Travel

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Dubai Times – Sen Wellness Sanctuary, Sri Lanka

Sen Wellness Sanctuary, Sri Lanka: The daily grind, endless notifications and ceaseless distractions of the digital age often leave us seeking an idyllic escape. Somewhere we can unplug, breathe, and perhaps rediscover our inner equilibrium. It’s a tall order, but the Sen Wellness Sanctuary in Sri Lanka offers precisely that – a perfect detox for the modern soul, draped in nature’s most evocative tapestry. The Founder: A Visionary Healing Artist You can’t begin to understand Sen Wellness Sanctuary without delving into the spiritual underpinnings laid by its founder, Sam Kankanamge – a man whose passion for holistic healing is only outshone by his encyclopedic knowledge of it. With a background in osteopathy and years of traveling the world to explore different healing methods, Sam has shaped the sanctuary as an ode to the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. Every architectural choice and therapeutic practice here feels like a well-penned stanza in a poem about well-being. Where Nature and Architecture Converse: From the moment you arrive, you’re swept into a world apart. Picture this: a seamless blend of modern architecture, positioned lovingly amidst the untamed beauty of Sri Lanka’s wilderness. And yes, there are little monkeys – adorable native dwellers who greet you as if welcoming you into their hidden abode. The resort seems to whisper in your ear that it’s okay to unwind, that you’re safe in the nurturing cradle of Mother Earth. A Well-Curated Day: From Dawn to Dusk One of the most remarkable aspects of the sanctuary is its well-orchestrated daily rhythm. Your day begins softly with early morning yoga sessions as the sun peeks through lush greenery. The rejuvinating yoga session is followed by a sumptuous and nourishing breakfast. As the day unfolds, there are opportunities for bespoke therapies or guided meditations, interspersed with moments for reflection or a leisurely walk. Nothing feels rushed, yet time doesn’t drag its feet either. It’s a balanced tempo that teaches your body to align and slow down to the pace of nature, gently undoing the frenetic rhythms ingrained by modern-day living. Evening’s Sublime Charm As the sky adorns itself in hues of gold and purple, evenings take on a mystical allure. Among the array of curated activities, the mangroves boat ride stands out as an ethereal experience. Floating gently through winding waterways, flanked by towering mangroves, the surrounding stillness seems to soak up every worry, every taut muscle in your body loosening as if surrendering to the calming embrace of the water. It’s not just an activity; it’s an orchestration of the elements designed to harmonize your spirit. Digital Detox: An Overdue Reclamation of Self Perhaps one of the most compelling draws of Sen Wellness Sanctuary is its offering of a thorough detox from the digital maelstrom that defines our age. Here, you don’t just disconnect from Wi-Fi; you reconnect with yourself. And the sanctuary makes it so easy, presenting myriad avenues for mindfulness – whether it’s sipping on a cup of herbal tea by the pond or engaging in a heart-to-heart with holistic wellness experts. The serenity is not just around you; it’s in you. The Verdict Sen Wellness Sanctuary transcends the conventional definitions of a wellness retreat. It’s not merely a place; it’s a finely crafted experience. An experience sculpted by the hands of a passionate founder, carried out by a dedicated team, and set against an unparalleled natural backdrop. It’s where your body, mind, and soul learn the lost art of harmonious living – away from the clamour, and in tune with the world. So go ahead, book that ticket, pack your bags lightly but your expectations highly, and prepare to be transformed. This is not just travel; it’s a journey within a journey – a voyage you owe your harried, beautiful, 21st-century soul. Amenities: Luxury Cabanas Swimming Pool Walled Garden Dedicated Yoga Shala Lockable Safe How to get there: Sen Wellness Sanctuary is situated in Tangalle, South Sri Lanka. By car it takes approximately 3 hours to reach the sanctuary from Colombo Airport. Private transfers from the airport can also be arranged upon request. See the original article here.

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Travel + Leisure – 20 Best Yoga Retreats

Sen Wellness Sanctuary, Sri Lanka These are some of the world’s best yoga retreats in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Central America. Founded by London-based osteopath Dr. Sam Kankanamge, the Sen Wellness Sanctuary is nestled on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. Its tailor-made wellness programs are offered throughout the year and rooted in ayurveda. In addition to meditation, yoga, and ayurvedic treatments, the programs include sound and gong baths for deep relaxation and energy clearing, as well as ayurvedic cooking classes and more. Featured in TRAVEL + LEISURE, 20 Best Yoga Retreats in Beautiful Destinations Around the World.

