite a few people I've deeply enjoyed working, interacting, and growing with over the years.
This January 10th–13th, I'll be facilitating a 3-day retreat in Chiang Mai, New Year, New Mǎi, a gentle yet powerful way to begin the year in one of Asia's most soulful hubs for mindfulness and wellness.
The essence of this retreat is to move beyond "New Year, New Me", with its pressure of resolutions and reinvention, into a consciously crafted "New Year, New Mǎi."
In Thai, Mǎi (pronounced Maai) when placed at the end of a sentence with a rising tone, turns it into a question answered with "yes" or "no."
That's the space I invite you into: the quiet pause between the two, where self-inquiry begins. Would you be willing to ask yourself: not what you want to change, but what you’re finally ready to honour? What you're ready to live fully? And what you're willing to say yes to, without conditions, without delay?
Over these three days, we'll journey through experiential modules designed to help you:
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Align your life's vision and zoom into 2026 with clarity
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Channel your energy more efficiently
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Design intentional actions for the year ahead.
Together with a co-facilitator, we shall explore these themes through guided reflection, mindfulness and somatic practices, art and voice therapy, yoga and meditative movement, and nature immersions; all while soaking in the cultural richness of Chiang Mai. The retreat offers space for both solitude and deep connection with fellow participants.
Venue: Mahi Retreat, Chiang Mai
Set across 12 acres of serene countryside in Doi Saket, Mahi Retreat is a holistic sanctuary where the union of heaven and earth is felt in every corner. Mahi, which means union of heaven and earth, invites you to its traditional Thai wooden houses, lush gardens, ponds, walking trails, yoga shalas, and glamping spaces. It's a perfect setting to reconnect with balance, wellness, and mindful living.
Facilitators
Mani Mahesh Aurora
I am a life design coach, author, and social impact leader, supporting people to reconnect with their inner clarity, purpose, and joy.
Over the last decade, my work has taken me from Himalayan villages to Thai forests, creating spaces that help individuals slow down, reflect deeply, and realign with what truly matters. I blend mindfulness, somatic awareness, and lived experience to support people in designing lives rooted in intention, authenticity, and conscious action.
I'll be joined by...
Sukesh Chavala
Sukesh's journey with yoga has been a lifelong path of learning, practicing, and teaching for over three decades.
She is a certified yoga teacher, Ayurveda practitioner, nutrition and wellness coach, marma healer, and NLP Master Practitioner.
She also founded the Suananda Ayurveda Wellness Centre in Bangkok, where she offers vegetarian cuisine, wellness workshops, yoga sessions, and dance classes. Her work inspires others to embrace a lifestyle rooted in mindfulness, nourishment, and self-awareness.
Program Schedule
Day 1 – Arrive & Anchor Arrive in Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, and settle into the retreat space. Begin with a reflective walk to ground your energy, meet the group, and set shared intentions in the welcome circle. We'll ease into the journey with an experiential introduction to Mindful Awareness practices, followed by a short guided exercise to help you map your top priorities, current emotional landscape, and what you're arriving with. Gentle yoga or somatic movement will support the body in settling, and we'll close the day with an evening sharing circle to open inward and begin the collective process.
Day 2 – Reflect & Realign Begin the day with yoga and meditation to centre the body and soften the mind. We'll move into guided reflection designed to help you clarify what's present for you now; the patterns you want to understand, the emotions asking for attention, and the inner themes shaping your year ahead. Through art and voice therapy, you'll express these insights in creative, embodied ways, giving form to what often remains unspoken. A nature walk or forest immersion will offer space to slow down, listen inward, and make sense of what's emerging. Later, we'll explore how to channel and use your energy more efficiently, identifying what drains you, what nourishes you, and what boundaries or shifts may support you in 2026. The day closes with a mindful movement practice and an evening circle to integrate, share, and deepen clarity.
Day 3 – Intend & Embody Begin with morning movement and meditation to awaken presence and bring clarity to what’s taking shape within you. We'll then move into a guided process to help you translate your reflections into a personal action plan for 2026, identifying what you want to prioritise, what you're ready to release, and the intentional choices that will support the year you want to create. The integration session will invite you to anchor these insights in a practical, embodied way: mapping next steps, recognising the inner resources you already carry, and naming the support you may need along the way. By the end of the day, you'll leave with a grounded sense of direction and an inner "yes" that feels authentic and sustainable.
Day 4 – The Way Forward Begin the morning with a gentle somatic practice to help your body integrate the learnings of the past three days and settle into a steady, grounded state. We'll close with a shared breakfast and a final circle, a space to name what you're taking with you, what you're committed to honouring, and how you intend to carry this clarity into daily life. You leave the retreat grounded, resourced, and ready to begin anew.
Retreat Details
Dates: January 10–12, 2026
Cost
USD 430 – 520
INR 38,000 – 45,000
THB 14,000 – 17,000
Includes
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3 nights’ accommodation (choice of room type)
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All Thai and international vegetarian Sattvic Meals
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Full facilitation by Mani Mahesh & co-facilitator(s)
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All sessions, workshops, and nature immersions.
Excludes
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International / domestic travel to Chiang Mai
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Any additional excursions, personal expenses.
Logistics
Visa: Thailand currently offers two-month visa-free entry for Indian citizens with a confirmed return ticket, a perfect opportunity to extend your stay and explore.
Travel: Return flights from major Indian cities to Bangkok are INR 16,000 - 20,000 on average. Chiang Mai is easily reachable by domestic flight or bus which I'll be happy to help with bookings or travel planning.
If this experience calls to you, I'd love for you to be part of this journey.
Use the button below to schedule a call. I'll be happy to answer any questions or help you plan your visit.
Warmly,
Mani Mahesh