The ideal getaway vacation would definitely be able to take away your stress and help you get back on track. However, as odd as it might sound, one must be very careful when choosing the type of vacation. Don’t get us wrong, vacations, in general, are great for your mental health and general happiness. But to really maximize this feeling and get the most out of this experience it is important that you are rejuvenated at your vacation. It is not only about the short term happiness, but to ensure that you are refreshed and renewed so that once you go back to your usual busy schedules you would continue to feel better. This feeling of rejuvenation can be achieved in any place, but Ayurveda retreats have made a rejuvenating experience the goal and therefore offers facilities and an atmosphere that is ideal for this experience making it the perfect place for your getaway vacation.
What is an Ayurveda Resort?
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems that was developed in India more than 3,000 years ago. The core belief in Ayurveda is that health and wellness depend on the balance between mind, body and spirit. This ancient medical system includes herbal treatments, yoga, massages and acupuncture to enhance the total wellbeing of the individual. This treatment has quickly gained popularity and spread throughout the world. Sri Lankan Ayurveda medicine is based on the country’s indigenous knowledge base and natural environment and the medicine that is practised today is based on an indigenous heritage preserved over 3,000 years. Even though Ayurveda is not unique to Sri Lanka, this island has many expert Ayurveda therapists and practitioners.
An Ayurveda retreat is a getaway that is perfect for anyone who is overwhelmed with either their daily routine or is facing any health conditions or recovering from trauma. The aim of an Ayurveda retreat is to rejuvenate the individual and encourage a healthy lifestyle and assist individuals in achieving it. Sri Lanka is home to many such Ayurveda retreats and will be the ideal place. These luxury Ayurveda resorts guarantee a vacation that will be relaxing, fun and an opportunity to focus on your mental and physical health.
What is the best Ayurveda Resort in Sri Lanka?
Santani Wellness is the first and the only purpose-built luxury wellness resort in Sri Lanka and is designed according to the highest sustainability and eco-standards. Situated an hour away from the historic city of Kandy in the central province of the island, the 48-acre former tea plantations is the perfect location for a restorative destination retreat as it is completely accessible and yet blissfully secluded. Located 2,800 feet above sea level the temperature at the resort is comfortably cool all year round. The large compound and the gushing river makes it an ideal location for leisurely strolls, meditation and even a swim.
Staying true to the name, which is a Sanskrit term meaning ‘in harmony with’, this Ayurveda retreat is guided by harmony in everything they do. The latest innovations in health science across the world are brought together in perfect harmony with the rich heritage of Sri Lankan Ayurveda in order to create one of the best luxurious Ayurveda retreats in Sri Lanka. The beautiful environment Santani is privileged to be surrounded by is also an important factor in the sincere belief that sustainable wellness begins by bringing oneself into balance with nature. Allowing yourself to be immersed in nature and receive from it combined with the yoga and spa treatments you will be able to receive will definitely lave you naturally rejuvenated.
Santani takes a lifestyle approach to wellness with two main components. The first component is to ensure that you are given the necessary treatments and an atmosphere to be able to revitalize yourself and secondly to educate your mind so that you are able to continue the healthy habits and practices which will help you sustain your healthy wellbeing. All you need to do is allow the process to work its magic on you. Forget about the daily stresses and allow yourself to detox and commit to this experience of bringing yourself in harmony within this serene environment. Santani recognizes that each individual is unique and therefore customizes every restorative program around the individual’s needs and preferences. This will be based upon a scientifically developed questionnaire to determine the wellness components right for you ensuring that the treatment you receive will be unique and effective.
What Ayurveda packages does Santani offer?
The first package which is termed as ‘Santani Recovery’ and as the name suggests is well suited for individuals who have undergone any emotional or physical trauma and are longing to regain a healthier balanced life. This fully customized program supports all those recovering from surgery, cancer, heart attack, stroke or any other stress on the body as well as those dealing with any emotional loss. The goal of Santani Recovery is to assist people through holistic wellness and healing.