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Forbes India – Yoga retreats set in exotic locations

Sen Wellness Sanctuary in Sri Lanka From the beaches of Mexico to the foothills of the Italian Alps, here are some wellness retreats in stunning locations. Sen Wellness Sanctuary is located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, surrounded by lush greenery and rich biodiversity. It offers tailor-made wellness programmes that include yoga, meditation, and ayurvedic treatments that provide restorative benefits. Energy clearing, ayurvedic cooking classes, and sound and gong baths are also available. There are plenty of options to choose from, whether you are a seasoned yogi or a beginner. Featured in Forbes India, International Yoga Day: Yoga retreats set in exotic locations.

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The Times – Best Indian Ocean destinations

Sri Lanka is gaining ground on India as a destination, and one of its leading lights is Sam Kankanamge. He splits his time between London, where he is one of Harley Street’s most in-demand osteopaths, and Sen Wellness Sanctuary outside Tangalle. This place is the very definition of slow travel: days segue from sunrise yoga, to a paddle in the Indian Ocean, to soothing Ayurvedic treatments (guests have up to three a day). Afternoons are for walks in nearby Rekawa Nature Reserve. The pace hits full-on snail by early evening with meditation sessions, often led by a Buddhist monk. Most guests are in their thatched cabanas, zonked out, by 8pm. Featured in The Times Best Indian Ocean destinations

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TASCHEN – Salute the Sun in Flip-Flops

Agreed, there are more exciting things than meditation, but that is only the opinion of people who have never meditated on Rekawa Beach in Sri Lanka. Under the gentle direction of Buddhist monks, it is simply easier to draw the senses inwards. Just when you think that you never want to cease doing Pratyahara, the Kundalini teachers await you in the airy yoga shala with a view of the wild greenery of the surrounding gardens. You can have a Shirodhara (oil poured on the forehead) or one of the other luxurious Ayurvedic treatments that the well-known founder of the Sanctuary, the osteopath Sam Kankanamge, provides; or take a walk through the mangrove wood, accompanied by shy little monkeys; or have a consultation with one of the excellent Ayurvedic doctors, who attend to each and every problem, regardless of whether it is large or small. But even if you do not suffer from insomnia, skin complaints or depression, here on the south coast of Sri Lanka you can relax wonderfully well. Even guests who otherwise cannot take their eyes off the Wall Street figures on their screen leave their smartphones in flight mode here and watch green turtles cautiously coming out of the sea to lay their eggs. At the end of a stay here, everyone takes off their flip-flops because, never mind dosha, after a delicious cocoa ceremony, transformed and refreshed, there is only one thing you want to do: dance. Book to pack: “The Remains of Love” by Zeruya Shalev. Featured in TASCHEN’S Great Escapes Yoga: The Retreat Book (Pp. 61-63).

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AFAR – 6 Solo Wellness Trips to Book in 2021

If you want nonstop zen Head to Sri Lanka, open once more to international travelers, for a stay at Sen Wellness Sanctuary, a yoga retreat rooted in Ayurvedic medicine—and rated one of the best in the world. Retreats include twice-daily yoga, meetings with Ayurvedic doctors, gong baths, and fire ceremonies, all of which take place in eco-friendly buildings just steps from Sri Lankan waters. Read the full article in AFAR. 

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The Times – 25 spectacular Indian Ocean getaways

Sri Lanka is gaining ground on India as a destination, and one of its leading lights is Sam Kankanamge. He splits his time between London, where he is one of Harley Street’s most in-demand osteopaths, and Sen Wellness Sanctuary outside Tangalle. This place is the very definition of slow travel: days segue from sunrise yoga to a paddle in the Indian Ocean, to soothing Ayurvedic treatments (guests have up to three a day). Afternoons are for walks in nearby Rekawa Nature Reserve. The pace hits full-on snail by early evening with meditation sessions, often led by a Buddhist monk. Most guests are in their thatched cabanas, zonked out, by 8pm. This article is By Susan d’Arcy. 

