Vietnam luxury hotel, The Nam Hai, enhances lifestyle travel experiences with introduction of exclusive Yoga Retreat. The Nam Hai, Vietnam's premier beach resort, overlooks a one-kilometer stretch of China Beach.

Vietnam's most exclusive beach resort, The Nam Hai, is introducing yoga to its menu of luxury experiences including gourmet dining and world renowned spa pampering.

The resort on fabled China Beach in Central Vietnam, close to the World Heritage port of Hoi An, is launching the first of a series of holistic retreats from July 3-6 2009.

Classes over the three-night long weekend are led by New Zealander Nicky Poole, one of Vietnam's best-known instructors who heads the popular 'Breathing Room Yoga' studio www.breathingroomyoga.com in Ho Chi Minh City.

Trained by some of the world's great yoga gurus, she is focusing the classes on 'Prana Flow' yoga, an evolution of 'Vinyasa' yoga, developed by internationally renowned teacher Shiva Rea. The style incorporates dynamic namaskars to warm and prepare the body for creative flowing sequences, breathing, chanting and meditation.

The challenging, transformative style of yoga is simple to learn, with students allowed to flow through movements at their own pace. It connects students to their prana (life force energy) by leading with breathing and allowing movements to unfold naturally. This experience improves strength, flexibility and mental clarity, bringing balance, power and grace.

The yoga retreat features two 90-minute sessions per day over the three days, for all levels. Tuition starts on the Friday evening (July 3) with a calm grounding on posture and hip flexibility.

On Saturday morning, students learn the fluid essentials of prana flow practice, overlooking the China Sea at sunrise. The late afternoon session into sunset guides students through pranayam breathing techniques and methods to 'go within' themselves, through slow and relaxing yoga postures.

The final two sessions at sunrise and sunset on Sunday feature challenging, invigorating sequences concluding with a slow 'yin style' postures held over prolonged spells for reflecting on the retreat experience, and finally quiet meditation and personal journal writing.

Lessons are priced at US$30 per session. Participants additionally receive a 20 per cent discount at The Nam Hai's award-winning spa.

The Nam Hai is Vietnam's premier beach resort, overlooking a one-kilometer stretch of China Beach. It offers recreation for all the family ranging from guided tours at World Heritage sites to sunrise fishing with locals, beach BBQs, cocktail parties and movie nights throughout July and August.

For the sporting, the resort organises tennis, badminton and beach volleyball tournaments. It also neighbours one of the best new golf courses in Asia, Montgomerie Links.

Featuring 40 private pool villas and 60 hotel villas, all with ocean views, The Nam Hai, was hailed "Best Resort" in the world by Travel + Leisure in its 2008 Design Awards. When the resort opened in 2007, it was ranked 'One of the Top New Hotels and Spas in the World' on the USA and UK Conde Nast Traveler HOT LIST. Frommers Review 2008 wrote: "Simply put, The Nam Hai is the best resort in Vietnam."

An ideal destination for cultural and historical exploration, The Nam Hai is connected to the world via Danang’s international airport, just 30 minutes away, with direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore and Bangkok.

Promotional rates exclusively for residents of Greater China and Singapore are US$295 a night for one bedroom hotel villas and US$595 for one bedroom pool villas, with tour charges free for children under 12.

Since opening, The Nam Hai has won a number of prestigious awards. The five-star resort is a member of the prestigious The Leading Small Hotels of the World and Virtuoso.

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