There are many components in this package that guide the recovery process. As all treatments are customized at Santani the initial step in this package is a personalized wellness consultation with the resident doctor. This will form the foundation for your experience as the therapy sessions, training and even the food will be customized. As Santani focuses on detox and cleansing, the customized menu will primarily be vegetarian food prepared by award-winning chefs. Another element offered in this package that will help you with your cleanse is the Ayurvedic treatments and spa therapies. These are offered in 90-minute sessions per day and they aim to cleanse the body of residual pharmaceutical drugs and their side effects. Additionally, as the aim of this program is to ensure long term wellbeing, the training received is focused on rehabilitation and the wellness coaching incorporates Ayurveda into an individual’s daily routine such as nutrition, yoga and meditation so that once you go back home you will still be able to reap the benefits of Ayurveda. Another activity that is offered is group meditation and hatha yoga where the focus will be on breath work as it is seen as a crucial step to recovery. So if you feel oppressed or constrained by any of your experiences whether emotional, spiritual, mental or physical, Santani recovery might be the instrument you need to regain your total wellbeing.
The second package offered is termed as ‘Personal Dosha Ayurveda Retreat’ and is the ideal program if you are keen to either experience the benefits of Ayurveda or be treated for specific health conditions. ‘Dosha’ is a Sanskrit term and refers to the three substances that are present in a person’s body according to Ayurveda. In Ayurvedic medicine, the personal constitution of the individual is the starting point for all treatments. Therefore focusing on the three doshas of the individual will help achieve total wellbeing.
The foundation in this package, similar to most other packages is that it starts with a personalized Ayurveda consultation with a resident Ayurvedic doctor to analyze and examine the doshas of the individual and decide on the most effective treatment and sessions. This package includes 90 minutes per day of prescribed Ayurvedic treatment according to the doctor’s recommendations to treat your general wellbeing and your specific dosha condition. Additionally, this package is also inclusive of customized vegetarian meals and group hatha yoga sessions. This package aims to bring the benefits of a fully customized curative or preventive Ayurvedic treatment regime to your specific health condition.
What do people think?
There are over 200 reviews on Trip Advisor and a rating of 5.0 indicates the excellent service and valuable experience you will have at this retreat. The 100 reviews on Google Reviews rate the retreat an average rating of 4.6 stars which deems the place as excellent and the 39 reviews on Expedia rates this Ayurveda retreat as 4.8. Across these three websites, customers have been taken up by the beauty of the location of Santani. One reviewer on Trip Advisor who travelled solo titled their review as ‘Beauty Amongst the Clouds’ and beautifully describes their experience at Santani:
“Imagine a place where the earth meets a sky; where misty coloured mountains lay at your feet in a cushiony billow of cloud, where architecture honours its location in a delicate design that seems to float in the sky. Couple this with a carefully curated, customized gastronomical experience that will captivate you with its daring innovation and creativity; a staff so focused on providing quality service that they anticipate your needs even before you articulate them; and guided nature walks that makes you realize anew the wonder that has rightly led others to call Sri Lanka the pearl of Asia; and a stay that leaves you revitalized and refreshed with wellness and wellbeing provided by some of the best Ayurvedic doctors in the country…that is Santani Wellness Resort and Spa.”
Another reason that this retreat ranked quite high is because of the friendly staff and extremely good service. The expert therapists and doctors on site were also raved about as the treatments received are described to be amazing. Amy from Dubai reviewed this on Expedia rating her stay 5/5 and commenting:
“I loved everything–EVERYTHING–about my stay. The service was outstanding, the view was amazing, and the food was delicious. The staff bent over backwards to make sure I was comfortable and happy. I had some spa treatments, which were fabulous, and the morning and evening yoga sessions were enjoyable…”
Amy
Santani Resort and Spa is definitely highly recommended and will definitely give you the rejuvenating experience you have been longing for. Tehani S said it best on Google reviews:
“If you are looking for a particular wellness treatment and a place to relax, have that sense of peace, blend in with the nature, then Santani is definitely where you need to go. Highly recommended.”
Tehani S
