How this luxury Cambodian resort offers a yoga experience few others can match
Knai Bang Chatt, an eco-friendly seaside resort in Kep, left stressed-out Cathy Hilborn Feng feeling realigned from the inside out
The invitation to attend a three-day yoga retreat at Knai Bang Chatt, a seaside resort tucked along Cambodia’s southern coastline in Kep, was hard to resist.
The words “yoga nidra” called to me; I am not yet a yogi, but I had experienced this “sleep yoga” before. The promise of meditation, breathwork and sound healing also appealed to my stressed-out self. Still, I had reservations about travelling solo, my lack of experience and even my clothing choices.
Those worries evaporated the moment I stepped out of the car after a scenic 2.5-hour ride from the new Techo International Airport south of the capital, Phnom Penh. A beaming woman introduced herself: “I’m Lana, can I give you a hug?”
Lana Yang, the resort’s wellness manager, had read my pre-visit survey and knew the kind of welcome I needed. As we toured the grounds – taking in the three restored 1950s villas, the pool, organic herb garden, a yoga sala and the waterside restaurants – she detailed the history and principles of this “regenerative” centre.
We walked past new artists’ residences that are part of a new “Art for Kep” initiative, and she pointed out the watersports centre and sailing school, noting that guests often explore the coast on kayaks or paddleboards, and some earn a sailing certificate over two days.
In the world of high-end wellness, it is easy to find practitioners with impressive certifications. It is far rarer to find a guide like Yang, whose expertise is a lived geography.