Vivian Shang

Staying in a Norwegian home with premier hosts. Team Vivian and Kai were gracious and eager to please throughout our stay. Vivian is an amazing cook and has a warm yoga room in the home where you stay. Kai does the driving and is well informed about the breathtaking hiking trails.

I had the best time with Vivian and Kai ! They are really caring people and make you feel good. Both the hikes with Kai and the Yoga classes with Vivian were excellent. They really adapt to you and do everything to make sure you’re having the best trip. Vivian is also an incredible cook and will always make sure you are looked after. I recommend 100% and I am looking forward to come again.

I booked this trip spontaneously and unsure what to expect. Such an enlightening escape from reality for a bit, but it goes by quick. It was a challenging but much needed introduction to the start of my exploration of traveling and yoga. The entire stay felt very personal and welcoming. Vivian is a constant sunshine in such a cloudy place and never fails to offer her wisdom, she lights up a room. Every day is a different focus in the body for yoga and she is quite knowledgeable, always has beneficial tips or suggestions. What a beautiful retreat, thank you Vivian and Kai for opening up your home and being so accommodating. It was very eye opening experience and therapeutic to clear my mind out of my comfort zone. I look forward to seeing the country again!

Das Retreat fand in einer kleinen Gruppe mit nur 3 Teilnehmern im Haus von Kai und Vivian ca. 30 km entfernt von Alesund statt. Es war sehr individuell und persönlich, auf Fragen und Wünsche wurde hervorragend eingegangen. Die Wanderung mit Kai war fantastisch und der Stadtrundgang in Alesund sehr schön. Vivian hat uns sehr effektive Übungen gezeigt und geholfen, Verspannungen in Schultern und Hüften zu lösen. Sie hat großartig für die Teilnehmer gekocht, es war sehr familiär und freundschaftlich.

Yogalessen en bergwandelingen heel goed, excursies ook. Eten was vers en erg lekker. Schoon huis. Mooie omgeving. Vivian en Kai zijn Lief, zorgzaam. Mooi land. Bedankt lieve Vivian en Kai. Ik heb genoten en veel gelachen. Ik hoop volgend jaar weer terug te gaan. Alles was bespreekbaar.

I had a tremendous time with Vivian and Kai. They made big effort to make me feel comfortable and we had great conversions. I definitely recommend doing a retreat with them!

The yoga is trained systematically, the scheme planed by Vivian is super , everyday there is different focus from the upper body until the toe bottoms . Vivian also teach lots of tips which we can do small exercise during working hour break which is super beneficial.

The hiking with Kai is wonderful , we had challenged one mountain to another mountain . I feel such fulfilled . Thanks to Kai’s nice consideration and well prepared , he offers delicious hot chocolate drink and chocolate bar . Never feel they taste so good .

The last not the least , the package is really value for money : as soon as I landed in the airport , Vivian was already waiting for me , then as soon as I arrived the accommodation and had shower , the warm dinner was ready .( btw. meals are diverse day to day ) . I really like this yoga studio , it’s a classic Norwegian house with white wooden interior . (Btw , it’s chill to have a cup of tea and look at blue sky in the balcony )

承诺了要翻译成中文， 因为很有孝心的Vivian要给远方的妈妈看看自己的工作成绩，所以请看以下：

关于瑜伽项目的训练， Vivian真的很用心很专业的制作了整套方案， 每天从头到脚练习身体的不同部位， 贯穿西方运动学和中医静脉学，这让我受益匪浅。

关于登山徒步真是太精彩了，趁着这股劲， Kai 带着我翻过一座山又一座山， 等到山顶上一览众山小的感觉真是太有成就感了。项目的安排也非常周到， 到了山顶他的背包像个万宝箱一样立即掏出来冲热巧克力和各种能力补给食品。

最后一点也非赞扬不可：这个套餐性价比真的很高！当我落地机场的时候 Vivian已经在候机等待我了， 然后来到瑜伽会所，当我冲了澡后， 温暖的晚饭已经在等着我了 （备注 ， 餐餐不同 各具特色哦， Vivian还很贴心根据喜好调整）。 另外我也特别喜欢这瑜伽会所， 是典型的北欧风格木屋，尤其傍晚时坐在阳台上一边喝茶一边享受蓝天安宁。 真好！

It was a wonderful experience! Vivian and Kai always took care of us and did their best to make us feel like home. Hiking on the mountains and on the island were the highlights of the journey! Walking in the nature, surrounded by green sceneries, made me feel like being in a fairy tale. I will definitely come back as there more to explore and discover! Gratitude, happiness and colourful memories are the gifts of this yoga retreat to me!