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2020 Closing Ceremony

Monday 28th December, 09.00-10.30 am GMT Online Register in Advance As we are all well aware, 2020 has been a year like no other. All of us have been confronted with multiple challenges. Some of these have been practical in nature; social isolation, restrictions to our freedom, adapting to radical changes to the way we live and work, illness, and financial pressures. Then there has been the psychological and emotional impact; fear of the unknown, worrying for the wellbeing of the people we love, the health service, the economy, our communities, our world. All of this has been compounded by the slowing of our lifestyles, giving us ample time to think and feel our emotions. While it has been an immensely testing time, it has equally gifted us a precious opportunity. In self-isolating, Universal Energy has forced us into a period of deep reflection and self-inquiry. Insights, growth, and expansion have emerged, shifting us individually and collectively to a higher level of consciousness. Invoking the transformative power of ritual and intention-setting is a powerful way to close to any retreat, as those of you who have attended our closing fire ceremonies at the Sanctuary will know. In some way, 2020 has been an extended retreat, and when reflecting on how we could best serve you, our global community of friends, as we close this year; we felt strongly that we wanted to recreate our signature closing ceremony. This ceremony will support you to let go of the challenges and integrate the lessons from this extraordinary year, and move into 2021 with clarity, intention and purpose. We are excited and grateful to bring this offering to you in collaboration with renowned Healer, Teacher and Intuitive, Mary Aver. Mary will bring her years of wisdom to officiate a fire ceremony, symbolising transformation and renewal. Buddhist Monk Venerable Nimal will also offer blessings for the new year. A few weeks ahead of the event, we will also be sharing an e-book with journaling prompts, designed to help you reflect on all that you have learnt in 2020, about yourself, and any shifts in how you view the world around you. It will also ask you to think about the incoming year, how you want to feel, live and be in the world, and to set intentions to manifest in 2021. You will have the opportunity to share with the circle if you feel called, although sharing is not an obligation if you feel shy or would rather keep your reflections for yourself. We are honoured to facilitate this sacred journey and are so looking to sharing this energetic space with you. Logistics: Date: Monday 28th December 2020 Time: 09:00-10:30 am GMT Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rdOiqpjsvE9FjX_LzixBTP1sOWNXlyP83

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Somerset “The Spiritual Nature of Life” – Find your Inner Peace

We hosted our early summer retreat “The Spiritual Nature of life” at the beautiful 42 Acres Retreat in Frome, Somerset. It was a magical couple of days spent to help everyone who came along rejuvenate and find inner peace.  View this post on Instagram We are back in Somerset ✨ where our friends from holistic healthcare clinic @ourbreathoflife are holding a long weekend of rejuvenation through kundalini yoga, osteopathy, acupuncture, massage and delicious Sri Lankan food at 42 Acres. They’ll be taking over this account to share a little of their experience with you ✨ This photograph is magic @marenlander_kundalini and her gong by the oak trees at 42. #breathoflife #42acres #kundalini #yoga #osteopathy #massage #nourishment #holistic #health #nature #wellness #retreat #rejuvenate #gong #sound #healing #somerset #meditation #instagram #takeover A post shared by 42 Acres Retreat (@42acresretreat) on May 27, 2016 at 3:14am PDT 5 days of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, Cranial Osteopathy, Body Work, Acupuncture, Gong Sound Healing, Shamanic Cacao and Fire Ceremonies, Dance, Delicious Vegetarian Food to help everyone who came along find their own inner peace. Our wonderful teacher Maren Lander started our Cacao ceremony, a truly fantastic ceremony which allows us to have a sacred time and space for ourselves away from the stresses of everyday life. It is the perfect ceremony to switch off from a hectic and busy lifestyle, and to focus on the silence and peace within ourselves. It helps us to become clearer on who we are, where it is we may be going, and what is available to us in terms of opportunities. It also helps to shift emotional baggage, to let go of the past and find your way. If you simply need to lift your spirits or want to connect with yourself, a Cacao ceremony can help you regain the focus you need to become a happier you. As day turns to light, we end our days around a fire, being at one with nature. The fire ceremony is magical, as with the stars over our heads, we all reflect on our time here and what we have learnt about ourselves. We hope to see you soon at our retreats, our London clinic, or at our Sanctuary in Sri Lanka! “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” Rumi Yasmin

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Sri Lanka- Safe to Travel

We are delighted to announce that from now onwards it is 100% safe and easy to travel to Sri Lanka. Luckily, the Sanctuary has not been affected and is ready to welcome guests back to continue the journey to balance and enlightenment. Here, at the Sanctuary, we are keen to support the country and participate in restoring the tourism. Therefore, for a limited time only, we introduce these very special packages: July – August 2019 7 night retreat in a beautiful Eco Cabana, including daily wellness programme and airport transfers £1,130 10 night retreat in a beautiful Eco Cabana, including daily wellness programme and airport transfers £1,580 September – November 2019  7 night retreat in a beautiful Eco Cabana, including daily wellness programme and airport transfers £1,010 10 night retreat in a beautiful Eco Cabana, including daily wellness programme and airport transfers £1,400 Sen Sanctuary is a magical place that will help you to return to your true self and find a balance in life. This period is truly special for us in helping to restore the country economy and we hope to welcome you as part of this journey.

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