Sri Lanka is a beautiful ancient land of traditions, culture and spirituality. It is an excellent choice for your journey of emotional and spiritual growth. There are several things you can do here, which will help you nourish your body, mind, soul, and spirit.
“Your own story is just one, and perhaps not the important one. The self is not the principal thing.”
― Michael Ondaatje
True to the words of the Sri Lankan author, Michael Ondaatje, we spend most of our time obsessing over our own narratives, not realizing we are just small little pieces who fit perfectly into the spiritual fabric of the eternal story. Therefore, sometimes it is important to take a break from our everyday lives, to introspect where we stand, appreciate everything we have and contemplate on how to improve. Sometimes for such a profound experience it is essential to leave the known and venture into an unknown. If you are planning on taking a vacation for your spiritual growth, Sri Lanka is an excellent choice.
Why Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is a beautiful tropical country which boasts of breathtaking landscapes, stunning beaches, lush green rainforests, rich biodiversity, amazing food, warm people and hot weather and much more. It also has a rich history and culture, which you can explore at your leisure. There are so many things to do in Sri Lanka that you will never find yourself stuck in a dull moment. Sri Lanka also has some of the best wellness programs in the world. The ancient culture of the land is deep rooted in its traditions, philosophy, ethics and principles, which make it an amazing place to start on your path towards spiritual growth. They have some of the best gurus and teachers who can guide you through your journey.
How to reach Sri Lanka?
The best way to reach Sri Lanka is by air. There are three international airports, which connect this beautiful island nation to the rest of the world. Once you reach, there are several domestic flight options between the airports, along with an excellent network of railways, roadways and waterways connecting you from the main cities to every part of the nation.
Where to stay?
Finding accommodation in Sri Lanka isn’t difficult at all. There are a number of amazing hotels, hostels, Airbnbs and resorts to suit every budget and need. During the peak season, which lasts from December to March, it is recommended to book your stay in advance. Your hotel can guide you on finding food of your choice, sightseeing, shopping and other queries you might have.
Now that we have sorted out the logistics of reaching Sri Lanka, let us make a list of things, which you can do on your spiritual wellness journey.
1. Escape the city for some quiet nature
Nature plays a very important role in our lives. Living cooped up indoors in our urban lives with busy schedules, we usually do not get to spend much time with nature. This leads in a major lack of Vitamin D in our body, which leads to a lack of energy and motivation with increased lethargy, affecting our everyday lives poorly. Not only does this vitamin help strengthen our bones; it also helps prevent bone and joint diseases. Spending some time in the beautiful nature of tropical Sri Lanka would enrich your body with essential vitamin D. Studies also say that spending time in nature helps reduce the risks of several diseases as well.
2. Invest some time in self-enrichment
An essential part of building wellness is engaging in acts of self-enrichment. When you actively invest some time and energy towards positive actions, it goes a long way. There are so many things you can do. Visit places of cultural and historical importance in Sri Lanka, read about it, attend a cultural show or even join a class and learn some folk music, traditional dance or even cooking. This way you can return with a new skill as well.
3. Understand your needs and desires
Often we fail to understand wants, our needs, desires and at times even ourselves. This is what causes a lot of stress and feelings of dissatisfaction in our minds. It is important to take a hard look at your priorities so that you can work on your goals better. Spend your vacation time asking yourself the hard questions and untangle your thoughts. This helps you clear your mind so that you can proceed towards your self-improvement.
4. Sign up for a holistic treatment
In the field of holistic treatments, an Ayurveda Retreat Sri Lanka is one of the very finest. Offering an assortment of the best holistic treatment options, ranging from traditional Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, acupressure, acupuncture and more, there are several choices to help you in your path of healing. These treatments not only help you in alleviating your current conditions, they also diagnose and heal several hidden ailments from their root, thereby, promoting overall wellness.
5. Get a relaxing traditional massage
Massage can be an extremely relaxing and even therapeutic experience. It helps relieve the stress that has been affecting your body adversely. There are several massage treatments, which have immense health benefits. Sri Lanka has a number of excellent massage retreats and spas in most hotels, resorts as well as standalone facilities which offer herbal massages and facials. These treatments not only help you with better skin and hair, but also relieve pain, and other conditions.
6. Attend a yoga retreat
Yoga has a world of benefits for your body and mind. It is also a deep philosophical journey, which is highly beneficial for the soul and spirit. It helps you find answers to a number of spiritual questions. Sri Lanka has several amazing yoga retreats where you can train under some of the best yogis of the world in the most authentic and traditional methods. You will see a stark improvement in your physical and mental health, stamina and clarity.
7. Join meditation classes
Meditation is a form of exercise for the mind. It trains your brain in mindfulness, to think clearer and focus better. It goes a long way in relieving several mental health conditions, improving memory and retention capabilities and slowing down degenerative diseases of the brain. Sign up for a meditation class or a retreat in Sri Lanka. There you will learn various techniques to help train your mind to be sharper, to achieve more than you thought you could be capable of.
8. Spend some solitary time contemplating
In the distractions of the modern life we can barely afford to spend any solitary undisturbed time alone. We are always forced to rush from deadline to deadline, which builds a huge disconnect with our own selves. Get away from all the distractions, switch off all your technology and spend some solitary time with your own thoughts. This helps build a healthy thought process.
9. Work on establishing a spiritual connection
It is important to bridge our spiritual gap and build a deeper connection. You can spend some time at one of the amazing temples and monasteries of Sri Lanka, in order to seek out a divine communication. If you are not inclined thus, you can simply get away from everyone around, wake up really early in the morning and spend your time watching the sunrise. You can also seek the help of a spiritual guru to guide you in your journey. It is an extremely personal connection and hence, something you need to figure out.
10. Examine and improve your relations
The relationships we have with others are affected by the relationship we have with ourselves. Take your Sri Lanka wellness vacation to introspect and improve your relationships, with the self, family, friends, colleagues etc. At the same time, evaluate unhealthy relationships in your life, those which impact you negatively and try to work out a solution to reduce the negative influence and only let the positive ones in. This will help you sort out your life better.
In a Nutshell…
Your journey towards your spiritual wellness is unique. Sri Lanka has a number of excellent wellness facilities, which can guide you towards your path. However, the journey has to be taken by you. It is important to work towards healing, understanding and building yourself up. You need to let go of your negative thoughts, worries, stress and focus on your spiritual journey.
Om Singh is blogging at Retreat Kula, a website that offers a platform to book yoga retreats and yoga teacher training for yogis around the world. He is always on the lookout for interesting places to visit. It took him 25 years of his life to realize where his true calling lies, but once that was done, there’s been no looking back.