Vivian and Kai were amazingly warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere at the retreat was very positive and friendly. The yoga classes with Vivian were great; enough of a challenge but very relaxing as well. Vivian has a lot of knowledge and expertise, and the small group size made it possible to give attention to each student individually as well. All the activities and excursions we had were interesting and fun.

The perfect mix of relaxation and adventure I experienced during this retreat can hardly put into words. Vivians experience is exceptional and she quickly adapts the yoga trainings to your skill level so you really get the most out of this week. Additionally to the yoga part, you experience Ålesund as well as norwegian culture and food from a very local perspective. Even though it is hard to pick, my favorite parts (beside every single yoga session) were the hike with a stunning view and coffee as a reward, the extremely fun outdoor yoga session on an old bridge and walking up and doing yoga poses on the 400+ stairs to the Ålesund view point. The only downside is that the time went by sooo fast. Vivian and her partner Kai really deliver you an experience for a lifetime, cannot reccomend enough! Thank you so much Vivian and Kai! Tusen Takk!

Vivian and Kai are so welcoming. So kind and funny. We really enjoyed ourselves very much.

My week in Alesund was absolutely wonderful! The yoga was relaxing and nurturing, and the hikes were amazing. It felt like time slowed down; my head felt completely clear for the first time in ages. If you're looking for an escape and to treat yourself to a peaceful getaway in a stunning location, this retreat is a must.

Vivian and Kai, tusen takk & 下次见!

I had the perfect Norway trip filled with adventure, yoga, meditation, rest and self care with Vivian! The food was amazing, every dinner was delicious. Vivian takes a lot of time personalizing your itinerary for each day. I could not have had a better experience. I am a novice when it comes to yoga and meditation so she focused each session on movements and positions best for me. I loved this experience so much and am planning to return in the future.

Fun, adventure and relax — during this retreat I was able to have all those things.

Vivian provided me with a great combination of yoga, meditation, hiking, delicious food, interesting conversations and much more.

The stay is very well structured, but I still had time to relax within the framework. The adventures were numerous, always accompanied by talks and Vivian‘s curiosity for nature and the world. She is such a caring host and yoga teacher and I was in good hands with her. Beyond happy.

We had a wonderful weekend together with Vivian and Kai in Beautiful Alesund!

The combination of professional and diverser yoga sessions with hiking and traveling in Alesund was so special.

I’m not experienced much with yoga or hiking but Vivian and Kai made sure to accommodate to my level. I was challenged (a lot) but was able to participate and overcome everything.

It was so special to get to know Alesund from the eyes and home of Vivian and Kai. They were so caring and thinking of all the small details.

If you are looking for a yoga retreat in Norway (2 hours flight from Amsterdam), this is definitely your place!

Thank you Vivian and Kai again for a wonderful experience!

The moment we arrived at Vivian and Kai’s home felt like we were family. Food was great, lots of interesting combinations between local, homemade products, between Chinese and Norwegian cuisine. The yoga classes were quite advance but also very carefully prepared. Lots of explanations following the sessions and tips for future work at home.

The hiking with Kai was unforgettable, half meter snow in some places but also very early spring signs everywhere. The view at the top of the mountain was breathtaking.

If I would have to recommend a trip to Norway to practice yoga and meditation would be certainly this one.

Thank you both for taking such a good care of us.

We certainly hope to see you again, maybe even in NL!

What a wonderful weekend I had in Norway! I really enjoyed the environment and the excursions, the local food and the yoga of course. Vivian is incredibly knowledgeable and fun too. I know few people who are so wonderfully optimistic and curious :-)

A yoga retreat with a twist… had a fabulous week with this fun loving pair Vivian & Kai, from amazing yoga practices & stretches to snow shoeing up Trollveggen to enjoying a camp fires in the snow to trying cross country skiing in the night light… to watching the surfers on Light House Island.

Amazing Norwegian dishes of salmon and cod, and not to mention Chinese cuisine.

Meals times were always a hi-light as we listened and learned about life in Norway.

