5 Day Ayurveda Massages, Meditation, and Yoga Retreat in Kandy, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Ayurveda Yoga Nature Retreat in Sri Lanka
If you are a vacationer who is not looking for a typical resort—one without the usual hotel amenities and service—Samadhi Retreat in Kandy Sri Lanka may be that holiday spot for you.
Meet the instructors
Highlights
- Daily yoga and meditation sessions
- Cookery lessons
- Waterfall tour and river bathing
- Introduction tour
- 1 massage per day
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily
- 4 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
Yoga styles
4 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Facilities
- Dining area
- Terrace
Inside the entrance hall at Samadhi you are watched over by a silk tapestry depicting seven Buddhist monks each holding a lotus blossom in their hand. Each monk is a different shade of brown. Likewise, the cultural diversity of this island is reflected in the villagers, who form the core of what makes Samadhi run smoothly. They are unspoiled and courteous—every man, woman, or boy will calmly break from sweeping the stone pathway, lighting the oil lamp, or picking fresh produce for your lunch to wish you 'Ayubowan!' the traditional Sinhala welcome, which means 'Let there be long life!'
The inspiration for the design and architecture was born of meditation. And so you willingly leave your city husk behind at the gate with no signal for mobile phones. It is the perfect opportunity to let nothing interrupt the sounds of forest birdsong, tree frogs and crickets, and the whisper of the breeze from the trees.
The thirteen pavilions, which lean out of the hillside, are veritable temples of tranquility. They are designed to make you feel you are the only person staying here. Privacy is everything. Yet there are no unnecessary walls. This results in a truly serene environment surrounded by urns, art, and treasures dating back to a time Kandy was a royal realm. There, everything is king-sized. The Indonesian teak bed in a double room is spacious enough to sleep three people comfortably. But even the smallest suite provides a four-poster bed to dream in.
The spacious verandahs of each suite of rooms give onto paddy fields, nearby mountains, and bench terraces filled with herb gardens or pineapples. Bamboos reach out with their four-fingered leaves to fan a breeze at you. In the surrounding natural forest, mango, toddy palm, mahogany, and jak trees rub necks with giant bamboo, avocado, and Chinese guava.
Program
1st day
- Check in
- Cookery Lessons
- Doctor Consultation
2nd Day
- Yoga with meditation
- Breakfast
- Waterfall Tour
- Lunch
- Ayurveda Treatments
- Dinner
3rd Day
- Yoga with meditation
- Breakfast
- Waterfall Tour
- Lunch
- Ayurveda Treatments
- Dinner
4th Day
- Yoga with meditation
- Breakfast
- Ayurveda Treatments
- Lunch
- Village Tour
- Dinner
5th Day
- Yoga with meditation
- Breakfast
- Ayurveda Treatments
- Checkout
Included excursions
- Waterfall tour and river bathing
- Introduction tour
Instructors
Mahesh Kodikara
Meet Maheshe Kodikara, the resident Yoga Tai Chi and Qigong teacher. With over 40 years of teaching experience in Yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong, Maheshe has trained under renowned teachers in Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and India. He specializes in Iyengar yoga, Taiji Quan (chen style), and Qigong, and conducts classes for both locals and foreigners at the center. Maheshe is also a certified Taiji teacher from the World Chen Xiaowang Taijiquan Association, making him the first Taiji teacher in Sri Lanka.
Yumi Jayasinghe
Yumi is the wife of Waruna, the owner of Samadhi. She brings the Japanese element into Samadhi. Originally a cartoonist in Tokyo, she has taught Hatha yoga since 2005. Yumi choreographs dance for children at a local international school. She brings a creative impact to enliven any session for beginner or experienced yogi.
Retreat location
Fifty minutes northeast of Kandy, the fertile landscape becomes a mass of lush vegetation reverberating with unfamiliar birdsong. The human populace too seems a different breed, profligate with smiles and allowing their abundant good sat sung to spill over and cloak the visitor. Go past the triangular ambalama and up the steps where you squeeze past the statue of a giant Hindu goddess—half-woman, half-horse. There you will find the beautiful Samadhi Retreat Centre.
The Kukul-Oya River meets the Hulu-Ganga, conveniently creating several spots for river bathing amongst the rocks and baby rapids. There, Plumbago (graphite) was found in lumps amongst the pebbles. But the locals had since been driven to eke out a meager living selling fruit and vegetables off roadside stalls.
Distances
- Kandy - 23 kilometers
- Colombo Airport - 123 kilometers
This Yoga Retreat is vegetarian-friendly
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Food
Only home-grown organic food is served as meals at the retreat.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Organic
Things to do (optional)
- Bird watching
- Bathing in the river
- Consult the resident Ayurvedic expert and astrologer
- Enjoy Ayurvedic massage or barefoot shiatsu
- Explore the cave temples
- Go on a city tour of Kandy with an itinerary that includes watching elephant bathing
- Go for walks in the woodlands
- Practice your golf at the Victoria Link golf course
- Read a book at the library
- Reiki
- Take cooking lessons on Sinhala cuisine
- Take day trips to the Fortress of Sigiriya, Udawatta Kele Sanctuary and the Temple of the Tooth
- Tour an elephant orphanage
- Visit the Hantana Tea Museum and Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya
Spa treatments
Full Ayurvedic body massage and steam bath
This is a very old traditional therapy, by two therapists who work in tandem, synchronizing their strokes and massages according to the circulatory and marma points for one hour. This is the most rejuvenating treatment of Ayurveda. This can be treated for various ages and common disorders.
Benefits:
- Relieve pains and relax stiff muscles
- Improves blood circulation
- Rejuvenates the entire body
- Beautifies skin and slows down aging
- Promotes vitality, reduces stress, and stimulates sound sleep
- Reduces obesity, diabetics gangrene, etc
- Eliminate toxins in the body
- Increase efficiency of athletic performance and improve sportive vitality
Shirodhara
Medicated oil is poured slowly over the forehead. Shirodhara is highly beneficial in treating headaches, mental tension, insomnia, stress, and disorders of the central nervous system. Medicated oil is also poured onto the body, which is beneficial in curing neuromuscular disorders, rheumatism, and general debility. Shirodhara gives the best results when taken after an Abhyangam. Dhara is good for all ailments. Changing the liquid as per the dosha condition with necessary alterations in the procedure is useful to alleviate any dosha.
Benefits:
- Strengthens central nervous system
- Strengthens sensible organs
- Eliminates stress and anxiety
- Reduces hypertension
- Helps to have a sound sleep
- Effective for mental diseases, headaches, nervous disorders, insomnia, blood pressure, general weakness, and urinary disorders
- Prescribed in clinical conditions like epilepsy, diabetes, neuropathy, and paralysis
Ela Kizhi (Pathrapotali Swedam)
This is a common treatment for various diseases, including inflammatory conditions of the bones and joints, arthritis, spinal problems, and sports injuries. Herbs, leaves, or powders with warm oil are applied over the affected areas of the body for massaging.
Benefits:
- Relieves pain, numbness, and edema
- Controls vitiated vata
- Stimulates the nerve endings
- Effective in the cases of spondylitis, sports injuries, muscular pains, back pains
- Improves central blood supply
- Cures arthritis, paralysis, and convulsions
What's included
- Daily yoga session with meditation
- Cookery lessons
- Waterfall tour and river bathing
- Introduction tour
- 1 massage per day
- 4 nights accommodation
- 3 meals per day
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
Bandaranaike International Airport
96 km away from your destination
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
Reviews
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