Lana Yang: Taking part in the creation of a true wellness destination combining yoga, well-being, sports, adventure and gastronomy
- kepwest
- Mar 20
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 21
READ the article in French
Lana Yang's professional experience of over fifteen years in the field of alternative therapies, such as yoga, somatic movements and bodyworks, Tibetan bowl sound healing and chanting, is a guarantee of her expertise. Her arrival at Kep West since August 2024 has significantly enriched the establishment's offering, introducing original techniques designed to promote the well-being and serenity of guests, as well as those seeking a different and regenerative experience.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
I'm Lana, originally from Malaysia, and I've been living in Cambodia for 14 years. And I love this country. I studied yoga to become a teacher in Chiang Mai 10 years ago, but I've been practicing it for 15 years.
What was your previous business?
I had my own business, selling fruit juices in shopping centers. And I also had an ostrich farm.
Why did you decide to switch to a very different activity?
I came to Cambodia because of my husband's work. But I'd already started yoga in Malaysia.
Why did you choose this discipline?
The process of starting to practice yoga, initially motivated by a quest for bodily aesthetics, turned into a real passion. As a dancer, I was used to using my body frequently. So, the practice of yoga, initially motivated by the search for aesthetic postures, turned out to be a vehicle for personal fulfilment. However, an experience of a back injury, which occurred during a session, led to a change in her perception of the practice. Following this experience, I discovered that the quest for postural perfection was not the primary objective of yoga.
The central point is the methodology of using yoga and applying the wisdom of yoga to achieve a state of physical comfort. It's about understanding how to provide the body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. It is therefore essential to take a holistic approach to yoga, in terms of how certain postures are performed. It should be stressed that gentleness is a crucial aspect to consider, as it encourages a more comfortable practice that respects the body.
When did you decide to become a professor?
I'd say that after the first week of immersion in a yoga class, one choice emerged clearly and distinctly: that of becoming a yoga instructor. Indeed, having previous experience as a dancer, mastering body movement was a skill I already possessed, which made it easier for me to integrate into this new field. My previous experience includes ballet and classical Chinese dance. So, body movement is an area of interest that is proving particularly captivating for me.
Yoga cannot be reduced to a simple physical activity of relaxation; it is in fact much more complex. Yoga involves a deep understanding of the breath, its effects on the ribcage and how it influences movement.
Breathing plays a crucial role in the mobility of the chest, shoulder blades and upper limbs. It's important to note that even when we're in a static position, our upper limbs can undergo subtle movements. So, by paying attention to the breath, we can achieve a global body awareness, where each part is linked to the whole.
Was becoming a teacher difficult?
You must be willing and passionate. I used to live in Cambodia and every year I'd leave to take training courses in Chiang Mai, sometimes in Laos or Singapore. And I trained assiduously between each course.
How did yoga become your main activity?
At the time, I owned a yoga studio in Mondulkiri province, where I stayed for the last time. In those days, the studio welcomed Cambodian women, a group of women, as well as many tourists, whose presence was particularly noticeable. And despite the different levels of the tourists, the teaching method I applied produced very gratifying results.
However, experience of Mondulkiri was still relatively limited. As a result, a decision was taken to move to Phnom Penh, to continue and develop the practice there. This transition has proved fruitful, resulting in a sizeable following.
Over the last eight years, the organisation of retreats has been a regular activity, with an annual frequency of four to five sessions. In collaboration with teachers, these retreats have focused on philosophical exploration. In addition, workshops were set up in collaboration with artists or as part of the Elephant Sanctuary, located in Mondulkiri province.
When I worked with the Sanctuary, it was more about mindfulness with nature, with the elephant, with the way our body connects to our environment, with the way we take care of our body.
Tell us about your involvement with the Knai Bang Chatt in Kep West
I wasn't really looking for a job. I was based in Kampot and teaching there. I was also one of the organizers of the World Wellness Weekend. It's a global movement for wellbeing that brings together more than 100 countries around the world.
A variety of activities are planned, including literacy classes for children, beach clean-ups, yoga workshops, meditation sessions and art classes for children. A wide range of activities focusing on well-being are on offer, covering various disciplines such as education, environmental conservation, artistic practice and meditation. During one of these weekends in Kep, someone mentioned Jef to me, which is how I came to contact him. It was in this context that our relationship began.
