YOGA RETREAT BY SPRING RIVER

The place is beautiful and peaceful, and definitely worth the travel from KK. I booked the car transport offered by the retreat and that worked super well. Diana takes such good care of her guests and the food is so delicious. They were also more than happy to accommodate and incorporate wishes and requests to the program, making it a wonderful experience for me.

The yoga itself, and the instructor.

I definitely got what I came for and more. The instructor - Valbona was professional, friendly, and warm. She listened and was able to personalise the sessions. She went beyond what was required. Additionally, everyone at 9 hits was warm and lovely, they are like one big family.

The best thing about this retreat was how deeply it connected me back to myself. Valbona guided us through intention-setting, and honestly, in the beginning I was clueless. But when it finally landed, the epiphany hit differently.

I learnt breathing techniques that now actually help me on days I feel overwhelmed. And unlike regular group classes where everything is squeezed into an hour, this 3-day retreat gave me space to slow down, understand, and truly absorb what I was learning.

I also loved how warmly we were treated. The whole space felt safe, comfortable, and inviting. Nadia and Melissa made everything feel so effortless. At one point, it even felt like a little girls’ trip.

It was just… wholesome. Exactly what I didn’t know I needed :))

The location of 9 huts and their staff was amazing!

Valbona was the best part of the retreat . Her enthusiasm and commitment to Yoga esp kundalini practice, are second to none . I really enjoyed the pranayama practice as well as the yoga asanas . The sound meditations each morning were the most perfect start to the day . Valbona went out of her way to teach us different types of pranayama and adjust our asana practice . All in all , It was a wonderful wholesome experience in beautiful surroundings .

Diana the manager / cook made us really wholesome sattvic meals . We had very particular dietary requests and she fulfilled them to the T with a smile .

The setting was idyllic, I also loved Vslnon’s passion and authenticity.

Mindful practices and nice people

I am so glad I chose this retreat! The location is far, yes, but it is just worth traveling a bit longer. As I arrived in KK, I was met with a sunny smile from my "chauffeur" Saiful and immediately felt like I have come to the right place. Let alone when we arrived to Kudat and I met Diana and my yoga instructor Valbona. The athmosphere they all created was just so relaxing, almost family-like caring and kind. I loved doing yoga there looking at the ocean, the view is just amazing. I was not disturbed by the mild noise from the road, it was normal and ok. (Nor were the mosquitos of too much harm at least to me.) The level of effort Valbona put to teaching and inspiring me personally was unbelievable. I miss our evening walks! And the food Diana & co. prepared with care was such a lovely surprise, I really have never eaten as delicious vegetarian meals, one after another. A lot of time to rest too, just relax in your cosy hut or balcony and have massages if you want. I enjoyed my days there so much, can with full heart recommend this for anyone who looks for a genuine retreat experience in a unique place.

I lov

It was such a nice, peaceful experience :-)

The location is beautiful , the dogs are cute and Diana and all other people are so friendly.

Our yoga teacher Abella was wonderful, we enjoyed the experience so much.

Yoga

Het verblijf was onbezorgd genieten. Bij aankomst was een duidelijk schema opgesteld waar naar wens nog wijzigingen in worden gemaakt.

De balans in rust, yoga en vrije tijd was heel goed.

De maaltijden waren heel erg lekker en werden ook naar wens klaargemaakt.

De activiteiten waren erg fijn omdat je dan nog wat van de omgeving kunt zien.

Hele fijne yogaleraar en prachtig om de zonsopkomst te kunnen zien tijdens de yogales.

De omgeving is rustig en totaal niet toeristisch wat een bijzondere ervaring geeft.

Kortom ik voelde me heel welkom en zou het zeker aanbevelen.

This Yoga Retreat is located in a very quiet and peaceful place. The host Diana is a lovely person and an amazing cook. She was very welcoming and attentive towards any specific needs I had. The Yoga Instructor Samantha was an extremely talented teacher with great energy and had a huge amount of experience in yoga and handling students at all levels. I would definitely come back for another retreat. My experience was made very pleasant and wholesome by both Diana and her family and Samantha.

It’s very sad to see that the retreats are not fully booked due to people having to travel from Kota Kinabalu to the retreat by car as there is no airport in Kudat, but the host Diana made the transfer very easy by providing a private taxi for a very small charge and the drive itself is very nice with lots of scenic views. If you are considering not booking this retreat due to that reason I would definitely reconsider.

I had such a wonderful time at this three-day retreat and was truly sad to say goodbye to Joanne and Diana. The entire experience was deeply enriching, and I couldn’t have asked for a better yoga instructor.

Joanne met me exactly where I was in my practice, providing the perfect balance of guidance and support. Her approach was intuitive, compassionate, and tailored to what I needed, making each session both challenging and deeply restorative. She is a kind soul and a truly gifted instructor.

Diana also played a wonderful role in making this retreat special, making delicious healthy meals every morning, afternoon and evening! She creating an environment that was warm, welcoming, and peaceful. And her cheerfulness was always welcomed.

This retreat gave me the clarity and grounding I was seeking, and I’m so grateful for the experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to reconnect with themselves in a nurturing and supportive setting.

Btw, I’m from Oklahoma, USA. Not sure why it says I’m from Thailand.

The scenery from each hut and the yoga platform was stunning. Leilei provided the best, bar none, the best yoga instruction we have ever had. For my husband, she provided an individualized program to accommodate his knee replacements while still giving myself a challenging experience. Our history cooked very tasty vegetarian meals traditional to northBorneo.