7 Day Connect to Nature Retreat

The 7 Day Connect to Nature Retreat is a yoga retreat at Polwaththa Yoga & Meditation Retreat, a locally owned, family-run eco-lodge in the jungle near Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is pitched at intermediate-level practitioners who want a full week of Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin yoga, time among wildlife and trees, and a slower, simpler way of living alongside the local community.

What to Expect

Each day follows the same gentle rhythm: Hatha or Vinyasa yoga in the morning and Yin with meditation in the evening, twelve classes across the week. You wake to birdsong in your cabin, then walk about ten minutes through the jungle to a wooden shala where monkeys and exotic birds are often part of the morning practice.

Between sessions, the week builds around nature and community. There is a Connect to Nature workshop, a trek through the jungle and a local village that ends with a swim at a waterfall, and a local cooking lesson. You will also visit a community spice factory and make a mandala.

If you wish, you can take part in the lodge's Forest Healing Foundation by planting a tree as part of a reforestation effort (subject to soil conditions). You can also spend time with local people helping them practise English. The hosts enjoy talking about Sri Lankan culture, teaching a little Sinhalese, and sharing local views on basic Buddhist principles.

The Setting

Polwaththa sits off the beaten path in the Sri Lankan jungle, in the Kandy area. The lodge is where you stay and eat, and the shala is a short walk through the trees. The organizers mention a view from the shala that they would rather you see for yourself.

The stay is six nights in a private lodge, or one shared with two or three people. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided each day, starting with dinner on the evening you arrive, along with unlimited water, tea and coffee. Pickup is arranged from Digana town.

Before You Go

The week is designed for intermediate-level yogis, so some regular practice will help you get the most from the daily classes. The retreat is a good fit if you want to rest, step away from a busy life and deepen your practice among people who will support the group.

Included in the retreat:

- Six nights of accommodation
- Three meals a day
- Twelve yoga classes
- The Connect to Nature workshop
- The jungle and village trek with waterfall swim
- Tree planting, a local cooking lesson, a community spice factory visit and mandala making
- Pickup from Digana town
- Unlimited water, tea and coffee