Vivian has her finger on the pulse and is always one step a head of your needs and seems to know exactly what fun things u want to do next…

Vivian & Kai are 1st class instructors & guides learned so much… and had some amazing laughs and made some fabulous memories along the way… 🧘‍♀️ 🎿 🚶🏼 🥘 😴 😂 😊 🙏🏻 ❤️

I had an amazing time with Vivian and Kai. I had everything I needed and more. My bedroom was clean and tidy with stunning views of the mountain to wake to every morning. Vivian made incredible food and introduced me to some delicious Norwegian cuisine. I was very well fed! Both Vivian and Kai showed me the local landscape and I even got to go cross country skiing! My days were full of hiking and morning/evening yoga. It really was a none stop adventure. Vivian is a fantastic yoga instructor. I feel my technique has improved so much. I could not fault this trip. It’s was everything I wanted and more! I would definitely visit again :). Tusen Takk!

This trip was definitely one to remember... forever! It was a perfect combination of active and new adventures with relaxing yoga and meditation sessions. The surroundings of a winter wonderland made the snowshoeing, husky sledding and snowmobile trip even more special and amazing! The cabin at the frozen fjord was very comfy and made you feel at home instantly, it was a warm welcome - and not only for the sauna ;). The ice bath in the arctic ocean and snow angels in bikini were a lot of fun. And how lucky were we with the breathtaking northern lights on the first evening! All these things wouldn't be so special if it weren't for Vivian! She is such a fantastic host, positive, energetic and caring person and with a lot of knowledge and good sense of humor! Memories for life!

Jamais je n'ai fait une retraite de yoga comme ca!

Rien n'est trop pour Vivian et Kai afin que le sejour soit inoubliable.

Le niveau de yoga est adapte au niveau et besoins des participants.

Quand j'y etais nous avons travaille entre autre l'auto massage qui etait extremement benefique. Je vais continuer chez moi !

Chaque jour, ils preparent des excursions et des visites en function de la meteo et de la forme de chacun. Tous les details sont penses (thermos de the et cafe chaud au milieu d'une ballade le lond des cotes, feu de bois pour dejeuner pendant une randonnee dans la neige...).

Plus qu'une retraite de yoga, c'est une merveilleuse facon de prendre soin de soi en decouvrant une region superbe.

It was a beautiful week during December 2021 in Alesund - I could experience lots of yoga session and mediation, get to know the area with our local guide Kai. Vivian and Kai are both two heart-warming people who always make an extra effort in order for the guest to feel welcome and comfortable :) would definitely recommend it!

Cette semaine a été plus que parfaite chez Vivian et Kai. Ils sont tous les deux accueillants, chaleureux et bienveillants. Vivian et Kai avait parfaitement organisé cette semaine entre yoga et découverte à l’extérieur. Cela fait du bien de respirer le grand air Norvégien mais aussi de prendre le temps d’échanger autour de bons repas.

Je recommande vivement ce séjour chez Vivian. Sa bonne humeur est communicative. Son savoir autour du yoga est appréciable, laissez vous guider les yeux fermés !! Vous ne serez pas déçu.

The week with Vivian and Kai proved to be a good medication for my "cabin fever".

We had two hiking days (Sula Eltrane and Trollstigen) and visited the ice age cave, the lighthouse island, the Sunnmøre Museum,

Ålesund's old town and the viewpoint with its 418 steps.

The yoga classes took place either in Vivian's well-equipped home studio or in the local gym. Sometimes they followed a more restorative, "therapeutical" approach with long holds and mobility work, sometimes

they were a little more flowy and included modifications for different levels.

There was no shortage of food on this trip and the cuisine included norwegian things - like local fish and brown cheese - and "Vivian things" - like a salad with local seaweed.

As mentioned in other reviews Vivian can be quite energetic - almost child-like - but you can also have calmer,

more personal moments with her where she shares some of her stories and anecdotes and

gives you individual advice and "homework". I have to say that these were some of my favorite moments of the entire

trip.

She is a very professional person who will make sure that your yoga holiday is organized according to your needs and

preferences as well as to the local circumstances. There were also a few nice surprises, but i won't be spoiling them here...

Concluding this review i'd like to say that i had a fantastic time in Norway and that the other good reviews are absolutely deserved.

Tusen takk and until next time.

