Most people go to Thailand for the temples, the history, the food, the colour and chaos. There’s something for everyone, from family adventures to the wild nightlife of Patong. But for us, at least on this visit, it became something quite different.
This time, Thailand was about fitness, and through this accidental journey into movement, we began to see the deeper connection and distinction between living in an environment that celebrates fitness and truly cultivating wellness.
We knew this in theory, but living it in practice was something else entirely.
Kata and Karon: The Everyday Rhythm
We checked into an apartment between Kata and Karon Beach, both framed by soft sands and salt air. Mornings began with beach walks, and afternoons unfolded in the gym. We found an incredible local spot, SKII, and it quickly became our anchor.
Our days became a blend of sweat, strength, and simplicity. Yet amid the thrum of beats and the repetition of sets, I felt a gap, a quiet ache for something softer. The energy of these transient spaces, full of nomads, travellers, and locals passing through, held little camaraderie. Not that we were looking for it, but as our Befitreat approached, we started to wonder what a social and mindful component might bring to our journey.
The days here were ordinary in the best way: early nights, home-cooked meals from local produce, and time spent together. We ventured into Patong one evening and found it to be exactly as described: loud, wild, and fuelled by excess. Not quite our scene. After five months in Southeast Asia, we’d realised, a market is a market, no matter where you go.
What I missed most was yoga, not only the practice itself, but the spaces it creates, softer, introspective, grounded. In a world obsessed with external improvement, I longed for an invitation inward. Although my own practice weaves its way into everyday it’s not the same as being led through a sequence by someone who can guide you new and unexpected ways to push your body.
Phuket Old Town: A Gentle Reset
Our next stop was Phuket Old Town, a colourful, colonial pocket with charm and character. The pastel shopfronts, intricate facades, and café culture gave it a distinct personality, less disrupted by the over-tourism we’d found elsewhere.
Here, we slowed down. We cooked, we walked, and we began to find rhythm again. The rooftop of our apartment became my sanctuary, a space for morning yoga and evening meditation. It was the balance I’d been missing, a return to my own kind of wellness after the noise and intensity of gym culture.
Chalong and the Fitness Street Phenomenon
From there, we headed to Chalong, known affectionately as Fitness Street. We had three days before our retreat began, and naturally, we explored the gyms. Superfit became our go-to, one of the few with a balance of cardio, weight machines, and functional setups.
It’s a fascinating ecosystem. Influencers, athletes, trainers, digital nomads, and everyday travellers all converge here, each chasing a personal version of “better”. Supplements, protein powders, steroids and even legalised marijuana fill the narratives. It’s an open market for transformation, and the invitation is to find the approach that suits you. Anything goes here and it makes for some incredible people watching.
Yet beneath it all is a shared truth: no one here is finished. Everyone is working toward something: stronger, lighter, faster, calmer. It’s a constant aesthetic evolution.
For me, that evolution has become less about aesthetics and more about ageing well, staying strong, and honouring yogic roots, the part of me that seeks depth, alignment, and real connection. For others, it’s performance, discipline, or physical mastery. The beauty of it all is that there’s room for every kind of goal; you take what resonates, and leave the rest.
The Befitreat Experience
When the Befitreat began, we were shown to a small bungalow tucked in the corner of a resort, two pools, a yoga studio, and full access to the Tiger Muay Thai timetable. Our PT and yoga guide, Sam, greeted us with warmth and structure.
The first breakfast, keto pancakes with peanut butter, triggered a small wobble. Surrendering control after months of independence took a moment to settle into, but after a conversation with Sam, we eased into it, learning to communicate my allergies and trust the process.
Befitreat itself is cleverly designed, a collaboration of businesses along Fitness Street, curating the best of what the area has to offer. You choose your classes, explore the variety, and create your own rhythm. There are PT sessions, Muay Thai training, yoga classes, and endless options for movement and growth.
For me, it was a space to explore, to mix strength and softness, to learn new techniques, and to rediscover the joy of movement in community. Every class welcomed beginners. Everyone had a different reason for being there, and somehow, that created its own quiet kind of belonging.
Injury, Reflection, and What Comes Next
After ten days, my body reminded me of its limits. An old neck injury, the same one that led me to yoga more than a decade ago, flared up. Perhaps fittingly, it arrived just in time for my next chapter, two consecutive yoga retreats in Koh Samui.
Thailand, in the end, wasn’t about the temples, tours, or beaches. It became a journey inward, into discipline, balance, and acceptance. Into seeing wellness not as a fixed routine but as a moving landscape that changes with us.
This time, Thailand taught me that strength is not only built in the gym, but in the moments we soften, pause, and listen.
I’ll return again, I’m sure, with fresh eyes and a rested heart, ready to explore the cultural richness that I know awaits. But for now, this chapter closes quietly, with gratitude for all that movement revealed.
More about the Yoga retreat with Moksha - read here.
