7 Day Connect to Nature Retreat

This seven-day yoga retreat at Polwaththa Eco Lodges, near Kandy in Sri Lanka's Central Province, is a week of yoga, meditation and time in the jungle. Called the Connect to Nature Retreat, it is pitched at intermediate-level practitioners who want to rest, deepen their practice and take part in the life of a locally owned, family-run eco-lodge.

What to Expect

Each day follows the same gentle rhythm: Hatha or Vinyasa yoga in the morning, and Yin yoga with meditation in the evening. Over the week that comes to twelve yoga classes. Mornings begin with a short walk of about ten minutes through the trees to the wooden jungle shala, where the practice is accompanied by birdsong and, often, monkeys.

Between classes the week widens beyond the mat:

- A Connect to Nature workshop
- A trek through the jungle and a local village, ending with a waterfall swim
- Planting a tree, subject to soil conditions, as part of the lodge's Forest Healing Foundation reforestation work
- A local cooking lesson
- A visit to a community spice factory
- Mandala making

There are also informal chances to connect with the people of the area: conversations about Sri Lankan culture, a little Sinhalese, local views on basic Buddhist principles, and the option to help locals practise their English. The aim is a simpler way of life, with space to slow down and let the surroundings set the pace.

The Setting

Polwaththa is tucked away in the Sri Lankan jungle, off the usual tourist path around Kandy. Guests stay in cabins among the trees, and the shala is reached on foot from the lodge. The family who own and run the lodge are known for making visitors feel at home from the first evening.

The stay covers six nights of accommodation, with a choice of private single lodge, double sharing or triple sharing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included every day, starting with dinner on the day you arrive, along with unlimited water, tea and coffee. Pickup is provided from Digana town.

Before You Go

This retreat is designed for an intermediate level of yoga practice. Shorter four-day and five-day versions exist for beginners and intermediate students, but this week is the longer, deeper option.

Expect a trek through jungle and village, a swim at the waterfall, and mornings that start with a walk to the shala, so comfortable footwear and clothes suited to warm, humid weather will serve you well. Conversations with hosts and locals are held in English, with the occasional Sinhalese lesson thrown in.