It was actually my very first retreat and I must say that this was perfect! Vivian is such a great human being. Lot's of delicate attention during the week. Her house is also very comfi. I loved the combination of hiking and yoga training. Nature is beautiful and definitively worth it

Huiselijke sfeer en geweldige begeleiding.

In addition of being a great person, Vivian simply thinks about everything! From the difficulty of the yoga session, to the sightseeing you would want to do, to the memories you would want to keep from your trip. She takes you in and makes you feel welcomed to the point that you feel you are simply visiting an old friend. It was my first time doing a trip like this and I had an absolute blast. Everyone told me I looked radiant on the pictures and that's because I really had an amazing time.

I booked this trip in particular because of the stellar reviews that I read and I can only agree with them. So if you're thinking about booking this trip, don't hesitate !! Go right ahead, you can count on Vivian to have an amazing time :)

Vivian, I already look forward to seeing you again :)

Vivian gave some very good yoga lessons with a lot of attention witch are still very helpful. We made some beautiful hikes in the area and had very good talks. She was very kind and open to me and made some lovely food. The whole trip was fantastic.

It was great being picked up from the airport. The hike was a good challenge and we could see beautiful views. Food was truly amazing everyday. Vivian was very attentive and listened to us carefully and arranged the exercises according to what was needed for our bodies. I enjoyed every session to the fullest and could do moves/poses I did not know it was possible for me. I can only recommend this trip.

I spontaneously decided to book this retreat. Vivian was so nice to take me in with short notice and took care of me even before I arrived, by helping me out with hotel and transportation before getting there. During the 3.5 days I really had an amazing time. Vivian was very warm and welcoming and the weekend had everything you could wish for: really tasty homemade food, a challenging but amazing hike to a nearby mountain, a city tour of Ålesund and of course Yoga practice. I really liked that she adjusted the practice according to our level and schedule (e.g. we did lots of stretching after the hike).

We had some great laughs and conversations over dinner, it rather felt like visiting a good friend. Definitely recommend this retreat and I am hoping to come back soon again.

Thank you for this wonderful, challenging and exciting week. Before I came here I told you that I was thinking about doing a yoga teacher training next year and that I have a lot of experience in practicing yoga and gymnastics.

But for this yoga & hiking retreat, I just thought I would relax and practice a bit more yoga to calm down.

But you realised what I really needed. You pushed me in the right direction. You have a very good sense of challenging and taking me out of my comfort zone. I am very grateful for that.

I had a lot of fun during this time here and learned a lot of new things about yoga and Norway in just one week. The trip was incredible. I will always remember our conversations during the hikes. I enjoyed all the activities we did: the hikes to "Eltraneset", the cave “Skjonghelleren" and other viewpoints, the walks around the lake, on the beach and on the “Bird Island”, the time in the gym, the trip to “Trollstigen”, the “Sunmore museum” and most of all the AMAZING yoga teacher training.

I really enjoyed your freshly prepared food, it was so delicious every time and very different from the dishes I eat at home in Germany. Thanks for showing me how to prepare the local sea weed.

I will continue to teach yoga in Germany, I will keep you updated and I am looking forward to welcoming you as a friend in my home, wherever I will live then. You are a great inspiration and you made this week perfect for me. Thank you very much for your time. Big hug Anna

Vivian tok such a good care of us! She is a very warm, friendly, happy and positive person. She is also very very professional. I am scared I will never meet such a perfect instructor again so i'll have to come back to her often :)

She came with many activity opportunities for each day! We got the possibility to see Ålesund at its best! We were hiking in such amazing places! We were eating amazing homemade food! We were having amazing time at the house! We were practicing with the best instructor ever! We got holliday videos special made for us!

You get so much for such a little price! Are you thinking about this retreat - book it, it doesnt matter if you are alone or you are two or more - you will love it! Just do it!

Vivian was a Warm, welcoming And enthusiastic host who developed a varied, personalised retreat that fulfilled all my goals. She has very good knowledge of the surrounds And all the great hikes for varying levels, and every day Was a new challenge. It gave me a feeling of accomplishment !

I practiced deeply relaxing yin yoga with Vivian Which is a great compliment to the Daily hiking. She also developed yoga practices that helped me strengthen and work on areas that I highlighted.

