Spa, Ayurveda and Yoga

What Ayurveda is

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine with roots going back thousands of years in South Asia, and it remains part of Sri Lanka's health care alongside western medicine. It aims to keep body and mind in balance, with two goals: to treat illness and to prevent it. Treatments are built around cleansing and rejuvenation.

Typical treatments

Programmes usually start with a consultation and may include full body, head and foot massage, oil treatments, herbal and flower baths, steam baths and body wraps, along with a recommended diet.

Yoga and meditation

Yoga came to Sri Lanka from India, and meditation is central to it. Many retreats run daily classes, and some are open to drop-in visitors.

Where to go

Beruwala and the south-west coast have several Ayurveda resorts, including Heritance Ayurveda Maha Gedara, which is dedicated to the practice. Ulpotha, a working village retreat in the countryside, runs yoga and Ayurveda stays for part of the year. Soul and Surf near Ahangama combines yoga with surfing, and Santani in the hills near Kandy is a wellness resort. Spa Ceylon and Siddhalepa have outlets in Colombo and in many resorts. See spa and Ayurveda in Colombo, spa and Ayurveda in Sigiriya and yoga and Ayurveda in the south, or yoga in Arugam Bay.

Choosing a programme

Short treatments in a hotel spa are good for relaxation, while a proper Ayurveda programme usually lasts at least a week, with a doctor's consultation, a diet plan and daily treatments. If you have a medical condition, check with your own doctor first.