Merve · Embodied Practice
Merve seated in meditation in a warm, sunlit studio space

Yoga · Breathwork · Embodiment

Come home to your body

Trauma-informed yoga, breathwork, and somatic practice with Merve — guiding people from around the world in Koh Phangan and beyond.

Explore offeringsAbout Merve

About me

Hi, I'm Merve.

Merve guiding a student through a breathwork session

I'm a Yoga Teacher with over 10 years of experience and a Trauma-Informed Breathwork Facilitator from Turkey. For the past four years, I have been living, practicing, and teaching in Koh Phangan, Thailand, guiding people from around the world through yoga, breathwork, meditation, and embodiment practices in both private and group settings.

My work is rooted in the understanding that healing happens through the body as much as through the mind. I create safe, compassionate spaces where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, regulate their nervous systems, and cultivate greater presence, resilience, and inner balance.

My approach weaves together yoga, conscious breathwork, mindfulness, embodiment, and somatic awareness. Rather than focusing solely on physical movement, I invite students to develop a deeper relationship with their bodies, emotions, and breath. Every session is thoughtfully adapted to meet each individual where they are — whether you are seeking stress relief, nervous system regulation, emotional healing, greater mobility, or a deeper connection with yourself.

I believe that each person already possesses an innate capacity for healing and transformation. My role is not to fix or change anyone, but to offer guidance, practical tools, and a supportive environment where that natural process can unfold.

Offerings

Ways to practice together

Yoga, breathwork, and embodiment — offered through 1:1 sessions, group classes, workshops, workplace wellbeing, and retreats.

Yoga

Grounding, mindful movement to build strength, flexibility, and presence.

  • 1:1 sessions

    Personalised asana, breath, and alignment practice tailored to your body and goals.

  • Group classes

    Slow, intentional flows in Koh Phangan — welcoming all levels and bodies.

  • Workshops

    Thematic deep-dives such as hip openers, backbends, or restorative yoga.

  • Workplace wellbeing

    Desk-friendly movement and breath breaks for teams and organisations.

  • Retreats

    Immersive multi-day yoga journeys to reset, restore, and reconnect.

Breathwork

Conscious breathing practices to regulate the nervous system and deepen awareness.

  • 1:1 sessions

    Private trauma-informed breathwork for emotional release and nervous-system regulation.

  • Group classes

    Guided group breathwork circles held in a safe, held container.

  • Workshops

    Explore techniques such as circular, coherent, and calming breath practices.

  • Workplace wellbeing

    Stress-relief and focus sessions for high-pressure work environments.

  • Retreats

    Multi-day breathwork immersions to release, reset, and reconnect.

Embodiment

Somatic practices that invite you to listen, feel, and inhabit your body more fully.

  • 1:1 sessions

    Gentle one-to-one somatic work for healing, integration, and self-connection.

  • Group classes

    Movement, meditation, and somatic inquiry in a supportive group setting.

  • Workshops

    Thematic embodiment sessions on boundaries, pleasure, grief, or power.

  • Workplace wellbeing

    Embodied presence and resilience practices for teams and leaders.

  • Retreats

    Deep-dive retreats combining somatic work, movement, and integrative practice.

Merve offering hands-on support during a somatic session

Training & lineage

A decade of study, still deepening

My journey began with a 250-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2015. As my curiosity about the mind-body connection deepened, I expanded my studies into trauma-informed and somatic approaches.

  • 2015

    250-hour Yoga Teacher Training

  • 2017

    50-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training

  • 2020

    Mindfulness-Based Yoga Teacher Training

  • 2024 · Koh Phangan

    150-hour Trauma-Informed Breathwork Facilitator Training

    with Patricia Udipiti

  • 2025 · Koh Phangan

    Somatic Therapy Techniques Training

    with Charilaos

  • Sept 2025 · Bali

    The Expression of Power: Hands-On Adjustment

    with Byron de Marse, The Yoga Barn

My approach

Feel safe enough to soften

I believe that healing doesn't happen by pushing harder—it happens when we feel safe enough to soften.

My work combines yoga, breathwork, somatic practices, and mindfulness to help you reconnect with your body, regulate your nervous system, and develop a deeper relationship with yourself.

Rather than focusing on flexibility or performance, I create spaces where you can slow down, breathe, and listen to the wisdom of your body. Every session is an invitation to move with awareness, curiosity, and compassion instead of judgment.

I work from a trauma-informed perspective, honoring that every body carries its own story. There is no pressure to perform, no expectation to "get it right," and no one-size-fits-all practice. You are always encouraged to move at your own pace, make choices that feel supportive, and trust your own inner experience.

Whether we are practicing yoga or breathwork, my intention is to help you:

  • Regulate your nervous system
  • Release stress and stored tension
  • Build resilience and emotional awareness
  • Reconnect with your body's natural intelligence
  • Cultivate presence, self-compassion, and inner safety

My classes blend mindful movement, conscious breathing, meditation, and moments of stillness. Sometimes the practice is dynamic and energizing; other times it is slow, grounding, and deeply restorative. We respond to what your body needs in the present moment rather than forcing a predetermined outcome.

I believe the body is not something to fix—it is something to understand, trust, and come home to.

My role is not to heal you, but to guide and support you as you reconnect with your own capacity for healing, balance, and transformation.

My yoga style

Mindful Vinyasa Flow

My teaching is rooted in mindful Vinyasa Flow with influences from Yin Yoga, somatic movement, breath awareness, and mindfulness.

Each class is thoughtfully designed to create a balance between strength and softness, movement and stillness, effort and ease. Breath is at the center of every practice, helping to connect the body and mind while cultivating presence.

Rather than striving for perfect poses, I encourage students to explore how movement feels from the inside. Through intentional sequencing and nervous system awareness, the practice becomes more than physical exercise—it becomes a way to reduce stress, increase body awareness, and support overall well-being.

Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner, you'll find a welcoming space where you can move with authenticity, reconnect with yourself, and leave feeling more grounded, present, and alive.

Breathwork

Your breath already knows the way

Breath is one of the most powerful tools we have for healing, self-awareness, and transformation. It is always with us, quietly reflecting our emotional and physical state while offering a direct pathway back to balance.

As a trauma-informed breathwork facilitator, I create a safe, supportive space where you can explore the connection between your breath, body, and nervous system. Every session is guided with care, honoring your unique experience and respecting your personal boundaries.

My approach is not about pushing through discomfort or chasing intense experiences. It is about listening to your body, cultivating safety, and allowing whatever arises to be met with curiosity and compassion.

Through conscious breathing, you may begin to:

  • Regulate your nervous system
  • Release stress and accumulated tension
  • Process and integrate emotions
  • Increase self-awareness and emotional resilience
  • Reconnect with your body and inner wisdom
  • Experience greater clarity, presence, and vitality

I offer both gentle nervous system regulation practices and deeper transformational breathwork journeys. Each session is tailored to meet you where you are, whether you are seeking relaxation, emotional release, personal growth, or a deeper connection with yourself.

Breathwork is not about changing who you are—it is about creating the space to remember who you have always been beneath stress, conditioning, and survival patterns.

Your breath already knows the way. My role is simply to guide you back to it with presence, compassion, and respect for your unique journey.

Begin with a breath

Curious about a private session, a class in Koh Phangan, a workshop, or an upcoming retreat? Send a message and let's find the practice that meets you where you are.