The Weekly schedule was A Perfectly Tailored balance of hiking, yoga, taking in the sites, and Vivian was lovely company throughout.

Accommodation was comfortable, clean, with a lovely mountain view And Well located To walk into town.

I thoroughly recommend this retreat to people seeking a blend of hiking and yoga in Norway!

Vivian is a warm, welcoming, kind, genuine host who excels in the service of others.

She also has boundless energy and a great sense of humour.

There was great variety in our days, with any number of fab adventures during our yoga retreat.

Starting the day with yoga and ending it most days with an evening meditation provided lovely bookends.

Our small group from three continents led to lively discussions and learnings around the table.

Snow shoeing, using the Barents Sea to cool off from a sauna and staying in the snow hotel in Kirkenes were my stand out adventures of the week. Reindeer and Husky sledding through a winter wonderland were also really good fun.

This arctic Norway experience was hands down a blast! Vivian sourced activities each day that kept us engaged and excited. We did yoga every morning and night with some meditation sprinkled in which was perfect for the trip. She knew the locals which made everything so much better than a commercial experience. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for the northern light (aurora borealis) as we were lucky enough to see them twice!

Vivian has been great even before we met her. She took well good care of us (transportation, home made food, planning our activities, etc) She is a unique human, who loves life, is always happy, and has a happy children (as in fun loving) qualities about her (if you meet her you'll understand).

The place we stayed was beautiful gorgeous cabin in the middle of a beautiful small town covered in snow next to a fjord. Everyday we did something that was new. It was non stop adventure!

This my second retreat with Vivian! Last year was in Norway. This time was in China (Qingdao) : everything was amazing there and here ! I’ve lived in Qsingdao like locals : that’s what I expected.

Vivian’s friends (especially Jiajia and Wu) were very kind and open-minded. They shared their culture, their job and their time. As an osteopath and a Kung-Fu master, Wu gave me many advice for my personal training and he treated me for a shoulder injury : his treatment was “painfully good” and effective!

We’ve practiced yoga twice a day at home and in 2 different yoga studios. Even if I don’t speak Chinese the teachers were very helpful. And Vivian is always so positive and supportive.

She and her friends organized many activities. We visited the mount Lao Academic School and made incense-holders, a traditional printing of a Chinese text I chose and tested tea. We saw a night light show in downtown Qingdao and went to the night market. We went to Zhanqiao Pier, visited the Tsingtao Beer Museum (with beer testing ;)) before having a delicious dinner in the Beer House with friends. We visited the peaceful Temple in Zhanshan.

We went to hike in the mount Lao : the paths are only made of stairs.

We picked tea leaves in a local tea garden.

We also spent a day at the beach with friends, played volleyball and practiced yoga on the sand!

I totally recommend that retreat: take friends with you!

Thank you dear friend. See you in another retreat (with our Dragon).

I had an excellent time in Qingdao with Vivian and her friends. They made me feel most welcome and I felt like I was staying with family. The day started and ended with yoga and was filled throughout with visits and activities. The cooking class, tea picking, Tsingtao beer museum, and kung fu class were my favorites! Everyone had great energy and was excited to share what they knew about Chinese culture, cuisine, medicine, etc. I learned so much, I am really glad I chose to do this retreat and travel differently. It was a much more intimate way of discovering China than if I had gone by myself. Plus: Vivian paid special attention to my back issues and the yoga sessions were tailored for me, I even got an amazing traditional medicinal massage to fix my shoulder problem! Extra plus: I am a big foodie, and I got to try something new at every meal! I really liked the beer house ;)

Thank you Vivian, Jia jia, Master Wu and Moli for your kindness and knowledge!

Le groupe comprenait 2 personnes au total. Vivian nous a fait découvrir un pays et les activités de randonnée qu’elle adore. Elle a su adapter les activités en fonction de la météo capricieuse et de nos capacités physiques (que ce soit les randonnées ou les activités physiques). Vivian a su nous pousser au delà de nos capacités physiques. Elle a toujours été soucieuse de notre sécurité et notre bien être! L’ambiance a été très chaleureuse. Je recommande vivement cette retraite si vous souhaitez conjuguer découverte d’un pays, randonnées, activités physiques diverses!

Vivian was so accommodating and flexible. She created a perfect and safe way to see norway with an adventurous spirit.

Had the perfect house on a lake - with Mountain View and very private.