Ayurveda

The ancient healing powers of Ayurveda regarded almost sacred in the East, is preserved in its original form in Sri Lanka. Wherever you travel on the island, you can always find an Ayurveda resort or a wellness resort to discover the curative powers of Ayurvedic remedies and meditative powers of yoga. If you want to get serious about Ayurveda medicine for physical ailments and for a complete detoxifying experience, there are many Ayurveda retreats available all over the country. These retreats are specifically designed to give you a holistic Ayurveda treatment. You might want to stay at least 7 days in order to experience Ayurveda remedies to their full potential – therapies such as Panchakarma, a Sri Lankan Ayurveda purifying treatment that eliminates toxins and waste from the body need to be completed in five stages.

Ulpotha in the north-central province works a little differently to other Ayurveda resorts in Sri Lanka. It is a traditional working village bordered by mountains, lakes and paddy fields, and its resort runs on a non-profit basis. All revenue from Ayurveda holidays and Yoga retreats are spent on its villagers and the surrounding local community. It is open to guests only for six months of the year, while the rest of the year it goes back to being a traditional village.

Ayurveda resorts accommodate only a small number of guests so it is easier to administer treatments and provide a more personalised experience. In some retreats you can receive your Ayurveda treatments right in your own villa or suite. Daily Yoga is part and parcel of the Ayurveda experience as Ayurveda seeks to balance the elements of the body and Yoga balances the spiritual elements. Yoga is known to reduce stress cholesterol, balance blood sugar levels and eliminate sleep disorders, restlessness and stress. It helps you gain strong posture, strong bones and burn harmful toxins.

Panchakarma is the most extensive and internal of Ayurveda treatments and requires five steps in three stages. It is used to treat chronic diseases and seasonal imbalances, while the purification results also enhance metabolism.