So, he hired you to create the wellness center at Knai Bang Chatt?
Indeed, as we discussed on numerous occasions a year and a half ago, we shared a similar vision, namely the creation of an authentic wellness destination, combining yoga, well-being, meditation, sports, adventure and gastronomy. As a result, I agreed to work with him, a decision I don't regret to this day. He gives me a great deal of freedom in managing my tasks and promotes a spirit of initiative.
It seems that you teach different types of yoga. Can you explain this?
To explain the concept, we need to use a Sanskrit term, ‘spanda’, which translates as ‘vibration’ or ‘pulsation’.
The entire universe is characterized by a single vibration, like the heartbeat, the lungs breathing, the incessant movements of the waves, the rising and setting of the sun and the wind. Each element of nature has its own unique pulse. The synchronization of these vibrations is correlated with a facility for expressing and manifesting the natural world.
When body movement is in phase with breathing, and internal organs such as the lungs, heart and intestines function in synchrony, the human body moves with natural ease. Similarly, in an organization or relationship, optimal synchronization means that things run more smoothly, and energy is generated.
It is important to understand that, just as in nature, success and harmony are the result of synchronization with the environment. In this way, every action performed with ease, in line with the individual's deepest aspirations, becomes an intuitive and fluid process.
Similarly, every movement, whether performed by a finger, an arm or any other limb, is performed with greater ease when our heart resonates with it.
In answer to the question posed, it is possible to say that the practice of yoga, in its essence, represents a vehicle for self-knowledge, fostering an inner connection that enables us to act more harmoniously with our environment. This practice aims to cultivate an intimate connection with our breath and our heart. It has been shown that people who have difficulty moving can encounter obstacles when they try to progress.
How is this concept perceived locally?
The gradual expansion of our customer base is a key indicator of the appeal of our project. What's more, the team I'm building is very enthusiastic. We're also fortunate to have an experienced massage therapist on board, who has been with the team for six years.
So, you're also in charge of the spa?
With the outstanding team already in place, this approach is also part of the project. In addition, systemic therapy, or family constellation, is also proposed as a complementary approach aimed at fostering patients' psychological resilience and well-being.
We have introduced the Rolfing technique, also known as structural integration. This approach, which is like a form of bodily maneuvering, lies at the confluence of massage and bone manipulation, in the same way as chiropractic practices. Rolfing, on the other hand, works on the facias, the membranes that cover the muscles.
So, everything in us is covered in fascia. It connects from the heel to the back of the body. The Rolfer uses his hands to gently and deeply manipulate the fascia, releasing tension and allowing the body to return to a more natural and balanced alignment.
Finally, we have our own garden to grow the aromatic plants used for the massages. To my knowledge, this practice is unique in Cambodia and is part of our overall vision and concept of well-being in symbiosis with nature.
Tell us about the Family Constellation offered at Kep West Wellness Center
We are very lucky to have Mey Thir, a Family Constellation(FC) expert joining our team. She was actively conducting her FC sessions in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. Being a Cambodian descendent, recently she has consciously made a decision to concentrate her healing work back in her home country.
What is Family Constellation?
Family constellation explores ancestral patterns, mental blocks affecting current relationships and dynamics. In some cases, this approach is therefore part of an energetic healing process rather than a purely physical one. In addition to the physical framework, it is also essential to consider the energetic dimension.
The approach is not limited to examining the physical aspect; it also encompasses the study of the underlying emotional processes. This is because the fascia undergoes tension when an emotion is perceived as stressful. These elements can persist over time, sometimes for decades.
By way of illustration, it is common for past events to resist being forgotten and to continue to shape our psyche, often unconsciously, for decades. When these elements enter the central nervous system, they trigger emotional reactions.
It is then beneficial to become aware of them and adopt a distanced perspective to overcome them, which facilitates progress in life. In short, family counselling is a methodological tool for analyzing the dynamics of our energetic well-being through the prism of generations.
What is your impression of the new concepts you are bringing to Knai Bang Chatt?
It is assumed that this set of gentle therapy techniques fits in well with the concept. Jef, the company's founder, embodies this philosophy and works in total harmony with his teams, some of whom have been with the company since it opened.
In my opinion, well-being is closely linked to the way people treat themselves, others and those around them, with compassion and care. Compassionate action leads to smoother progress, greater harmony and a sense of well-being.
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